Westover Mill / Gibson Mill
Perry Co. | Pennsylvania | USA
Watersource: Perry Furnace Run.
Westover Mill / Gibson Mill
The mill is located about 1.1 miles northwest of Dromgold's Corner where Sh 850 and Sh 34 split when traveling northbound. The mill sits on the north side of the road one mile further north on Rt 850 at Mill Road just past Perry Furnace Run.
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The first mill on this site was of log construction on a stone foundation, built by George Gibson Jr. in 1779. The log mill was operated up to 1850 by the Gibson family, then was idle for a time.
The mill was rebuilt into a spoke & wheel factory in 1871 by George's grandson, Frank Gibson, and the frame addition on the rear ensued.
The Gibson Mill has recently been purchased by Karen Trynoski and Bryan McVitty in early 2012.
A paint business was added to the spoke & wheel factory in 1878, when the wooden wheel that powered the mill was used to turn the mechanism for the grinding of yellow stone for pigment of yellow paint & iron oxide for red paint pigment.
The mill exchanged hands at least a few times, then was rejuvenated when it was bought by C. Vallery Dunkleberger, who promptly installed steel rollers and built grain storage bins.
The wooden waterwheel finally wore out in 1931, then it was replaced with a steel wheel. Operations ceased in 1946. GPS coordinates: 77' 12.70, 40' 21.15.
The 18' overshot water wheel
A US Geological Survey Marker dated 1903, embedded in the stone foundation.
The entry into the back of the mill for the overshot wheel.
A view of the mill in 2012 taken by the new owner.GPS: 40' 21.14'N, 77' 12.66'W ele. 482'/147 meters Carlisle Quadrangle