This is a list of water-powered grist mills in the Cocalico Creek watershed in Lancaster County Pennsylvania. The watershed includes the Cocalico Creek, the Little Cocalico, Middle Creek, and Hammer Creek. The mills are listed in order by water flow.
Cocalico Creek
The Cocalico Creek is a tributary of the Conestoga River. It begins in Millcreek Township, Lebanon County and flows for 27 miles until it joins the Conestoga in West Earl Township, Lancaster County. The Cocalico Creek watershed drains an area of 140 square miles. The name is derived from the Lenape word “Gookcalicunk” which means “snake dens”.
| Name | AKA | Township | Disposition | First Mill | Coordinates | Water Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cocalico | West Cocalico | Site | 1755 | 40.278572, -76.203826 | Cocalico Creek | |
| Highland | Bechtel’s | West Cocalico | Business | 1777 | 40.290940, -76.148123 | Harnish Run |
| Boyer’s Sawmill | Ulrich’s | West Cocalico | Business | 1817 | 40.287167, -76.151667 | Harnish Run |
| Blue Lake | West Cocalico | Site | 1800 | 40.272437, -76.155296 | Cocalico Creek | |
| Greenville | West Cocalico | Residence | 1817 | 40.246824, -76.145321 | Cocalico Creek | |
| Bear’s | Denver Flour Mill | East Cocalico | Venue | 1750 | 40.227332, -76.132693 | Cocalico Creek |
| Commercial | East Cocalico | Site | 1753 | 40.218427, -76.130348 | Cocalico Creek | |
| Bucher’s | Reddig’s | East Cocalico | Site | 1789 | 40.208632, -76.135151 | Cocalico Creek |
| Wabash | East Cocalico | Site | 1760 | 40.204808, -76.148589 | Cocalico Creek | |
| Cocalico Roller Mill | Ephrata Twp. | Site | 1824 | 40.193735, -76.165352 | Cocalico Creek | |
| Indiantown | Clay | Site | 1817 | 40.236877, -76.201631 | Indian Run | |
| Moyer | Ephrata Borough | Site | 1735 | 40.182234, -76.184434 | Cocalico Creek | |
| Cloister Lower | Wenger’s | Ephrata Borough | Storage | 1736 | 40.175256, -76.193841 | Cocalico Creek |
| Keller’s | Rettew’s | Ephrata Twp. | Site | 1783 | 40.170210, -76.205246 | Cocalico Creek |
| Akron | Ephrata Twp. | Farm | 1762 | 40.168755, -76.220117 | Cocalico Creek | |
| Fahnestock | Ephrata Twp. | Site | 1824 | 40.163636, -76.231958 | Cocalico Creek | |
| Smith’s | West Earl | Site | 40.139013, -76.223815 | Cocalico Creek | ||
| Sensenig’s | West Earl | Site | 40.131094, -76.230685 | Cocalico Creek | ||
| Rose Hill | Zook’s | Warwick | Site | 1864 | 40.130602, -76.231791 | Cocalico Creek |
Little Cocalico Creek
The Little Cocalico originates in Spring Township, Berks County. It flows into West Cocalico Township, Lancaster County north-east of Reinholds. It joins the main branch of the Cocalico just south of the Borough of Denver
| Name | AKA | Township | Disposition | First Mill | Coordinates | Water Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Galen Hall | Binkley’s | West Cocalico | Storage | 1755 | 40.274574, -76.107700 | Little Cocalico Creek |
| Reinholdsville | West Cocalico | Site | 1765 | 40.270299, -76.112746 | Little Cocalico Creek | |
| Fairview Roller Mill | Gerhart’s | West Cocalico | Site | 1825 | 40.244801, -76.122578 | Little Cocalico Creek |
| Vera Cruz | West Cocalico | Site | 1864 | 40.260430, -76.077140 | Harnish Run |
Map of the Little Cocalico Creek
Middle Creek
Middle Creek is a 15.5-mile-long tributary of the Cocalico Creek. This places it in the Conestoga River watershed. Middle creek originates in Lebanon County near Kleinfeltersville. The stream enters Lancaster County in Clay Township where the creek is dammed to form the Middle Creek Reservoir, famous for the Snow Geese migration each spring. The Middle Creek joins the Cocalico in Ephrata Township.
| Name | AKA | Township | Disposition | First Mill | Coordinates | Water Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dreisch’s Grist & Saw Mill | Clay | Site | 1864 | 40.249171, -76.249202 | Middle Creek | |
| Durlach | Eberly’s | Clay | Site | 1774 | 40.235492, -76.248026 | Middle Creek |
| Eagle | Hopeland | Clay | Site | 1755 | 40.229402, -76.257708 | Middle Creek |
| Furnace Run | Elizabeth | Site | 40.231380, -76.292015 | Furnace Run | ||
| Clay Roller Mill | Eberly’s | Clay | Business | 1750 | 40.217903, -76.255372 | Middle Creek |
| Wissler | Lincoln | Clay | Storage | 1733 | 40.200354, -76.244372 | Middle Creek |
| Witter’s | Ephrata Twp. | Site | 1864 | 40.179686, -76.242046 | Middle Creek | |
| Stoner’s | Ephrata Twp. | Site | 40.168245, -76.234044 | Middle Creek |
Hammer Creek
The Hammer Creek is a 19.2-mile-long tributary of the Cocalico Creek. This places it in the Conestoga River watershed. It originates in Lebanon County and enters Lancaster County in Elizabeth Township just north of the Pennsylvania Turnpike. A dam on the Hammer Creek forms the Speedwell Forge Lake. It joins the Cocalico near Rothsville. The Hammer Creek was named for the sound of the iron forge hammers that could be heard along the valley emanating from the three forges in the Furnace Hills.
| Name | AKA | Township | Disposition | First Mill | Coordinates | Water Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Speedwell | Elizabeth | Site | 1817 | 40.209414, -76.318535 | Hammer Creek | |
| Zartman’s | Brubaker’s | Elizabeth | Storage | 1758 | 40.201690, -76.306131 | Hammer Creek |
| Snavely’s | Willow Bank | Warwick | Mill | 1790 | 40.198624, -76.292429 | Hammer Creek |
| Brunnerville | Elizabeth | Residence | 1792 | 40.197650, -76.279983 | Hammer Creek | |
| Sunnyside | Clay | Site | 1817 | 40.182952, -76.263096 | Hammer Creek | |
| Becker’s Chopping Mill | Warwick | Site | 40.182239, -76.260888 | Hammer Creek | ||
| Erb’s | Warwick | Site | 1798 | 40.171619, -76.255728 | Hammer Creek | |
| Becker’s | Warwick | Site | 1737 | 40.169877, -76.268265 | Trib. of Hammer Creek | |
| Millway | Warwick | Empty | 1760 | 40.163003, -76.235896 | Hammer Creek |