Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites Removes Iconic Steel Beams from Grist Miller’s House

September 30th, 2024

Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites Removes Iconic Steel Beams From The 1782/1834 Grist Miller’s House

Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites (HBMS) today celebrated the removal of three steel beams from the Grist Miller’s House in Bethlehem’s Colonial Industrial Quarter. The industrial quarter was a former salvage junkyard, and today’s momentous event marks yet another positive step in what is part of the United States’ 26th World Heritage Site.

For over two decades, steel beams have been needed to stabilize the exterior and interior of an over 200-year-old building. Through preservation efforts led by HBMS, today’s construction efforts are a notable step forward in ensuring the historic structure can soon be enjoyed by visitors.

“The removal of these massive steel beams marks the last significant restoration project in the Colonial Industrial Quarter tackled by HBMS over three decades,” stated LoriAnn Wukitsch, HBMS’s president & CEO. “So many Lehigh Valley residents know the building by the steel beams. This accomplishment is a testament to Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites’ commitment to preserving Bethlehem’s heritage and our pursuit to ensure that future generations can appreciate the rich history the Moravian town planning created in the 1700s, which still exists today. We are grateful to everyone who has supported our Taking the World Stage campaign, ensuring that this significant historic building can welcome visitors far and wide to experience the house in its restored glory“

Once the restoration is complete in late 2024, the Grist Miller’s House will accommodate the Ralph G. Schwarz Center for Colonial Industries. HBMS recognizes Schwarz (1925-2018) for his innovative contributions to the city. Schwarz has had a long-lasting impact on Bethlehem’s Moravian and industrial history. He was responsible for various historical transformations in the city and Bethlehem Steel from the 1960s to the late 1990s. He was a driving force behind the founding of Historic Bethlehem and the initial restoration efforts on many of the early Moravian settler landmarks, including the Gemeinhaus, the Single Brethren’s House, the Kemerer Museum of Decorative Arts, the Sun Inn, and Burnside Plantation, as well as lands along the Monocacy Creek encompassing the Tannery and the Waterworks in the Colonial Industrial Quarter. Schwarz’s inspiring vision spurred the development, planning, and preservation of modern Bethlehem by encouraging the community to embrace its remarkable history. Schwarz’s career took him beyond Bethlehem. He was involved in numerous projects, from Historic New Harmony in Indiana to the Getty Center in Los Angeles and the Museum of Jewish Heritage in New York.

“I believe Ralph would be extremely proud of Moravian Church Settlements – Bethlehem becoming the 26th World Heritage Site on July 26, 2024 in the United States,” said Wukitsch.

The Grist Miller’s House, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is located on Bethlehem’s north side near Monacacy Creek. In 1782, the site was home to a miller and his family, sitting as a 1.5-story stone residence and featuring Germanic styling in its earliest form. The house, which included a kitchen, one large room, and a basement, was one of the early private family homes constructed after the period of the General Economy ended in the 1760s. After expanding in 1832, the home was a residence until the 1970s.

HBMS is leading the pursuit of enhancing an already varied visitation experience for the public and school groups through the Colonial Industrial Quarter, which is considered to be the country’s earliest industrial park. These EITC-accredited school tours include Handmade in the 18th Century and America’s First Industries. In the mid-1700s Bethlehem had the largest concentration of pre-Industrial Revolution crafts and trades in the American colonies, and soon, the public will be able to experience the innovation and ingenuity of the Moravians. The Grist Miller’s House will serve several purposes. Primarily, it is planned to be a hands-on interpretation and demonstration space for visitors to learn about Colonial industrial trades and crafts. Additionally, the site will serve as an exhibition space featuring the history of The 1751 Mill and the daily life of the miller and his family. The architect for the project is Artefact, Inc., an architectural firm in Bethlehem specializing in historic preservation and adaptive reuse.

Share This