The Historic Heishman's Mill

05/16/2026

Today is National Armed Forces Day. Please thank any service member you know or see, for their service. For those now serving, We "THANK YOU"!

05/14/2026

Thank you to the Valley Times Star for the promotion! Kim Spencer at the VTS has really done the paper justice by brining the Big Spring area back to the forefront of the paper. Did you know papers absorbed to become the VTS? One started in Plainfield I believe and the other in Bloserville. The Newville Historical Society has all the papers except 6, since conception and many are not online. Often wondered if they have Schimmel articles that haven't seen the light of day for 100 plus years?

05/11/2026

Ready to take a "taste" of history? 🥃✨Join us at the historic Heishman’s Mill for an exclusive evening: "One Bowl More: Making Beverages in Early America" with renowned historian Tony Shahan from Flavors of History. Tony isn’t just any historian—he’s worked in George Washington’s Distillery at Mount Vernon and has spent nearly 40 years bringing the past to life through the drinks that fueled our nation’s founders. Why Heishman's Mill? 🌾The connection is built into the very stones of the mill! Early tax records reveal that Heishman’s Mill once housed two stills on-site. While the mill eventually became famous for its "Ladies Choice" flour, its early days were deeply rooted in distilling local grains into the potent spirits of the era. Tony will walk us through the exact types of stills that would have operated here and how the mill’s own grains were transformed into the beverages our ancestors loved. What to expect: A Guided Tasting: Sample five 18th-century drinks, painstakingly recreated from original colonial recipes. Immersive History: Tony will be in full period dress, weaving stories of colonial drinking habits into every sip. The Mill Atmosphere: Experience the presentation inside the historic mill, which is now proudly on the National Register of Historic Places.📅 Date: Friday, June 12, 2026🕗 Times: Seatings at 4 PM, 6 PM, and 8 PM📍 Location: Heishman’s Mill, Carlisle, PA🔞 Age: 21+ only Tickets are $35 and preregistration is required as seating is limited! Don't miss your chance to experience the mill’s spirited side.🎟️ Get your tickets now at Friends of Historic Heishman's Mill.

05/08/2026

"Huge shoutout to the amazing team at Cohick & Associates! 🏛️✨As a small non-profit, Friends of Historic Heishman's Mill rely on the kindness of our community to keep the wheel turning at Historic Heishman's Mill. We are incredibly grateful to Cohick & Associates for generously providing their professional tax services pro bono this year. Their support ensures that more of FHHM resources can go directly toward preserving the mill and its history for everyone to enjoy. Thank you for being such a wonderful partner to local history! 🙌" Jeff Cohick is closely associated with the Historic Barn and Farm Foundation of Pennsylvania (HBFF).This non-profit organization is dedicated to the preservation, documentation, and protection of historic barns and agricultural heritage throughout the state. The foundation is well-known for its annual barn tours and for offering a Barn Grant Program that provides matching funds for preservation projects. Jeff Cohick’s involvement is a natural fit given his background; he is a lifelong resident of the Newville and a white Knight to preserving the Big Spring Creek and hence, the Condoquinet Creek that flows past the Mill!
To Kayla, Chris, John, Jeff and the whole team, a standing ovation from FHHM!

05/05/2026

Last week, right before the "bear" sighting, Blair Williams sat down and recorded a conversation with the Greider descendants and me. You'll hear me ramble on about the great migration from Lancaster to this area in the mid to late 18th century. If your related too, or your last name is Diller, Bowman, Greider/Keiter/Grider, Miller, Bear or Snyder, this bit directly reflects how your family came to the area and were all related through marriage. And if you're a Schimmel fanatic like me, you'll hear him thrown into the mix as well. You'll hear about ownership of the mill from Diller, to now as well and the transformation of a grist mill into a fulling mill.

Roundtable discussion on the history of Heishman's Mill in West Pennsboro Township, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. Cindy Keirn, Jannice Hubbard, Kate Baker...

04/29/2026

04/28/2026

Saturdays Sojourn was wet, cold and not a day to be in a canoe. The novices Angie and I are, were in full display. Underdressed, unskilled and at one point, we ended up caught in tree branches along the creek. AI depicted the situation. BUT! We saw 4 eagles, 2 active eagles nests, 4 Ospray, multiple herions and according to Merlin, 74 different types of birds. Along with the 30 some odd people, it was a learning experience full of history and pizza!!!

04/21/2026

Made the big time news

04/17/2026

Watching a young couple fishing at the mill tonight while planting a cherry tree, looked down and thought he snagged a snake until he reeled it in.

04/10/2026

We are a huge fan on the Valley Times Star. With their focus on local history and positive look on local events, it's our go-to for a weekly read. This week didn't disappoint and even the Mill made the front page. BTW, the article "Cartoon" is really interesting.

View the The Valley Times Star for Wednesday, April 8, 2026