Thomas Mill and Miller's House
Why it's listed
Built in 1744 on a stream south of Lincoln Highway in West Whiteland Township, Chester County, the Thomas Mill is a grist mill with a masonry first floor and a frame upper story, set beside a water wheel fed by an elevated race. Its framing uses an interrupted sill, with uprights resting directly on the masonry wall, and studs laid flat in pairs. The original grinding works were replaced in the mid-nineteenth century, but one original sack hoist roller survives and the machinery was judged capable of operating again. The mill is regarded as a rare survivor of an early period when mills in southeast Pennsylvania were built of temporary materials. Beside it stands a masonry house of about 1820 in a modified Penn Plan, built as a tenant dwelling for the miller. The mill remained with the Thomas family and operated into the twentieth century, last as a feed mill.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the mill is eligible for its association with the Thomas family, who were early settlers of the township, and for its use of archaic building traditions. It describes the mill as having no parallel example in the mid-Atlantic region, with an interrupted sill and flat double studs that were uncommon after about 1700. The associated house is said to retain the older Penn Plan form into the early nineteenth century.
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 84003310, listed September 6, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 130 W. Lincoln Hwy., West Whiteland |
|---|---|
| County | Chester County |
| Listed | September 6, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84003310 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1744-1832 |
| Architectural style | Vernacular |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Not in use |
| Acreage | 12.3 |
| Coordinates | 40.02620, -75.63331 (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.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 84003310.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.