 The Tannery was originally built as a small log structure in 1743 along the east side of the Grist Mill (today Luckenbach Mill) tail race.Leather was both an important material and a valuable commodity in early Bethlehem, making the need for the tannery all the greater and one of the most profitable industries.It supplied the necessary leather for shoemakers, harness makers, and saddlers in Bethlehem, Nazareth, and the surrounding areas.