"Bechtel's Mill," as it was known to the Noll family, Feb, 1938. *Update: Regarding the statement that Samuel Harnish built the mill to 3.5 stories in 1840, the deed dated 1820 shows him selling the property to Jacob Blank. From 1822 to 1864 Jacob Bechtel owned, after that until 1889 William Bechtel. Samuel Binkley to 1889, my great-great grandfather, who family tradition says rebuilt the mill. He sold it to my great-grandfather, Monroe P. Noll in 1901. I'm still trying to sort it out from there. Monroe P. Noll got it back in 1929 by Sheriff but the reason is not clear. Lester Noll 07/09/2007*

The 42'X 52' grist mill was built to 3.5 stories by Samuel Harnish in 1840. A possible older mill at the site was used as an oil mill in 1777 and as a grist mill in 1820 by Samuel Harnish. The mill was rebuilt after a fire to 2.5 stories. In the the 1930's, the mill was converted into a creamery after almost 100 years of operating as a flour, grist, saw, and cider mill.

One turbine and one overshot wheel was powered by water descending 4' through a 2600' headrace from the dam upstream. The water was returned to Harnish Run via 200' tailrace. Peak production was 8 barrels of flour/day. Jacob Becktal owned the mill in 1864, William Becktel (another spelling, Bechtel) ran the mill in 1875, Samuel Binkley in 1899, and Monroe Noll, Binkley's son-in-law, closed the mill in the early 1930's.

The mill was vacant in 1969, but had been converted into a beautiful single family dwelling by 1992 and continues to adorn the countryside as such into 2006. The mill was owned in 1992 by Ned & Gwen Foltz. Ned makes "Red Clay" pottery and the couple prefer to live in the mill. A side covered patio has been added since 1992. The mill was the subject of a feature article in Nov.'95 Country Living Magazine.GPS: 40D 17.45'N, 76D 8.87'W ele 535'/163 meters Womelsdorf Quadrangle