USA > Pennsylvania > Erie County > A twentieth century history of Erie County, Pennsylvania : a narrative account of its historic progress, its people, and its principal interests, Volume I > Part 22
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CHAPTER XX .- THE EARLY INDUSTRIES.
FIRST SAW AND GRIST MILLS .- THE ENTERPRISE OF MI. BLANCON .- STEAM MILLS .- THE PASSING OF THE WOOLEN INDUSTRY.
The pioneers who settled in the midst of the great forest at Erie had very little that would contribute to comfort, as a rule, for while there were some of the earliest settlers who brought quite a fair store of cloth- ing and bedding with some few utensils, and there were two or three who brought slaves with them, the great majority had scarcely anything be- yond what they were wearing at the time and the axe with which an open- ing was to be carved out of the forest. The axe was the universal tool. A cross-cut saw was now and then to be found, but the axe was in the hands of everyone. The hammer was the most useless of all tools when the construction of habitations began in this part of the country, for there were no nails; the auger was a much more-to-be-desired tool-but the axe ; always the axe. It was with that tool the logs were cut out of the trees into proper lengths for the cabins in which the new-comers were to live : it was the same tool that squared their ends and fitted them so they could be built up and held together; the same tool was useful to get out the rafters and frame them so they would stay in place; it was the axe that split the clap-boards of which the roof was to be formed, and the poles that were to hold the roof-boards in place; it was the axe that filled in the gap at the gable ; that split slabs for the door and punch- eons for the floor ; that did all that was done for the rude carpentry of the time, except the boring of the holes-for the small amount of this sort of work that was done it was often necessary to resort to the slow process of burning holes with a piece of heated iron, for the auger was a mechani- cal luxury. But, when the holes had been made it was the axe again that fitted the pins they were intended to receive or the rounded extension at the edge of the slab that was to be inserted into holes above and below, and form a hinge.
While therefore the axe was the universal tool with which civiliza- tion was being hewn out of the wilderness the need for something that would lighten labor and hasten the progress of civilization came early. It was therefore directly upon the heels of settlement that the mills came. and the need of adequate protection from the rigors of the winter season, to be supplied by something to supplement the crude architecture of the
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first year or two, brought the saw-mill first. Some historians have ven- tured the assertion that the French, during their occupancy of Fort Presque Isle, operated a saw-mill. This is probably a mistake. No evi- dences of any remains of a mill were ever reported. The French did manufacture brick. There were samples of their handicraft in this respect that came over to the permanent settlers, both on the mainland and on the peninsula, a small magazine having been built just across the old entrance to the bay on the east end, and some curious structures, never accurately described, that were called "the chimneys," that stood for years near the west end of the peninsula beyond the Big Bend, and gave their name of the chimney ponds to the most westerly of all the small bodies of water in the peninsula. There is not, however, any tradition of remains to indi- cate a saw-mill-indeed, the saw-mill had not been invented as early as the French occupancy of Erie; it did not come into use anywhere until about the beginning of the Nineteenth century. The saw-mills that came just after the settlement of Erie were, therefore, not only the first in Erie county, but among the first to be built anywhere.
The first saw-mill built here was that of Capt. Russell Bissell, who built the American block houses upon Garrison Hill. That was in 1796, and it was constructed for the use of the military. The first saw-mill for commercial purposes may have been that of Thomas Forster, built near the mouth of Walnut creek, a place afterwards to be known to local fame as Manchester. That mill was built in 1797. However, the same year Mr. Brotherton erected a saw-mill at Waterford, so it cannot be positively stated which was the earlier, Forster's or Brotherton's. From that time on, however, the mills multiplied, until, in the course of a few years almost every section of the county was supplied. In 1798 Thomas Rees built one for the Population Co. on Four-mile creek. Others of the earliest mills were: Leverett Bissel in 1799 on French creek in Greenfield; in 1800, John Cochran on Mill creek near what is now Glenwood Park, and Wil- liam Miles at Union ; in 1801, Capt. Holliday on Crooked creek in Spring- field; in 1802, John Riblet on Four-mile creek south of Wesleyville, and Lattimore and Boyd in Waterford township; in 1803, D. Dobbins and James Foulk, on Twelve-mile creek; in 1804, Robert Mccullough on Mill creek above Glenwood Park. From 1814 for a number of years the saw-mill business increased prodigiously and in fact continued until recently, checked only when the industry had well nigh depleted the for- ests of merchantable timber.
