Somerset Roller Mills facts for kids
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Somerset Roller Mills
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 Location in Mercer County, New Jersey
Location in New Jersey
Location in the United States
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| Location | 1200 Daniel Bray Highway, Titusville, New Jersey |
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| Area | about 12 acres (4.9 ha) |
| Built | 18th–19th centuries |
| Architectural style | Vernacular |
| NRHP reference No. | 74001171 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | November 19, 1974 |
The Somerset Roller Mills, also known as the Jacobs Creek Grist Mill, is an old building complex. It is located near Titusville in Hopewell Township, Mercer County, New Jersey. This mill was first built in the early 1700s.
A gristmill is a factory where grain, like wheat or corn, is ground into flour. The Somerset Roller Mills were very important for making flour. Because of its special design, business history, and role in industry, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places on November 19, 1974.
Contents
A Look Back at the Mill's History
How the Mill Started
People believe that a man named Isaac Smith received a large piece of land in 1726. This land, about 1,000 acres (400 ha)s, was given to him by the English Crown (the King or Queen of England at that time). It is thought that Isaac Smith soon built the first house and mill on this land.
The mill would grind grain into flour. Then, the flour was shipped down the river to Philadelphia.
The Mill During the American Revolution
It is very likely that this mill helped the Continental Army during the American Revolution. The Continental Army was the army that fought for America's independence from Great Britain. The mill probably provided them with important flour for food.
Growth and Change
In 1834, the Delaware and Raritan Canal opened right next to the mill. A canal is a waterway built by people. This canal made it much easier to transport goods. Because of this, the mill's business grew a lot. This led to the mill being made bigger in the 1840s.
The Mill's Later Years
The mill kept working until the early 1930s. This was around the time of the Great Depression, a period when many people lost their jobs and money. By then, new machines could grind grain much faster and automatically. The old mill, which used manual operations, became outdated.
The Somerset Roller Mills show us how a rural factory worked a long time ago. It tells a story of how things began, grew, and then changed as new technology came along.
