We visited the homestead of Union Mills one Sunday afternoon. Purchased tour tickets and joined up with a tour in progress in the grist mill. It dates back to the early 1800s.
It has been in operation recently but I think they need a full time miller at present.
The Homestead began as 4 rooms in 1797. It has been added on in stages.
It has remained in the Shriver family the whole time. They kept detailed journals and rarely threw anything away. The house is filled with household items dating back from colonial times to 20th century.
Washington Irving stopped here as did James Audubon where he watched a Baltimore oriole build a nest.
The tour took us inside where no photos were allowed. Here's the back of the house.
Besides the mill and farming there was a tannery here.
The Homestead is not far from Gettysburg and as that battle loomed troops from both sides passed through here. Two Shriver brothers who lived here and across the street were divided in their loyalties. After the war they went back to being partners in their business concerns.
By the way this is the same Shriver family as Sargent Shriver, head of Peace Corps and father of Maria Shriver, broadcast journalist and former First Lady of California.
