Keagy Woolen Mill
Bedford Co. | Pennsylvania | USA
Watersource: Potter Creek
Keagy Woolen Mill
Go south from Woodbury, Bedford Co. on Pa 36 a short distance and turn right onto Potter Creek Rd. When Potter Creek Rd. makes a right bend look for Millbrook Rd. on the left. Turn onto Millbrook Rd. and continue down the hill, cross the creek and the old mill will be on the left at 149 Millbrook Road.
One source says the mill was built in 1837 by John Potter, who built the Hoffman Mill a very short distance from this mill, and was purchased in 1846 by John Keagy. Another source says it was built by Abraham Keagy, who also made much of the equipment in the mill.
This first mill was replaced by a larger mill in 1869 by his son John Keagy, who took over his father's mill / or purchased the earlier mill from John Potter. Keagy was very successful and the mill grew into a small factory. He soon became known as " Woolen Mill John ".
The Keagy Woolen Mill turned out large quantities of blankets for the Union Army. Later the blankets bore the label " J. Keagy, Globe Factory, Bedford County " along with the date. The earlier mill could produce 150 coverlets annually with 7 employees. The new mill employed 13 men and production was vastly increased.
The small village that grew up around this mill was called Coveburg on atlases of 1861 and 1877. The mill ceased operations in 1938 under the owner-operator, Herman Clouse. Today the building is owned by Clyde Claycomb and is used for storage and an antique auto shop.