Dreibelbis Mill
Why it's listed
Dreibelbis Mill is a brick gristmill on a triangle of land formed by two township roads in Perry Township, east of Shoemakersville. Enoch Wartzenluft built it in 1854, replacing an earlier log mill said to date from 1790. It was first a merchant mill serving a wide region and was among the first in Berks County to add steam power. In 1904 Cleophas Dreibelbis added a three-story storage building, and roller mills replaced two of the four pairs of millstones for making flour. One pair of stones stayed in use for roasted cornmeal, which customers traveled many miles to buy. A diesel engine has powered the mill since 1944. The Dreibelbis family operated it until it closed in 1985. The mill still holds its turbine, millstones, roller stands, sifters and elevators, along with the dam, pond and races. It was listed for its architecture and for showing how a stone mill adapted to modern flour production.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the mill is a well preserved example of mill architecture that documents technological change in milling from the 1850s onward. It shows the shift from water-powered millstones to steam, diesel and roller milling. Its history also reflects wider patterns in the Berks County milling industry, and it was known for roasted cornmeal and White Rose pastry flour.
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 90001614, listed November 8, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Jct. of Dreibelbis Mill and Bellevue Rds., Perry Township, Shoemakersville |
|---|---|
| County | Berks County |
| Listed | November 8, 1990 |
| Reference number | 90001614 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1854 - 1939 |
| Architect / builder | Enoch Wartzenluft (builder of the present mill in 1854, per the narrative); form lists Architect/Builder as N/A |
| Architectural style | Other: Gristmill |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry, Engineering, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as vacant/not in use; the mill was operated until 1985, when it closed. The building is described as in generally good condition, and the interior in very good condition. |
| Acreage | 11 |
| Coordinates | 40.50724, -75.95441 (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.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 90001614.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5306886
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.