Herr's Mill / Brandt's Mill / Annville Flouring Mill
Lebanon Co. | Pennsylvania | USA
Watersource: Quittapahilla Creek.
Herr's Mill / Brandt's Mill / Annville Flouring Mill
South of U.S.422 in Annville off Queen St. onto Mill Rd. (dead ends at mill).
Located on Mill Rd. off Queen St. behind old limestone mansion down by the run. Smaller white limestone house located to the right of the 3.5 story limestone mill. 40'X 50' limestone for three stories, 20'X 40' frame addition of 3.5 stories on the rear, and the whole upper half-story with various cupolas are of frame construction.
Was also known as Brandt's Mill at times in it's history. Owned in the early 1990`s by Mark Hershey. Sometimes known as Annville Flour & Grist Mill in the 1800's. Operated by Leroy Brandt, the third generation of Brandts to operate it in the 20th century.
The present building was built by Henry & Sara Herr in 1822. The datestone is located inside the mill.
*Update: Converted to roller mill in 1906. Still operating as a commercial flour mill, producing certified organic flours. David Poorbaugh 06/05/04*
The first mill structure was built in the early 1740's. From the photo, one can see a bridge carried the road across the creek right beside the mill, either a covered bridge, stone arched, or open wooden bridge. Perhaps later it was changed to a steel girder bridge before removal.
*Update: I do not believe our mill was ever known as Bachman's Mill. It was known as Herr's Mill in the 1800's and Brandt's Mill in the 1900's. The date stone you show was to one of the houses built by the Herr's and has been torn down. We believe from the deeds that this buiding was originally built about 1740. It is the oldest continually operating commercial flour mill in the U.S. We have evidence that there was another mill building on the property prior to 1740. I have attached a picture taken in October 2008 at an open house to support the Annville Historical Society. David Poorbaugh 09-02-2009*