Hershey's Mill
Lancaster Co. | Pennsylvania | USA
Watersource: West Branch of the Little Conestoga Creek.
Hershey's Mill
South of US 30, about 1.25 miles east of Mountville on Pa 462, turn right/south on Hershey Mill Road, go about 0.6 miles to the mill on the left almost to Rohrer Road.
The main 3.5 story mill measures about 32'X 45'. The native fieldstone/sandstone structure has a 15'X 45'frame 2 story addition on a stone foundation. In 1992, the mill was non-operating and in excellent condition.
Supposedly built in 1810 by Jacob Hershey, it doesn't appear on the tax records until 1814; then it is charged to Abraham Hershey, who owned it through 1824. Successive owners were: Ben. J. Hershey in 1830, Jacob J. Hershey in 1860, Ben. Hershey from 1864 through 1875, and J. R. Hershey in 1899.
The fairly productive mill, at 35 barrels/day, was a flour, grist, saw, and cider mill at times. Powered by the waters of the West Branch of the Little Conestoga Creek, a 500' headrace dropping 12' from the dam turned an overshot wheel before exiting the mill to return via a 500' tailrace to the stream.
The mill closed in 1930 by David J. Hershey, who had owned it since 1919. Used for storage and occasional recreational activities, the mill is in great shape, still containing a run of stones minus the waterwheel to power them.
The mill is across the road from a cluster of early 19th century buildings that comprise the miller's house, bank barn, and other out-buildings, a very nice grouping of an early 1800's industrial/agricultural complex.