Michael Bear built the first mill here around 1750. Henry Bear built a new mill in 1807. That mill was destroyed by fire and rebuilt as the current structure in 1850. A tannery was added ten years later. The mill fell into disuse in the early 20th century. In 2014 the property was renovated into an event venue. The Bear Mill Estate won the C. Emlen Urban award for Restorative and Adaptive Reuse from the Historic Preservation Trust of Lancaster County in 2015. In 2022, the property remains a popular wedding venue. The estate’s website is http://www.bearmillestate.com/.
