A mill at or near the present Stover-Myers Mill is mentioned in a deed when Henry Clymer (Climer) bought 53 acres and a gristmill from his father in 1752. The property was sold to Henry Lott (Let) before 1782.
Jacob Stover purchased that gristmill and a sawmill on 150 acres on the Tohickon Creek near Pipersville (today this mill is in Bedminster Township) in 1784 for $7,260. Soon he purchased machinery for producing linseed oil (a drying oil made by pressing flaxseed which is used in making many paints and printing inks). When flax seed became scarce, the machinery was removed from the mill.
The Stover-Myers Mill has a cornerstone dated 1800 and dates on the southeast gable peak suggest it was rebuilt in 1834. The mill was remodeled several times during its lifetime and was used continuously until 1955. |
|
Jacob's son Samuel bought the mill, millrace, and some of the acres of land in 1836 for $8000. His improvements to the mill included adding a turbine to replace the waterwheel. The sawmill and gristmill were then managed (but never owned) by Christian M. Myers who was married to Eliza, the daughter of Samuel Myers. Christian M. Myers came to the job with no prior mill experience, but became a fine millright who was able to dress the millstones. |
In 1885 Christian M. Myers installed the efficient roller-process powered by steam. In 1904 Norman L. Worman took over the management of the daily operation of the mill. In 1888, when Samuel Stover died the mill was left to his wife Anna Beidler Stover and their daughter Eliza Myers.
When Anna Beidler Stover died in 1893, Eliza Myers became the only owner. Eliza Myers left the property to three sons (S.Horace, Hugh E, and Ira S.). Horace Myers bought out his brothers. It was then rented first to Oscar Ott, then to Noah Trauger, and then to his son Claude Trauger. The sawmill stopped operation first and then the flour milling stopped producing flour in 1920. The gristmill stopped operating in 1955; from 1920 to 1955 the Stover-Myers Mill was grinding only animal feed.
When Horace Myers died in 1941, Roberta Stover Myers Fow inherited the mill. Roberta Fow sold the property to Hagmeir (and others) in 1942; the mill was sold outside of the family for the first time. The mills and 22 acres of land were sold to the Bucks County Park Board in 1964. In 1970, after restoration, the mills were open to the public. Stover-Myers Mill was named a National Historic Place in 1978.
MILLS OF THE PAST | STOVER - MYERS MILL HISTORY & OWNERSHIP | MILL POWER | MILL MACHINERY |
MILLSTONES | WHEAT TO FLOUR | STOVER-MYERS SAWMILL | REGIONAL MILLS |