This stone grist mill was built in 1807 by Peter Grim, who operated the mill until he died in 1837. A few decades after his death, another miller, Reuben Helfrich, bought the mill and renamed it. The Helfrich Springs Grist Mill (whitehallhistoricalsociety.org) was originally powered by the spring that fed Jordan Creek and was one of only two spring-powered mills in Whitehall Township. The mill became defunct after the waterwheel disintegrated, but operations were maintained until 1929. During World War II, the metal from the nonoperable mill was used for the war effort. The mill is open to visitors daily, as of the time of publication.
Peter Grim, the original owner of the grist mill, built a home on his 55 acres of land in 1834. Subsequently, a street divided the original property, and the homestead is now located opposite the former Peter Grim Mill. Grim only lived in the house for three years before his death. The Peter Grim Homestead (whitehallhistoricalsociety.org) is on the National Register of Historical Sites and is the headquarters of the local genealogical and historical societies. Interested parties can book an appointment to visit the homestead by calling ahead.
Camp Geiger (campgeiger.org) offers an annual Civil War reenactment every year in June; however, the event is not based on a historical event. Even though the reenactment does not portray a specific battle, the actors do give an impression of the living conditions and battlefield activities that soldiers endured during the Civil War. Visitors to Whitehall Township can see Camp Geiger on June 11 and 12, 2011, for an admission fee of $20. Reduced rates are available for early registration.
A simple historical site, this house was built in 1756, making it one of the oldest structures in the county. Originally, Peter Troxell built the property on his 410-acre parcel of land. By the time the historical society received the home as a donation in 1941, the land was a mere 24 acres. The craftsmanship is indicative of the Pennsylvania-German farmhouses that were built at the time. The Troxell-Steckel House (no website; 4229 Reliance Street, Egypt, PA) is unique, as it is the only completely authentic farmhouse from the era, and the building and its surrounding lands offer a historical perspective of the region's farming history.
The date that the Balliet Log House (lehighcountylogcabintrail.org) was built is not certain, but the construction presumably occurred between 1790 and 1820. The cabin was built by Paulus Balliet, who received the land from the family of William Penn, the founder of Pennsylvania. Paulus' intention was to open an inn; however, he died before the place ever opened. His three sons each received a portion of land. Paul, one of the sons, went on to build the cabin that now stands. Later additions in 1840 and 1845, a barn and a waterhouse, were added to the lot. Visitors can drive by this site any time but cannot take photographs.
