Knauer, John, House and Mill
Also known as: Knauer Mill
Why it's listed
Four stone and frame buildings on the west side of French Creek near Knauertown were built circa 1785-90 by John Knauer to replace the log structures of his father's mill. The group includes a five-bay stone miller's house with a terne tin gable roof and broad chimneys, a stone and frame barn, a stone grist mill with an 1834 addition by Jonathan Knauer, and a small two-story stone house. The mill's overshot iron water wheel, sixteen feet in diameter, remains in place. The miller's house shows symmetrical Georgian planning and fenestration, and is regarded as a fine local example of late 18th-century construction. Its importance lies mainly in commerce. The mill was the center of Knauer family enterprises and one of very few flour mills in upper Chester County operating as late as 1940. Family quarries at St. Peters and lumber and charcoal businesses extended their influence through the 19th and 20th centuries. Remnants of the mill dam, races and holding pond survive.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the group reflects the enterprise and long-lasting influence of the Knauer family in Upper Chester County. The grist mill was the center of Knauer commercial operations and one of very few flour mills in the area still operating as late as 1940. The miller's house is presented as a fine local example of late 18th-century construction.
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 85001173, listed May 30, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | PA 23, Knauertown |
|---|---|
| County | Chester County |
| Listed | May 30, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85001173 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | John Knauer |
| Architectural style | Georgian |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The mill operated until 1940 and remained in the Knauer family until 1977; the present owners are rehabilitating the mill and small house for commercial purposes. |
| Acreage | 2 |
| Coordinates | 40.17071, -75.73106 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
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 85001173.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6243300
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.