Stein Mill
Why it's listed
Stein Mill is a three-and-one-half-story stone gristmill beside Mill Creek in Greenwich Township, north of Kutztown in Berks County, Pennsylvania. Adam Stein bought the site in 1857 and replaced an earlier mill with the present rectangular building, which he ran as a merchant mill producing flour and feed for the regional market until he sold it in 1899. The mill has large upper-floor storage areas, mill doors on both ends for loading grain, and post-and-beam framing with eight-sided posts. Beside it stands a stone house, built in two sections, with a Federal-style carved overmantle and original painted woodwork. The property is significant for its connection to the grain milling industry during the period when Berks County supplied the Philadelphia region, and for the architecture of the mill and house as a matched pair. Its listing rests on those industrial and architectural reasons.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the mill is a good example of a mid-nineteenth-century merchant mill that was directly tied to the grain milling industry in Berks County. The house is presented as a stylish building reflecting the mill owner's prominent status, combining solid workmanship with Federal design qualities. The pairing of mill and house with similar construction and architecture is described as unusual in the county.
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 90001632, listed November 8, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | PA 737 at Mill Cr., Greenwich Township, Kutztown |
|---|---|
| County | Berks County |
| Listed | November 8, 1990 |
| Reference number | 90001632 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | c. 1816 - 1899 |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The mill contains no milling equipment and is used as an antiques shop; the stone house is described as having a well-preserved interior. |
| Acreage | 2.5 |
| Coordinates | 40.55299, -75.80291 (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 90001632.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7606773
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.