Mill Details

Espenshade's Feed Mill

Dauphin Co. | Pennsylvania | USA
Known Dates: 1890
Township: Lower Swatara Twp. & Middletown Boro.
Watersource: Swatara Creek, but not water-powered.
Location / Directions

Espenshade's Feed Mill

On the south side of Sh 230/E. Main Street in Middletown Boro. just west of the Swatara Creek along the Conrail tracks.

Verse for Thought
"From time to time, the Lord would choose special leaders known as judges. These judges would lead the Israelites into battle and defeat the enemies that made raids on them."
({Judges 2:16 CEV})
Espenshade's Feed Mill
Robert T. Kinsey 02/28/2007

The 20'X 70' frame feed mill was built in 1890 by Allen Espenshade.

Espenshade's Feed Mill
Robert T. Kinsey 20/28/2007

The mill is close, within 500' of Swatara Creek, but was never water-powered.

Espenshade's Feed Mill
Robert T. Kinsey 02/27/2007

The mill was run continuously by Allen until 1946, then by his son, Raymond 'Red' Espenshade until 1979, when a fire within the mill caused cessation of milling activity.

Espenshade's Feed Mill
Robert T. Kinsey 02/27/2007

Some wooden pulley and gearing mechanism under the peak inside of the mill. Notice the corregated roofing installed after the fire in 1979 and the roofing on the right, the original roofing.

Espenshade's Feed Mill
Robert T. Kinsey 02/28/2007

Steel pulleys on line shafts that were the source of power for various other milling activities in the mill.

Espenshade's Feed Mill
Robert T. Kinsey 02/27/2007

Watercolor of Espenshade's Mill painted by R. Freeborn. The mill suffered a fire internally in 1979, then was operated as an antique shop for two years.

Espenshade's Feed Mill
Old newspaper photo

In 1981, the mill was purchased Tom Germak, who established his Germak Electric contractors supply co. in the renovated mill. A photo from the early 1900's.

Espenshade's Feed Mill
Old newspaper photo

Photo in a local newspaper at about the turn of the 20th century.

Espenshade's Feed Mill
Robert T. Kinsey 02/27/2007

The mill scales under the roof on the right side of the mill, an old Howe scale. The scale platform is also under the shed overhang where the truck in photo #3 is parked.

Espenshade's Feed Mill
Robert T. Kinsey 02/28/2007

The miller's house across the E. Main Street from the mill. The rock memorial to the right of the photo commemorates the old creek ford at East Middletown. Mr. Allen Espenshade donated the land for the memorial, when the DAR was having trouble finding land for it without moving it across the bridge/creek which would have put it outside the borough.

Espenshade's Feed Mill
Robert T. Kinsey 02/28/2007

The home of Germak Electric. An electrical contractor business at 760 E. Main St., Middletown, Pa., 17057 ph:717-944-2487.

 
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