evans-mumbower mill

I liked that the people there work hard to educate people on the history of this place--it is small, intimate and good. Parking is not easy.

This is an interesting glimpse into our local industrial history. While the present Evans-Mumbower Mill appears to date to the early 1800's, records indicate the construction of a saw mill and fulling mill by Abraham Evans in 1745. It was reported to have been demolished and then a new mill built sometime in the late 18th century. It has a working (newly restored) waterwheel and volunteers/docents who show how the mill works to grind corn and other things. It is hands-on for kids (and adults, if they so choose), including smaller grind stones to show how corn and other things are ground. I highly recommend a visit.

My girlfriend and I visited the Evans-Mumbower Mill as part of a group through a historical interest society.This mill had fallen into disuse and was nearly at the point of being condemned. In the past ten years, it has been completely restored and is now a functioning grain mill.The EPA would not allow them to reconstruct the entire mill run from the Wissahickon, so they use a pump to recirculate water through the mill and over the waterwheel.During our visit, they showed us a video that gave the history of the mill and described the restoration. Then volunteer tour guides dressed in nineteenth century costume explained the various functions of the mill. The waterwheel was impressive, but watching the millstone in action was amazing. The various gears and shafts that power the machinery from the waterwheel are impressive.The mill is not open every day, so check the website for days when visiting is possible. All of the volunteers were proud of the restoration and their participation in this working piece of history.It is definitely worth a visit.