Elizabethtown in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Millstone Plaza History

By Cosmos Mariner, June 12, 2019
1. Millstone Plaza History Marker
Inscription. Millstone Plaza History. . On this site in 1876, Joseph K. Groff built Groff's Mill, a steam-powered grist mill on Negley's Run. In 1877, when Joseph joined his brother, John K. Groff, in the meat business at a butcher shop at 13 North Market Street, he sold the mill to Jacob G. Stauffer. Jacob made improvements and enlarged the mill to include four sets, or runs, of stones. He ran the mill continuously, grinding wheat into flour and corn into meal, then selling it to many distant locations. Stauffers Mill was able to produce 50 barrels (about 10,000 pounds) of flour each day. . . In 1898, Stauffer sold the mill to his son-in-law, John F. Binkley. John, who had a lifetime of experience in the milling business when he came to Elizabethtown, ran the mill until his death in 1916. Upon John's death, Stauffer returned to the mill and operated it until his grandson, Jacob V. Binkley, was able to take over the mill. . . Jacob V. Binkley was born in Elizabethtown in1899 and graduated from Elizabethtown High School in 1917. In 1918, at the age of nineteen, Jacob began to operate Binkley's Mill. In his time the mill produced Silver Cloud Flour, Blue Ribbon Corn Meal, and a variety of poultry feeds, along with custom milling for local farmers. . . The millstones on this site today are believed to be from Binkley's Mill. These stones were recovered when Bainbridge Street was built in 2011. . . . This historical marker is in Elizabethtown in Lancaster County Pennsylvania
On this site in 1876, Joseph K. Groff built Groff's Mill, a steam-powered grist mill on Negley's Run. In 1877, when Joseph joined his brother, John K. Groff, in the meat business at a butcher shop at 13 North Market Street, he sold the mill to Jacob G. Stauffer. Jacob made improvements and enlarged the mill to include four sets, or runs, of stones. He ran the mill continuously, grinding wheat into flour and corn into meal, then selling it to many distant locations. Stauffers Mill was able to produce 50 barrels (about 10,000 pounds) of flour each day.
In 1898, Stauffer sold the mill to his son-in-law, John F. Binkley. John, who had a lifetime of experience in the milling business when he came to Elizabethtown, ran the mill until his death in 1916. Upon John's death, Stauffer returned to the mill and operated it until his grandson, Jacob V. Binkley, was able to take over the mill.
Jacob V. Binkley was born in Elizabethtown in1899 and graduated from Elizabethtown High School in 1917. In 1918, at the age of nineteen, Jacob began to operate Binkley's Mill. In his time the mill produced Silver Cloud Flour, Blue Ribbon Corn Meal,
2. Marker detail: Grist Mill
and a variety of poultry feeds, along with custom milling for local farmers.
The millstones on this site today are believed to be from Binkley's Mill. These stones were recovered when Bainbridge Street was built in 2011.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Industry & Commerce • Man-Made Features.
Location. 40° 8.801′ N, 76° 36.185′ W. Marker is in Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania, in Lancaster County. Marker is at the intersection of West Bainbridge Street and South Market Street (State Highway 743), on the right when traveling east on West Bainbridge Street. Marker is located in an interpretive plaza at the southwest corner of the intersection. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 406 South Market Street, Elizabethtown PA 17022, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Grist Mill Process (here, next to this marker); In Memoriam (approx. 0.3 miles away); Elizabeth Area Veterans Memorial (approx. 0.3 miles away); The Shoe Industry in Elizabethtown (approx. 0.3 miles away); Changes in Elizabethtown (approx. 0.4 miles away); Design of Elizabethtown (approx. 0.4 miles away); Barnabas and Elizabeth Hughes (approx. 0.4 miles away); Industry in Elizabethtown (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Elizabethtown.
Related markers.
3. Marker detail: Market Street, Elizabethtown, PA
Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Elizabethtown Millstone Plaza History
4. Joseph K. Groff Jacob G. Stauffer
Jacob V. Binkley John F. Binkley
5. Silver Cloud Flour
Will prove a valuable help to a good cook.
J. G. Stauffer, Prop.
Elizabethtown Flouring Mills
Flour, Feed, Grain, and Salt
Manufacturer of Hard Wood Lumber.
Telegraph poles a speciality.
By Cosmos Mariner, June 12, 2019
6. Millstone Plaza History Marker (wide view from Bainbridge Street marker in background)
Credits. This page was last revised on June 12, 2019. It was originally submitted on June 9, 2019, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 74 times since then and 4 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on June 12, 2019, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.