A letter about Ellicott mills to New England Offering, Nov. 1849
ELLICOTT'S MILLS, MARYLAND. Editress of Lowell Offering —
As you were kind enough,
in your June number, to notice the complaint made from this village,
respecting the short and imperfect notice of it, given by your
Travelling Agent in the April record, I am induced, through the
invitation which you add, to send you a few particulars respecting this
prosperous manufacturing community. Of course your readers will like to
hear something respecting its natural, beautiful scenery, which has been
before mentioned as being “unequalled on the continent,” and, as there
might be some danger that my own pen might possibly describe it in too
flattering words, I will simply give you the opinion of a traveller, who
paid a visit to it so late as the past summer, who says: —
“This is a
romantic and charming village, for a stranger to visit, or even for a
permanent residence. It would please the fancy of some of our young and
promising poets, who bid fair to live eternally in song. To the poetic
mind no dulness here would fling a blighting shade over the soul. The
scenery being so enchanting, the places for rambling so numerous, and so
conducive to give inspiration to “pen runnings,” the air so bland, the
everlasting hills are so agreeable, that no mind, poetic or otherwise,
could fail to drink in refreshing draughts from the everflowing
fountains of pleasure. The atmosphere, too, is so life-imparting,
salubrious, and healthy.” So much for what Nature has bestowed upon us;
and I will now inform you what we have done for ourselves, although I
often hear the exclamation,
“If the Yankees only had the management of
the resources of this place, they would make it a second Lowell;”
indeed, the present President, who remained here a short time, while on
his way to the White House, in February last, expressed the same
opinion, and acknowledged that he was quite pleased with the appearance
and industry of the place.
The Cotton Mills in
this place, four in number, are on what we term a large scale, and are
denominated the Union, the Granite, the Patapsco, and the Thistle, all
built upon the edge of the river Patapsco; all of which, in a collective expression, are termed Ellicott's Mills, from
the fact that, about the year 1771, a number of brothers purchased the
land in the ravine, in which the Patapsco runs, for the length of ten
miles, and then erected thereon grist mills and saw mills, which were termed “Ellicott's Mills,” but
which are numbered now, along with the founders of them, “amongst the
things that are past.” The place still retains the name out of respect
to the hardy pioneers, who first cleared the forest; but many citizens
now suggest the propriety of altering the name to “Patapsco,” and
although there is some objection to this measure at present, it will eventually be adopted.
The Union Mills are the largest. The buildings are three in number, two large and one small, with a machine shop, for their own repairs. They employ between 300 and 400 hands; have 300 looms and 10,000 mule and thistle spindles. The company was chartered in 1808, and is the oldest in the State. They consume 3,000 bales of cotton per annum. Their water power is great, being a fall of 49 feet 6 inches, with double the quantity of water they are now using. The company are now making extensive improvements for the accommodation of their Operatives. Their cottages look well, and have a neat appearance; and their flower or vegetable gardens have a domestic bearing which is pleasing to the beholder. The whole of this extensive establishment is under the able and gentlemanly management of John Thompson, Esq., from Paterson, N.J., whose actions are ever characterized by kindness and affability.
The Granite Manufacturing Company have a large and handsome edifice for their Operatives, built of enduring granite, surmounted with a belfry. The company have a capital of $150,000 employed in carrying on the factory, consisting of one hundred and thirty-two looms, and four thousand spindles. The machinery is all built on the latest improved plan, and is the best in this part of the country. The company employ about one hundred and fifty hands, and manufacture six thousand yards of 4 muslins per day. Thomas Lansdale, Esq., is manager.
The Maryland Machine Manufacturing Company's Works, are contiguous to the Mill. The Machine Shop and Foundry are sitted up with the most modern improved tools, and they are prepared to manufacture all kinds of cotton and other machinery. About one hundred hands are employed, the whole being under the supervision of Geo. Poe, Esq., manager.
The Patapsco Factory is a little lower down the stream than the “Granite.” It is in a thriving condition, and has been brought to its present state of prosperity through the indefatigable exertions of its gentlemanly proprietor, Edward Gray, Esq. Their machinery consists of one woollen, two spreading machines, fifty-two cards, three thousand three hundred spindles, and one hundred and twenty looms. They manufacture Osnaburghs, and heavy Twills, and employ one hundred and eighty hands. This factory has a very pretty appearance to the eye of the traveller, on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, which reflects high credit upon the taste and good order displayed in the sanitary condition of the cottages of the Operatives, who reside upon the spot, for which too much praise cannot be given to the spirited proprietor and his able and energetic manager, Hugh Bone, Esq., a gentleman perfectly at home in the management of such establishments, to the truth of which, the neatness and cleanliness that reign around, bear undoubted testimony.
