UPCOMING EVENTS

Lecture Series: The Impact of the Battle of the Brandywine on American Freedom

Join award-winning author and reporter Bruce E. Mowday for an engaging talk on how the Battle of the Brandywine shaped America’s fight for independence on Saturday, November 1, 1-2 pm. Discover how close the British came to capturing Washington, how Lafayette’s bravery turned the tide, and why this pivotal 1777 battle still matters today.

Weekend Mill Tours

Step into history and join us at The Mill at Anselma every Saturday from 10 am to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. to immerse yourself in the colonial-era milling process. And if you're craving some outdoor adventure, our nature trail awaits you daily, offering serene walks amidst nature's beauty from dawn to dusk.  

Check our website, Facebook, and Instagram pages for upcoming events. 

Demo Days Update

Please note that our Demo Days have been canceled while essential repairs are completed at the Mill. Demonstrations are expected to resume in Spring. Thank you for your understanding as we ensure the Mill remains safe and operational for future events.

Please consider donating to the mill to help cover high repair costs.

SEPTEMBER HIGHLIGHTS

Capital Campaign Update

You may have recently received our mailing about the America 250 Capital Campaign. Launched in 2024, this campaign aims to raise funds to bring our facilities to first-class condition in anticipation of the 2026 celebration of our nation’s founding, a milestone that will be commemorated across the county, state, and country.

We’ve already made exciting improvements, including renovations to the waterwheel and a new roof for the Visitor Center, with more projects planned. You can see the current status of our fundraising efforts below.

We know there are many worthy causes to support, but we hope you will consider joining us in preparing for this once-in-50-years celebration.

If you have already contributed, we sincerely thank you. Your generous gifts are already helping us get ready for this historic event.

Cider Fest 2025: A Sweet Success at The Mill

Cider Fest 2025 at The Mill at Anselma was one for the books! Over 300 guests joined us for a picture-perfect fall day filled with crisp apples, delicious food, local artistry, live music, and the warm spirit of community that makes this place so special.

The Heart of the Season: Mariner Farms Apples

The star of the season? The incredible apples from Mariner Farms, bursting with flavor and perfect for cider sipping, snacking, or baking. Their bounty was the heart of the festival, and you could taste autumn in every bite.

For more information about Mariner Farms, Click the button below:

Local Vendors, Local Love

We were thrilled to welcome an amazing lineup of local vendors:

Live Music

Adding to the festive atmosphere, the Blue Belles filled the air with their lively tunes while the Lenape Brass Band brought joyful sounds that kept the energy high throughout the day.

First Responders Join the Fun

We were delighted to welcome members of the Uwchlan Ambulance Corps and the Lionville Fire Company to Cider Fest! Their presence added excitement and community spirit as guests had the chance to meet local first responders, explore their emergency vehicles up close, and learn more about the vital services they provide. We’re grateful for their time, dedication, and for keeping our community safe.

Colonial Baking Comes to Life

A major highlight of the day was our colonial beehive oven demonstration, where we baked stunning seasonal pies to perfection. The aroma filled the air and drew a crowd of curious bakers and pie lovers alike.

We were also honored to welcome WHYY, who captured footage for an upcoming segment on colonial baking. Stay tuned! We're thrilled to help share the story of early American foodways with a wider audience.

Volunteers Make It Happen!

Cider Fest wouldn’t have been the same without our incredible volunteers! The kids’ activities, organized by our enthusiastic high school volunteers led by Neha Ananth, were an absolute hit. Parents loved seeing their children enjoy crafting, playing games, face painting, and joining in the scavenger hunt. A big thank-you also goes to the Boy Scouts Troop 216, who kept everything running smoothly by helping with parking. And of course, we’re so grateful to our tour guides, bakers, greeters, maintenance crew, and front desk team for their hard work and cheerful dedication throughout the day. The success of Cider Fest truly wouldn’t have been possible without each of you!

Want to get involved? Learn more about how you can volunteer at the Mill by following the button below.

Celebrating Installation of the New Roof with Ribbon-cutting Ceremony

At noon, we were proud to host our America 250 Ribbon Cutting Ceremony, celebrating our partnership with the America 250 Semiquincentennial Grant Project and the unveiling of the new roof on our Visitors Center, a big step forward in preserving our history for the next generation.

HISTORICAL REMARK

October at the Mill: Light, Grain, and Memory

As the wheel turns through the golden hush of autumn, The Mill at Anselma becomes more than a historical site; it becomes a mirror of the season itself. October is a month of change: of harvests gathered, of stories remembered, and of light meeting shadow. Across cultures and centuries, people have marked this time with festivals that honor the past, prepare for winter, and give thanks for what the land provides. The Mill, with its centuries-old rhythm of turning grain into sustenance, is uniquely tied to each of these traditions: Halloween, Indigenous Peoples’ Day, and Diwali.

