GRIST MILL HISTORY

DURHAM IRON WORKS

Durham Furnace was the creation of William Allen, Joseph Galloway, and James Logan, three enterprising Philadelphia merchants with influential connections to Pennsylvania government.

In 1727 the three men pooled their capital with nine other investors to build a furnace and three forges on Durham Creek (now Cooks Creek) in what is now Durham Township, Upper Bucks County.

In 1753 George Taylor, one of the first managers, leased the Furnace from owner Joseph

Galloway. Over the years Taylor became

immersed in provincial politics, organized

militia companies in Bucks County, and

while a member of the Continental Congress,

signed the Declaration of Independence. He

transformed the ironworks into a munitions

factory for the Continental Army. Durham

produced cannons, cannonballs, shot, and other military equipment, probably at a financial loss. Others connected to Durham also served the patriot cause, including ironworker General Daniel Morgan, who resided along Durham Creek and worked at the Furnace.

The “last blast” of the 1727 Furnace was in 1789. On November 18, 1819, the site was sold to Judge William Long, who built a grist mill on the foundation. The grist mill remained in production till 1969. The Historic Durham Township Grist Mill remains till this day located on Durham Hill Road just off of Route 212.

DURHAM TOWNSHIP GRIST MILL...Built in 1820 by Judge William Long on the foundation of the DURHAM IRON WORKS blast furnace (1727). Located in Historic Durham Village Center the blast furnace was a major producer of iron for the Revolutionary War manufacturing cannon balls and cannons for George Washington’s Army. The other furnaces located along Cooks Creek also supplied the troops with other items like cooking utensils, pots & pans, kettles, and charcoal. Franklin Stoves were also manufactured. Pig iron was produced at the rate of 20 tons a week for 51 weeks. The furnaces required one acre of wood a day to operate. They ceased operation on September 18, 1789 when there were no longer any trees left to create coke for fuel. The main furnace at the mouth of the creek operated until 1908 by converting its fuel to coal. It was demolished in 1912. The Durham Village furnace was demolished by Judge Long in 1820 prior to erecting the grist mill on its foundation.

The Grist Mill was in operation for 147 years from 1820 to 1967, milling famous Ceresota Flour from 1820 through the 1920’s and then livestock feed until closing. A brick warehouse (on left side of photo) was added by the Riegel Family in 1912. The bricks used in the construction were taken from the iron furnace formerly located at the mouth of Cooks Creek with the Delaware River (Routes 611 & 212).

(Figure 1) Durham Township Grist Mill (Photo by D’Angelo)

The Township is presently restoring the Mill and has plans to establish a museum within its walls. The Durham Historical Society, headquartered in the mill, is assisting the township with this endeavor.

The original wooden water wheel was replaced in 1932 with a

“Fitz Steel Overshoot Water Wheel” (see sample right).

The wheel is located inside the mill and is serviced to this day

via a “mill race” from Cook’s Creek (formerly Durham Creek).

The flow of water into the mill is know as the “headrace” and

water exiting the mill the “tailrace”. The waterwheel powered all

of the machinery located in the mill via a central driveshaft & gear

system along with numerous leather drive belts.

General Daniel Morgan resided along Cooks Creek and worked at the furnace. He is also famous for his leadership in both the Revolutionary and the French & Indian Wars.

The Durham Post Office, founded in 1723, (located in the mill) is the second oldest Post Office in the United States (Philadelphia was the first). The Post Office continues in operation to this day.

“Quick & Easy” was the local nickname given to the Quakertown & Eastern railroad line (pictured above). During operation of the mill, the Q&E transported milled grain from the area. The milled grain was also exported to Great Britain. This portion of the line shows where it passed by the mill in the Village of Durham. Taken between 1900 and 1912, this picture shows the train picking up passengers alongside the old Durham General Store across from the mill. The tracks paralleled Cooks Creek where the train would chug along at 10 MPH. Particularly popular where the Sunday excursions to Willow Grove Park. The line ceased operations in the early 1930’s.

The Durham Township Grist Mill was a leading regional producer of Ceresota Flour during the early 1900’s. Pictured on left is a restoration of the original billboard (circa 1910) painted on the mill. The restoration was completed on Saturday, October 11, 2003 by noted Seattle artist Barbara Fugate. The mural measures 40 feet long and 17 feet high.

d’angelo

THE DURHAM BOAT

In the 1700’s, Robert Durham built his historical boats in Durham, PA. The boats were used to ship cannon balls, Franklin Stoves, and other items forged at the Durham Furnace, to Philadelphia during the Revolutionary War.

Also, on Christmas Eve in 1776 General George Washington and his Continental Army commandeered these boats to cross the Delaware River at McConkey’s Ferry to attack the Hessians at Trenton.

The boats ranged from 44 to 64 feet long and 4 feet deep at amidships. Many were equipped with sail masts for returning upstream.

The creation of the Canal in 1832 was the beginning of the end to ferrying in the Delaware River.

Durham Boat on display at the Durham Township Historic Grist Mill

Built by Joseph Whitaker and Company. Furnace number one to the right, in 1848. Furnace number 2 to the left, in 1849. From an ambrotype furnished by Mrs. George W. Whitaker. Site is located at Routes 611 & 212 in Durham.

Credit: Courtesy of the Pennsylvania State Archives

Built by Cooper and Hewitt, in 1874-75,on the site of old number 2 furnace. First put into blast February 21st, 1876. Site located at Routes 611 & 212 in Durham.

Photograph by Rueben Knecht, 1876.

Credit: Courtesy of Pennsylvania State Archives

DURHAM BAT MINE

Durham Township is home for one of the largest Bat Hibernaculum in the United States. It is located on private property and access by the public is strictly prohibited.

Pictured below is the Durham Historical Society memorial to the event that took place on 09/11/01 in New York City. The steel beam was removed from the debris field at Ground Zero. This is how we obtained the artifact. One of our Directors became aware of the possible availability of the beam when visiting relatives in New York. He enlisted the assistance of a second director who followed up with Pennsylvania politicians who then put us in contact with the New York City Mayor’s office and eventually to FEMA. One cold day in the winter of 2002, after much back and forth, three DHS Directors drove to a secure location under the Brooklyn Bridge where we met with FEMA personnel. We were shown six or seven “beams” that were to be made available to municipalities or 501 (c) 3s with certain controls placed on the gift. The beams could not be resold nor used for any other purpose than a memorial to 9/11. We were told that we could take any one of them. The decision to take the one pictured below was occasioned by the fact that it was the only one that the three of us could pick up and place in the van. It must weigh every bit of 400 pounds. The others perhaps with more visible damage etc. were not even budge able. We carted it back to Durham, PA and placed it in a temporary display position as can be seen in the flag draped accompanying photo. Yet another Director, along with Several Durham Township employees and willing/contributing local contractors, (what a team), picked up the challenge of designing and erecting the structure that you see in the other photographs. The memorial is located next to the Durham Township Municipal Building on Old Furnace Road and can be viewed by any interested person.

WORLD TRADE CENTER MEMORIAL