Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1901-02-23
FROsTBURG, Md SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 3D. 1901.

DdHh w lfltiS W IltIt - lJlOb-
ably the old entrance to the Penny
royal mine in the borough of Councils
vile. This opening was directly across
the river from Crawford's cabin. and
in sight of his home. The coal is al
ways known to have had an outCrOp
there. and in the early days of Con-
ncllSvillc the mine supplied much of
the coal for home consumption. Some
trampS lit fire in the mine 80 years
ago and il has been burning ever since,
having eaten out much of the bed I'M
der the Second ward of ConncllSville
itself
In his diary Washington speaks Of
how he went with Colonel Crawford
on Oct. II. 40. to see some lands ID
miles distant from CrawfUrd'S home
in the following manner:
Went to view land which Captain Craw-
ford located for me near the oushioghcny, dis
tant about u miles. This tract, which contains
about Loo acres, includes line land as |
and great deal of rich meadow. 1t is
well watcrcd and has a valuable mill scat, except
that the stream is rather slight and, it is said,
not constant more than seven eight months in
the year. The lands which passed today
were generally hllN AMI the growth tmrnF Whlte
oak. but very good notwithSthndinG and what is
extraordinary and contrary To the property Of all
other lands | ever saw before, the hills are the
richest land. the soil upon the sides and submits
of them being as black coal and the growth
walnut and cherry.
Washington was a man of deeds, and
when he made the entry concerning
the mill seat he was not long in pro-
ceeding to erect one. Soon after his
visit he scEt Gilbert Simpson to begin
work upon the plant. The mill was
erected on the seat spoken of, on Wash
ington run, not far from the present
village of PerryopoliS which Wash
ington himself laid out. Between the
years of 40 and 1I74 Valentine Craw-
ford succeeded his brother in MA cling
WaShn%tOnS estate in this section Of
the country near C0nncllSvillc. Simp-
son retaining control of the mill and
other buildings near PerryOpolis. The
Indians gave the workmcn sent out
much trouble and the OvcrSccrS had
difficulty in Keeping hands because of
their fright at the redskins. Writing a
letter regarding the erecting of the mill
Crawford says that he will he obliged
to erect a fort near the mill until the
Indian eruption is over" and men
tons the fact that Simpson seemed
very much scared
Because Of the Indian troubles it was
two years from the time the mill was
started till completed. In the mean
time Crawfords letters show that he
thought Washington had made bad
job of il in attempting to build the
mill. Washington was appraised of the
mills completion while he was in camp
before New York after the battle of
Long Island. and history is usually 81
lent to the fact that during the whole
campaign he paid some attention to
his lands in Fayctte county while di-
rccting also the operations of the Rev
olutioniSts in all parts of the land.
Washington himself tired of his mill
and tried to sell it in 1875, when he
wrote to Thomas Freeman. who had
succeeded Valentine Crawford as his
agent. EFF | could get IL, 800 for the
mill and 100 acres of land most con
venicnt thereto. | would let it go for
that money" But it was not till 1889
that Washington was able to make any
arrangement when the property was
leased to Colonel Israel Shreve, who
had been one of WaShingtOn's faithful
subordinatcs in the Revolution. The
deeds conveying the property were new
er executed by Washington. as he died
Mt Mount Vernon in 1919 before the
transaction was completed, Colonel
Shrcve dying the same year also. The
mill property passed later to Powell
Hough and through a succession to
Samuel Smith. The old mill is known
to few because it is isolated and sell
dom mentioned in song or story. 1t is
picturesque, the illustration being trnc