Caldwell/Armstrong Mill
Chester Co. | Pennsylvania | USA
Watersource: West Br. Brandywine Creek.
Caldwell/Armstrong Mill
About 4 miles SE of Coatesville from Bus US 30 at the intersection of Strasburg Road and Laurel Road in the village of Mortonville. On the left side of Laurel Road.
An almost square mill of stone 2 stories high with a flat roof. In November 1987, someone had framed another partial story to make 3 stories, but this was only framework. Looked as though it had been given up for a lost cause. Also a very large crack running up the left side wall near the rear wall of about one foot width. There was a Century 21 sale sign in front of the mill which fronts up onto Laurel Road short of 6 feet. The mill may not be standing today, the year 2000, given it's condition in 1987.
Part of the mill is still there. In 2007 through 2009, the old mill shell has been the centerpiece of advertisement for the Brandywine Outfitters, Inc., a canoe rental business for running the creek.
Twenty-two yearrs later, The entire back half of the mill has crumbled away, with very little remaining to tell the tale of many years of rural industry.
A closer look at the inside of the front (Laurel Road) and Strasburg Road, far left, of the remains of the once thriving business.
Looking down on the inlet to the mill from Strasburg Road. The mill wheel or turbine was probably located between the lerge stone backwall of the mill and the concrete wing on the right, below the inlet hole in the near concrete wall.
The southeast corner of the mill by the large boarded-up doorway has a fireplace and chimney running up through the front wall.
The Brandywine River as seen from the stone arch bridge on Stasburg Road by the mill in Mortonville.