Illick's Mill
Also known as: Peter's Mill; Monocacy Milling Co.
Why it's listed
Illick's Mill is a four-level grist mill of uncoursed rubble stone on Monocacy Creek in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. John Peter built it in 1856 with heavy timber framing and a slate roof, and it was extended 20 feet to the east in 1880. A roof monitor was added in 1880 and extended in 1887 to house larger roller-milling machinery, giving the building its distinctive profile. The mill operated until 1915, when competition from cheaper Midwestern flour ended production and the milling machinery was sold. Its surroundings were later changed by the Works Progress Administration, which built a park here in 1935. The nomination regards the mill as representative of Lehigh Valley mill construction and as a record of the region's early industrial and agricultural economy. Only a few other mills from the Monocacy Creek group survive, and this one is the last early industrial grist mill on the creek.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the mill is a textbook example of Lehigh Valley mill design and construction and that its roof monitor reflects adaptation to roller milling. It also argues the mill's closure reflects competition from Midwestern flour and the decline of the regional agrarian economy. It is one of the few surviving mills on Monocacy Creek.
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 05000450, listed May 20, 2005. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 130 Illick's Mill Rd., Bethlehem |
|---|---|
| County | Northampton County |
| Listed | May 20, 2005 |
| Reference number | 05000450 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1856-1915 |
| Architect / builder | Peter, John; Illick, Joseph |
| Architectural style | No Style |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Restored roof in 1997 and in a later restoration; grist milling ended in 1915 and the mill later served various public uses. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.64190, -75.38048 (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 05000450.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5999179
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.