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    A Guide to Patapsco Valley Mill Sites: Our Valley's Contribution to Maryland's Industrial Revolution
    A Guide to Patapsco Valley Mill Sites: Our Valley's Contribution to Maryland's Industrial Revolution
    A Guide to Patapsco Valley Mill Sites: Our Valley's Contribution to Maryland's Industrial Revolution
    Ebook206 pages2 hours

    A Guide to Patapsco Valley Mill Sites: Our Valley's Contribution to Maryland's Industrial Revolution

    By James Walter Peirce

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    About this ebook

    This study is part of a project for Patapsco Valley State Park. Is it a complete comprehensive study? Not by a long shot. It is the best collection of this type of information available at this time. It is a study built upon information based in its bibliography. There is still much to do. When asked how much time it took? I say forever! It never ends! As soon as I finish a section new material seems to surface. I regularly get telephone calls asking, adding or correcting materials. If pursued I would say about eight hours of research per mile to cover both our 1993 and 2003 studies.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherAuthorHouse
    Release dateJul 12, 2004
    ISBN9781496948267
    A Guide to Patapsco Valley Mill Sites: Our Valley's Contribution to Maryland's Industrial Revolution
    Author

    James Walter Peirce

          He graduated from the University of Maryland at College Park with a BA and MED. He was a construction driver and ship’s serviceman with the Navy’s Sea Bees during the Korean Conflict.  His unit (ACB 2) assisted with the movie productions of “Away all Boats” and “Battle Cry”.       His most significant occupation is as an Administrator and Teacher with the Prince George’s County Board of Education.  He has received many awards in that field.  Among them Outstanding Educator in America in 1974 and 2004, Who’s Who in America 2003, two outstanding achievement awards and three Best History awards from the American Legion Department of Maryland.  Presently, He is a Volunteer Ranger at Patpsco Valley State Park.

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      Book preview

      A Guide to Patapsco Valley Mill Sites - James Walter Peirce

      9781496948267_epubcover.jpg

      A GUIDE TO PATAPSCO VALLEY MILL SITES

      OUR VALLEY’S CONTRIBUTION TO MARYLAND’S INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION

      BY

      JAMES WALTER PEIRCE

      Image345.PNG

      © 2004 JAMES WALTER PEIRCE. All Rights Reserved.

      No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system., or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

      First published by AuthorHouse 06/04/04

      ISBN: 1-4184-5297-1 (sc)

      ISBN: 9781-4969-4826-7 (ebook)

      Library of Congress Control Number: 2004106921

      Contents

      PART I (BALTIMORE HARBOR)

      PART II (ELKRIDGE TO MARRIOTTSVILLE)

      PART III SOUTH BRANCH

      PART IV (NORTH BRANCH)

      Part I - Baltimore Harbor

      Part II - Elkridge to Marriottsville

      Pate III - Marriottsville to Parr’s Spring

      Part IV - Marriottsvillle to Westminister

      Maryland Counties of: Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Carroll, Howard and the City of Baltimore

      A Compilation of Surveys Completed in 1993-4 and 2003-4

      Image352.PNG

      DEDICATION

      To Donna, Mark, Mike and Sydney, all true legacies of the Patapsco Valley

      PROLOGUE

      PATAPSCO CHILLS

      Through Baltimore s great Dundock mariner,

      to rolling deep green hills near Mount Airy.

      From whirling heights of old Westminster,

      to celebrated Fells Point history.

      The eighteen sixties span its noble time,

      when many working ramparts shaped the shore.

      Reflecting sun accents its ancient prime,

      and white of snow sets off the gray-black lore.

      In winter with the vegetation less,

      most water and some bedrock set the tone.

      Today the river s artifacts regress,

      and chilling times seem best when all alone.

      Short winter walks reveal archives of mills,

      and feelings of unreal Patapsco chills.

      THANKS TO SO MANY

      For this page I divided the people into two groups according to the two studies. There are so many who helped along the way. Some never gave me their name, and some are forgetfully omitted. I apologize for both.

      THE 1993 SURVEY: To the wonderful people of the Historical Society of Howard County who twice a week make history a little less distant for all of us.

      To the people who talked with me like: Dan Wecker who helped me in Ilchester. Charles Wagandt who helped me in Oella. Bev Compton who helped me in Jones Falls. Howard Hall who helped me in Woodbine.

