Directions & Map     Facilities     Features     Open Houses     History     Friends Groups

Directions: From Red Lion: Take Rt. 24 South from Red Lion.  Turn left on Church St., travel 3.4 miles to Cross Mill Rd., turn right.  Follow Cross Mill Rd. 1 mile until you reach mill on left. From Stewartstown: Take Main St. (Rt. 24) north out of Stewartstown, turn right on Hickory Rd. and stay on Hickory until you turn left onto Cross Mill Rd. Follow Cross Mill Rd. until you see mill on right. Map of 15759 Cross Mill Rd Felton, PA 17322 (opens in new window) Provided by

Facilities:e     

• Tours:  Public open houses are scheduled June to October. For further information or to schedule a private tour, call  717-840-7440.
• Upcoming Events:  ** See the Calendar for events **  You may access the calendar from the home page.  Click on the home page icon at the bottom of this page to return quickly.
• August SPOOM (Society for the Preservation of Old Mills) Meeting hosted by Wallace-Cross Mill.  Download Meeting Preview
  To find out more visit www.unionmills.org/SPOOMMIDATLANTIC/index.html
  

History:
    The mill is believed to have been constructed in 1826 and was operated continuously until the 1980's taking its water power from Rambo Run. The mill was placed on the Pennsylvania Inventory of Historic Places on February 24, 1977 and the National register of Historic Places on June 10, 1977.  The mill was given to York County by the owner Harry Cross in 1979.
     Since 1840, ownership of the mill changed only four times with one name change from the family name of Wallace to Cross.
     The restoration focus is the 1950 era; the pinnacle of Harry Cross' career when the mill ran 24 hours a day and seven days a week.  The mill's first floor, including the office, is the area open to the public.  The exhibits and demonstrations appeal to all ages but especially fifth through seventh grade students of Pennsylvania history. 
     A Lieberknecht mill demonstrates the milling process.  A single millstone grinds the grain, and illustrates the way millstones are sharpened.  A hand powered corn sheller demonstrated the removal of kernels from corn cobs.
     The office gives the impression that Harry Cross stepped out for a moment.  It includes a stove, miller's desk, work bench and chairs.
     The mill was originally powered by a wooden overshot wheel with wooden spokes and shaft.  It was replaced by a Fitz wheel, manufactured in Hanover, Pennsylvania.  Fitz was the preeminent manufacturer of mill wheels in the 19th century.    The original Fitz waterwheel was restored and re-installed through the kindness of Harvey Bradley.
The primary function of the mill was that of a place of business.  However, the mill was frequently used as a meeting place for farmers and others.