Keefe-Mumbower Mill
Also known as: Evans-Mumbower Mill
Approximate location: the National Park Service places this pin arbitrarily within the property, not at a surveyed point (stated accuracy ±12 m).
Why it's listed
Built in 1835 by John and Eliza Keefe on the Wissahickon Creek in what is now Upper Gwynedd Township, this three-and-a-half-story fieldstone and stucco grist mill is set into a bank so its basement is exposed on three sides. Its date stone reads "J & E Keefe 1835." The mill follows the design of an Oliver Evans mill and keeps much of its original machinery, including a hurst frame, three elevators, a cob crusher and a slack belt hoist. It was used only for milling until 1930, which is why its interior has remained largely intact. The site had earlier mill buildings dating to 1713 and 1780. Henry Mumbower bought the mill in 1856, and his family ran it until 1930. Its survival as an unaltered regional mill, with equipment that can be demonstrated, is the basis for its importance to local industrial and architectural history.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the mill is significant in Industry for its place in the county's milling trade and its use of Oliver Evans equipment such as elevators, grain cleaners and hoppers. It is also significant in Architecture as an intact example of vernacular regional mill design in the Wissahickon Valley, with much of its interior milling equipment retained. It is described as one of few mills in the area that has never been converted to another use.
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 08000784, listed August 13, 2008. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | NE. corner of Swedesford and Township Line Rds. jct., North Wales |
|---|---|
| County | Montgomery County |
| Listed | August 13, 2008 |
| Reference number | 08000784 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1835-1930 |
| Architect / builder | Keefe, John |
| Architectural style | No Style |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Industry |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Closed as a mill in 1930, vacant and decaying until donated in 1984 and restored since; owned by the Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association and being reactivated for public education. |
| Acreage | 1.2 |
| Coordinates | 40.18765, -75.27873 (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 08000784.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6382693
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.