Gamble Mill / Thomas Mill
Centre Co. | Pennsylvania | USA
Watersource: Spring Creek.
Gamble Mill / Thomas Mill
Enroute on Sr 550, turn north onto Sr 150/S Water St, then left onto W Lamb St., crossing Spring Creek, to the mill immediately on the left at 160 Dunlop St.
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The first mill on this site was built in 1786 by William Lamb with Thomas Lamb was the first millwright. Bellefonte was laid out in 1795 by Col. James Dunlop and son-in-law James Harris on a hilly site along Spring Creek opposite William Lamb's mill (1786). Col. Dunlop and his family were attracted to the region by the opportunities of iron industry.
The Bellefonte flouring-mills, located on Spring Creek, and later carried on by Duncan, Hale & Co., were built in 1800 by James Smith, son-in-law to James Dunlop. John Dunlop was probably interested with Smith in the mill business. The first miller is said to have been Daniel Weaver. In 1810, Hamilton Hume rented the mill property and carried it on until 1814.
The inlet barscreen area of the headrace at the rear of the mill. The millrace, although presently covered with a concrete slab in Tallyrand Park, runs nearly the full length of this section of the district and is an important element in the historical fabric.
Various people were connected with the ownership of the mill until 1834, when it was purchased by William A. Thomas. For a long time it was known as the "Thomas Mill". At this time, the mill was a 3 story, brick and 2 story frame mill. Things changed in 1892 when a fire destroyed the mill. Wagner & Thomas succeeded W. A. Thomas, and were in turn followed by John M. Wagner & Co. The latter sold their interest in 1874 to the present owners, Duncan, Hale & Co., composed of William P. Duncan, E. W. Hale, and C. T. Gerberich. Mr. Gerberich, the managing partner, took his first lessons in milling in this mill in 1854, and after 1854, had been its miller.
At this time, the mill was a 3 story, brick and 2 story frame mill. Things changed in 1892 when a fire destroyed the mill. The present mill was promptly built by the owners, Gerberich, Hale & Co. George M Gamble came to the area in 1901 and gained sole ownership of the mill. He continued to run the mill until his death in 1923.
The mill was fitted with five runs of stone and a seventy-five horse-power water-wheel. The capacity is seventy-five barrels of flour daily. From forty thousand to fifty thousand bushels of wheat are ground annually. The mill building, constructed of brick and stone, is three stories in height, and measures ninety by forty- two feet. There is also a large warehouse for the storing of grain. Shipments of grain as well as flour are made by Duncan, Hale & Co. in considerable volume. They manufacture also at the mill a superior quality of plaster.
The mill continued to make flour until all operations ceased in 1947. Many years later the mill was condemned and slated for demolition. In 1975, the building was saved when Ted Conklin purchased it. Over the next 10 years the mill was restored and housed a restaurant.
In 2008, an 8 barrel micro-brewery was added. In 2012 it is an up-scale restaurant.GPS: 40D 54.84'N, 77d 47.0'W ele 741'/226 meters Bellefonte Quadrangle