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 special place where you can step back in time. It's like a living history museum, showing how people lived from the 1700s to the early 1900s. This village is one of the oldest and most complete mill villages in 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. Jerusalem Mill Village became a recognized historic place on August 20, 1987.
Contents
History of Jerusalem Mill Village
Early Days and the First Mills
The land where Jerusalem Mill Village now stands was first claimed in 1687. It was a large area, about 318 acres. By 1743, a man named Stephen Onion, who worked with iron, owned the land. He made it even 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. Linton came to Jerusalem to build a special mill called a merchant grist mill. This mill would grind grain into flour to be sold.
Isaiah Linton also improved other mills and an ironworks nearby. He worked with his family and a partner named David Lee. Together, they built eight mills that used water power from the Little Gunpowder Falls River. The fourth mill they built, Jerusalem Mill, was finished in 1772. This mill is now the most important building in the historic village.
A Quaker Village and the Civil War
Jerusalem Mill Village was a Quaker village until the early 1900s. Quakers are a religious group known for their peaceful beliefs. Even so, there is evidence that David Lee and some of his Quaker neighbors helped during the American Revolutionary War. They made rifles for the Continental Army in a gun shop behind the gristmill.
During the American Civil War, on July 11, 1864, something exciting happened. A Confederate Army leader named Major Harry Gilmor sent his cavalry (soldiers on horseback) to the general store in Jerusalem Mills. This store is now known as McCourtney's Store. The soldiers took supplies and horses as part of a raid.
Saving the Village for the Future
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 the Gunpowder Falls State Park.
Today, a group of volunteers called "Friends of Jerusalem Mill" works to save and fix up the old buildings. They are a non-profit charity and have been taking care of the village since 1986. Their current agreement to manage the village lasts until 2039.
The Friends of Jerusalem Mill get money for their work mostly from donations, sponsors, and people who become members. They also rely on many hours of volunteer help. They host fun events like living history programs, concerts by the river, and even jousting tournaments! They also have vintage baseball games and a First Responders' Day.
Currently, they are working to make sure the Lee Family's old Bank Barn, mansion, and a two-story springhouse-smokehouse are safe and preserved. On April 10, 2016, a special marker was placed at Jerusalem Mill. It's called a Blue Star Memorial Highway marker, and it honors all the people who have served in the U.S. armed forces.
Gallery
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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
