Billig's Mill
Lehigh Co. | Pennsylvania | USA
Watersource: Ontelaunee Creek
Billig's Mill
From Lehigh/Schuylkill Co. line, take Pa.309 south for 7 miles to junc. with Pa.143. Right turn or east on Pa.143 for 5 miles to town of Lynnport. Take road to SRR 863, then SRR 863(Fetterolfs Rd.) for 1 mile to junc. with Sweitz Rd. Mill should be on creek side of SRR(State Rural Route) 863 along Ontelaunee Creek.
A frame mill, 2.5 stories on a stone foundation. The footprint of mill is approximately 35'x 40' with an unusual hip roof. The mill appeared unused in Oct. 1992 when visited but in good condition. *Update: The mill is used to store tractor parts and is also used by my uncle in his carpentry business. Kayla Feinour, grand-daughter of Paul & Doris Billig 12/13/2005*
*Update: The mill is used to store tractor parts and is also used by my uncle in his carpentry business. Kayla Feinour, grand-daughter of Paul & Doris Billig 12/13/2005*
Alue S. Billig was born in August 1861 to Daniel Billig in Lynn Twp., Lehigh Co. He practiced his trade of carpentry in Allentown prior to moving back to Lynn Twp. on 30 acres in 1891.
The miller's house situated on the east side the mill. It appears there was a self-serve veggie,squash, & gourd business on-going. In 1900, Alue purchased 32 acres of land along the Ontelauntee Creek which contained the Levi Reitz Mill. The second mill, situated on the same exact footprint as the present mill, was also built by a Wannamacher, but burned down in 1898.
The farm barn across Srr 863 from the mill. A mill built in 1782 by John Wannamacher, Sr. was the original mill very near this mill seat. Three years after purchasing the Reitz Mill site, Billig rebuilt the mill as a custom grist mill.
He also operated a planing mill (pictured here) and cider mill, as well as farming his acreage and continuing to contract work as a builder. The family exibited a great work ethic, common in that day, keeping their five sons busy.
Part of the Cider mill complex. He married Mary Rauch in 1886, of the same area, and together they had eight children: 5 sons and 3 daughters. Beulah died young and Hattie married Charles Lenhart, proprietor of the Mosser grist & saw mill, located deeper in the Kistler Valley.
The Cider Mill complex from the other direction on Allemaengel Road.
The rear of the mill structure. The rocked up outlet arches can just barely be seen where each wooden post is leaned up against the masonry wall.
GPS: 40' 40.03N, 75' 48.42W 469'/143 meters New Tripoli Quadrangle