Cheltenham Township near Elkins Park in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Shoemaker-Bosler Mill Site
In 1746 a corn-grist mill powered by a water wheel was erected here on a mill race of Tookany Creek. It was owned and operated by Dorothy Penrose Shoemaker, a descendant of Richard Wall, in partership with Richard Mather and John Tyson. Eventually the Shoemaker family became the sole owners. The surrounding area became known as Shoemakertown. During the Revolutionary War Hessians, retreating by way of Old York Road from the Battle of Edge Hill, damaged the mill and made off with the Shoemakers' seven cows. The mill was repaired and run by the family until 1847 when it was purchased by Charles Bosler who had worked for the mill as a wagon driver to bring in supplies and take the flour to market and whose land adjoined the Shoemakers. Later named C. Bosler & Sons, the family converted the mill to steam power and enlarged the building in the 1880's. It was then able to produce 150 barrels of award winning flour a day. The Bosler family ran the mill until 1923. It was demolished in 1927.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers • War, US Revolutionary. A significant historical year for this entry is 1746.
Location. 40° 4.686′ N, 75° 7.7′ W. Marker is near Elkins Park, Pennsylvania, in Montgomery County. It is in Cheltenham Township. Marker is at the intersection of Wall Park Drive and Church Road, on the left when traveling west on Wall Park Drive. Marker is in Wall Park, about 125 feet SSE of the Richard Wall House. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1 Wall Park Drive, Elkins Park PA 19027, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within one mile of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Wall House (The Ivy) (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named Shoemaker-Bosler Mill Site (within shouting distance of this marker); First Assembly of Abington Friends Meeting (within shouting distance of this marker); Beth Sholom Synagogue (approx. ¼ mile away); a different marker also named Beth Sholom Synagogue (approx. 0.3 miles away); St. Paul's Episcopal Church (approx. half a mile away); Church Road and Washington Lane Historic Crossroad (approx. 0.8 miles away); Lucretia C. Mott (approx. one mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Elkins Park.
Also see . . .
1. The Shoemaker-Bosler Mill at Wall Park. (Submitted on December 4, 2010, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
2. 1903 Genealogy of the Shoemaker Family of Cheltenham. (Submitted on December 4, 2010, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
3. Mills of Cheltenham. (Submitted on December 4, 2010, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on December 4, 2010, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 1,078 times since then and 45 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on December 4, 2010, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.