Bahn's Grist Mill
Carroll Co. | Maryland | USA
Watersource: South Branch Gunpowder Falls
Bahn's Grist Mill
Located about 2.5 miles south of the Pa/Md line and 5 miles south of Sticks, Pa. Take Lineboro Road/Sh 516 southwest from Sticks about 2/3rds of a mile, angle left on Grave Run Road and go 4 miles to the mill on the left just past the junction with Shaffer Mill Road in the community of Roller, Md. on the north side of the South Branch of Gunpowder Falls at the junction with Muddy Creek.
A 19th century grist mill of 3.5 stories. first story of stone, next two stories of brick, and 1/2 story of frame material (the two gable ends). The mill is in excellent condition and ia used as a dormitory for the River Valley Ranch, a summer camp with a western flare for ages 2 thru 92, but with a preponderence of campers in the 6 to 18 year old range.
In 1862 this mill was known as the J. H. Weaver grist and saw mill. In a later atlas, J. A. Bahn was advertised as proprietor of "Springville Flour Mills" on Gunpowder Falls Creek.
Bahn had acquired the mill c. 1873. His executors conveyed the mill to John D. Shearer in 1886. It was reported in Feb of 1887 that Shearer was adding a roller mill to his grist mill.
In 1888, Shearer conveyed the mill to Charles Zeigler, who in 1908 conveyed it to J. Herman Allender. It passed to Walter C. Reed, who in 1952 deeded it to Peter, Paul, and John Radio Fellowship, Inc.
The new owners were a church group which operates the farm as a make-believe western town called River Valley Ranch. The mill is used as a boarding house. ADC Carroll Co, MD map7 grid E8, GPS: 76 48.392W, 39 41.828N