The grist-mill was not long behind the sawmill. Hulled corn and the coarse meal of home make could be made to serve for a time as a sort of emergency ration, but there was a crying demand for something better. Larger areas in cultivation with an increase in the amount of the pro- duct, put the farmers in a position to be able to pay the toll, so the grist- mill came in good time. It was in 1798 that the first mill in Erie county to grind corn was built at Manchester by Wm. Forster. This was the
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first grist-mill in the new west of that day, and the writer has had it from the lips of a son of a Cleveland pioneer, that his father had upon several occasions driven his ox-team from near the Cuyahoga river to Erie (no doubt Manchester was really the place) to have a load of corn ground into meal for himself and neighbors, the trip requiring full two weeks for the accomplishment of its purpose. It was a long and toilsome jour- ney in those days through the forest, and dangerous as well, for the peo- ple were in constant fear of savage men as well as of savage beasts. They were more happily circumstanced at Erie, for not only was the new grist mill nearer at hand, but one of the first roads opened in the county was that between Erie and the mouth of Walnut creek. The Silverthorn mill on Spring Run, in Girard township, was built in 1799. In 1800 William Miles built a grist-mill, at Union in connection with his saw- mill enterprise and the same year James Foulk built a grist-mill at the mouth of Six-mile creek where there was a splendid natural water- power at hand. William Culbertson's mill at Edinboro was opened in 1801. Capt. Holliday added a grist-mill to his saw-mill enterprise in 1803, two years after the latter was begun, and it was in the same year that the Dobbins and Foulk grist-mill, supplementing the saw-mill, was built. It was in 1804 that the Erie County mill that did business up to as late as 1880, was established in the Happy Valley, just south and east of Glenwood Park. Col. Tuttle's mill on Sixteen-mile creek was built in 1807. These were the earliest mills. But others followed rapidly, and among the new mills were many that assumed greater proportions, and essayed a higher order of product, for the farmer did not confine himself to growing but one crop, and as progress was made tastes became more fastidious. Many of the milling industries of today are but the continua- tion of industries that had their foundations laid in the early years of the century that has just passed.
Not a few of the flouring mills of the county achieved more than a neighborhood reputation, and continued in active and increasing business until at length the competition, at first of the mills located by the side of the railroad, later by the introduction in the larger mills of the roller process, and still later of the great mills of the west made their business unprofitable. There were a number, however, that contrived to survive for a long time. The mill at the point where the Ridge road crosses Wal- nut creek is an example. Built by S. F. Gudtner, it eventually became known as Weigle's mill and prospered until the great flood of 1893 which affected every one of the streams that empty into the lake, washed away the dam, and though there was a partial recovery, the business was not brisk. About 1900 the mill was destroyed by fire, after having stood for nearly a century. The Sterrettania mill in South Fairview, owned by David S. Sterrett, was a notable industry in its time, and another Fair- view enterprise, the Dietly mill, was the most persistent of all. The Cooper mill near Wesleyville was for many years of great importance.
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The mill of Amos King at Albion continued to do a prosperous business for a long period of time. This is also true of the mill on Elk creek in West Girard. Joseph Hall's Elgin mill of Beaver Dam run, Jacob Brown's mill on Le Bœuf creek in Greene township and the Backus mill on Six-mile creek, all began business in the beginning of the Nineteenth century and prospered for many years. Mill Village became a centre of the milling industry at an early day. Its name would indicate this. Situated near the main stream of French creek with several affluents in the vicinity it was happily circumstanced, and among numerous saw-mills and other industries that came and went the grist-mills of Burger, Wheeler and Thompson endured. The Burger mill prospered for nearly a century.
