This replica of the original Esheiman Mill was
built by a "Red Rose Feeds" customer in Ohio, and
is on display at the Red Rose Feed Store in
Quarryville.
jOld Esheiman mill of historical value
By DIETER KRIEG
LANCASTER - An old
stone building which was
used for the manufacturing
of guns in the late 1700’s and
a half century later was
turned into the first John W.
Eshelman Mill, has been
described as being of
“outstanding historical
significance for Lancaster
County.” According to a
study done by the Lancaster
County Planning Com
mission, the site and
structure are worthy of
highest priority for
restoration and preser
vation. Efforts are con
sequently being considered
to keep the presently badly
deteriorated structure from
going into ruins entirely.
£ Lancaster County Central
Park, which adjoins the old
Eshelman property, may
consider annexation of the
historical grounds and a
fund of $23,000 has already
been established to help with
incurred costs. The money
will be made available by
the Redevelopment
Authority of Lancaster
County, and has been ear
marked for purchase of the
site and basic rehabilitative
work. A firm proposal on the
matter has not been made
yet, however.
The old stone building was
reportedly in use as the
William Henry Gun Factory
in the late 1700’s. The
structure itself is believed to
date back to the 1780’s. John
|W. Eshelman began his
milling business in the stone
structure in 1642, an en
terprise which later spread
to the Midwest and'as far
south as Georgia. The
trademark was the red rose -
and the name, of course, Red
Rose Feeds.
Although the old mill is all
but forgotten today, its
historical significance was
known to a few people for
decades already. One such
individual is an Ohioan
whose name has been
forgotten but whose con
tribution to local history is
displayed in the Red Rose
Feed Store, Quarryville.
There, for all to see, is a
replica of the old mill,
complete with tiny electric
lights, hinged doors,* a
working water wheel, and
realistically looking millers.
Built of stone, slate, wood,
and plaster, the replica has
been on display here for a
little over a year. The
Quarryville feed business
received it from an
Eshelman mill in York
County when it changed
ownership. All of
Eshelman’s mills, in
cidentally, were purchased
by the Carnation Company
in 1974.
Although the old replica
was damaged somewhat and
in need of a thorough
cleaning, the management
at the Quarryville store
recognized the historical
significance of both the
model and the original site
and went to work on the
replica.
According to Jack
Eshelman, a great grandson
of the milling business’
founder, the replica in
Quarryville is not exact, but
“it Is well done.” He
estimates it was made in the
v ..»wy
Replica at Quarryville feed store
late 1930’5. The occasion, be
believes was probably the
100th anniversary of the
company. An Ohio customer
made it, he told Lancaster
Farming.
Lancaster County’s
historical organizations and
interested individuals claim
there’s a need to restore the
original property. The
purpose, they explain, is to
Lancaster Farming, Saturday, April 22,1978
, v'
provide the community with
an example of what water
power was used for a cen
tury or two ago and liow it
was used to produce rifle
barrels and feed.
'' A
To get jthe restoration
project underway, the
Lancaster County Planning
Commission will need
sponsoring businesses of or
organizations.
37