Haines Mill
Also known as: Haines Mill Museum
Why it's listed
Haines Mill is a four-story stone grist mill in Allentown, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, with a three-story brick addition built on its east side in 1930. A mill has operated on the site since about 1760, and the present stone walls are traditionally dated to about 1840. A fire in 1908 led to a rebuilding that replaced the earlier undershot water wheel and grindstones with a stock water turbine driving a complete set of milling machinery. The rebuilt mill could grind wheat, oats and corn into flour and meal, and serve farmers in South Whitehall Township and Allentown. Much of its equipment, largely made of wood, remains intact and in operating condition, and visitors can see the mill's processes run on all four floors. The mill was in full production as late as 1957, and it is regarded as one of the few grist and flour mills in Lehigh County that still keeps its machinery working.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues that the mill is significant for its continuous milling use on a site dating to about 1760, and for its reconstruction after the 1908 fire, which turned it into a thoroughly modern small-scale flour mill. Its equipment remains intact and in operating condition, with the exception of the silk screen sifters, and it served local farmers and the nearby city of Allentown.
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 81000548, listed September 11, 1981. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Walnut St. and Main Blvd., Allentown |
|---|---|
| County | Lehigh County |
| Listed | September 11, 1981 |
| Reference number | 81000548 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1908-1909 |
| Areas of significance | Industry, Commerce |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Restored and converted into a museum in the 1974-1975 renovation, with equipment in operating condition. |
| Acreage | 0.4 |
| Coordinates | 40.58505, -75.53171 (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 81000548.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5639426
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.