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Bondsville Mill Park Committee
While the mill ruins are fenced off and too dangerous for hands-on exploring, visitors can get within just several feet of the mill, and see all the detail of the remaining infrastructure. The park offers a ¼ mile compacted gravel loop trail around the mill buildings and along Beaver Creek. There is also a nature trail up to the water tower and a loop to the north of the property through old spruce, maple and oak forest, which total ¾ mile in length.
History
There have been grist mills on the site of what is now Bondsville Mill Park since the 1700s, but the woolen mill we see the remains of today was established sometime early in the 1800s. Abraham Bond, believed to be the third owner of the mill, opened Bond Woolen Factory producing Kentucky Jeans and established the factory village of Bondsville.
The mill was originally water powered using a water wheel which was driven by water fed from Beaver Creek into the mill race behind the buildings. As new technologies were developed the mill was powered by steam and finally electricity. You can see this evolution in the buildings that are still standing and the large concrete pad which was the factory floor up to the end of production.
During the Civil war the mill produced uniforms for the Union soldiers. The Collins & Aikman Corporation purchased the property in 1927 and produced automobile upholstery cloth. During WWII, the mill produced various products for the military including fabric for Air Force jacket lining. After the war, the mill produced men’s and women’s wear fabrics, as well as their “Candalon” brand of woven nylon which was used in automobile upholstery. In time, the corporation closed the mill and the site fell into disrepair.
East Brandywine Township acquired the mill in 2005 using open space funds and work to cleaning up the property and making the collapsed buildings safe has been ongoing by a dedicated group of volunteers ever since. While the park opened to the public in 2015, work to expand the trails network and further stabilize the structures is ongoing.
Support the Park
The Bondsville Mill Park Committee can always use more help, including activities related to building stabilization, trail maintenance, gardening, fundraising, and marketing. Volunteers meet weekly at the Park every Monday morning as well as one weekend a month. The full committee meets at the Township Building every fourth Thursday of the month at 8:00 AM. While volunteerism is always appreciated, it is the financial support of people like you that makes it possible for us to acquire the materials and services necessary to continue to improve the grounds and facilities.
Your tax-deductible donations can be made to the East Brandywine Foundation quickly and securely online using the Paypal button below.
Your contribution donation is vital to continuing work towards bringing to full fruition the goals of providing an educational experience regarding the heritage of the regional mill industry and the local natural environment for our current and future generations.
Members
-
Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer
James BuczalaVice-Chairman, Grants Administrator
Hudson VoltzJoe Buccella Carl Capriotti David Culp Doug Freeman Arne Jensen Nancy Kichgasser Jim Ladrew Charlie Lindsay Sandy Moser Jeff Nye Matthew Ross Charles "Rocky" Stone Dan Tieri Beth Watts Bob Watts Board of Supervisors Liaison
Jason WintersConstruction Crew
Lead
Charles "Rocky" StoneArne Jensen Doug Freeman Carl Capriotti Jim Balbierer Jeff Nye Bob Watts Gardening Crew
Lead
Sandy MoserVera Clift Kathy Cook Sue Davis Linda Donna Regina Griffiths Nancy Kirchgasser Susan Lindsay Thea Mahard Jeff Nye Bruce Rawlings Sally Riddle Terry Rider Fairlie Shanner Dan Tieri Beth Watts Jessica Wolf Trails Crew
Lead
Charlie LindsayJim Ladrew Library Crew
Lead
Nancy KirchgasserSandy Moser Dan Tieri Sally Bovell