Middletown transcript. [volume] (Middletown, Del.) 1868-current, 1918-08-10
PORT PENN PLANT
will Employ at least 1000 Men
and Women
THE NEW "ROTHWELL PARK"

Comprehensive plans for an enormous
loading plant for the government which
will employ at least 1900 men and wo-
men, and which is to be erected near
Port Penn have been so far advanced
that drawings have been developed for
an active start and some workmen are
already on the site for emergency pur-
roses. 1t is expected that the big op-
eration may be gotten fully underway
almost any day now.
The operation is to be known as
"Rothwell Park" after the Marlin
Rothwell Loading Co, which will op-
crate the plant and which represents
the government as its agent. The un-
dertaking is to include not only COM
plete loading plant for the government
but model village, as well, to house
the workmen for the plant. This model
village, to consist Of various types and
sizes of houses, all following the gen.
eral architectural scheme, however, will
include community center to take care
Of all of the needs of the residents
for churches, schools, meeting halls, as
well as permanent commissary, garage,
laundry, etc. The entire construction
of the plant, houses and all other por-
tions of the project will be in the
hands of Fred 7. Ley and Co. Spring
field, Mass, concern, which is now en-
gagged on the plant at PerryvilIe, Md,
and which was in charge of the con-
struction of government plants and
housing projects at Bristol, Groton,
Conn.,, Alexandria, Va, Brunswick,
Ga, Mobile, Ala, where the first ship
building plant in the East for the build
ing of concrete ships was erected, and
other places.
The enormity Of the project may be
understood when it is explained that
close to 5000 persons will be employed
il the building of this plant and the
auxiliary operations
To tie the plant up to the shipping
centers it will be necessary to build a
railroad about eight miles in length
from the plant to Mt. Pleasant connect
ing with the main line of the Pennsyl-
vania system, with sidings through the
plant. Shipping facilities by water are
also to be provided, for the ground ac-
quired, close to LOCO acres. fronts on
the Delaware River and big dock will
be built for large steamships to come in
and land for shipments abroad.
The first operation. following the con-
.struction Of the railroad, will be the
erection of the administration buildings
and temporary quarters to house the
construction employees and this, in it.
self. will be big Undertaking, natural
ly. considering that 5000 employees
must be taken care of.
While Rothwell Park will have its
own power plant a transmission line
will be run from Delaware City as aux
iliary for lighting and power.
The site on which the plant is being
erected is IL miles south of Delaware
City and just north of Port Penn. Part
of the ground acquired was formerly
the Isaac Cleaver farm and the old
Lawrence farm. AS the plant will lie
below Fort DUPONT and as the site of
the new Fort Salisbury is only fifteen
miles further down the river, the plant |
will be we'll protected from the river
front.
Marlin and Rothwell have one office !
at No. 226 West Ninth and the other on
the second floor of the Nobis Building
at Eighth and Market streets Ley and
Co. have Offices on the third floor of the
Queen Theatre Building. Both have
large Office forces employed working
out the preliminary details.