David Knauer's Mill / Knauertown Mill
Chester Co. | Pennsylvania | USA
Watersource: French Creek.
David Knauer's Mill / Knauertown Mill
On Pa 23 at Knauertown between Rock Run Road and French Cr. on the right and Hill Rd. bearing left off Pa 23.
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The photo from 1983 shows a very delapidated stone/stucco mill, two door up the front gable end, 1st and 3rd floors and 3 door vertically on the right side nead the back corner. The area was overgrown with vegetation and vines growing up the side walls of the structure.
The mill's office on the right had been totally restored and all stucco removed. In the mid-1800's, the mill was known as J. Ortlips Grist, Sawmill, and Cider Press. The 35'X 65' sandstone/fieldstone 3.5 story mill with a 45'X 20' 3/2 story sawmill on the rear. A 2' diameter penstock entered the main part of the mill on the left side of the mill in 1983, 87, and 2007.
This photo taken in 1987, shows a considerable change in the overall condition of the mill. Roofs and windows had been repaired and a lot of stucco had been removed.
An attrition mill located in the mill/antique shop. The mill was the Davis Knauer & Josiah Keim Grist Mill on the A. R. Witmer 1873 Atlas of Warwick Twp.
A Miget Marvel flour mill, a unit designed to produce flour, all contained in a small footprint. Used most likely in the early to mid 1900's. See more info. at the featured website, click above the first photo.
The millpond, now filled and paved over, once held water from French Creek to provide more head for the waterwheel. The impounded water volumne, coupled with the height, created considerably more pressure when pushed through the penstock and poured out over the wheels bucket.
The doors on the east side toward thr rear of the mill were undoubtedly much more used in day to day milling operation than the front or the mill, given the uneven ground at that location.
The millpond is to the right where the current parking lot is for the antique business. The two foot diameter penstock came out of the millpond retaining wall into the wheelhouse. The 16' X 6' Fitz steel waterwheel is still in place but is lost most or all of its buckets due to corrosion.
A flour packer manufactured by the S. Howes Co, Silver Creek, New York, a manufacturer of many pieces of mill machinery over the years.
Some type of flour sifter or grain cleaner, probably used in this mill, now used as a decorative piece of milling tria at the antique shop.
The mill's office on the right had been totally restored and all stucco removed.
Another view of the small 15' X 19', two story stone house with the mill location behind. The structure was probably designed to house the miller, many times who were single men hired to work the mill for wages. The alleyway may have held a ground scale at one time.
The photo of David Knauer's Mill was provided by Marcia Cook 06/07/2008.
This photo taken in 1987, shows a considerable change in the overall condition of the mill. Roofs and windows had been repaired and a lot of stucco had been removed.
This photo, taken about 20 years after the one above, shows a stable structure holding its own.GPS: 40' 10.26' N, 75' 43.77' W 318'/97 meters Pottstown Quadrangle