Weidner Mill
Why it's listed
Along Manatawny Creek in Amity Township, Berks County, the Weidner mill complex grew around a water power site that was in use by the 1740s, when a gristmill and sawmill on the property are mentioned in a will. The present brick and stone mill was built in 1855 after a fire destroyed an earlier structure, and was equipped with roller machinery for merchant milling. Its decorative features include scalloped bargeboard trim, an open cupola, and the words MANATAWNY ROLLER MILLS painted on the facade. A dam, races, and a turbine installed in the 1880s supplied power to the mill. The complex also includes a farmhouse, a tenant house, a combined smokehouse and spring house, and a bank barn, all built between about 1820 and 1850 and sharing stone construction. The mill operated until the 1940s, when milling ceased.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the complex is significant for its long association with milling in Berks County, with water power used at the site from the 1700s and a mill recorded there as early as 1744. It also argues the 1855 mill is a fine example of Victorian style mill architecture, with scalloped cornice trim, a cupola and painted name, within a group of farm buildings that relate to one another.
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 90001634, listed November 8, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Blacksmith Rd. at Manatawny Cr., Amity Township, Earlville |
|---|---|
| County | Berks County |
| Listed | November 8, 1990 |
| Reference number | 90001634 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1820 to 1939 |
| Architectural style | Berks County Victorian style mill architecture |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Milling ceased in the 1940s; the mill has been used to store plumbing equipment and the basement is frequently flooded. |
| Acreage | 6 |
| Coordinates | 40.30520, -75.72662 (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 90001634.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7979821
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.