Gamble Mill
Also known as: Lamb Mill; Thomas Mill; Wagner Mill; Bellefonte Flouring Mill
Why it's listed
A three and one-half story brick grist mill stands on the west bank of Spring Creek in Bellefonte, Centre County, Pennsylvania, on limestone foundations. William Lamb built a grist mill on this site in 1786. After a fire destroyed the mill in 1892, the owners Gerberich, Hale & Co. erected the present building shortly afterwards on the original foundations. A local newspaper in 1894 described it as a model mill with roller process machinery. The mill takes its name from George Gamble, who bought a share around 1901, became sole owner, and retired in 1923. Its main structure is forty-five feet square, with heavy timber columns and beams joined with wood pegs, and iron star bolts and tie rods. It is regarded as one of only two surviving mills in the immediate Bellefonte area, and one of six in Centre County that retain part of an original mill. The mill has not ground grain since 1947.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the mill is significant as one of only six Centre County mill sites with a portion of the original mill remaining, and one of only two mills left in the immediate Bellefonte area. Its timber framing, iron star bolts and tie rods, and its location near the Bellefonte Branch of the Pennsylvania Canal and Spring Creek are also noted as features of interest.
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 75001627, listed August 1, 1975. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Dunlap and Lamb Sts., Bellefonte |
|---|---|
| County | Centre County |
| Listed | August 1, 1975 |
| Reference number | 75001627 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | c. 1894 |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The mill has not been used for grinding grain since 1947 and the form describes its condition as deteriorated. |
| Acreage | 2 |
| Within district | Bellefonte Historic District |
| Coordinates | 40.91406, -77.78334 (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 75001627.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5519657
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.