Stover Mill
Why it's listed
Built in 1832 on the west bank of the Delaware River at Erwinna, this rectangular grist mill is constructed of native stone in its lower two stories and brick above, with stucco covering the upper walls. Set into the river bank with its basement at river level, it was built by Henry S. Stover, who bought the riverside land in 1830, and it operated for a century under the Stover family until John J. Stover closed it in 1932. Much of the original equipment survives, including millstones, shafts, grain chutes and flour sifters, and the water turbines remain in place. The mill was one of the first in the area converted to turbine power. Stover also installed a dynamo here to supply electricity and telephone service to Erwinna, and that equipment is still displayed on the second floor. A frame sawmill added in 1836 was destroyed in the flood of 1936, leaving only faint traces. The mill is valued as a representative example of eastern Pennsylvania's water-powered grist mills and for its milling machinery and early electrical connection.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the mill is a well-preserved example of a typical 19th-century water-powered grist mill, with much of its original milling equipment intact. It was one of the first mills in the area converted to turbine power, and it is linked to the locally prominent Stover milling family. It also housed an early dynamo that supplied electricity to the Erwinna area.
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 79002173, listed October 18, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | PA 32, Erwinna |
|---|---|
| County | Bucks County |
| Listed | October 18, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79002173 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | Henry Stover & Family |
| Areas of significance | Industry, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Closed as a mill in 1932; a frame sawmill attached to the south wall was destroyed in the 1936 flood; the dynamo is on view on the second floor. |
| Acreage | 0.3 |
| Coordinates | 40.49672, -75.06806 (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 79002173.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7620646
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.