Phillips Mill Historic District
Also known as: Phillips Mill
Why it's listed
Phillips Mill is a grist mill complex on a bend of Primrose Creek in Solebury Township, Bucks County, with a village that developed around it. Aaron Phillips acquired the property in the 1750s, and the Phillips family operated the mill until 1889, when it was sold to Stephen Betts. The mill was a large building for its day, with an overshot wheel and three stones. In 1896 Dr. George M. Marshall bought the complex, and in 1903 the painter William Lathrop settled in the village. Lathrop's circle included Daniel Garber and Edward Redfield, and the area became an artists' colony. The architect Morgan Colt remodeled a former piggery into a Gothic/Tudor home with a walled garden. The Holmquist School for Girls, founded in 1917 on progressive principles, operated in the district until 1949, when it merged with the Solebury School. The St. Philips Chapel, a former one-room schoolhouse, is also within the district.
Significance in brief: The district is significant for its early role as a milling village serving the surrounding farmers, and for its association in the early 20th century with the artists William Lathrop, Daniel Garber and Edward Redfield and their students. It is also important for the Holmquist School for Girls, described as an early example of John Dewey's progressive education movement. The mill village is regarded as probably the best preserved of the mill villages once in Bucks 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 83002220, listed June 30, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | River Rd. between Limeport and Chapel Rd., Solebury Township, Solebury |
|---|---|
| County | Bucks County |
| Listed | June 30, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83002220 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1700-1799 |
| Architect / builder | Morgan Colt (architect, for remodeled properties in the district) |
| Architectural style | Gothic/Tudor |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry, Commerce, Art, Agriculture, Education, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The mill is described as having changed little since the 18th century; the district remains in use as a residential, artistic and restaurant area. |
| Acreage | 29 |
| Coordinates | 40.38214, -74.97016 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
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 83002220.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7185920
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.