Hunter's Mill Complex
Why it's listed
Hunter's Mill Complex is a group of late eighteenth and mid-nineteenth century stone buildings above the west branch of the Perkiomen Creek in Hereford Township, Berks County. The mansion, completed in 1794 for ironmaster Peter Richard, is a two and one-half story stone house with a Georgian plan and Federal detailing, including a pedimented frontispiece, carved garlands over the entrance and a modillioned cornice. The adjoining rubble stone grist mill dates from the late 1700s and was built to serve Richard's iron workers and local farmers. Its interior still holds grinding machinery and inscriptions, including the name of an early owner. Richard's career in iron-making is central to the complex's importance, and the mill is regarded as an example of local eighteenth century milling construction. Its preservation is considered rare for the region, and the property as a whole shows how a milling center also functioned as a farm and residence.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the mansion is an important example of the large Georgian-plan stone houses built by local ironmasters, with unusually rich Federal woodwork and detailing. The grist mill is presented as the only eighteenth century mill in the area to retain its original configuration and construction. The complex is also tied to Peter Richard, an ironmaster whose career is said to have peaked during his years at the property.
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 88003045, listed December 22, 1988. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Forgedale Rd., Herreford Twnshp. |
|---|---|
| County | Berks County |
| Listed | December 22, 1988 |
| Reference number | 88003045 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1792-1910 |
| Architectural style | Federal; Georgian |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry, Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The contributing buildings are described as retaining good to excellent integrity, with the mill's machinery partly removed and some mansion woodwork altered after 1946-1952. |
| Acreage | 11 |
| Coordinates | 40.42759, -75.62095 (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 88003045.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5944114
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.