New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-02-04

GREAT INDUSTRIES ESTABLISHED BY THE
PIERSCNS 4 CENTL.EY AGO


PIERscNs \ CENTURY AGO.
Ramapo ~ Y. Feb tSpeciaD.-A few weeks
ago the Presbyterians of this neiehborhood dcdi-
Gated their new church-a stone building of modern
design the Gift OF the Pierson family. The old
wooden church. which has sheltered the people Of
four generations. 10 to be torn down. and then
there passes away another landmark Of this region.
The old-fashioned pulpit. with it's platform higher
than a mans head: the soundng-board above the
preacher the high-back and roomy pews with doors
opening into the aisles. are all there as they were
three-quarters Of a century ago.
This village is worthy OF more than a passing
glance 1t is true that most of the buildings are
old and some Of them unoccuped but 1t is 10 the
mast that Ramapo appeals for interest. Here were
furnished materials for one of the greatest chap
ters in Americas Industrial hstOry-in fact. Of the
worlds. The changing car-whcel shop one or the
largest in the country, which is now it's only means
Of support IS but a shadow of the Industries which
were formerly there. The village was founded in
,793 by Josiah c. Pierson and Jeremiah and Isaac,
his brothers who then engaged in the manufacture
Of cut nails by machinery of their own INVENTION
and were among the largest dealers In thelr line
in the country. Their factory and warehouse IN
New-York were on the ground now occupied 10y
tho prod,,ce EXCHANGE. and they had another large
factory at Wilmington. Del Their machinery was
the fits OF It's kind invented in this country anu
among the first in the world; and though improved
unon is still the basis OF modern mac lncs me
70
and rolled and cut at Wilmington. This was "N-
nensive II soon became evident that for some OF
their work American iron could he used ana 'hS
could be had in this neighborhood quite cheaIIY'
This is one OF the Oldest mining regions on thls
continent and within radius OF ten miles are the
Old Ringwood and Sterling mines. with DINERS OF
less note and all through the mountains W'r" men
refining this iron ore, working in twos ana thtre9
NJ little FORCES I'm their own yards ana producing
the hes; class OF charcoal iron These men were
glad to sell in the home market ana the H""N"S
lasted almost TO the late war
The Persons thought OF this spot Here were
vator-power and every facility desired. They began
building a dam. This took two years, but 10y 1913
everything was running smoothly; IN" nan i"C'o'H
and the rolling mill were in full operation Inc
Mace was accessible. FOR Transfers coud cart me
nroluc, along the level road through Suffern over
IN Haverstraw and then ship 1t direct to Newly orK'
or light loads could be carried over III" mountain
There was soon great demand for NOR mans,
especially from the sugar planters OF '"D"' "'''
they were too busy 10 attempt To- displac" WIN
them the wrought nails made - the bAChS''''''
0I I'm III they began to make hoops for Whdie-'ii
casks and soon they were DOING thriving ul''. ~
in them. aud in the course III J' ,,, ;' ,nnuaIy
The question now came about saving moh-S tuI ~,
those days barter PLAYED i@T in no. ,rn ih"nsh
10 make money by paying fer ITS husStan H., islG
and MIR Person Invented a l3pph "'e ro"is and
eirIned shirtings sheetings and check'. to'' M
ms loom va 'syccessf,l ami it uncertain which
was the !, re valuabl"-thr c9l'o'. 90 ',rri,'irg
! ,rade RI>apo consequently became .n... ,'.s
town There were over 80 people , nrrC hrnnght
! rom Orange County and from heit'm, ,'.rarng
,ne ar AZ all sea sons he year by CONTRACT Tor
| the regular teamsters were uh""'" ~ Wv "
w In $50 the manufacture Of spring steel haa lf
besu NJ J'' Then came su more important en-
! terprise our common wood sGi""S WI ~ feq- ~.
Gavs imported mainly from France. IN ~ b t,r
Pisrsons turned their attention To TINS worN, "u'
Il was hard t. compete WIN ,urrrHn ,n,i,, a., :
tran ~ r. When the demand increased inacHt.'!
beran 10 be thought or and Mr. krun one 81 .','
/ ,.orked for Two ana AZ last l'i''
I'm, ,,achire The Persons bought his oii" t1 !,
| for $1,000 and put the m,ch nin "' TEX years
I gave an impetus 10 the hu-Ih"7S ~ 80, ",, l,,.
| sStnrwarl A man came into IN" factory on" 80 ~
an offer for them They prim,,,' ''i" arroel nIon
I'D he departed. but IN frw days u" VIZ ',r.
/ lis company had changed IL, plans, 80 Sm-,y'rl
y, ,rann cane along and asked for work ne az
he was screw maker ana d ~ Mn in MANAGING
g, attracted attention. and in response To lu' ~
ne said he haa E2rko' an nycgtiga,ion ana IT
ra9 f,nnd that persons In that state Wei" '1'ilb
~ pierson machines without th'ir khp"i'.t,
L. " ,or"nne vcrr~ sued IN the United states
| crurt before Judge Story, and on N' ul"l " ,,.,
out that A man had broken NO u" iainapW s"i, ,,
structed them. and sold thrin 70 w. ,I IL ,,n =
Shown that the companys profits had bon S',y'
| for these machines. but even tneSe n.l"tv -..ari
e.onrnd their works, and now th.l cam 80 , ' =
| Waiting 10 buy the trc to them T%"hN
dollars was asked They OF iecied th'n ..
we're chosen before whom "acn toil ms t co. A.,
,r., sustained the Persons. and th"i inc E-''r
| r. cnrn;nJ ont IN 500 bills ard they ,'"n an
,be rights ana titles Of the machines IRON &
Tradition say that In WORKING on" 81 IT, n "' f.
chimes one. day Mr.. Krum allowed the S,i toh,
e and 10 run off giml't point ne ''uu ~,
80. matte. oyer. noticing tho adFan''H" nv -
ouch upiUt would give. Whether TINS ~ '..r;ot
| NOT efforts were made 10 max" a nt'Il' " ~
/ would produce this gim"t point; ~ run run w." f.,
! ICnp ana earnestly upon one. ana many tanl,u,o
| no Then Mr. Pierson looked IT oyer. am T,hice
The fault rcmedied IL and took oui inc la''' &, i
| was somewhere abou; l.i1: but as 500. ~ l,f,eS,
! came known agent OF me ,aui, , ,,h ali
! Scrcw Works came and bought IL OUT WIN a"
! rights and privileges. and thus 'hl'' NV ''
| making business In RamalC. , go, h,srees
! In 1850 the Persons decided 70 CIV "P ~ i,,,,r
! and since then the village has dwinA'I III mp.
lance and interest For some years car Shpp9 " ~
| located here but they finally moved ana no" t',l,
is nothing in the place but the nhnuihcl 81 Vn'
! wheels For long time IL was inc we'll w.
minus OF the Erie Railroad. and the orc trachs can
siiI be seen. and the old switches are sun III pace
FIGHTING OVER UD' MARTIN.