Spring Mill Complex
Also known as: Gunkle's Mill
Why it's listed
Built in 1793 on the headwaters of Valley Creek in Devault, Chester County, this two-and-one-half story stone mill was raised by Michael Gunkle, who used the free-flowing springs that powered ten to fifteen mills in East Whiteland Township. The mill, roughly 36 by 40 feet with a full basement set into the bank, has a gable roof with heavy pegged arches more typical of German barn construction than milling. Its interior keeps French burr millstones, flour-sack stencils on the plaster walls, and wooden milling parts. Of the three mills Gunkle built, this is the only one still standing. It ran continuously until the early 1940s. The nearby miller's house, springhouse, smokehouse and carriage house form an early mill complex dated about 1793 to 1815. Moores Road, recorded from 1764, carried wagons and drovers through the Great Valley. Significant as a well-preserved example of post-Revolutionary milling in the Great Valley.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues that the mill is the only remaining one of the three mills Michael Gunkle built, and that the mill and complex are well preserved. It has unusual features such as heavy pegged arches, French burr millstones, and flour-sack stencils. The complex is presented as representative of post-Revolutionary development in the Great Valley.
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 78002370, listed December 14, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | SW of Devault at jct. of Moores Rd. and PA 401, East Whiteland Township, Devault |
|---|---|
| County | Chester County |
| Listed | December 14, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78002370 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | ca 1793-1815 |
| Architect / builder | Michael Gunkle |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The mill was in continuous operation until the early 1940s, and continued occupation or use for storage is noted as having preserved the building. |
| Acreage | 2.7 |
| Coordinates | 40.05254, -75.56438 (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 78002370.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7580632
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.