These were all, however, the modest enterprises of the usual country development, that came into existence because of the neighborhood demand and proved their necessity by their long continued operation. There were, however, other enterprises undertaken upon a large scale and with many demonstrations of great promise that were by no means as durable, nor as reliable an index of the real business of the community in which they had been planted.
For many years there stood on the west side of Cascade street, ex- tending from where Seventh street is now opened through, to Fifth street, an imposing structure, standing three stories high in the main part, and with its additions and contiguous buildings occupying very nearly half a square. Painted white, and located a good long distance west of the city as it existed even until after war times, it was the most notable object in the landscape, which it dominated from every direction, for the land all about it was cleared, save a small grove of giant trees of the hemlock spruce a little to the northwest. In the sixties it used to be spoken of simply as "the old mill"; but few visited it and fewer still could tell any thing about it. There was then not a window sash left in it, nor a door, and the floor of the first story was gone. The fields about were used as pastures and the cattle, seeking shelter, made free use of it. In one cor- ner there stood, nearly intact, a large steam engine of an obsolete pattern even for those days, its cylinder of remarkable length and its general appearance commanding the attention of anyone at all versed in mechanics. Covered with dust and encrusted with the rust of many years it was a silent witness of industry that prevailed at one time, though then it was long since the hum of business activity had ceased to echo through those silent and deserted rooms. Even as it stood the desolation was eloquent of which we are speaking being Gen. C. M. Mr. Reed was a bold adven- the place a story of enterprise.
That mill was built in (or about ) 1839 by P. C. Blancon. He was a Frenchman. He had a Frenchman's characteristic ambition to do things upon a large scale, and his venture in Erie was gauged accordingly. Pre- vious to coming to Erie he had located in Philadelphia. Whether he had engaged in business there or not does not appear from anything that can
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be ascertained but he came at length to Erie, and this is how it came about.
One of the most prominent citizens of early Erie for many years was P. S. V. Hamot. He had, early in the history of the town engaged in business here with great success, the result being that in time he was rated perhaps the wealthiest man of Erie. There was a sort of rivalry between Mr. Hamot and the Reeds, the head of the latter family about the time of which we are speaking being Gen. C. M. Mr. Reed was a bold adven- turer in many lines, among them being commerce and merchandising. All the early generations of the Reeds owned vessels and stores and ware- houses, and for a good part of the time Mr. Hamot filled the relation of banker to the house of Reed. Something occurred to set Reed and Hamot edgewise toward one another. What it was even tradition is silent re- garding. The business relations between the men continued, however, without anything noticeable coming to the surface to indicate any deep- seated feeling. At last, however, something did happen. That was the advent in Erie of Mons. Blancon. He had been induced by Mr. Hamot, himself a Frenchman, to come to this place with a view to engaging in business. Whatever the rest of the people here thought, the Reeds at once suspected there was a purpose in bringing M. Blancon to Erie.
In those days all the land west of Erie was covered with a splendid growth of timber. In the level tract a part of which about midway be- tween the Lake Road and the Ridge Road was low and wet and inclined to be swampy, there were large quantities of walnut and other valuable timber, and the character of these woods was an important factor in de- termining M. Blancon upon locating here. However, he had conceived an enterprise of too gigantic proportions for even the character of the adjacent forests to fix its limit, though it had much to do with bringing about a decision. What the full scope of the Frenchman's prophetic vision was his completed industry will serve to show. It was not long after his arrival here before he had decided to stay and embark in busi- ncss.
The first step taken was to invest in land, and he bought up an im- mense tract extending westward from Cascade street, which was regarded as the western limits to which the city might extend. Then he planned for the heart of his industry. In those days the power almost universally used in shops and mills was water. There existed a reasonably good source of power on the property, in Cascade creek, then a comparatively constant stream. It was not, however, adequate to the demands of M. Blancon's enterprise. He decided to employ steam. Therefore he located his mill on the extreme eastern edge of his property, and set about pro- curing his machinery. He went to the seaboard cities to obtain what was required. His engine and boiler were bought in Philadelphia. There were no railroads in those days, nor regular system of freighting. As a consequence he had to team his machinery all the way to Erie. Six Vol. I-13
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yoke of oxen were required to haul the boiler from Philadelphia and six weeks of time were consumed in the trip. The route was over the mountains to the lower end of Chatauqua Lake, up the east side of the lake to Mayville and then westward.
