Stone Grist Mill Complex
Why it's listed
Beside the falls of Timmerman Creek near St. Johnsville, a four-story limestone grist mill anchors a small complex that records how grain was ground in the Mohawk Valley for roughly a century. Millwrights Leonard and Curran put the mill into operation on February 20, 1835. A 30-foot overshot waterwheel inside the building drove two run of millstones, and the mill worked as a custom mill, keeping a portion of the flour as payment. In 1898 owner Absalom E. Seaman installed a water turbine and roller milling machinery, and the mill later ground buckwheat and animal feed until the mid-1930s. Seaman also built the owner's house in 1894 and rebuilt the barn, wagon shed and hog house. The mill's heavy hewn timber framing and some machinery survive, though the dam is now ruins. After decades of vacancy, the property was rehabilitated after 1988 and now operates as a bed and breakfast. It was listed for its industrial and architectural importance.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the complex is a substantially intact, representative example of a local, water-powered, pre-industrial grain mill in Montgomery County. The random ashlar stone mill shows high craftsmanship and is among the best preserved of its type and period in the Mohawk Valley. The house and outbuildings retain integrity and show life at a rural mill site into the early twentieth century.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 96000140, listed February 23, 1996. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1679 Mill Rd., St. Johnsville |
|---|---|
| County | Montgomery County |
| Listed | February 23, 1996 |
| Reference number | 96000140 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | ca. 1835-ca. 1935 |
| Architect / builder | Millwrights Leonard and Curran (per an inscription on a wood panel in the mill); form lists Architect/Builder as N/A |
| Architectural style | Early Republic/Federal |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry, Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Stood vacant and open to the elements for nearly half a century after milling ended; rehabilitated after 1988 and currently used as a bed and breakfast inn. |
| Acreage | 4.5 |
| Coordinates | 43.00451, -74.69614 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 96000140.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14707375
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.