Bunn-Tillapaugh Feed Mill
Why it's listed
Beside Bear Gulch in the village of Richmondville, this four-story feed mill was built around 1885 by H. Dingman on the site of a wood-turning factory destroyed by fire in 1883. Its heavy timber frame rests on a stone foundation above bedrock, designed to withstand the vibration of its water-driven machinery. A steel overshot wheel installed in 1916 replaced the original and powered shafts, pulleys and belts running to grinders, fanning mills, separators, conveyors and bagging chutes, many still bearing manufacturers' stenciling. The stone dam, millpond and sluice also survive. The mill served farmers across the surrounding region, who kept accounts there, and it was a local gathering place. C. R. Bunn bought it in 1906 and ran it until 1950, after which Maynard Tillapaugh operated it until 1984. It was listed as the last remaining example of Richmondville's once-numerous water-powered mills, and the local historical society now uses it as a museum.
Significance in brief: The mill is presented as a highly intact, representative example of late nineteenth century water-powered industry in Richmondville. It keeps its 1916 steel overshot water wheel, its historic impoundment and a full set of period grinding and processing machinery. It is also the last surviving example of the village's many water-powered mills.
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 06000894, listed September 29, 2006. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 2 High St., Richmondville |
|---|---|
| County | Schoharie County |
| Listed | September 29, 2006 |
| Reference number | 06000894 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | circa 1885-1950 |
| Architect / builder | H. Dingman (erected the mill, circa 1885) |
| Architectural style | No style/Late 19th century vernacular |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Acquired by the Richmondville Historical Society in 2002 and to be preserved as a museum; the mill ceased production in 1984. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.63301, -74.56355 (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 06000894.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4997806
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.