Rieser / Reeser Grist Mill
Berks Co. | Pennsylvania | USA
Watersource: Seifert Run, trib. Schuylkill River.
Rieser / Reeser Grist Mill
Located SW of Leesport, about 1.3 miles SW of Pa 61(Center Ave.) via Wall St., crossing the Schuylkill River, then connecting with Main St. wuich becomes Grange Rd. The mill is on left at the junc. with Cross Keys Rd.
The structure is a 40'X50' limestone mill with a 10' cement block addition of 3.5 stories on the rear of the original 3.5 story mill. The building sports large red sandstone corner quoins.
Wayne Feeds was sold here during its later mill years of operation. The roof looked adequate and the overall condition was good in Sept. 1999 and again in 2006.
The mill was built by Philip Reeser in 1784, a native of Switzerland who settled on Bern Twp., Berks Co. where he aquired a considerable amount of property and left a large estate. The mill was operated for many years by a desendant, Abraham Reeser. In 1909, the mill was being run by the owner John McGrey.
The date on the catshead shows the mill was altered or rebuilt by A & M Rieser in 1825.
*Update: Spelling correction of Reiser name to Rieser. Rieser is the Swiss spelling of Reeser, the family from the Canton of Bern, Switzerland, as were many early settlers of Bern Township, Pa. Philip Reeser 09/02/2005*