Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1886-04-22
SILVERBROOK.
ONE OF THE PROSPEROUS SUBURBS
OF WILMINGTON,
The Morocco Works that Are Being
Ereoted-siivcrbreok's Early ais-
tory-The Maple Tree,

II has not been more thap ten years
since Stlverbrook was but an outlying
hamlet ON the Lancaster pike, with q
half dozen houses, Q store and q saloon.
But now 10 IL IN important VILLAGE
with about $50 dwellin q houses, and 4
population Of about zoo. Some of the
first settlers say that the place
took fts name from o largo silver
maple tree and Q little dashinR, purlinQ
brook, that runs down through the
centre OF the village, across the Lam
caster pike, and loses It's identity on
the larger waters of Mil creek. enter
ing the Chr istiana near the pulp works
In the early years Of silyerbrook, for
want OF church the Inhabitants met
under this silver maple tree, close by
the brook for the purpose Of holding 70.
ligious services and flourishina Sun
day school was carried on in the
shadow Of its wide spreading branches.
Some three years ago the surveyors Of
the Baltimore and Philadelphis Rail-
road came up this brook ,locating line
for the new road and this almost 81
cred tree was doomed. 1t had to, go but
In place Of IL . very neat substant tial
church has been erected where railroads
will not disturb 1t for some years TO
come. Amongst the pioneers In the
maple tree meetings was A. K. Dolbow,
and later on DR.. Simms and some other
evangelical christian workers took hold
and are now connected with this thriv.
ing society Of Methodists that worship
in the church.
silverbrook has up 70 this time been
peopled by . laborinR class, drawn In
that direction by cheap rents and low
taxes. There have been NO manufac-
tories, unless the brewery started there
but mot finished, By Mr. Becker, can be
called one.
But place 90 favorably situated %
|Silverbrook, with such o line of rail-
road running through Il % the BAlti-
more and Philadelphia, oould not escape
an invasion also OF mAuufactofies, and
In the near future IL 10 not improbable
that the residents OF Silverbrook will
so0n arise In the morning early 70 the
answer OF whistles and bells of Industry.
A representative Of the REPUBLICAN,
looked around through Silverbrook
yesterday, and found o number OF men
ut work excavatinR and preparing for
she erection Of large morocco manu-
factory ut the corner of Second and
Webb streets. The pioneers in this en-
terprise are Peter j. Ford, Sheriff
Thomas Ford, his brother, and Thomas
It. Ryan.
Two acres Of ground have been pur-
chased at this place for the enterprise,
and upon IL will be erected o morocco
manufactory 35x14S feet, built Of brick,
8 stories high and TO cost about go, 900.
These gentlemen saw that all the mo-
rocco factories in the city except one
had virtually ceased active operations,
and some four hundred morocco
laborors were out Of work Though the
enterprise is by no means for benevolent
purposes, 1t will give employ ment TO
the most OF the men who are now on q
strike. As great many of these men
are heads Of families, 1t is expected
that they will remove to Silverbrook
with their families. In order to accom-
Inodate this large iufux of laborers
Messrs Ford and Ryan have petltioned
the City Council for the opening OF
Second, Third, Fourth aud Fifth streets,
also TO sewer Webb street from Fourth
10 Front streets.
They want these improvements made
that they may BE- enabled to erect q
large number Of houses, expending nc
less than $50, 600, beside S26, 900 for the
morocco mandatory, making $55. .OOO
in all.
1t is expected that In four weeks the
work will be 30 far advanced that men
can be hired TO prepare skins for finish
Ing. Mr.. Ryan Is q practical morocco
dresser, and will have the chief over
sight In the erection of che building and
of the works after wards.
Not the least amongst the contem-
plated improvements is the extension
OF the Front and Union City Railway
to Silverbrook. an extension made
necessary by the accommodating indus
tries of Silverbrook, and by the loca.
ton there Of q station by the Balti-
more & Ohio Railroad Company. This
improvement may not be made for
some time yet, but with the commence
ment of operations on the new morocco
factory, and the opening of trade by
the b. and P. Railraod, 1t cannot long
be delayed.