Solanco Historical Society will host a presentation on Saturday, Feb. 17, at the society's archives building, 1932 Robert Fulton Highway, Quarryville. The free program will begin at 1:30 p.m. All are welcome to attend.

Donald Kautz will present "The Mills Are Alive." Lancaster County's mills were once important contributors to the local economy. The local mill was where people went to get their mail and catch up on the local news while delivering their corn or wheat to be processed into animal feed, cornmeal, or flour. Today, most of the mills are gone, but about 100 still stand. Two of them are now museums while others have been converted into residences or businesses and some have been abandoned.

The presentation will begin with a brief history of milling and water-powered mill technology. Kautz will also share stories from a few of Lancaster County's mills and a summary of the current uses for the mills that still exist today.

Kautz is a retired software developer, an amateur photographer, and a local historian. He has given numerous talks in the local area about the history of the Conestoga River and has written a book titled "The Conestoga River: A History." Kautz has conducted extensive research on Lancaster County grist mills and recently published a book titled "Mills of Lancaster County." He lives near Lancaster with his wife and has three grown children and two grandsons.