Historic Jerusalem Mill Village is one of the oldest, most intact mill villages in Maryland. The story began in 1772, when Lee's Merchant Mill opened for business on the north bank of the Little Gunpowder Falls. Through time, the merchant mill became the centerpiece of a rural village known as Jerusalem, and the business evolved from grinding the area's grain to serving more of the local farming communityss needs. In 1961 the State of Maryland purchased property that included the mill, the blacksmith shop, and the stone building behind the mill for the Gunpowder Falls State Park. The mill then sat vacant for nearly 25 years, deteriorating beyond repair.

In 1985 a handful of concerned local residents formed the Friends of Jerusalem Mill (FOJM), an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. FOJM then embarked on a long, hard, journey to save and reassemble the mill village. The organization's incredible success is evident now on both sides of Jerusalem Road in Kingsville, Maryland.

Besides preserving and maintaining the Village's historic structures, FOJM volunteers devote significant energy to preserving the heritage and traditions that form our common bonds and our deepest roots. Reenactments, an active living history program, museum exhibits, and hands-on activities offer visitors the chance to witness the past and pay tribute to American's early struggles for freedom, prosperity, and joy.

Numerous milling and related operations previously lined the banks of the Little Gunpowder Falls during Maryland's formative periods. Now, only Jerusalem Mill Village's buildings remain as evidence of the community's earliest industries. But they stand as evidence of something else just as significant: the collective power of volunteers to achieve impossible goals. In 2011 FOJM earned national designation as a Preserve America Steward, in part for filling an unmet need in heritage preservation with volunteer efforts.

You can help us forge a better future by becoming a member, and by patronizing the quality products and services provided by our generous sponsors. Enjoy your visit!

 

Take a virtual tour of Jerusalem Mill.

Historic Jerusalem Mill Village
2813 Jerusalem Road
Kingsville, MD 21087
410-877-3560 jerusalemmill@yahoo.com