Halloween: The Spirit of the Season

Long before Halloween became costumes and candy, it was rooted in the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, which marked the end of the harvest and the beginning of winter. Samhain was seen as a liminal time, when the veil between the worlds of the living and the dead grew thin. Fires were lit to ward off spirits, and people honored their ancestors as they prepared for the cold, dark months ahead.

In early American agrarian communities, including those surrounding The Mill at Anselma, similar feelings of transition and uncertainty shaped the rhythm of the season. Crops had to be gathered, grain brought to the mill, and food preserved before winter took hold. The Mill was at the heart of this process. As the days shortened and the last of the grain arrived, the mill’s creaking wood, turning stones, and the rush of water beneath the floor may have stirred imaginations just as much then as they do now.

The building itself, shadowed, echoing, and old, invites a sense of mystery that connects directly to Halloween’s ancient themes. It stands today as both a place of work and of memory, where the season’s eerie atmosphere finds a perfect home.

Indigenous Peoples’ Day: Remembering the Land Beneath Our Feet

The land on which the Mill sits has a much deeper story, one that predates its 18th-century construction by thousands of years. Indigenous Peoples’ Day is an opportunity to honor the Lenape and other Native peoples who lived, farmed, and stewarded this region long before European settlers arrived.

The Lenape grew the Three Sisters; corn, beans, and squash, in an interdependent planting system that nourished both the soil and the people. They practiced seasonal agriculture, managed forests, and harvested wild foods in sustainable cycles. These practices supported a healthy balance between community and land, including the same Pickering Creek that powers the Mill today. When European settlers introduced water-powered grist milling, it fundamentally changed this landscape and often displaced Indigenous lifeways.

Recognizing this history allows us to deepen our relationship to the Mill. It is not only a technological artifact but also a place layered with histories. To grind grain here is to acknowledge the many hands, cultures, and practices that have shaped this land.

Diwali: The Light Within the Harvest

Though separated by oceans and traditions, Diwali, the Hindu Festival of Lights, shares a common thread with the Mill’s own story: the transformation of harvest into hope.

In India, Diwali coincides with the end of the kharif harvest season. Families prepare sweets from freshly milled grains and pulses, foods that nourish both body and spirit. Oil lamps are lit to invite prosperity and drive out darkness. Just as grain is ground to prepare for winter, Diwali marks a spiritual and agricultural turning point, a time to clear out the old, welcome new beginnings, and share abundance.

At Anselma, the millstones grind the fruits of local fields into flour, just as they have for centuries. In doing so, they connect to the same core idea Diwali celebrates: turning raw harvest into sustenance, light, and renewal. The hum of the wheel, the golden dust of grain, the glow of lanterns at dusk all echo the Diwali spirit.

Threads That Bind

Halloween, Indigenous Peoples’ Day, and Diwali may come from different origins, but at The Mill at Anselma, their meaning converges. Each reflects a relationship to land, season, and spirit:

Halloween reminds us of the mystery in the turn of the year, the unseen and the unknown.

Indigenous Peoples’ Day reminds us to honor those who first cared for this land and its resources.

Diwali reminds us that even as darkness grows, we can create light and abundance through tradition and care.

This October, even as the Mill’s water wheel rests, the spirit of the season continues to move through our grounds. The harvest reminds us to gather what we have grown, to prepare for the quieter months ahead, and to honor the cycles that sustain us. In this moment of turning inward, we celebrate the shared human rhythm of work, gratitude, and renewal that binds us across time and tradition.

Sources:

History.com Editors. (2023). History of Halloween. https://www.history.com/topics/halloween/history-of-halloween

National Museum of the American Indian. What is Indigenous Peoples’ Day? https://americanindian.si.edu

National Geographic. (2022). What is Diwali? https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/diwali-history-customs-indian-festival-of-lights

DiwaliFestival.org. Diwali as a Harvest Festival. https://www.diwalifestival.org/diwali-as-harvest-festival.html

Support Us!

Rent the Mill for your next event! 

The Mill at Anselma is a pristine 22-acre property that plays host to numerous attractions in addition to the historical buildings on site. The Mill is open for your next event, from weddings to graduation parties, as well as for filming and photography! Site rentals can be done through our website, where you can also choose from our list of caterers, photographers and vendors who specialize in making your event one to remember!

In addition to events, we offer private tours and different membership options for those looking to support our efforts here at the Mill at Anselma! Please check our website or come on down and meet us in person to secure your membership today! We are also eagerly searching for new enthusiastic volunteers and would love to have you join our team! Please reach out to us for more details regarding private tours, membership options, and volunteer work!

Check out the Junebug Weddings blog featuring The Mill at Anselma: Romantic Rosy and Rust Pennsylvania Wedding Inspiration at Anselma Mill

The newsletter was prepared by the Mill’s marketing and communications team:

Assemgul Bissenbina, Ph.D. and Marykate Santalucia

Copyright © 2025. The Mill at Anselma Preservation and Educational Trust, Inc. All rights reserved.
Address:
The Mill at Anselma Preservation and Educational Trust, Inc.
1730 Conestoga Road
Chester Springs, PA 19425
610.827.1900
www.anselmamill.org