Hain Mill
Also known as: Wernersville Mill
Why it's listed
Built in 1798 along Spring Creek in rural Lower Heidelberg Township, the Hain Mill is a stone gristmill of two and one-half stories over a basement, measuring about 40 by 52 feet. Peter Hain is said to have built it, and the Hain family owned it for several generations, appearing on maps from 1816 to 1876. The building follows the classic merchant mill type, with a storage floor above the millstone level, a tin gable roof, and a hoist hood. Its interior retains open post and beam framing, chamfered posts, and a finished office with a corner fireplace and recessed wall cabinet. A stone farmhouse dated 1782 by datestone and several later frame outbuildings share the ten-acre site. The mill is regarded as a large and stylish example of its type, and its historical and architectural importance rests on its association with grain milling in Berks County.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the mill is a late eighteenth-century example of a classic merchant mill, with a larger building form designed for grain storage and refined interior and exterior details. Its associated house served as the miller's dwelling throughout the period of significance, and the Hain family's milling activity in Berks County is cited as the basis for significance under Criteria A and C.
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 90001618, 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 Hain Mill Rd. and T 495, Lower Heidelberg Township, Wernersville |
|---|---|
| County | Berks County |
| Listed | November 8, 1990 |
| Reference number | 90001618 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1782-1939 |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The mill ceased operating sometime before the present owners purchased the property in 1961; the document describes it as in deteriorating condition due to the need of roof repairs. |
| Acreage | 7 |
| Coordinates | 40.35363, -76.08298 (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 90001618.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q15222530
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.