Bondsville Mill Park Committee

The Bondsville Mill Park Committee invites you to take a fascinating walk through East Brandywine Township’s newest addition to our local park system, Bondsville Mill Park. It’s close by and easy to find. From Route 322, follow Bondsville Road past the Fire Hall, then take your first left turn to remain on Bondsville Road. You will see a parking area just a short drive further on the left side of the road (1647 Bondsville Road).

The Bondsville Mill Park Committee not only advises the Board of Supervisors on the development of this 47 acre parcel into a space for passive recreation, preserving nature, and a historic site--the construction sub-committee actually performs much of the work themselves! 

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.



Thank You!

 

Members

  1. Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer 
    James Buczala 
    Vice-Chairman, Grants Administrator 
    Hudson Voltz
    Joe 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 Winters

    Construction Crew

    Lead
    Charles "Rocky" Stone
    Arne Jensen 
    Doug Freeman
    Carl Capriotti
    Jim Balbierer
    Jeff Nye
    Bob Watts

    Gardening Crew

    Lead
    Sandy Moser
    Vera 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 Lindsay
    Jim Ladrew

    Library Crew

    Lead
    Nancy Kirchgasser
    Sandy Moser
    Dan Tieri
    Sally Bovell