Jerusalem Mill Village facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Jerusalem Mill Village
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Jerusalem Mill at Jerusalem Mill Village, August 2012
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 Location in Maryland
Location in the United States
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| Location | Jerusalem and Jericho Rds. Jerusalem, Maryland, U.S. |
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| Area | 27 acres (11 ha) |
| Built | 1772 |
| Architect | Lee, David; Et al. |
| NRHP reference No. | 87001400 |
| Added to NRHP | August 20, 1987 |
Jerusalem Mill Village is a cool place where you can step back in time! It's like a living history museum that shows what life was like from the 1700s to the early 1900s. This village is one of the oldest and most complete mill villages in the U.S. state of Maryland.
You can find it in Harford County, right by the Little Gunpowder Falls River. It's also the main office for Gunpowder Falls State Park. This historic spot was added to the National Register of Historic Places on August 20, 1987. This means it's a really important historical site. Nearby, you can also find other historic places like Jericho Farm and the Jericho Covered Bridge.
Contents
The Story of Jerusalem Mill Village
How It All Began
The land where Jerusalem Mill Village now stands was first claimed way back in 1687. It was a big piece of land, about 318 acres! By 1743, a man named Stephen Onion, who worked with iron, bought the land. He even made it bigger, adding more buildings.
After Stephen Onion passed away in 1750, his nephew, Zacheas Barrett Onion, took over the property. Zacheas hired Isaiah Linton from Pennsylvania to come and build a special mill for grinding grain. Isaiah also improved other mills and an ironworks. He worked with his family and a partner named David Lee.
Isaiah eventually built eight mills along the Little Gunpowder River. These mills used water power to do their work. The fourth mill, called Jerusalem Mill, was finished in 1772. Today, this mill is the most important building in the living history village.
Life in the Quaker Village
Jerusalem Mill Village was a Quaker village until the early 1900s. Quakers are a religious group known for their peaceful ways. There's evidence that David Lee and some of his Quaker neighbors made rifles for the Continental Army. They did this in a gunshop behind the gristmill.
During the American Civil War, on July 11, 1864, a Confederate Army unit visited the general store in Jerusalem Mills. This store is now known as McCourtney's Store. The soldiers, led by Major Harry Gilmor, took supplies and horses. This event was part of a larger action called Gilmor's Raid.
Bringing History Back to Life
After the Civil War, the buildings in the village were slowly rented out and sold. Different owners ran the gristmill until 1961. Then, the State of Maryland bought it to make it part of Gunpowder Falls State Park.
Today, a group of volunteers called "Friends of Jerusalem Mill" is working hard to fix up and save these old buildings. They have been taking care of the village since 1986. Their current agreement to manage the village lasts until 2039.
The money for fixing up and taking care of the village comes mostly from donations. It also comes from sponsorships, memberships, and special events. Volunteers give countless hours of their time to help.
The village hosts many fun events throughout the year. These include living history programs, concerts by the falls, and even jousting tournaments! They also have vintage baseball games and a First Responders' Day. Right now, they are working to save the Lee Family's old barn, mansion, and a two-story springhouse-smokehouse.
On April 10, 2016, a special marker was placed at Jerusalem Mill. It's a Blue Star Memorial Highway marker. This marker honors all the brave people who have served in the U.S. armed forces.
Pictures of the Village
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Jerusalem Mill at Jerusalem Mill Village, December 2009
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Jerusalem Mill Village Marker, December 2009
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Jerusalem Mill Village-Gun/Cooper Shop, December 2009
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Jerusalem Mill Village-Blacksmith Shop, December 2009
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Jerusalem Mill Village-McCourtney's Store, December 2009
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Jerusalem Mill Village-Tenant Farmhouse, December 2009
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Jerusalem Mill Village-Bank Barn Ruins, December 2009
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Jerusalem Mill Village-Milestone, December 2009
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Jerusalem Mill at Jerusalem Mill Village, August 2012
