Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1874-10-08
Good Hope.
Good Hope.
A MANUFACTURING vILLAdE-BEAUrIFUL SCENERY

| MANUFACTURING vILLAdE-BEAUTIFUL SCENERY
FARMS AND FLOWERS
About mile and half or two miles in a
south-westery course from Landenberg is the
busy little manufacturing village of Good Hope.
1t ia located on what is called the West Branch
Of White Clay Creek, which gathers its waters
from the country contiguous TO Kimbleville,
Chesterville, Hickory Hill and other places of
more or less note. The village is small one,
containing five tenement houses, one large farm
house with barn and outbulldings, and a large
wollen manufacturing establishment.
These buildings are all located on a farm OF
l02 acres, which is leased from the propretors
by Mr.. William Crossan, an old and experienced
| farmer. The woolen manufactory is large
one, being three stories in height, 30 feet In
length and 80 feet in breadth. e-third of the
building is entirely new, and the old part has
been overhauled, repaired, remodeled and re-
painted 10 that the whole mill would Indicate
that it might be new from the hands of the
1t had been formerly used for cotton mill
on small scale, but new machinery has been
substituted, and it is DS W one of the best and
busiest Woolen Mills In Chester county. A new
turbine wheel has taken the place of the Tyler
wheel formerly used, and in place of stoves,
which ut all times are dangerous in such mills,
the whole building will be heated up with steam,
the boiler for which is now being put in. The
mill gives employment to l5 hands, runs night
spins about 500 pounds of wool daily.
The wool fabrics here manufactured are used
for the finest hoserles and broad cloths. and
after being spun and reeled are shipped to par
ties III Philadelphia.
A word now for the proprietors of this little
otisy place amongst the hills, beautiful with Au-
tumn foliage, and rich with Autumn fruits. Rob
ert Preston and William Bowers were formerly in
the employ OF NJ Landenberger & Co., the ior-
mer al general manager aud the latter as spin
ner, at the Laurel Mills. About year ago, con-
GLIDING to make strike for themselves in life,
and having saved a sutficiency of their earnings,
they formed the firm of Preston d Bowers and
bought the property already described, which,
when repaired, cost them about S22, 900, and al
the firm informed us, the best of all is, 1t was
paid for, and unless something unforeseen occurs
they are not AFRAID of the Sheriff knocking at
their doors.
Through the kindness of Mr.. Preston, senior
member of the firm, we were treated to a carriage
ride for some distance around the country where
We had fine view of some Of tho best farms in
Chester Co. Passing up the West Branch through
forests and fields of SURPRISING beauty We pass
through the large farm of John Jone., an inde-
pendent and thrifty farmer. Mr.. J. has large
acreage OF splendid woodland, which he has
preserved with scrupulous care from the wood
mans axe. On little farther the forest ceases
% exist, and we emerge into beautiful open
country Of green fields where droves Of cattle
quietly Craze in the yerdant meadow-lands. Here
ire the splendid residences and the lumber and
Touring mills of the Mercer family, who cannot
'ail to be happy amidst SO much beauty and pros
,erity.
We next visited tho residence Of Mr.. T.. Il.
Speakman, farmer and florist of cousidera.
ole note His flower beds subjects upon
which we might dwell at great length. He loves
lis profession for two reasons LIST, because
ne loves flowers and I'd, because there is mon
sy in it two very good potent reasons. He has
very extensive hot houses, and almost every
variety of summer and winter blooming flowers.
He is just now preparing for the winter trade
and is cultivatlng an apparently eHdless amount
Of pinks and carnations for cut flowers.
Leaving Mr. Speakman's with an armful Of
winter blooming plants, We return again to Good
Hope by Anothnr and mora romantic -htA --st~
route, aud from thence to Landenberg again,
thankful to our friend Preston for our after
moons enioyment- s. II.