Directions & Map
Facilities
Features Open Houses
History
Friends Groups
Directions:
From Red Lion: Take Rt. 24 South from Red Lion. Turn left
on Church St., travel 3.4 miles to Cross Mill Rd., turn right. Follow
Cross Mill Rd. 1 mile until you reach mill on left.
From Stewartstown: Take Main St. (Rt. 24) north out of Stewartstown,
turn right on Hickory Rd. and stay on Hickory until you turn left onto
Cross Mill Rd. Follow Cross Mill Rd. until you see mill on right.
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Facilities:e
Features:
- Tours:
Public open houses
are scheduled June to October. For further information or to schedule a
private tour, call 717-840-7440.
- Upcoming Events: ** See the Calendar for events **
You may access the calendar from the home page. Click on the home
page icon at the bottom of this page to return quickly.
History:
The mill is believed to have been constructed in
1826 and was operated continuously until the 1980's taking its water power
from Rambo Run. The
mill was placed on the Pennsylvania Inventory of Historic Places on February
24, 1977 and the National register of Historic Places on June 10, 1977.
The mill was given to York County by the owner Harry Cross in 1979.
Since 1840, ownership of the mill changed
only four times with one name change from the family name of Wallace to
Cross.
The restoration focus is the 1950 era; the
pinnacle of
Harry Cross' career when the mill ran 24 hours a day and seven days a week.
The mill's first floor, including the office, is the area open to the public.
The exhibits and demonstrations appeal to all ages but especially fifth
through seventh grade students of Pennsylvania history.
A Lieberknecht mill demonstrates the milling
process. A single millstone grinds the grain, and illustrates the
way millstones are sharpened.
A hand powered corn sheller demonstrated the removal of kernels from corn
cobs.
The office gives the impression that Harry
Cross stepped out for a moment. It includes a stove, miller's desk,
work bench and chairs.
The mill was originally powered by a wooden
overshot wheel with wooden spokes and shaft. It was replaced by a Fitz
wheel, manufactured in Hanover, Pennsylvania. Fitz was the preeminent
manufacturer of mill wheels in the 19th century. The
original Fitz waterwheel was restored and re-installed through the kindness
of Harvey Bradley.
The primary function of the mill was that of a place of business.
However, the mill was frequently used as a meeting place for farmers and
others.
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