The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1886-08-28
Correspondence Baltimore County Union.
LETTER FROM GLEN ROCK, PA.
A Thriving and Busy Town-Some Of its
Business Enterprises, &c., sc.
GLEN Rock. Pa, August oath, 1885.

modern history that the most important CONNER
ca cities of different countries have been built in
very undesirable places. A glance at Tyre, Venice,
Liverpool and New York will convince the most
skeptcal of the fact, and even the rule is exemp-
fed in this little beehive of industry named Glen
Rock. This romantic borough town of some one
thousand inhabitants is stu tied on the Northern
Central railroad, forty-two miles from Baltimore,
and is so much hemmed in by pristine hills that
you would scarcely imagine such place existed
unless you ascend one of the prominences and seel
lying picuresquey in the three small wales sloping
to q common centre almost at your feet But
half mile either north south brings as into beau
tiful valleys, while the TANKS undulate backwards
into level stretches of country. Anywhere but in
this rocky glen an American would have laid out
the foundation for q town. The historian in
tracing its origin would have ascribed its growth
to an assimilation of fortunate business ventures
radiating from an early money making centre, but
the unscientifc mind might claim it was first set
tied by Englishmen, and as they naturally beat
the devil himself in finding out the affairs o.
others, was one of the reasons for building their
houses on hillsides to see down their neighbors
chimneys. Whatever its origin Glen Rock IS only
one of the many manufacturing towns that mod
ernize the great Commonwealth Of Pennsylvania,
which is governed by Democratic Maryiander.
At present the town is remarkable for doing more
annual business per capita than any other in the
contained no buildings save saw mill and barn.
Tn this year the Baltimore and Susquehanna rail-
road 1.-THE former name of the Northern Central
was projected along the banks OF the Codorus
through the future site of the town, and Simon
Roller, who was then owner of the glen, fearing
the new railroad would ruin his entire property,
sold it to William Heathcote and few other Eng
lishmen. The Heathcotes were weavers and their
first undertaking was the establishment of full
inc mill. Are there no readers Of The UNION who
have seen the old mills with their hand looms In
fanF1cLend? These were us ed here first. How
Grafton ago? This mill was famous for these
goods and many is the pound of wool carded into
rolls for our grandmothers of York and Baltimore
counties to spin into yarn preparatory for winter
stockings. But the living present moves on. The
district is an heirloom and the spinning-wheei
mouders In the garnet or sets as an ornament in
the fashionable parlor. Wonderful mechanical
contrivances have produced revolution in the
weaving business. The washing apparatus does
away with the brutal treatment Of half drowning
the sheep before shearing. The "teazer, with Its
two thousand revolutions per minute, eliminates
the hours of tedious picking. The "slubbing-
billy" and the SPINNING mule" prepare the
threads for the power loom with its lightning
moving shuttle flying back and forward and leav-
ing on the reels the beautiful blankets, telling and
many plaided cloths. This mill was the germ
from which the town grew. The old site is occu'
pied by eitzs Touring mill, but the new mill now
owned by S. X. Heathcote, does an annual busl-
ness of $4,000, and part OF the felting goods
reaches a foreign market.
The next important business enterprise was the
starting of foundry and machine shop In 1894,
by Heathcote, Herbst & Co. This company was
finally merged into the Glen Rock Manufacturing
Company, which does an annual business OF
Quarter of million dollars in the building OF rail-
road cars, steam engines and all kinds OF mechan-
ical and farming machinery.
Among the early English parties that settled
the town we're the Ratcifes and Shaws. These
two families united and under the business name
of Radcliffe Shaw started rope and Irvine man.
ufacturing industry. As their means at first were
extremely limited they twisted their goods along
fence in the open air, but tact, skill and perse.
yerance soon placed them on sound financial
basis, and to-day they have the largest coroage
mill in the State.
1t would occupy too much space to give the
history of all the industries in town so we sketch
and hurry on. Here are located the Hoshour q
Hartman carriage factory, and OF the quality OF
their work many people of Baltimore county can
attest Disc Hoshour have an extensive lum-
Der ward and sash factory, with branch offices and
wards at Stewartstown and Shrewsbury. For the
mast several years their trade has been heavy and
lucrative Until short time ago large shoe
factory was in operation but has now ceased work
inc for time. The marble business occupies the
attention of three shops and the drummers scarce
" give a man time to die before they want to
erect his tomb stone and epitaph. The manufac-
ture of ice-cream is extensively carried on by
Bortner & Becker. No less than sixteen hundred
gallons have been shipped in one day. The mer-
camille trade is largely in the hands Of William
Herbst Son and E. r. Miller, who furnish for
miles around the country folk with general store
goods, Several other business places exist inclu-
ding jewelry, bakery and millinery stores. The
Glen Rock bank, with capital OF $75,0 IS one
cetb .z,scpa;s instjtutinns of the tnwp-@A hne
elevations, shows that education is not neglected
There are several fine churches of different denom-
nations. This is great town for horse-hesh.-
Eyster Wolf and L. Shriver have livery stables
and bazars and much stock changes hands during
the year.
By the way, came near missing the merchant
tailor, Mr.. J. Gladfelter, who has made consider
able money at his business. He has lately pur.
chased the large Touring mill of G.. F. Setz, whose
failure last year caused his partner to drown him
self in the fore-bay. Mr.. Gladfelter has reitted
the mill and placed in it an eighty barrel roller
process, but now finds his water power inadequate
to keep it in operation. We accidentally knew
tailor who went into agriculture and expected to
live off farm, but the farm came near eating up
both the tailor and his shop. A mill has none the
less appetite.
The printing is done at two offices, of which one
controls the job work and the other issues the
Item, weekly sheet of fair circulation. Its for
mer editor, Mr.. N. z. Seitz, was appointed one of
the one hundred and fifty special pension exam
liners allowed by Congress under Gen. Black. His
backing was Lieutenant Governor Chauncey f.
Black, of York, who last week was nominated for
Governor of Pennsylvania by the Democratic par
ty. If Chauncey is elected it is likely Seitz will
be recalled to ill some prominent position in his
native State.
There are two secret lodges in town. One, No.
2S7, K. of P, and the other No. 100, !. o. R. M
anu Dotu staud svod -Gs~s~i~i featine- The
Glen Rock cornet band is q musical organization
that has won laurels not only in this country but
in Canada. In their last visit during the recep-
ton at the Lieutenant Governors house in Toronto,
his wife was SO much pleased with their oratorios
che drew from her finger a diamond ring and pre-
sented it to their leader.
On the whole Glen Rock, though it is built in a
very undesirable position c full of vim, life and
energy, and building lots command Q premium
May she never shine less, but like her incopveni-
emily situated sister cities reach the acme of her
glory. Although settled by the English the Ger
man element predominates. Even the gentleman
ly colored barber asked me in Dutch if I needed
a shave. I answered in the affirmative and wad-
died across the floor like Sam Devere to conceal
my birthright. He did his work so handsomely