Metz Ice Plant
Also known as: Klaer, Jacob Gristmill; Idlcs #82296, 82295; Milford Ice and Refrgeration Company
Why it's listed
Beside Sawkill Creek at the south end of Milford, a wood-framed gristmill was rebuilt in 1869 by Jacob Klaer, Sr., after a fire the previous year. The original gambrel-roofed block later gained concrete block additions built between the 1920s and 1950s. In the 1920s, August Metz, Jr. converted the mill into one of the first mechanical ice plants in the area. A water wheel supplied power, and the plant produced 300-pound ice cakes and stored meat and produce for local hotels and restaurants. Earlier, the building had been used for grist milling and, under the Tuscano family, for jelly production. Cold storage continued until 1959. The site was acquired by the federal government in 1979 and is now within the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. Its significance lies in the way it documents a shift from small-scale water-powered milling to refrigeration and cold storage, and it is regarded as the only surviving water-powered industrial structure of its kind in the recreation area.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is the only intact water-powered industrial structure in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area and was the only manufactured ice plant in the Upper Delaware Valley of Pennsylvania north of the Lehigh Valley. It is significant for its industrial role, including its conversion from grain milling to ice making and refrigeration to serve the local demand for year-round ice.
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 07001206, listed November 19, 2007. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Harford St., Milford |
|---|---|
| County | Pike County |
| Listed | November 19, 2007 |
| Reference number | 07001206 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1869-1959 |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Vacant; no longer in active use, and owned by the National Park Service as part of the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. |
| Acreage | 9.1 |
| Coordinates | 41.31732, -74.79925 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 07001206.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6825553
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.