The saga of Annville’s historic Brandt’s Mill has been documented by LebTown before; first in early 2019 when it went up for sale as a ready-to-go milling operation and then again more than a year later as it became less clear whether the site’s future would be tied to its floured past.
The listing was distributed far and wide, even appearing on a popular “old home” site that profiles properties across the country.
As it turns out, the ultimate buyer was technically “next door” the whole time.
The 4.85 acre property at 545 West Queen Street, which had been listed by Bering Realty for $249,000, was sold by McGreary Grain on Jan. 15, 2021 for $100,000 to James D. Stauffer and Jalana R. Thomas, who also own an adjacent parcel, 539 West Queen Street.
Sellers agent Bill Bering Jr. said he was not aware of the purchasers’ plans for the property.
LebTown also contacted McGreary Grain President Shawn Kilpatrick but did not hear back as of publication time.
For both the 539 and 545 West Queen Street properties, Stauffer and Thomas have their address listed as 365 Weaver Road in Lancaster. This 365 Weaver Road property, also known as Stauffer Farm, has been owned by James D. Stauffer since 2003 when he acquired it in a $1 transaction from his parents.
The story is told in greater detail on the website of Country Barn, the retail farm market, event venue, and lodging location now located on the Stauffer Farm property: “The Country Barn is owned and operated by Jim Stauffer, whose family has been tilling the farm’s soil for three generations.”
The story details Country Barn’s diversification into different ag-related businesses. “By staying true to its farm culture, the Country Barn has come to offer a variety of authentic, fun farm experiences for guests of all ages,” concludes the history section of the site.
Country Barn did not respond to multiple LebTown messages and phonecalls, so it’s too soon to say how this news impacts prospects of the historic mill property remaining intact. LebTown will be continuing to follow the story.
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