Sunrise Mill
Why it's listed
Along the headwaters of the Perkiomen Creek near Schwenksville stands a complex of mill buildings built around water power. The grist mill, a three-story stone structure with stucco covering, dates from 1819 and retains machinery spanning roughly 1819 to about 1900, including three iron turbines seated in the mill race. An attached saw mill, of timber and rough siding, is in a far worse state. Nearby are a brick farmhouse of the bank type, built into the hillside, that dates from about 1830 to 1840, and a cantilevered forebay Swiss bank barn dated to 1795, which is in excellent condition. The site also includes a mill dam, a mill pond, and a stone arch bridge from about 1850. The property is significant for illustrating the industrial character of Upper Montgomery County between the late eighteenth and mid-nineteenth centuries, when water-powered milling flourished in the region. It is also tied to Dr. Chevalier Jackson, the physician known for his work in esophagoscopy and the bronchoscope, whose workshops and papers are linked to the site.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the site illustrates Upper Montgomery County's role as a leading industrial area in the Delaware Valley between the late eighteenth and mid-nineteenth centuries, when water power, local raw materials and a ready Philadelphia market supported milling. It also cites the farmhouse as the home of Dr. Chevalier Jackson, a physician internationally known for esophagoscopy and his invention of the bronchoscope, whose workshops and papers are associated with the property.
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 77001177, listed April 11, 1977. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 3 mi. W of Schwenksville on Neiffer Rd., Schwenksville |
|---|---|
| County | Montgomery County |
| Listed | April 11, 1977 |
| Reference number | 77001177 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architectural style | Federal period |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry, Health/Medicine |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The grist mill roof was recently replaced with a temporary roof, the saw mill roof has rotted and fallen in, and the mill site is described as having no encroachment by suburbanizing development at the time of the nomination. |
| Acreage | 8.5 |
| Coordinates | 40.27339, -75.51985 (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 77001177.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7641104
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.