Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1922-06-29
The Franklin Mills

The big mill was built in the year
1928 by Mr.. Jacob Firor. 1t was
built along the road that now runs
from Thurmont to Emmitsburg. The
big mill was built of brick. 1t was
run by water power. The dam which
furnished the power was about half
mile up Owens Creek. The water
wheel was twelve feet high and seven
feet wide. The water then ran under
what is now the State Road and fol-
lowed a race down to chopping mill
where it again furnished the power.
The chopping mill was situated a
bout $50 yards from the pike and near
the tenant house where Mr.. Baker
Fraley now lives. The chopping mill
was made of stone; the size of the
water wheel was sixteen feet high and
four feet wide. They made corn meal,
cracked corn, hominy, etc. A saw mill,
a plaster mill and a lathe mill were
also in operation at this place.
There was cooper shop situated
little distance northeast of the big mill
on what is now Mr. d. A. Firor's prop
erty. In the cooper shop they made
barrels. In those days they did not
have machinery like we now have, and
all the laths and barrels were made by
using drawing knife and shaving
horse. These mills gave work to many
men,, and soon a little village sprang
up. 1t was called Franklinville.
In 1914 Mr.. Landers became owner
of these mills. He built up such very
big business that people came for
many miles to his mills.
In 1913 Mr.. j. Wesley Creeger of
Thurmont bought the mill farm. In
1914 it passed into the hands of Carl
Gall, whose wife is a daughter of Mr..
Cleeger. In about the year 1919 the
big mill was torn down. Mr.. J. Hook
er Lewis purchased the property in
1920 for $4,000. The value of the
mill property, when it was at its best,
about the year 1860, was $S0,OO0.
The Old Blacksmith Shop
The old blacksmith shop was very
busy place, too, in the days when the
mills were running. The farmers had
their horses shod and wagons repaired
here. You could hear the bellows blow
and the hammer on the anvil ringing.
The men would gather there while
waiting for their meal to be ground.
The blacksmith shop is situated
about one-fourth of mile northeast
cf the big mill. 1t is built of brick;
it is about to fall down now.
The Old SchOOlhOuses
The old schoolhouse was built on
"The Island" 1t was built of logs.
The Island is in Owens Creek just
west of the pike. When Mr.. Landers
owned the mill he took the schoolhouse
for a tenant house. Then another
schoolhouse was built further up the
Island. 1t was built Of brick. Here
many of our parents and grandparents
went to school, This schoolhouse was
washed away at the time of the Johns
town flood in May 1889. A new one
was built the same year. 1t was our
present two room school. Another
little school stood near Payne's Hill.
This school was then closed and the
children went to the new school.
The new school was much nicer than
the old one. In the old school the
benches were made of rough logs.
These benches had no backs. The
children would get very tired till even
ing came; but in the new school there
were nice smooth benches and desks.
On Sundays the children and their
parents came here to Sunday School.
"A singing school was also held here.
The schoolhouse is still a place for
Community Meetings.