The mill (c. 1683), which was located approximately where the small red garage stands today, was the first mill in Concord township. It has been known by a variety of names including Gilpin’s Mill, Concord Mill, Upper Mill, Society Mill and Leedom’s Mill. It is said that the mill had a 45-horsepower water wheel. The gears had wooden cogs fitted in grooves, so if one cog broke it was a relatively easy matter to whittle another to fit the groove.
Nicholas Pyle Grist Mill Storage House in 2008.In 1711, Nicholas Pyle offered for sale seven shares in the mill and surrounding seven acres. He kept one share and the other six shares were sold to William Brinton, the younger, of Birmingham, James Gibbons, George Pierce, Benjamin Mendanhall, William Bennett and Nathan Baker.
When the Concord Friends Meetinghouse was burned in 1788, the mill served as a temporary place for Friends to gather until the current meetinghouse was built.
The Matthew Ash family and the Joseph and William Lindsey family owned the house at one time.
Thomas Gilpin rented the mill from Nicholas Pyle and operated it early on. Thomas Newlin acquired title to the mill prior to 1780 and from 1790 to 1810, John Newlin rented and operated the mill. In 1817, John Newlin became the owner. From 1810 to 1820, the mill was rented and operated by Mendenhall and Pennell and afterward it was operated by John Newlin.
During 2008 construction - note signs of at least two prior additions.The mill was then sold to Caspar Wistar Sharpless and later to George Drayton. In 1859, 38 acres, including the grist mill, were sold to Samuel Leedom. It was then passed on to his son, Emmor S. Leedom.
A notice in the 29 May 1857 edition of the Delaware County Republican stated:
ITEM #9959
IMPROVEMENT. - In all parts of our county the march of improvement is steadily onward. Our people are progressive and there is no desire to stand still. Among the renovations apart from our own town, we notice that the old mill, formerly occupied by Matthew Ash in Concord, has been thoroughly repaired and supplied with the most approved new machinery in every department. It is now in the occupancy of William Pyle, a practical and experienced miller, who is fully prepared to do all kinds of merchant and grist work that may be offered. Over three thousand dollars, we are told, have been expended in repairs since the mill has come into the hands of its new owner.
By 1909, the mill was owned by the Cornogg family, who changed the storage house into a home. There is also a spring house on the property, approximately midway between the house and the site of the mill.
In approximately 1928, U.C. Cornogg owned the property and his son, William F. Cornogg, lived in the house.
The mill was torn down in 1928 and the original stones became a wall along the Hill Girt Farm property along Route 100 in Delaware. In 1977, the house was purchased by George Malmberg. Drs. Rafael and Nidia De Yanez, who own the home directly across the street, purchased the property in 1988 and then transferred ownership in 1996 to their daughter and son-in-law, Loretta and Michael Raith. In 2002, the house was again returned to the ownership of Rafael and Nidia De Yanez and the Raith family moved into their newly built home behind the Yanez residence. This house finally was sold to Milton Ezrati and Holly Miller in 2006.
There are no fireplaces in the original structure today. It is believed that the original fireplace had been in the center of the building and that it was removed long ago.
Over the years, several additions have been added to the back of the house. During a 2008 renovation of the house, an approximately 80-year-old addition was removed and evidence of a smaller addition was uncovered (see photos). The new addition included a kitchen, master bedroom and bath. At that time, the owners also removed the house’s stucco exterior to expose the stone walls of the original structure. A millstone was discovered at the entry to the home and the tail race for the mill was found as well.