Lower Red Clay Valley: Why Not the Old Ametek Site?

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Why Not the Old Ametek Site?

During the past year there has been more than one occasion where I have read articles and have seen renderings of what the former NVF plant in Yorklyn will become. I think it is great what the State of Delaware can do with an old polluted site. Even the highly polluted Wilmington Waterfront was cleaned up and developed. In the articles about Yorklyn, we read how there will be public access the Red Clay Creek, the creation of walking and bike trails, storm water mitigation to go along with the history about the area and site. The connection to the Marshall Estate will also be a plus. We also read about the millions of dollars that will have to be pumped into this site to make this all happen.

Here at the lower end of The Red Clay Valley there is a very similar situation. What we have here is ~32 acres, in the flood plain, that runs ~ 1 mile along the Red Clay Creek. The stream runs through the property. About half of the site is forested. It also sits in the middle of one of the most highly congested areas in New Castle County. The site I am speaking of is the former Ametek site in Marshallton, DE. This was the site of c1765 Hersey Mill. It has been sitting vacant since flooding closed it in 2003. All but two of the most historic buildings have been razed. Now they sit waiting for decay and the wrecking ball. To me this a lot like the NVF site. Except it doesn’t have the connection to estates. What this site could do is help link three county parks that are along a three mile corridor stretching from Stanton / Kiamensi to Brandywine Springs, not to mention a connection to The Wilmington & Western Railroad and Greenbank Mill. Stanton also has a stretch of the W3R….. The Revolutionary War Route to Yorktown, VA., now a National Parks Service National Historical Trail. W&WR is in the process of erecting a new building that will house museum / meeting center / offices at its Marshallton facility. Walk ability studies are also being performed in the area. A new bridge with with added sidewalks is being constucted over the B&O rail line on Newport Road. Sidewalks and pedestrian lighting are being constucted on Duncan Road. These are on going projects in the area of the old Ametek site.

As not to confuse or run on my sentences I will bullet why I think the old Ametek site and it’s ~32 acres should be aquired:

30 acres of open space in a highly congested New Castle County area

Much, much cheaper, through correspondence with Ametek, than the NVF site in Yorklyn.

Would help provide flood mitigation for the Marshallton area and down stream through Stanton

Approximately 1.0 miles of Red Clay Creek frontage

Extends under Kirkwood Highway creating a walk from Stanton to Brandywine Springs without crossing any major highways.

Historic site. Solomon Hersey Mill c1765

Two historic buildings and bridges remain

Original Mill Race remains

General George Washington’s ~12,000 Troops encamped on the surrounding high ground on the east side of the Red Clay Creek in September 1777

Its proximity to the Washington Rochambeau Revolutionary Route (the W3R)

The French encamped along the W3R in Stanton on the return march from Yorktown in 1782

Wilmington and Western Railroad runs along its eastern property line

Site has property on both sides of the stream.

Would help connect the three parks, not including The Wilmington & Western Railroad and Greenbank Mill, already along the three miles stream between rt4 (The W3R), to Brandywine Springs Park creating a corridor that holds many remnants of Delaware’s historical past

Provide walking trails and parkland in an area that lacks good walkability

It would help protect wildlife and preserve open space.

Click here to view the Proposed First State Trails and Pathways Plan

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Welcome

The history of the Lower Red Clay Valley, stretching some 3 miles from Faulkland Road to Stanton, can be traced back to include parts of 5 centuries. From the settling of Bread and Cheese Island in the 1600’s through the 2000’s when the final industrial tract, whose start began as a gristmill, closed. The lower end of the valley has seen a whole host of different mills, names, places and events that play a major part in Delaware’s history. The region is also home to Delaware’s only steam powered train, The Wilmington and Western Railroad, which winds its way along the Red Clay Creek. It is also home to the famous Brandywine Springs and Spa established in the 1800’s that later became an amusement park.

Around 1679, before most of these facilities were in operation, a mill was constructed in proximity of where the Red and White Clay Creeks merge in Stanton, and then flow to the Christiana River. Stanton was to become the first settlement in what we know now as Mill Creek Hundred. The Stanton area also attracted names like the Lea, Tatnall, Byrnes and DuPont. Shipping goods at that time was possible due to the fact that navigation was achievable up the White Clay Creek to Stanton from the Christiana River. Goods would be brought down Limestone Road from Chester and Lancaster Counties to be shipped.

Over the next 100 years or so since that first mill was established, no less then four more mills were erected in the short distance of roughly three miles upstream to Faulkland Road. Delaware’s most famous inventor, Oliver Evans, worked in the family mill at Faulkland. This is where he invented his mill automation system that revolutionized the milling industry. He received the patent for his accomplishment in 1790. In between Faulkland and the Stanton Mill was the Phillips Mill (Greenbank Mill), Hersey Mill (Where the former Ametek site is) and The Reese Mill site (which much later became the Kiamensi Woolen Mills). Remnants from each one of these mills still exist. I believe all five of these mills were in operation in September 1777 when General George Washington assembled his troops along the east side of The Red Clay Creek, spreading south to north along the stream. He ordered mills in the area to be made inoperable and move products so they could not be confiscated by the enemy. This was all in anticipation of a battle with approximately 15,000 British Troops on their march, from the Chesapeake, to take control of the Colonial Capital of Philadelphia. According to writing’s, Gen. Washington believed this would be the final battle of the Revolutionary War. During that week in 1777 a Counsel of War meeting was held at the Hale-Byrnes House in Stanton, attended by Washington and his other officers. As history shows, that battle never took place as General Howe’s troops took a alternate route leading to Chadd’s Ford, PA. and the Battle of The Brandywine.

When a hotel was built at Brandywine Springs in the 1820’s it was the beginning of approximately 100 years of enjoyment for a site that transitioned from resort spa to amusement park that finally closed in the early 1900’s. The friends of Brandywine Springs keep the park alive through archeological digs along with providing and maintaining trails leading to areas where old foundations have been uncovered or old amusement rides once stood. The park had its own rail station where folks would be picked up and drop off by the Wilmington and Western Railroad that came into existence in 1870. The W&W railroad continues to operate today taking passengers on a scenic journey through the Historic Red Clay Valley and along the banks of the Red Clay Creek. Its station is located at Greenbank along Rt41. Its maintenance yard, with its soon to be completed new offices and meeting room, are located in Marshallton.

Not far from The Red Clay Creek remain pieces of the past which would have either supported or benefited from these industries and more. I hope some of the photos in this blog will show you some of those. Some may be gone now but some still remain.

By clicking here a DELDOT pdf document will give a more in depth look at the Brandywine Springs / Red Clay area.