Hartman Cider Press
Why it's listed
A large hand-hewn beam cider press in a one-story wood frame building on a stone foundation, built c. 1835 on the Hartman Homestead in Muhlenberg Township. The press has a thirty-foot oak beam that exerted about thirty tons of pressure on crushed apples, turned by a thirteen-foot wooden screw. Its building, measuring thirty-five by fifteen feet, also houses a hickory pomace mill. Apple growing and cider pressing were widespread across southeastern Pennsylvania in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, and farmers from surrounding areas brought apples to large beam presses like this one each autumn. The Hartman family used the press through the early twentieth century, and it was acquired by the American Folklife Society in 1974. The nomination identifies it as one of only three intact large beam presses remaining in the region, making it a rare survivor of a once common farm process. The homestead was demolished after the press was moved to the Keim Homestead in 1975.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the press is a rare surviving example of the large beam cider presses once common in southeastern Pennsylvania. It is described as one of only three intact large beam presses left in the region, and it retains very good integrity in its press, building and setting despite relocation.
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 87002205, listed January 7, 1988. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Keim Rd., 1.1 mi. W of Lobachsville, Lobachsville |
|---|---|
| County | Berks County |
| Listed | January 7, 1988 |
| Reference number | 87002205 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | C. 1835 |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Agriculture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Moved in 1975 from its original location; all parts of the press are described as original and operational, and the building is described as largely intact. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Oley Township Historic District |
| Coordinates | 40.41087, -75.74909 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 87002205.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5674989
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.