Morgantown History Museum
Easton Roller Mill
History
Constructed between 1864-67 by Henry Mack, a carpenter hired by local landowner Henry Koontz, the Easton Roller Mill is the only remaining structure from the community of Easton-Avery, which only exists now in history books. Koontz passed away in 1876, and the mill remained in his widow’s family until it was sold in 1894.
In the 1890s, the mill was modernized by replacing the burr stones with steel rollers and was powered by a single expansion steam engine. From 1894 onward, the mill was operated by several owners until it closed for good in 1941.
In 1978, the mill was listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and the daughter of the final owner, Estella Ley-Pickenpaugh, willed the mill to the Monongalia County Historical Society (MCHS). In 2012-13, the mill was fully restored to operation by the MCHS, who began conducting tours and holding historical events at the Easton Roller Mill. When the MCHS disbanded in 2025, the organization deeded the mill to the Morgantown History Museum.
Architecture & Construction
The mill is constructed in the gothic revival style which was popular during the early to mid-1800s. The building is built with poplar boards attached to an oak mortis and tenon joint frame. The frame rests on a cut stone foundation which measures two feet wide and is exposed from two to six feet above the basement floor. The upper floors are made of rough-cut
poplar boards, and the basement floor is packed earth, pavers, and gravel. The building’s dimensions are thirty-six-inches wide by fifty-six feet and four inches long. It is three and one-half stories high with a basement. It has a roof of corrugated steel, which replaced the worn original tin roofing.
View the Easton Roller Mill’s location here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/QoW6T9cD3vmECwLX8
You can view a video of the operation of the Easton Roller Mill here:
The Easton Roller Mill is currently closed for renovation. Please stay tuned to this page for future tours and events at the Easton Roller Mill.​