earliest settlers, especially those in the eastern section of the county, went as far as the Brandywine "to Mill ;" however, that was a time-consuming journey, and very little grain could be conveyed at one time by the best means of transportation. Hence, methods for grinding grain at home were sought and

until Beissel could evaluate the commercial phase and decide which mills were to be operated, industry was at a standstill. The grist mills were the first to be re-opened, followed by the paper mill, and then to a limited degree, the others. All of the products were to be used for maintaining the com

, once as familiar as the old oaken bucket, furnishing power to many flour, grist and saw mills, which were busy in- �dustries in their day. It was not an unusual sight to find them running day and night. Today most of them are abandoned ; many in ruin, a few in operation. The old familiar mill dam with