Ashley and Bailey Company Silk Mill
Also known as: Franklin Silk Mill; Leinhardt Brothers Furniture Warehouse
Why it's listed
Built in 1899 on West Princess Street in West York, this three-story brick mill was constructed for a branch of the Ashley and Bailey Company, a silk firm based in Paterson, New Jersey. Local businessmen arranged for the building, and the trustees provided the land and erected the structure under a ten-year agreement. The mill wove ribbons at first and later produced broad silks. It is regarded as York's first silk mill and one of the first major industries in the area that became West York Borough, which was incorporated in 1904. Its output fed Lancaster's umbrella manufacturing, the city's leading turn-of-the-century industry. The mill closed in 1937 and was later converted to a furniture warehouse. Its long, narrow plan, corbeled brick piers, and regular sash windows remain largely intact, and the building is valued as a well-preserved example of local industrial construction from the period.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the mill was the first silk mill built in York and an early industry in what became West York Borough, tied to the local silk trade that supplied Lancaster's umbrella industry. It also calls the building an intact example of local early 20th century industrial architecture with good integrity.
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 91000090, listed February 21, 1991. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 1237 W. Princess St., West York Borough |
|---|---|
| County | York County |
| Listed | February 21, 1991 |
| Reference number | 91000090 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1899-1937 |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and early 20th Century American; Vernacular Industrial |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Vacant after the silk mill closed in 1937; the building stood vacant until 1942 when it became a furniture warehouse, and the document says it was later vacated and offered for sale in 1988. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 39.95212, -76.75049 (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.
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 91000090.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4805648
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.