Last, but by no means least, either as regards extent of operations or ability in the management thereof, comes the Thistle Factory, so called, from having been commenced under many difficulties, by two indomitable and persevering sons of “Scotia's Isle.” It has been in a prosperous condition for some time, and employs about one hundred and seventy-five hands. There are, in this factory, four thousand seven hundred spindles and twelve looms. George Kerr, Esq., is the manager at the present time. "
[Flour mills, bank, schools]
As I have given you such a long description of the Cotton Factories, (though I scarcely think I could have said much less,) I will but slightly advert to the other public places in the village. There are several Flour Mills, which are large and commodious, and which can turn out about three hundred barrels per day. The Patapsco Bank, has a fine edifice for the transaction of their monetary affairs. There are very commodious and elegant places of worship for many denominations. Also two large educational establishments, called the Rockhill Institute, for boys and young men, and the Patapsco Institute, for the education of young ladies, which is conducted by Mrs. Phelps, a lady well fitted to train the minds of Columbia's fairest daughters, as the many works she has written do well testify. I could go on much longer in these descriptions, but as I am afraid that if I lengthen them any more, it will cause their utter exclusion, so I will desist. As we have an interest in your Offering, we desire to be known to our sisters in Lowell, and therefore trust you will insert this still imperfect description on your cover, and send to you our kindest wishes for the prosperity of the Offering, and our desire is, that the “union” between it and you, may long and happily continue. A. A. S.
The Union Mills are the largest. The buildings are three in number, two large and one small, with a machine shop, for their own repairs. They employ between 300 and 400 hands; have 300 looms and 10,000 mule and thistle spindles. The company was chartered in 1808, and is the oldest in the State. They consume 3,000 bales of cotton per annum. Their water power is great, being a fall of 49 feet 6 inches, with double the quantity of water they are now using. The company are now making extensive improvements for the accommodation of their Operatives. Their cottages look well, and have a neat appearance; and their flower or vegetable gardens have a domestic bearing which is pleasing to the beholder. The whole of this extensive establishment is under the able and gentlemanly management of John Thompson, Esq., from Paterson, N.J., whose actions are ever characterized by kindness and affability.
The Granite Manufacturing Company have a large and handsome edifice for their Operatives, built of enduring granite, surmounted with a belfry. The company have a capital of $150,000 employed in carrying on the factory, consisting of one hundred and thirty-two looms, and four thousand spindles. The machinery is all built on the latest improved plan, and is the best in this part of the country. The company employ about one hundred and fifty hands, and manufacture six thousand yards of 4 muslins per day. Thomas Lansdale, Esq., is manager.
The Maryland Machine Manufacturing Company's Works, are contiguous to the Mill. The Machine Shop and Foundry are sitted up with the most modern improved tools, and they are prepared to manufacture all kinds of cotton and other machinery. About one hundred hands are employed, the whole being under the supervision of Geo. Poe, Esq., manager.
The Patapsco Factory is a little lower down the stream than the “Granite.” It is in a thriving condition, and has been brought to its present state of prosperity through the indefatigable exertions of its gentlemanly proprietor, Edward Gray, Esq. Their machinery consists of one woollen, two spreading machines, fifty-two cards, three thousand three hundred spindles, and one hundred and twenty looms. They manufacture Osnaburghs, and heavy Twills, and employ one hundred and eighty hands. This factory has a very pretty appearance to the eye of the traveller, on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, which reflects high credit upon the taste and good order displayed in the sanitary condition of the cottages of the Operatives, who reside upon the spot, for which too much praise cannot be given to the spirited proprietor and his able and energetic manager, Hugh Bone, Esq., a gentleman perfectly at home in the management of such establishments, to the truth of which, the neatness and cleanliness that reign around, bear undoubted testimony.
Last, but by no means least, either as regards extent of operations or ability in the management thereof, comes the Thistle Factory, so called, from having been commenced under many difficulties, by two indomitable and persevering sons of “Scotia's Isle.” It has been in a prosperous condition for some time, and employs about one hundred and seventy-five hands. There are, in this factory, four thousand seven hundred spindles and twelve looms. George Kerr, Esq., is the manager at the present time. "
[Flour mills, bank, schools]
As I have given you such a long description of the Cotton Factories, (though I scarcely think I could have said much less,) I will but slightly advert to the other public places in the village. There are several Flour Mills, which are large and commodious, and which can turn out about three hundred barrels per day. The Patapsco Bank, has a fine edifice for the transaction of their monetary affairs. There are very commodious and elegant places of worship for many denominations. Also two large educational establishments, called the Rockhill Institute, for boys and young men, and the Patapsco Institute, for the education of young ladies, which is conducted by Mrs. Phelps, a lady well fitted to train the minds of Columbia's fairest daughters, as the many works she has written do well testify. I could go on much longer in these descriptions, but as I am afraid that if I lengthen them any more, it will cause their utter exclusion, so I will desist. As we have an interest in your Offering, we desire to be known to our sisters in Lowell, and therefore trust you will insert this still imperfect description on your cover, and send to you our kindest wishes for the prosperity of the Offering, and our desire is, that the “union” between it and you, may long and happily continue. A. A. S.
©2017 Patricia Bixler Reber
Forgotten history of Ellicott City & Howard County MD
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