Helfrich's Springs Grist Mill (Boundary Increase)
Also known as: Grim, Peter, House
Why it's listed
Across the road from the Helfrich's Springs Grist Mill in Whitehall Township stands a brick house whose oldest section dates to about 1753, with a main block built in 1824 and later additions around 1885 and 1950. The main house bears a fanlight transom inscribed with the 1824 date and the name Peter Grim Homestead. Peter Grim acquired the land and log buildings in 1802 and erected the stone grist mill in 1807 at his direction. The house served as the residence of the men who ran the mill, including Grim, the Deshler family, and the Helfrich family. Milling operations ended in 1942 when the machinery was removed. The house is regarded as a good example of the vernacular Federal style in the township, and its association with the mill is the main basis for its significance. The property covers 0.69 acres and includes a smokehouse and privy considered contributing, along with later non-contributing outbuildings.
Significance in brief: The house is significant for its association with the stone grist mill, where its occupants operated the mill from 1807 to 1942. It is also argued to be a vernacular example of the Federal style in Whitehall Township, with fanlight transoms, varied brick bonds, and interior detailing cited as representative of that style.
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 99001288, listed October 28, 1999. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 506 Mickley Rd., Whitehall Township |
|---|---|
| County | Lehigh County |
| Listed | October 28, 1999 |
| Reference number | 99001288 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1807-1942 |
| Architectural style | Early Republic Federal |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Milling operations ceased in 1942 when machinery was removed; the property was later subdivided and acquired by Whitehall Township. |
| Acreage | 0.7 |
| Coordinates | 40.62478, -75.49155 (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 99001288.
- 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.