Wallace-Cross Mill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Wallace-Cross Mill
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Wallace-Cross Mill with miller's house in background
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 Location in Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
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| Location | South of Felton, East Hopewell Township, Pennsylvania |
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| Area | 0.5 acres (0.20 ha) |
| Built | 1826 |
| Built by | Wallace, Alexander |
| NRHP reference No. | 77001204 |
| Added to NRHP | December 22, 1977 |
The Wallace-Cross Mill is a historic building in East Hopewell Township, York County, Pennsylvania. It's a special kind of mill called a grist mill, which means it used to grind grain into flour. This mill was built way back in 1826.
The mill is a two-and-a-half-story building made of wood, sitting on a strong stone base. It has a sloped roof with fancy decorations. A huge steel water wheel, 11 feet tall and 4 feet wide, helped power all the machines inside. In 1979, the mill was given to York County. It was added to a special list of historic places, the National Register of Historic Places, in 1977.
Contents
The Mill's Story
The Wallace-Cross Mill was built in 1826. It used water power from a stream called Rambo Run. The mill worked almost non-stop until the 1980s. It is now part of the York County Parks system.
The mill was recognized as an important historic site in 1977. First, it was added to the Pennsylvania Inventory of Historic Places in February 1977. Then, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in June 1977. Harry Cross, who owned the mill, gave it to York County in 1979. In the early 2000s, York County Parks worked hard to fix up the building, both inside and out.
Mill Ownership Over Time
Since 1840, the mill has only changed owners four times. The name of the mill also changed from the Wallace family name to the Cross family name.
A Look Inside the Mill
Today, the mill is set up to look like it did in the 1950s. This was a very busy time for the mill when Harry Cross owned it. Back then, the mill ran 24 hours a day, seven days a week!
All three floors of the mill are open for visitors to explore. You can see old milling machines and displays. These exhibits and demonstrations are fun for everyone. They are especially helpful for students learning about Pennsylvania history.
What You Can See
Inside the mill, you'll find different milling tools. These include a Lieberknecht mill and a corn sheller that was powered by hand. There's also a display that shows how millstones work and how they were sharpened. In the office, you can see a family tree of the Wallace and Cross families.
The office on the first floor looks like Harry Cross just stepped out for a moment. It has a stove, his desk, a workbench, and chairs.
The Water Wheel's Power
The mill first used a wooden overshot wheel to get its power. This old wheel had wooden spokes and a wooden shaft. In 1922, a new steel Fitz waterwheel replaced the wooden one. This new wheel was made in Hanover, Pennsylvania. Fitz was a very famous company that made mill wheels in the 1800s. A kind person named Harvey Bradley helped restore and put the original Fitz waterwheel back in place.
Visiting the Mill Today
Since 2003, a group of dedicated volunteers called the Friends of Wallace-Cross Mill have helped run the mill. They host open houses from June through October. They also give special tours for visitors.
