Swigart's Mill
Also known as: Beaver Creek Mill
Why it's listed
Swigart's Mill is a two-and-a-half-story stone gristmill on Beaver Creek, near its junction with the Great Conewago Creek, in East Berlin, York County, Pennsylvania. Its rubble walls end in large cut stone quoins, and it was originally powered by a wooden overshot wheel. A Rechard turbine, made by the Codorus Iron Works of York, was installed in 1890. The mill ground feed, corn meal and flour with a four-run of stones, and at an early date it also powered a sawmill. Built in 1794, it operated until 1920, when its machinery was scrapped. The mill is regarded as the only surviving mill on Beaver Creek, an area that once had at least three others. Its long service to nearby farms, which chose to mill close to home because of poor roads, is why it is considered significant.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the mill is the only remaining mill on Beaver Creek, an area that once had at least three other mills. It served surrounding farms as a gristmill from its early operation until 1920, and it is described as a rare surviving example of a local mill of its period.
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 80003649, listed July 23, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | N of Hanover on Berlin Rd., Hanover |
|---|---|
| County | York County |
| Listed | July 23, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80003649 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1700-1799 |
| Architect / builder | Juhn Nagle |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Commerce |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Deteriorated roof and altered condition; recent work has included re-roofing, sash and door repair, and re-excavation of the tail race. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 39.93470, -76.97158 (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 80003649.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q16900968
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.