Nonprofit Donates $25,000 to Support Development of Overlook on History
BETHLEHEM, PA—The 1782/1834 Grist Miller’s House in Bethlehem’s Colonial Industrial Quarter is one step closer to completion thanks to an important donation from the Bethlehem Historic District Association (BHDA). The $25,000 gift from the BHDA’s Holiday House Tour proceeds will go toward Overlook on History, an enclosed glass-and-steel walkway that will join the Grist Miller’s House to the 1869 Luckenbach Mill, much like the two buildings were connected in the 19th century.
“Thanks to the more than 1,000 attendees and 200 volunteers who helped to make the 2024 BHDA Holiday House Tour a sold-out success we are delighted to once again be able to donate a portion of our proceeds to Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites,” said Bethlehem Historic District Association President Michele Schultz. “Bethlehem’s Historic District is renowned for its collection of well-preserved 18th and 19th century properties that add to the city’s charm and livability, but it takes a significant amount of time and resources to maintain and restore these incredible buildings. HBMS has been leading the charge on this front for more than 30 years, so we are happy to support this dynamic nonprofit in its mission and work.”
Slated to open this spring, the Grist Miller’s House will serve as a gateway between Bethlehem’s bustling Main Street and the Colonial Industrial Quarter, a location that in the mid-1750s was home to approximately 50 crafts, trades and industries, making it what is considered to be the first industrial center in the nation. During its height, the site along the Monocacy Creek was home to operations focused on textiles and apparel; blacksmithing, gunmaking and the metal trades; tanning and leatherwork; woodworking and cabinet making; masonry and brickmaking; soap making; grain milling and baking; pottery and much more.
The Grist Miller’s House will feature the Ralph G. Schwarz Interpretation Center for Colonial Industries, highlighting the early industrial trades and crafts in Bethlehem. It will include rotating exhibitions, a shop showcasing and selling handmade works by local artisans and an educational programming space for school groups.
Designed by architect David Scott Parker, Overlook on History will offer a panoramic view of the Colonial Industrial Quarter and serve as an educational, programming and exhibit space. Construction of Overlook on History is slated to begin later this year.
“Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites greatly appreciates this generous donation from the Bethlehem Historic District Association,” said HBMS President and CEO LoriAnn Wukitsch. “This volunteer-led organization and its members are incredible ambassadors and stewards for the city’s historic district, and we are proud to collaborate and work with them on preserving and restoring the city’s architectural treasures.”
The BHDA 2025 donation to support the Grist Miller’s House project marks the second time the BHDA has made a donation to support important restoration work needed at the Historic Bethlehem properties maintained by HBMS. In 2021, BHDA donated $30,000 toward the restoration of the shutters on the 1741 Gemeinhaus, the oldest building in Bethlehem.
Founded in 1989, BHDA focuses on creating opportunities to honor and preserve the Historic Bethlehem neighborhood history and support the Historical Architectural Review Board (HARB) in protecting the architectural integrity of the historic district. The nonprofit develops and presents programs that support safety and beautification in the district and sponsors events and programs that encourage inclusiveness and a greater community bond among neighbors. For more information on BHDA, visit bhda.org.
Editor’s Note: Attached are two photos of construction workers working on the Grist Miller’s House last fall and a rendering of the Overlook on History. The exterior construction photo shows workers removing the steel support beams that helped stabilize the building’s walls for two decades.
ABOUT HISTORIC BETHLEHEM MUSEUMS & SITES
Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites (HBMS) is a nonprofit institution that brings to life three centuries of American history. HBMS tells the story of a small town of great influence, home to some of our nation’s earliest settlers, America’s first municipal water pumping system and one of the world’s greatest industrial companies. HBMS is located in eastern Pennsylvania, only a one-hour drive north of Philadelphia and two hours west of New York City. The nonprofit is a partner in Moravian Church Settlements-Bethlehem, the United States’ 26th World Heritage site; an Affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution; and part of Historic Moravian Bethlehem, which is a National Historic Landmark District. For more information, visit historicbethlehem.org.
Information provided to TVL by:
Mark Demko