      To the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Rangers at Patapsco Valley State Park like: Rangers: Walter Brown, Neal Herrick, Carl Livsey, Daryl Anthony, Mary McGinnis, and Robert Ford.

      THE 2003 SURVEY: To the wonderful people at the Sykesville Gate House Museum of History particularly Carrie and Jim.

      To the people I talked with like: Ron Thinkerey whose research of Gray’s Mill proved very helpful. To Dick Edrich for his assistance at Brice Run, Jim Bartlinski of the Mount Clare Museum House

      To the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Rangers at Patapsco Valley State Park like: Sergeant Frazier Bishop, who in so many times sent me to sources to find the answers. He was also there when I needed guidance to go some place or stay away from another. Many times he sent Rangers with me to find answers. He was particularly helpful in the Hollofield and Soldier’s Delight areas. My favorite Park Ranger, Mary Lytwynec, for her help at Avalon and Orange Grove.

      To Tom Minarik, plant manager for Fleischmann’s Vinegar, for his help with the Vinegar Mill area.

      To Doctor Thomas Murray whom I have known for over fifty years and was of great help near the completion this study and getting it published.

      BACKGROUND

      The Patapsco’s influence upon Baltimore, Baltimore’s influence upon Maryland and Maryland’s influence upon the United States is based upon location. In the middle of the thirteen Colonies, Maryland was the meeting place of pre-Revolutionary War leaders. Charles’ Carroll’s home in the Patapsco Valley is the recipient of visits from Washington, Adams Jefferson, Madison, Franklin and others. After the war for Independence Maryland provides land for the Nation’s Capital. During the War of 1812 Maryland becomes the battleground and center of major assaults by British Forces. During the Civil War Lincoln feels Maryland is so important that he gives no popular voice in choosing north or south.

      From the American Revolution to the Civil War the history of Baltimore is the most important part of the history of Maryland. It is to Baltimore from Europe, and from Baltimore to the west that many came through the Patapsco Valley. The valley becomes the center for iron activity and flour milling. Elkridge becomes a transfer point for tobacco and wheat. Transportation and industry become the economic keys to the livelihood of the people. The Patapsco River, the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, the mills and the people are a major part of this early history. All four shaped the lives and communities which exist in the valley today. The artifacts are here. We should preserve for study that which remains.

      It is after the Civil War that Maryland’s importance politically and militarily declines. However, what does remain constant throughout are the Patapsco Valley’s contributions to our Nation. It is most notable during war efforts. In the seven major wars and more than two dozen lesser conflicts, the Patapsco River Valley contributes to each. Understanding this history should ensure our future. It is hoped that this study will interest you in our history and that you will take enough of this interest to visit some remnants of the Industrial Revolution. It is further hoped that you will then become involved in their preservation.

      A person looking for generals, captains of industry and national political leaders will find little in our valley. The middle class people, working in teams, producing apple-sauce for C-rations, contributing the Manhattan project and surviving floods and fires readily come to the forefront as our heroes.

      INTRODUCTION

      The Patapsco flows eastward from Westminister, Hampstead and a group of springs south of Mount Airy. It ends near Fort McHenry flowing into the Chesapeake Bay. These southern and northern branches of the Patapsco River converge at Mc Keldin to form the main Patapsco River. The Patapsco then flows south and gradually eastward through Ellicott City and Elkridge into Baltimore Harbor.

      Over the last four hundred years workmen constructed over three-hundred mills along the banks of the Patapsco River. The greatest number of mills existing at one time occurs between the 1780s and 1880s. Of these mills, tanneries, factories, forges, furnaces and kilns few remain. There exists no observable evidence of many, and we are loosing more each year. By the year 2013 we will loose more to progress and carelessness. I hope this study may create enough interest to preserve that which is rapidly diminishing. I hope someone will expand on this research by studying land records, finding additional mills and sources and rechecking that which is done here. The Gunpowder River to the north and the Patuxent River to the south are prime candidates for an equally detailed study.

      To get information for this research I have waded through streams, met people with snarling dogs and loaded guns. I encountered snakes, opossums, raccoons, deer and other wild life, and I fought Maryland’s thorny bushes and Baltimore’s one-way streets. My only defense has been a clip board and notebook. Yet, many wonderful people of the Patapsco River Valley have asked me into their homes for coffee and given me invaluable information. The winter is the best time to explore the sites. Late fall and early spring are almost as good. I tend to do the book type research in the summer because of vegetation and animal presence. Week days are far better for on site inspections than week-ends and holidays. What I found in most cases is that almost all that remains of the mills are walls and foundations.

