Geiger Mill
Why it's listed
Built in the 1780s beside Cold Run Creek in Geigertown, Berks County, the Geiger Mill is a stone gristmill finished in stucco, part of a complex that includes a stone house, a smokehouse, and the pond and races that once carried water to the mill. The mill was built by Paul Geiger, and a county history of 1886 credits him with its construction in 1781. It rises on several floor levels, and its window placement and stone corner fireplaces reflect that arrangement, which helps show how eighteenth-century mills organized their machinery. Although most equipment is gone, the early hurst frame, the millstone cut-outs, and a wrought iron elevator drive remain. The Geiger family operated the mill for nearly a century, and it continued grinding grain until about 1919. The property is regarded as one of the six definite eighteenth-century survivors among the 104 mills surveyed in Berks County.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the mill is important for its association with the county gristmill industry and as a representative example of a mill that was part of a working family farm. It is described as an architecturally significant eighteenth-century mill complex whose multi-level plan and window placement show how machinery and operations were arranged. The house's Federal-period woodwork is cited as evidence of the family's relative prosperity.
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 90001738, listed November 8, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Jct. of Mill Rd. and PA 82, Robeson Township, Geigertown |
|---|---|
| County | Berks County |
| Listed | November 8, 1990 |
| Reference number | 90001738 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1781 - c. 1919 |
| Architectural style | Vernacular |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry, Engineering, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The mill ceased operating shortly after World War I; most equipment has been removed and the watercourses no longer hold water. |
| Acreage | 1.8 |
| Coordinates | 40.19981, -75.83709 (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 90001738.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5530111
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.