BETHLEHEM, Pa. — The historic Grist Miller’s House in Bethlehem is undergoing a complete renovation and eventually will open to the public as a hands-on space for visitors to learn about colonial trades and crafts.
Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites said in a news release that the project aims to stabilize and restore the exterior and interior of the 241-year-old building in the city's Colonial Industrial Quarter.
- The historic Grist Miller's House in Bethlehem is undergoing a complete restoration
- The building will be open to the public
- Plans are for the building to be a hands-on space for visitors to learn about colonial trades and crafts
The architect for the project is Artefact Inc., of Bethlehem, which specializes in historic preservation and adaptive use. The company has been involved with historic preservation consulting since 1988.
The restoration project received a $753,397 state grant last year that was secured by state Rep. Steve Samuelson D-Northampton and state Sen. Lisa Boscola D-Northampton/Lehigh.
The Grist Miller’s House was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.
More direct and accessible entry
The building will be rehabilitated to serve several purposes, according to the news release. Primarily, it’s planned to be a hands-on interpretation and demonstration space for visitors to learn about colonial industrial trades and crafts.
The site will serve as an exhibition space featuring the history of the mill and the daily life of the miller and his family.Historic Bethlehem Museums and Sites
Additionally, the site will serve as an exhibition space featuring the history of the mill and the daily life of the miller and his family.
The project includes the construction of a connector between the Luckenbach Mill and the Miller House.
The connector will be a naturally lighted and enclosed walkway and gathering space reminiscent of the porch that once existed at the Miller House, is says in the release.
The addition will allow for a more direct and accessible entry into the Miller House. It also will allow for a space for events that will overlook the Colonial Industrial Quarter.
History of the house
The Grist Miller’s House was constructed in two distinct phases.
The lower levels of the building date from 1782 and served as the original residence of the miller and his family, while the upper two levels were built about 1832 and expanded the family’s living quarters.
The original stone masonry house was one of the earliest private Moravian family homes, and included a kitchen and one large, divided living space over a small basement.
The building served as a residence until the 1970s. After an interim use as offices for Historic Bethlehem, it has sat vacant and deteriorating.Historic Bethlehem Museums and Sites
The two-story brick masonry expansion — 50 years later — added an additional living floor and a second story with bedrooms and an attic above.
The building served as a residence until the 1970s. After an interim use as offices for Historic Bethlehem, it has sat vacant and deteriorating. It had emergency structural stabilization work that occurred in 2007 to brace the west wall.
The Victorian-era-inspired Miller’s House Community Garden sits north of the building and is cared for by members of the Bethlehem Garden Club.
