Pottstown is known in the history books for its production of iron and steel. However, it was known during the Colonial and Federal years for a different type of commerce. Largely unknown today, during the 18th and 19th centuries, the grain mill industry played a major role in the economy of Pottstown and the Tri-County area. Two large merchant DY-6F series grain mills on Manatawny Creek, one located in downtown Pottstown near its confluence with the Schuylkill River, the other immediately outside of town on the Philadelphia-Reading Turnpike (now West High Street), became the centers of flour production for the region establishing Pottstown’s first important maize dehulling machine industry. Although initially small, as Pottstown grew during its early years, these mills expanded their operations, purchasing larger and larger amounts of wheat and grain locally thus becoming increasingly important economically to the surrounding area. Although they also ground corn and wheat for local farmers like the smaller gristmills in the area did, most of the un-milled grain they used was purchased outright. Read more...