      The majority of what was compiled on Baltimore Harbor came through study of books, maps and material available through the various historical societies. A similar situation exists in the Liberty Reservoir area where water has inundated a lot of what once existed. Looking at water gives little impetus to the imagination of what once existed. In many ways it was easy to research these areas, but it is also discouraging. All of the remaining rapidly diminishing artifacts stand as mute yet real monuments to those who lived and toiled in the valley. Paving over these bricks, stones and metal gives little respect to a past that deserves more.

      There are errors in this study. If I knew what they are, they would already be corrected. The chapters on Baltimore City and the North Branch are particularly susceptible to mistakes because of their geography. In the building and rebuilding within the city much of what would be helpful has been lost in time. The 1954 forming of the Liberty Reservoir on the North Branch visually eliminated a lot. In addition Carroll County has been recently inundated by people involved in suburban flight from the Baltimore and Washington City limits. Finding people with knowledge of local history is much more difficult here than in Howard or Baltimore. Much has already been lost to progress.

      My approach to this study has been mostly alone and very cautious. I tried to obey all no trespassing signs, did not go anywhere that could possibly be dangerous, and attempted to avoid most animals and any person who showed the slightest inclination toward non-cooperation. In organizing this research, I tried to place the mill sites in groups of five to ten, and locate them on maps of the Patapsco River and its tributaries. Following each map is a listing of associated mill sites with location, other names, history and their status if visited 1993 or 2003.

      This study is part of a project for Patapsco Valley State Park. It is a complete, comprehensive study? Not by a long shot. It is the best collection of this type of information available at this time. It is a study built upon the information based on its bibliography. There is still much more to do. When asked how much time it took? I say forever. It never ends! As soon as I finish a section new material seems to surface. I regularly get telephone calls asking, adding or correcting material. If pressed I would say it took about eight hours of research per mill to cover both studies.

      In the research for this study occasionally conflict of information exists. In these instances I used personal judgment based upon the sources available in resolving the difference. Local people are quite often the best source of information. When asked if I would do it again, the answer is easy, in a minute.

      Maryland’s Beginning Industrial Revolution

      (Patapsco Valley’s Mill Site Contributions)

      PART I

      (BALTIMORE HARBOR)

      Maryland Counties of:

      Anne Arundel and Baltimore

      Maryland Communities of:

      Baltimore

      Carroll

      Lochearn

      Sparrow’s Point

      Walbrook

      Villa Nova

      Locust Point

      Rognel Heights

      Milford Park

      Canton

      Colonial Park

      Owings Mills

      MountVernon

      Winsor Hills

      Garrison Ridge

      Worthington Place

      Dickeyville

      Mount Royal

      Lazaratto Point

      Woodlawn

      Timber Grove

      Woodberry

      Study Completed: January of 2004

      Research conducted by:

      James W. Peirce

      5900 Whaleboat Drive, Suite #408

      Clarksville, Maryland 21029

      Historian for the Prince George’s County Council of the American Legion

      A Volunteer Ranger at Patapsco Valley State Park

      Image382.PNG

      PATAPSCO VALLEY MILL SITES

      Baltimore Harbor

      SPARROWS POINT

      1877-Present

      LOCATIION: The site is the Bethlehem Steel Company at Sparrows Point. It is on the northern shore of the Patapsco River south of Bear Creek. Exit #43 of Interstate #695.

      OTHER NAMES: Pennsylvania Steel Company, Maryland Extension of Pennsylvania Steel Company of Baltimore County, Maryland Steel Company, Bethlehem Steel Company

      CHRONOLOGY: War of 1812: The Battle of North Point was fought just north of here. Maneuvers occurred on this site. 1887: The Pennsylvania Steel Company purchases more than 2,000 acres for around $50,000. In August they lay out the fires furnace foundation. They construct a plant to smelt iron ore shipped from the Jargua Iron Company of Cuba. 1889: They fire up the first gasoline driven steam operated furnace. It has 85’ tall stacks 19’ in diameter, and a daily output of 200 to 300 tons. 1891: They become the Maryland Steel Company and begin producing railroad rails. 1892: Each blast furnace uses fifteen railroad car loads of coke each day. They pump slag into the low area and fill the tidal swamp. They use windmills to pump out water in the swamps. The plant is electrified. The company is the largest steel producing mill in Maryland and employees

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