It was a notable occasion when that caravan entered and passed through Erie; notable because of its size, and notable because it repre- sented the first steam plant for a mill in this section of the country. The building erected was a splendid construction. The frame of great tim- bers, hewn square, possessed the strength of a fortification, and solidity characterized it from foundation up. Nor was there any unnecessary delay in pushing the construction forward. The work was well done and it was done quickly, and before the end of 1839 was in active operation.
But what was made or manufactured at that mill? It might be almost as reasonable to ask what was not made there.
It was a saw-mill of far more capacity than any that ever had been operated in or near Erie. It was also a grist or flour mill. It was a planing mill and a manufactory of sashes and doors. It was likewise a cooperage, and that of great capacity. It was a woolen factory. Be- sides all these it was a distillery, and as an adjunct of the last named. of course, the fattening of hogs and the production of pork was a side line.
But would Erie in those days support, and therefore warrant the operation. of an industry of so great proportions? MI. Blancon did not expect Erie to be his sole market. Indeed he looked for little to come from the small town that then existed here. To manufacturing he added com- merce. The shipping of those days on the lake was confined chiefly to sailing vessels. The Reeds were engaged in steamboating, but yet much the greater part of the freight carrying was done by sailing vessels. M. Blancon did not own vessels, but he chartered boats for the entire season. The first vessels employed were the Swan, a schooner of 50 tons, Captain Ball ; and the schooner Lumberman, of 75 tons, Captain Winschel. These were small vessels, but they compared well with what were in vogue at the time, and they had an advantage in their small size, for then there was no dock or wharf at the point where they were to receive and discharge cargo, and therefore they could be floated nearer in to the shore. The place where they landed was at or about the mouth of Cascade creek. At that time there was not a very extensive beach there. The coast was bold and rocky and the water deep, so that it was possible to approach very near to shore. These vessels received at this point their cargoes of lumber or pork or whatever, and then proceeded to Buffalo where there was a ready market. Returning, they brought whatever supplies were needed for the community-it was of considerable size-that had sprung up about the mill. Then the boats would proceed up the lake to Toledo and Monroe, to take on grain. This was carried to Erie to be converted into flour or whiskey. So through that rude. bare harbor which today
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contains immense docks provided with all the marvelous appliances of modern times, but then was nothing but the natural beach, there swiftly grew up a commerce notable for the time. From that point was carried „umber, flour, cloth, staves, whiskey, pork ; various products of the planing mill, in demand in the west, and mill stuffs the by-product in the manu - facture of the flour. Recounting the achievements of this Frenchman in this American wilderness the story takes on the aspect of a romance.
What brought it to an end? and how long did it endure?
It is not certain that there is a good and reliable answer to either question, but there is a pretty circumstantial story with reference to the reason for the winding up of the business of the Blancon mill, and this it is proper to relate first. At the time the enterprise under consideration was in operation there was a navigable strait or opening at the head of the bay ; that is to say, it was navigable, at least part of the time, for vessels such as were then doing business on the lake. The depth of the strait varied, the direction of the wind determining the stage of water. As a rule, except during strong east winds, there was water enough in that strait to float vessels of eight feet draft, such as the Swan or even the Lumberman were. It is stated by as reliable an authority on lake marine matters as Mr. Andrew Blila that the brig Virginia, of 200 tons burthen, had made the passage of the strait, and the logs of Capt. Dobbins and others of later date, sailing the revenue cutters of olden times, record the fact that there was water enough in that channel to enable these vessels to pass.
