Ruins: Mt. Vernon Grist Mill at Moonstone Manor
Lancaster Co. | Pennsylvania | USA
Watersource: Big Conewago Creek.
Ruins: Mt. Vernon Grist Mill at Moonstone Manor
The location of the mill site is on the grounds of the Conewago Manor Inn, at 2048 Zeager Road, Elizabethtown in West Donegal Twp., Lancaster Co. From Rt. 230, midway between Middletown and Elizabethtown, turn south on Deodate Rd. The road changes to Zeager Rd. as it crosses from Dauphin Co. to Lancaster Co., right at the Conewago Creek. The mill ruins / inn are on the Lancaster side of the Conewago Cr.
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The Moonstone Manor sign for the former Conewago Manor Inn. The mill ruins are located on the grounds of the inn. They are not visible from Zeager Road. The miller's house, a brick portion in the rear, served as a tavern and inn in the mid-late 1700's. *Update: The new name is Moonstone Manor, the new web address is www.moonstonemanor.com. Thanks for including our mill site in your web listing. Penny Persson 07/12/2012*
The inn was built in 1739 and served as the home for Indian trader and miller, Samuel Smith. The property was deeded from the William Penn family in mid-1742.
The rear of the mill ruins in June 2006. The double arched outlets for the return of the water from Conewago Creek after being used for powering the mill wheel and stones. By 1801, a mill on the property was owned by Henry Bates Grubbs, the Ironmaster of Hopewell Furnace, who also built the stone part of today's manor and named it Mount Vernon Estates.
The same arches for outlet water from a different view including the Conewago Creek in December 2007. Check the website for additional history of the inn. The mill and furnace were part of Mount Vernon Furnace in 1824. The last mill was built by Edward B. Grubb in 1832.
Close-up of the arches, one of the best preserved sections of the ruins. In 1875 the mill was owned by Grubb & Company and by Dr. H.M. Alexander in 1899. Dr Alexander established the pharmacutical company today known as Wyeth-Ahearst Laboratories in Marietta, Pa.
The mill ruins and the Conewago Creek and the Conewago Manor Inn in the background. The mill closed its operations in 1913.
AN inside view of the mill ruins looking through the arches.
A frozen fountain in the inn's gardens.GPS: 40' 9.67'N, 76' 39.99'W ele. 407'/124 meters Harrisburg Quadrangle
The Inn from the creek and mill side. The area is a private inn. Guests are allowed to wander the grounds, other should ask permission to see the ruins.