98 THK SYCAMORK MILL. 



Tradition says that the employees in charge of the furnace 

 at the Delaware County Rolling Mill, when the load of coal 

 first came to the works, late in the afternoon, threw into the fire 

 a considerable quantity of the material with the oft expressed 

 opinion that the " boss had been fooled," an opinion which 

 became more and more confirmed when the coal refused to 

 ignite, although frequent attempts were made to kindle it. 

 Late in the evening the fireman gave up in despair and went 

 to bed. An hour or two later, being restless, he arose and 

 went to the mill, when he found the furnace door red hot, the 

 building intensely heated, and the woodwork almost ready to 

 burst into flame. There had never been such a fire in the 

 mill before. From then on, Knos Helms was sent to Mauch 

 Chunk with a five-horse team, and hauled the fuel for the 

 rolling mill from that place. The coal cost two dollars a ton 

 at the mine. 



In addition to the buildings already mentioned, the farm 

 house and the several tenant houses on the other side of the 

 creek, there are yet two others of interest that must not be 

 omitted. In 1812, as is-sho.wn by the date stone thereon, 

 there was erected a small, two story building between the race 

 and the road to llpper Providence store, which building was 

 originally intended as a sort of office in connection with the 

 mills. This building later on became, at least as regards the 

 second story, the home of the Union Library, of which an 

 account is given later on. There is also located on the oppo- 

 site side of the race and further up stream a building which 

 was for many years occupied as a blacksmith and wheelwright 

 shop. The date of its erection does not seem to be known, 

 nor who its various occupiers were. At one time James Stirk 

 had a wheelwright shop in the second story and GeiMge Button 

 a blacksmith shop on the ground floor. The entrance to the 

 wheelwright shop was from the side next the road, by crossing 

 ^over the race. The blacksmith sho]-) was entered from the 

 side next the creek, after first crossing the race and passing 

 around the end of the building. These buildings are all 



