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MILLS AT ROCKLAND,DE,originally known as Kirk's Ford ,1872 Antique Wood Engraving
MILLS AT ROCKLAND,DE,originally known as Kirk's Ford ,1872 Antique Wood Engraving Historical Collectible Art Print
The Brandywine river, from it's source in Honeybrook, Pennsylvania, runs through the northern parts of Delaware until it flows into the Delaware river at Wilmington. Over the years the Brandywine has provided power to three paper mills. One of those was located at Rockland - a short distance north of the city of Wilmington. Rockland was one of the earliest and longest lasting milling sites on the Brandywine. John Gregg and Adam Kirk operated a grist mill on the west bank of the river as early as 1724. The village of Rockland, DE was originally known as Kirk's Ford. In 1793 William Young - a Philadelphia printer - came to the area. Mr. Young emigrated from Scotland to Philadelphia in 1784 where he entered into the printing and bookselling business with great success. From 1790 to 1793 he was the printer for "The Universal Asylum and Columbian Magazine". Reliable sources of paper were hard to come by - and at high cost. Frustrated by that fact, Young decided to build his own paper mill. Why the location on the Brandywine was chosen remains unknown. The paper mill was built on the east bank of the river. Like other millers along the river Young did a lot more than building just the mill. He built housing for workers as well as for the manager, and a church was added. For himself, Young built a "mansion" up on the hill above the village, which became known as Youngstown. The "mansion" is still standing on Black Gates Road. Paper from the Rockland mill was sold at Young's shop in Philadelphia, which was located just three blocks away from Independence Hall. In 1801 Young sold his bookstore as well as his printing business and started a new venture, the Delaware Paper Mills Warehouse - also in Philadelphia. This lasted until 1805. The Rockland Paper Mill produced various grades of paper - both coarse and fine. The single best customer was the General Stamp Office of the federal government. The cost of raw materials had long been a headache to paper manufacturers, and by the end of the 1700's most of them were into experimenting, seeking a way to lower the costs. Starting as early as 1796 William Young spent eight years looking for alternative raw materials, and in 1804 ten reams of paper from pulped mulberry roots and Guaia tree bark were made at the Rockland mill. For this Young was awarded a gold medal from the Philadelphia Company of Booksellers. But the papermaking at Rockland did not prosper and Young branched out into other enterprises. The paper mill burned to the ground in 1814. Papermaking stopped in 1822, when the mill was converted to cotton manufacture. In 1825 the Rockland Manufacturing Company was formed to make woolen cloth. This enterprise struggled on. William Young died in 1829 and the operation was taken over by his sons until it burned down in 1846. Later the same year Alfred Victor DuPont became a director of the company. Mr. DuPont obtained an act of the Delaware legislature to incorporate the company in 1847. But the attempt to reorganize failed. A cotton milling operation followed for a short period, until the property was sold to Augustus E. Jessup and Henry DuPont at a sheriff's sale in 1854.
| PUBLISHED DATE |
1872 |
| PAGE SIZE: approx |
12 INCHES x 9 INCHES |
| IMAGE SIZE: approx |
9 X 6 1/2 INCHES |
| CONDITION |
ENGRAVING with text on the back. Excellent condition. Heavier
paper.Suitable ageing. The image is clean, clear and sharp with beautiful
depth and detail.This beautiful rare item would look great matted and
framed. An art supply store can provide you with a selection of frames
for old art treasures. |
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