Seyfert Mill
Why it's listed
Built into a bank beside the Northkill Creek in rural Upper Tulpehocken Township, the Seyfert Mill is a two-and-a-half-story stone gristmill measuring 48 by 50 feet. A date stone records its construction in 1840 by John and Hannah Seyfert, who replaced an earlier mill on the site. The building follows the rectangular merchant-mill form common in Berks County during the county's period of major mill rebuilding between 1818 and 1862. Its interior retains a hurst frame and remnants of the early gearing arrangement, with the first floor raised to accommodate overshot wooden water wheels. Later changes include the installation of a Wolf Company roller system, which replaced most of the millstones while one pair was kept for cornmeal. The mill is linked to the Seyfert family's wider enterprises, including forges and farms, and it supplied flour to local workers and residents for more than a century. The mill ceased operating around 1954.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the mill represents the merchant gristmills built during the county's "great rebuilding" period of 1818-1862, and that its surviving hurst frame and gearing show changes in milling technology. It also associates the mill with the Seyfert family's milling and iron enterprises and is described as the last known surviving remnant of that complex.
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 90001629, 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 Old US 22 and Campsite Rd., Upper Tulpehocken Township, Strausstown |
|---|---|
| County | Berks County |
| Listed | November 8, 1990 |
| Reference number | 90001629 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1840-1939 |
| Architectural style | Stone vernacular mill |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry, Engineering, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The mill ceased operating around 1954, and the document notes a modern steel roof and loading platform; the water courses no longer hold water except the mill pond. |
| Acreage | 3 |
| Coordinates | 40.50989, -76.12564 (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 90001629.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7459051
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.