The Millersville Area Historical Society (MAHS) will host a slideshow presentation on "Lancaster County Grist Mills" when it meets at 9 a.m. on Saturday, July 13, in the Millersville Borough Administration and Police Building, 100 Municipal Drive. Doors will open at 8:30 a.m. and lock at 9:15 a.m.

The speaker will be Donald Kautz, who is a local historian, an amateur photographer, and the author of the recently published book "Mills of Lancaster County."

Kautz, who has conducted extensive research on the county's water-powered grist mills, noted that most of them are gone, but about 100 remain. The mills were the hubs of Lancaster County's economy, often dictating the formation of regional road networks since many of them also served as the local post offices where people went to get their mail and catch up with the news while waiting for the crops they had brought in to be processed. Kautz's presentation will include a brief history of milling and water-powered mill technology, stories of the mills, and information about uses of the mills that currently exist. A question-and-answer session will end the meeting.

Kautz is also the author of "The Conestoga River: A History." Copies of his books will be available at the meeting.

He and his wife are residents of Lancaster County.

Although admission is free, donations will be accepted. For more details, contact Phil Gerber at 717-872-8837 before noon or at pge8507@aol.com.