In the 1700 and 1800s, Lancaster County was an important milling center due to the availability of water power along our many streams. The Bowmansville Roller Mill is an important example of this industry. It provided the farmers in this area with both animal feed and flour. It is the last remaining example of a combination of grist and sawmills in Brecknock Township. Machinery from the 1850 grist mill and the 1888 roller mill are fully intact. It is the only known mill in the area to have both still.

The mill contains examples of three centuries of milling techniques: the millstones, the roller mills, and the sawmill. There are four sets of millstones. These stones were used for corn and wheat.

The Bowmansville Roller Mill was both a custom and a commercial mill. Some of the farmers had their grain milled and returned to them. However, other loads of grain were purchased by the Von Niedas, milled, and bagged. These large bags of flour or feed were then bought by farmers and other people in the area as needed. When the water level in the millrace was high and the harvest was plentiful, the mill ran almost continuously. During the three or four months of harvest, the farmers brought their grain to the mill by the wagon load. There the grain was loaded into barrels and lifted by pulley to the assigned compartment, or storage bin, on the upper levels of the mill. Several days later, the farmers returned to the mill for their grain.

The Bowmansville Roller Mill was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1987, which recognized the preservation efforts of former owner Stewart Kean, who restored the mill with local men. (information taken from Historic Preservation Trust of Lancaster County article)

Join me as part of the first ever photography workshop at the mill! You will love the images you create as you photographically explore all four floors of this gorgeous mill. There will be a zoom session on Wednesday September 18th to go through all important details of the event. Instruction will be given on creative composition, exposure settings and how to handle high dynamic range lighting. We will also use artificial lighting where needed to open up shadows and control contrast in your scene.

An informational email will be sent about a week prior to the on location workshop with gear suggestions, and all other details for the event. A participant image review will follow via zoom the following week. Registration includes entrance to the mill, both zoom sessions, and hands-on instruction throughout our time at the mill.