Reading in Berks County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Melcher's Grist Mill
Photographed By William Pope, October 8, 2022
1. Melcher's Grist Mill Marker
Inscription.
Melcher's Grist Mill was built c.1888 and represents a complete and rare example of a single family multi-purpose farm mill. Built for Nicklos Melcher and moved from Bally, Pennsylvania, the mill had a water powered turbine in the basement. On the first floor the water power was used to operate a large blade grindstone, a bone mill, a meat grinder, and a sausage stuffing machine at butchering time. The main machinery in the mill was the millstone for grinding grains into animal feed, and corn for cornmeal in the kitchen. The mill could also power a wood saw for cutting firewood and a wooden tub washing machine. Such farm mills were not uncommon in the eastern United States, but became obsolete with the introduction of gasoline and electric motors. The last owner, Joseph Melcher, son of Nicklos, operated the mill into the 1950s. It was moved to this site in 1984.
Melcher's Grist Mill was built c.1888 and represents a complete and rare example of a single family multi-purpose farm mill. Built
for Nicklos Melcher and moved from Bally, Pennsylvania, the mill had a water powered turbine in the basement.
On the first floor the water power was used to operate a large blade grindstone, a bone mill, a meat grinder, and a sausage stuffing machine at butchering time. The main machinery in the mill
was the millstone for grinding grains into animal feed, and corn for cornmeal in the kitchen. The mill could also power a
wood saw for cutting firewood and a wooden tub washing machine.
Such farm mills were not uncommon in the eastern United States, but became obsolete with the introduction of gasoline and electric
motors. The last owner, Joseph Melcher, son of Nicklos, operated the mill into the 1950s. It was moved to this site in 1984.
Location. 40° 22.167′ N, 75° 58.833′ W. Marker is in Reading, Pennsylvania, in Berks County. Marker is on Red Bridge Road, 0.1 miles north of Tulpehocken road, on the right when traveling south. Red Bridge Road is closed to vehicular traffic at this location.
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Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1102 Red Bridge Road, Reading PA 19605, United States of America. Touch for directions.
More about this marker. This marker can only be accessed by foot. It is on the property of the Berks County Heritage Center.
Photographed By William Pope, October 8, 2022
2. Melcher's Grist Mill Marker
Photographed By William Pope, October 8, 2022
3. Melcher's Grist Mill Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on October 28, 2022. It was originally submitted on October 27, 2022, by William Pope of Marietta, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 101 times since then and 42 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on October 27, 2022, by William Pope of Marietta, Pennsylvania. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
