The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1853-01-15
Correspondence cfWe Cecil Wig.
Letter from New leeds.
NEW LEEns, Jan. 18th IS5

Actscr afOisl New leeds.
NEw LEEDS, Jan. 18th 1853.
On Sunday night last, about Q O'Clock,
the Paper Mill occupied by Norris Lew
is Esq, was discovered to b. on fire, and
the flames made such rapid progress
that it was found impossible either to
save the building or It's contents, and it
was with much difficulty that an aljoin.
ing tenement occupied by two families
could be saved. 1t was feared at first
that Mr.. Levis's son had gone TO the
mill to fire up, and had laid down TO
sleep, Gas he frequently sleeps in the
mild and was consumed in the flames.
Under these fearful appr-hensions, the
anguish and suspense Of the family were
indispensable; but the son who had been
to neighbours house, soon returned,
and tie joy which his safety inspired,
seemed to lessen the effects of the fear.
full conAagration.
Nothing but the naked walls are
left, and these in an injured conditions;
and within them scattered in confusion,
lies the homework OF the machinery,
bent ard warped by the intense heat to
which it has been subjected. 1t is not
known whether the fire originated from
accident, or from the hands of an incen-
diary.
Thus in an unexpected moment, has
a very worthy man been doomed to Il
heavy loss and his business suddenly ar
rested, and number of hands, male and
female, thrown out of employing mt =.
There was on the mill and machinery,
insurance to the amount Of So 900, and
;E 900 on the stock the Franklin
office, Phla., not enough, probably, to
cover one half of the loss.
This Mill is situated on the Little
Elk Creek; about one mile westerly.
from Cherry Hill and is between the
New Leeds Cotton Mill and Marley
Paper Mil, and belonged to the heirs of
the late Robert Carter, and was the most
substantial stone building in the coun-
try-65 feet long, and 81 feet wide
four stories high, with a machine house
adjoining of 81 feet long by 20 feet
wide, and one story high.
The main building was erected to.
ward the close Of the last century for a
wooIlen factory, by a company of ten
gentlemen, under the name of the See
Gil Manufacturing Company" at the
head of which was Col. Henry HoIlngs-
worth, then an active, and influential
citizen of the county. This mill was
erected for the manufacture of broad
cloth, and is SAID to have been the first
establishment of the kind in the United
States. After the mill was first put IN
operation, the Company made present
of a suit of broadcloth TO Thomas JEFF
ferson, in which it is said, he delivered
his Inaugural Address.
The Company did not long continue
the business. and the Factory was leased
10 the late Rev. John Wilson, who oc-
cupied it until about the year 1911,
when he built the New Leeds Factory.
which be named after the town of Leeds,
England, of which he was a native.
The Woollen Factory was then idle for
many years, unit! about 1927, when the
lands of the Cecil Manufacturing Com
pany" were divided, and tn at portion to
which the Mill was attached was pur-
chased by Robert Carter Esq, and chan
ged into a Paper Mill and has been in
successful operation for the last twenty
years. by Its present occupant.
The mortar used IN the old factory
was of very superior quality. and is al
most as hard as the stone itself. In for
mer times it was the practice to measure
carefully the materials of which the
mortar was composed, that they should
be in proper proportion, but now there
is very little rule about it, and the con-
sequence is that many buildings are put
up with very poor mortar, that never
adheres closely tothe stone, and through
which the rain penetrates. impairIng the
stability of the work. 1t was IA defect
in the old building having wooden lin
tells above the doors and windows, in
stead of arches of brick or stone; the for.
mrr being liable TO be destroyed by fire,
or to decay from age, and in either case
arc difficult to be replaced, and are apt
to iniure the walls.
There are some "reminiscences OF the
old company which must defer until
another time. RAMALEK.