Mill Details

Sickman Mill / Pequea Roller Mill

Lancaster Co. | Pennsylvania | USA
Known Dates: 1793/rebuilt 1865
Township: Conestoga Twp.
Watersource: Pequea Creek
Location / Directions

Sickman Mill / Pequea Roller Mill

Five miles south of New Danville on Pa. 324, through Burnt Mills, enter into Martic Township. Turn right onto Frogtown Rd. Go a little over one mile to Pequea Creek. Road becomes Sickman Mill Rd. across creek in Conestoga Twp. Mill is right by the creek and bridge.

Verse for Thought
"Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him."
({Revelation 1:7 NKJV})
Sickman Mill / Pequea Roller Mill
Jim Miller 11/07/1987

This mill is a massive 40'x60', 4.5 story fieldstone structure that is truly a memorial to its kind. The earlier mill was built possibly as early as 1765 when a John Stone's mill was offered at Sheriff sale. Tax lists of 1772 show Samuel Hess owning a mill in this location probably bought in 1765 at the Sheriff's sale. The succession of owners from this point goes from Christian Shenk in 1777 to his son, Jacob Shenk in 1820. At this time, the mill was a 30'x40'/ 3 story stone mill, with a stone oil mill and even a saw mill in the grouping. In 1844, it was sold to Ben Hess. The mill changed hands again in 1857 when it was again sold at Sheriff's sale for back taxes to Daniel Good. The new enlarged 40'x60' mill of fieldstone rose upward for 4.5 stories in 1862/65 to the way it is today, to accomidate the roller process. This feat was accomlished by Daniel & Elizabeth Good as is evidenced by the datestone on the third story outside wall, south exposure, between the second and third windows. William Good owned the mill in 1875 & Geo. Buckwalter in 1899/1900.

Sickman Mill / Pequea Roller Mill
Jim Miller 11/07/1987

In January of 1996, torrential downpours took out the 7' dam 150' upstream on the Pequea. The tailrace was 400' long on its way back to the creek. The mill used two turbines to power the stones and later the roller process. It was at times a flour & grist mill, distilley and a cooperage as well as the oil mill and saw mill activities. The mill's second, more common name, was derived from an operator in the early 1900's, Warren Sickman. It has been a antique mall, museum and cammpground since the 1970's. Still in good condition in 1987 and later.

Sickman Mill / Pequea Roller Mill

*Update: The mill was purchased in 2007 by Rodger Rohrbach and Erik Armstrong with plans to restore the mill, which still contains all its machinery, and possibly conduct tours through the mill. Rodger Rohrbach 01/14/2008*

 
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