Abbott's Mill

Abbott's Mill is a three-story mill building in Sussex County that displays traditional grain processing equipment with elevators, belts, and grinding stones for making flour. The structure sits within a larger protected area and now functions as a nature center where visitors can explore how the milling systems worked.

The mill building was constructed in 1795 and ground grain until 1963, when operations ceased. Its historical significance led to listing on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972, with expanded recognition in 1979.

The mill takes its name from the Abbott family, who operated and shaped the milling business across generations. Today, visitors can observe how water power sustained the local community and what role such facilities played in people's everyday lives.

The site offers guided tours through the mill building and the surrounding natural landscape, which spreads across several hundred acres. Visitors should wear comfortable shoes, as exploration involves stairs within the building and pathways through the preserve.

It is the last still-operating mill in its region and preserves the original mechanical systems used since its founding. This original equipment allows visitors to experience the technology of that era in its authentic form.