Hawk's Grist Mill
Bucks Co. | Pennsylvania | USA
Watersource: Cook's Creek.
Hawk's Grist Mill
In Pleasant Valley, turn right on Bridge St. off northbound Pa 212, cross Cook's Creek, turn left on Old Bethlehem Rd., cross Cook's Creek again, turn right on Kunsman Rd. and go 0.5 miles to the mill on the right at the sharp left corner on Kunsman Rd. just before the defunct junction with Shale Rd. (now a gated gravel road).
The mill/house combination is roughly 35' wide X 70' long X 3.5 stories in height. GPS: 40° 31.04'N, 75° 17.43' W 423' elevation
In 1748, Elias Beidelman settled in Springfield Township, Bucks Co. Two years later he purchased two land parcels in the Springtown area, one of 44 acres and the other of 58 acres.
Elias also owned a piece of ground along Cook's (Squook's) Creek of 607 acres on the eastern edge of Pleasant Valley. It was here that he built a grist mill with residence, all encompassed under one roof, in 1759. The 1983 photo might be more as it looked in the 1800's while operating, except for its abandoned appearance.
A current photo, same angle, of the previous picture. The mill was known as Samuel Mann's Mill for many years in the early 1800's after being aquired by Samuel Mann in the late 1700's to early 1800's.
A view of the miller's house, built later when the mill/house combination was expanded to entirely milling operation. Most combination mills did not work well very long because of the terrific vibrations and noise incurred from the grinding operations.
Cooks Creek in June as seen just behind the photographer when taking the first photo. Samuel & Elizabeth Hawk, a farming couple and dabblers in milling, took over milling operations in 1850 and Hawk's Grist and Saw Mill produced flour, feed & lumber.
The single arch steel bridge, with outriggers, was built in 1884 on Shale Road, just south of Kunsman Rd., spanning Cook's Creek. Fieldstone abutments on each endmay have been part of an earlier stone-arch bridge. John Wyncoop, Jonas T. Dreisch, and Isaac Ryan were County Commissioners. David Ruth was the Contracter.
Leidy Kratz ran the mill prior to C. Kressler's operation in 1876. Joseph Hawk & wife, Clara Apple Hawk, were the proprietors and owners of the Pleasant Valley mill from 1862-1886. An 1891 atlas map of the township showed an active mill still at that location.
The old mill was sitting idle for many years after ceasing operations. The 1983 photos show pretty much abandonedment, although the roof was kept in good repair, a critical factor. Renovations were accomplished in the 1990's and later. Today the mill is a private dwelling/residence.