Welcome to the third installment of “Amazing Milling Machinery”. In each of these articles I highlight an object that might be found in a typical 19th century, water-powered grist mill. Today’s featured gadget is a dust collector. This device collects flour dust from the air and vents...
I am currently working on a project sponsored by the Ressler Mill Foundation. The Ressler Mill Foundation manages the Mascot Roller Mill on the Mill Stream in Upper Leacock Township. The foundation has engaged a mill wright to refurbish the milling equipment, not necessarily for the purpose...
I was first attracted to Lancaster County’s old grist mills because of their unique architecture. I began photographing them years ago not knowing where that practice might take me. Lately, I have been privileged to get inside some of the mills and have found that they are...
Many of the first European settlers of Lancaster County (originally part of Chester County) came to this part of the world to escape religious persecution. Among these were the French Huguenots with names like Feree, Lefevre, and Leman. Others were the Swiss-German anabaptists named Herr, Funk, Bowman,...
Yesterday, December 28, I walked the length of the Conestoga Greenway Trail with my son who is an avid birder. Thanks to his good hearing and eyesight, and a little help from the Merlin Bird ID app, we were able to identify the many species of birds...
Is the Conestoga a creek or a river? People who grew up along its banks and fished or swam in its waters often prefer to call it the Conestoga Creek. Or, as it is pronounced in the vernacular, “crick”. The signs along the major highways that cross...
The Pennsylvania Organization for Watersheds and Rivers (POWR) nominates up to five watersheds each year for the honor of being recognized as the River of the Year. In addition to bragging rights, the award includes a $10,000 grant to the organization that nominated the river. The Conestoga...
If you travel on the old Strasburg Pike, you have probably noticed an old mill that is sitting almost on the road, about one half mile south of the Lincoln Highway. On the side of the mill is painted a fading sign that advertises John H. Bonholtzer’s...
It’s Monday morning! As I mentioned last week, today is the last installment of my Mill Monday series. I haven’t covered all the mills that are still standing in Lancaster County, and I apologize if I didn’t feature your favorite mill. But all good things must come...
It’s Monday morning! Time to feature another one of Lancaster County Pennsylvania’s water-powered grist mills. Today I will feature a popular destination on the Pequea Creek in Conestoga Township. Sickmans mill has featured a campground and tubing excursions on the Pequea for many years although, like many...
