Lower Red Clay Valley: Oliver Evans Marker

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Oliver Evans Marker

I was driving through Newport the other day and noticed this marker as I drove by. I had to turn around, go back and read it. It appears to have recently installed. There was a post early on pertaining to Oliver Evans and how there wasn't a marker to commerate his achievements in the Lower Red Clay Valley. Even though he was born in Newport, mills along the Red Clay Creek utilized his invention to automated the flour milling industry. I will also include/update this so it appears in the post of Historical Markers in The Lower Red Clay Valley.

He is buried in

Trinity Church Cemetery and Mausoleum
Also known as: Trinity Cemetery, Trinity Cemetery Uptown

in Manhattan

6 comments:

Scott P said...: Great catch! I hadn't heard about, but you've got to be right about it being fairly new. Where is it? Is it just in a public area, or is it supposed to be near where their house was?; January 20, 2012 at 9:24 AM
Denis said...: If you go east through Newport on Maryland Avenue, it is where the bend is in the road. There is a cannon there. The marker is front of the cannon. I dont recall the name of the building it all sits in front of. If you go straight and not take the bend there is a place to park. The state has in effect all new markers need to be where you can pull over and get out of your car to read them.
I just happen to be riding by and it caught my eye. So I had to turn around. Of course I didnt have my camera so I used my phone to take the picture.; January 20, 2012 at 1:46 PM
Scott P said...: For what it's worth, I was reading something recently that said the house Evans was born in was located at N. James and Christian Streets. That would have put it about where the exit ramp from 141 South merges with N. James near the M&T (formerly Wilmington Trust) bank is. The house, I guess, is long gone.; February 29, 2012 at 4:41 PM
Denis said...: That is interesting Scott. For some reason I thought he lived down towards the river more. I was was also just reading the Tanall House, located inside the plant in Newport, is sometimes incorrectly referred to as the "Oliver Evans House".; February 29, 2012 at 9:55 PM
Scott P said...: That's actually where I read about the "real" Evans house. The Tatnall House's NRHP form mentions that "in recent years the building has come to be called the Oliver Evans House", but that it's not correct. Specifically, it says Evans was born in a house on the southeast corner of Christian and James. That would have put it right about where the little loop is in the bank parking lot. I had never even realized that the Tatnall House was there, tucked away in the middle of the plant property.; March 1, 2012 at 10:04 AM
Denis said...: I contemplated asking at the guard gate if I could go in and walk around the Tatnall House to take a few pictures but decided to leave it for another adventure. I am assuming it is the same Joseph Tatnall who owned the house and mill at the foot of Mill Road in Stanton.; March 2, 2012 at 10:36 PM

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.