Old Cider Mill at Krut Farm
By Vivian Cleis McLaughlin, a former neighbor and friend.
Daugherty Township achieved its township status by a mere four votes in 1893. It was originally part of Sewickley Twp. The land which includes present Daugherty Twp., became part of New Sewickley in 1801 and then included Pulaski in 1854.

Krut Barn
According to Anton’s will he left his business to his son John. Mr. Krut bought the farm to provide a good atmosphere for his growing family. Eventually the farm provided employment for them all. Charles Krut was in charge of the farm. This is the period of time that I remember along with the operation of the Cider Mill.
Searching back and talking with the grandchildren. Grace Miller Reskovic, Dorothy Majors Lang Fisher, and Frances Majors Kolb, I discovered this farm was more than an ordinary farm. The barn contained a planning mill, cider mill, wagon shed, stalls, cows grain bins and the usual found in most barns.
This barn was unusually large. The outbuildings on the farm consisted of a summer kitchen, spring house, storage house of vinegar vats, smoke house, blacksmith shop and chicken house. The planning mill was used to plane lumber for the wagon works in Pittsburgh. The cider mill, used to make cider, which in turn was stored to ferment into vinegar. Then vinegar was wholesaled to clients as far away as Pittsburgh and Ohio. When the Pennsylvania pure food and drug act came into effect and inspections were made, Mr. Krut did not want to update his equipment or get into bottling, so he sold the vinegar clients.
The cider mill was then opened to the public. Every fall this was a very busy place for the local farmers to go to get their apples pressed for their own supply of cider and vinegar. Horses with their wagon loads of apples would line the roadway early in the mornings, everyone vieing for an early spot in line. As time went on and apples were ground you did not know whose apples were being ground. The farmers that used the juice for their own consumption of course wanted the best. Those who sold the cider and vinegar used a second grade of apples that were not very appealing to the late comers. The cider mill operated three days a week. It had to shut down then to dry the straining cloths. I remember those huge brown cloths drying on the clotheslines.
There was also a blacksmith shop on the farm. This was used to handle the iron work that went into the wagon manufacturing. The Krut’s did a lot of truck gardening and kept cows for their own milk supply, chickens for the eggs and meat. Pigs were fattened for the fall butchering.
I remember this was the depression days but there was never a shortage of food among the farmers and neighbors. Everyone shared their wealth of food. Money was scarce but there was plenty of food.

Krut Summer House
The barn and cider mill was torn down and the slate roof and barn siding sold strictly for mercenary reasons. The Krut family was a very affluent and respected family and an asset to Allegheny, Beaver, and Butler Counties where they contributed to the economic and commercial growth and development. Many 4th and 5th generations of the Krut family still reside locally and are very proud of their heritage!Charles Krut and his wife Mary Catherine (Myers) Krut had the following children: Marcella Krut, Mrs. Harry Miller, Mrs. Herbert Majors, and Carl H. Charles Krut passed away in 1928 and left the farm in charge of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Miller. his daughter and son-in-law. They ran the farm until their retirement when the farm was sold.