The first part of the structure from Pa 73 is the Smale home that was built in 1781 by the Smale family. The house, either itself or in an separate building, before 1800 was operated as a distillery by a fellow named Dunkel.

The peak of the house portion has embedded into it, a datestone of Pennsylvania Dutch fractur style, featuring tulips and roses and the letters HMS 1781. All photos supplied by Steve Day except for the vintage photo.

Historical photo of the Smale-Guldin-Lauer Grist Mill. The photo was taken on Sept. 29, 1916 by Prof. W.W. Deatrick, D.D., a member of the Berks County Historical Society at that time.

An 1860 Township map zoomed in to show the location of the grist and saw mills, the Guldin store, and the Moser-Edgewood Mill just over the Maiden Creek Twp line in Ruscomb Manor Twp., less than 1/3rd mile away.

Frederick Guldin made improvements to the distillery after 1800, and in 1822 had built the mill portion onto the north end of the original Smale dwelling. Albert S. Guldin (1841-1902), Frederick?s son, operated the grist mill next, working long hours from morning til night and also farming 75 acres, for which the stone, bank barn was utilized.

The newer addition, the mill portion, also has a peak datestone. This displays the initials FG & SG and the date 1822. Frederick Guldin (1779-1838) and, his wife, Sarah Van Reed Weaver (1790-1835). The wooden overshot wheel was replaced by a Pelton turbine and roller mills installed in the late 1800's.

The next operator, Sailor Lauer (1871-1952), married Albert?s daughter Irene D. (Guldin) Lauer. They first lived in the mill/house, then on the farm. Mr Lauer was long employed as a county clerk, registrar of wills, and in the office of the district attorney. Irene's son, Albert C. Lauer later occupired the house and operated the mill for his mother until Hurricane Hazel closed the operation in 1956. The hurricane destroyed the headrace from Pine Creek to the mill. It was operated on a limited basis by electricity produced by the current supply of Pine Creek. The mill is one of the best examples of a combination mill/dwelling available, still has all the machinery, and could be considered operable. The photo shows the east side of the mill from the barn overlooking the millpond.The north end of the mill had a two story concrete block building, same width as the mill with a flat roof and the length of the mill/house structure, added on to function as a cider mill and distillery. The block structure was built between 1947 and 1969. The remains today function as garages.GPS: 40' 26.12N, 75' 52.45W 469 feet'/143 meters Fleetwood Quadrangle