Now it was through the channel at the head of the bay that the vessels trading with the Blancon mill passed. There was no other course permitted according to accounts, but why the eastern channel was not free to all who wished to use it there has been no explanation, except that the Reed interest was opposed to it and this opposition was sufficient to be effective. The use of all the docks that then existed in the harbor were denied to the French company; but this might be and still the company could have enjoyed free access from the east as well as from the west to their landing place at Cascade creek, unless, as has been stated, there was in reality some influence to prevent. At any rate, as the story goes, the Blancon interests succeeded in getting an appropriation to deepen the western channel so as to make it dependable at all stages of water, but Gen. Reed, who was then the representative of Erie in congress, succeeded in getting the appropriation employed to close the opening up. Of course this cut off all access the Blancon mill had with the outside world, and the natural result was produced. The mill closed down. It remained idle a year. Then the Reed interests, as the story goes, had a channel cut across the peninsula near the Big Meadows- almost at the west end of the peninsula where it is narrowest. This channel was cut to enable the Reed steamboats, passing up and down the lake between Buffalo and the upper ports, to more conveniently stop at
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Erie. As soon as this new channel was made business was resumed at the mill. The final closing of the means of communication with the bay and the lake at this western end according to the narrative, permanently closed the most promising industry of early Erie.
There is another story, however, though not so well constructed as that regarding the western channel, which accounts for the death of the enterprise. This story associates with M. Blancon a number of other French gentlemen, one by the name of Dimanville, who also, for a time, took up his residence in Erie. These had all borne equal share in capita- lizing the enterprise. After a few years' trial, however, they became dis- satisfied, declined to put any more money into a losing venture and all, with the exception of M. Blancon, returned to France. Possibly this presents the most plausible of all reasons for the abandonment of so bold an undertaking, and one that seemed to the wondering people of Erie to be doing an immense business.
There are some still living who entertain the idea that the failure of the business was due to either extravagance on the part of M. Blancon or lack of attention, or both. He is remembered as a man of elegance proverbial of the French. He was very much devoted to society. A splendid dancer, he not only never absented himself from any social function at which the dance was a feature, but was himself a leader in providing or arranging entertainments of that character. But being a Frenchman, his terpsichorean proclivities are not, for that very reason, necessarily a confession of judgment in a charge of business incapacity or laxness. A Frenchman can be an elegant gentleman, a social lion, a prac- ticed gallant and at the same time a good business man. Therefore it is quite probable the second reason was that which brought about the clos- ing of the big mill. The business did not pay in this new country. There- fore it was discontinued.
There seems to be confirmation of this in the fact that upon the de- cision being arrived at to discontinue business Hon. Gideon J. Ball was selected by the French company to wind up its affairs. The abandon- ment of the venture was complete, so radically complete that there was no effort made to realize anything of moment out of the company's holdings. Hundreds of acres of land were owned, all of which was sold for the taxes, and it is said the Hamot, Tracy, Reed, Ball and Lyon farms, be- tween Erie and the head of the bay, were all bought from the Blancon company through the county treasurer.
MI. Blancon's venture, as near as can be learned, did not last above four or five years, but it was big while it lasted. Everything was on a tremendous scale as things were then measured. But it flattened out with exceeding promptness. The popular Frenchman left Erie, perhaps re- gretfully, no doubt regretted. But he went without any cloud upon his business reputation. He left ample means to settle all his indebtedness and
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a man of ability and probity to attend to the business. M. Blancon amassed wealth as a wine merchant in New York after leaving Erie.
That old mill would doubtless have been standing to this day if it had been left to itself, so very strongly had it been built. But it was not. For a time part of it was occupied by Mr. Clemens Buseck as an oil cloth factory. That was the last industry it accommodated.
After a time it became a place of shelter for a horde of foreigners. There is no way now of telling what their nationality was. Quite likely there were many nationalities represented, for they were laboring people brought in by the railroad and the building of docks there-that was in the last half of the decade of the sixties. It has been said that at that time there were hundreds of families and more than a thousand people sheltered under the shingles of the old mill. It became a neighborhood nuisance in time, and at length the complaints of the neighbors reached the ears of its owners, Messrs. Scott & Hearn, and then the main part was promptly torn down. For a number of years longer the two-story extension toward Sixth street was permitted to remain and was occupied by railroad labor- ers. That too is now gone, and with it went out the most romantic and picturesque business venture ever identified with the name of Erie.
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