Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1899-07-21
NO. 81
ONCE A MIGHTY INDUSTRY.

Among the many once flourish
ing tannery towns of New York State
there are very few whose inhabi-
tauts earn their daily bread wholly
through this industry. In all parts
of the country there are reminis-
cences showing signs of once extern
sive buildings made mostly from
stones picked from the land and con-
verted into structures, none of the
large rude timbers being left which
were at first cut and hauled from tine
forest with bark stripped off, to be
made more serviceabie, having long
since decayed and vanished.
This was indeed great industry
and through which millions of dol
lars were made in the earlier days
when bark was plenty and leather
sold for high price.
For an example of one of these
small but thriving tanning towns
Gilman's Station, lately renamed
st. Joseph's after the Sanitariun re-
Gently erected near that place,
located on the p j., M. & N. Y.
r. R. about eighteen miles from
Port Jervis, might be taken. This
village was founded by w. w. Gill
man in the early part of 1871 and
for over twenty years run a success
full tanning establishment before
the bark supply began to exhaust.
Besides the tannery there were also
two big saw-mills that were in con-
stant motion from daylight till dark
saving logs into lumber. During
parts of the year as high as three
and four carloads of lumber were
shipped to Port Jervis and numer-
Gus other points, thousands of feet
being purchased by Milford builders
and houses constructed from it,
many of which are still standing,
and aside from remodeling bear
signs of good preservation to-day.
At present all that remains of
Gilman's Station is an old shanty
used for depot, one or two tum-
ble-down buildings occupied by
people who have lived there since
childhood.
w. w. Gilman died about thir-
teen years ago leaving a vast fort
une to his son ALI, who is now To-
Gated in N. Y city.
On the right side of the railroad
as one goes toward Monticello, the
first and biggest heap of ruins coming
to view is the old tannery quite de-
molished, the walls still standing
and parts of the wood work yet un.
harmed other than being very
much settled. A few yards over on
the same side on what might be
called the principal street are parts
of houses standing with here and
there nothing more than q cellar
|
house. Garden spots are not to be
found having grown up in almost
the same shape as before they were
first cleared. Although there is
considerable meadow land in the vi
cinity, none can be seen from the
D railroad. But, it is doubtful if there
: is more valuable tract of park
land in New York State than this
could be made.
Even the steam whistle that once
l called men to work aud discharged
: them when the days work was fin
ished, has been taken away and
made use of in another place.
1t is more than interesting to
some people who are strangers in
the country and travel that way in
Z the summer, to look over the ruins
+ of Gilman's Station and think what
a difference time has made and the
changes it has brought about in
the course of few years.
n If only the wator power that turn
# ed the old wheels in the tannery
; was utilized the possibilities of mon
g ey making would indeed be great
y Or if this land could fall into the
y hands of the Goulds, Vanderbilts o1
y other park promoters with plenty
p of money behind thom, a second
1T Tuxedo could be founded with faI
ID better hunting and fishing than car
n be found most anywhere in the
N State.