The Haverford Mills
The Historic Mills that once lined Darby Creek and most especially those along Karakung Creek are the twin cradles of Haverford Township. Some 15,000 years ago, during the last Ice Age, a great glacier cut through the granite schist mountains to create the two creek valleys. Down those two valleys the two streams rose from natural springs and carved their way eastward. Cobbs Creek joins Darby Creek in Darby Township and then flows past the John Heinz Preserve immediately into the Delaware River.
The 1889 map above shows the confluence of the two creeks and their entrance into the Delaware.
The earliest recorded names of Darby and Cobb's Creek are found on the maps created by the Swedes and the Finns when they settled the area in 1643. It is on this Finish map that we see the names given these creeks by the Lenni Lenape tribe, the original people of the Delaware Valley. On the Finnish map below we see that Darby Creek is labeled as Mukruton Joki and Cobb's Creek as Karkus Joki. "Joki" is the Finnish word for "river." The bold letters "Takamaa" is Finnish for "hinterland."
What's In a Name : KARAKUNG
In this Swedish plan above we see the name Karakung for the first time along side the Swedish "Vattuquarnen." "Vattu" is Swedish for "water." The suffix "quarnen" is not known. Darby Creek is labled "Tenakon." The name may be Native American.
On this contemporary reconstruction of early settlements Cobbs's Creek is noted as Mill Creek and Darby as Muckruton.
There is yet another name for Cobb's Creek not shown on these maps but found in local records.
There is yet another name for Cobb's Creek not shown on these maps but found in local records.
The Swedes and Finns: 1643
The Swedes, and Finns under Governor Printz, settled the area of Delaware and Southeastern Pennsylvania in 1643, forty years before Penn. As noted above, the Swedes, called Cobb's Creek Mill Kill or Karakung or even Amaasland Creek.
Cobb’s Creek does not appear until Penn's settlement and takes its name from William Cobb who was William Penn's miller. William Cobb’s nationality is not certain. Some records indicate that he was English others that he was Swedish. In either case Cobb’s homestead gave the creek its English name. Only in Haverford Township has the Swedish use of the Native American been preserved. Karakung may be related to the Native word “karok” which means “upstream." Under the Swedes the first grist mill was built on the creek at the place where the Blue Bell Tavern stands at the corner of Woodland Avenue and Cobbs Creek Parkway. https://www.dcva.org/page-18191
The 1775 map below shows "The Bell" and a saw mill.
Cobb’s Creek does not appear until Penn's settlement and takes its name from William Cobb who was William Penn's miller. William Cobb’s nationality is not certain. Some records indicate that he was English others that he was Swedish. In either case Cobb’s homestead gave the creek its English name. Only in Haverford Township has the Swedish use of the Native American been preserved. Karakung may be related to the Native word “karok” which means “upstream." Under the Swedes the first grist mill was built on the creek at the place where the Blue Bell Tavern stands at the corner of Woodland Avenue and Cobbs Creek Parkway. https://www.dcva.org/page-18191
The 1775 map below shows "The Bell" and a saw mill.
Amaasland
There is yet another name used by the Swedes and the Finns: Amaasland or Amos Land. Amaasland was the original name of the Ridley township. The confusion is that some records give this name to Cobb's Creek while others give it to Darby Creek.
There is yet another name used by the Swedes and the Finns: Amaasland or Amos Land. Amaasland was the original name of the Ridley township. The confusion is that some records give this name to Cobb's Creek while others give it to Darby Creek.
William Cobb https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Cobb-4502#_note-3
When the 1693 census of Swedes in New Sweden was taken, William Cobb had just moved from Raccoon Creek, near Swedesboro New Jersey, to Mill (now Cobbs) Creek to operate the Swedes' mill at that location. Whether he was English or Swedish has been a matter of dispute.
In 1683-84 he was tax collector in Ammansland (Today's Darby.) From 1686 through 1690 he was found on Raccoon Creek, where he was taxed for a 350-acre farm. After retiring from operation of the Swedes' mill, Cobb returned to Raccoon Creek, where his wife Christina was buried on November 25, 1714. Old William Cobb, said to be past 60 years old, died at Raccoon Creek, March 11, 1721.
The map below shows the stream to the right as "Swede's Mill / William Cobb" The creek is marked with three names as "Karakung," "Karkus," and "Mill Kill."
In 1683-84 he was tax collector in Ammansland (Today's Darby.) From 1686 through 1690 he was found on Raccoon Creek, where he was taxed for a 350-acre farm. After retiring from operation of the Swedes' mill, Cobb returned to Raccoon Creek, where his wife Christina was buried on November 25, 1714. Old William Cobb, said to be past 60 years old, died at Raccoon Creek, March 11, 1721.
The map below shows the stream to the right as "Swede's Mill / William Cobb" The creek is marked with three names as "Karakung," "Karkus," and "Mill Kill."
Penn's
Township of 32 Settlements:
Haverford
As seen on the 1687 map above, two creeks border Penn’s Haverford Township, “The Welsh Barony” of thirty-two settlements: Cobbs Creek, called “Karakung” to the Southeast, and Darby Creek to the Northwest. In Haverford Township Cobbs Creek is traditionally known as Karakung Creek. Darby Creek was first called Muckruten, then Church Creek, and later "Derby" Creek (pronounced Darby).
Karakung Creek
On March 1st, 1681, William Penn received his charter for “Pennsilvania” from King Charles II. A year later, the Ship “Welcome” sailed from Deal, England, departing 31 August 1682, and arrived at the mouth of the Delaware River (New Castle) on 27 October 1682. In that same year the Welsh set out the boundaries of their “barony.” The first Welsh mill along , Karakung Creek, may have been built around the year 1688.
The Haverford Mill
Henry Graham Ashmead's, “History of Delaware County, 1884 claims that the first mill was built by William Howell. Howell then sold the mill to Rowland Powell, the possible builder of Harford Hall around 1698. Early maps indicate that the mill was located just at the bottom of Mill Road, probably where the current power station stands.
(I have researched the below-mentioned deed at the Philadelphia and Chester archives with the help of the archivists. We were not able to locate this record of sale.)
(I have researched the below-mentioned deed at the Philadelphia and Chester archives with the help of the archivists. We were not able to locate this record of sale.)
Note: In the excerpt above the footnote reads, "Rarakung." This may be a misprint.
In a later text, John W. Eckfeldt’s 1917 “Cobb’s Creek in the Days of the Early Powder Mills” notes, “A short distance up the creek, through a very beautiful ravine lined with noble trees, were located the old grist and sawmills, situated at the bend of the road at the foot of "Haverford Mountain" on the same site where the railroad power house now stands. “ It is not certain when the power house was demolished.
Significant ruins of the power plant remained along the creek at the base of Mill Road until sometime in the 1970's. An iron intake is still present. See the photo of the intake below.
Significant ruins of the power plant remained along the creek at the base of Mill Road until sometime in the 1970's. An iron intake is still present. See the photo of the intake below.
1907 The Red Arrow Power Station, Beechwood Amusement Park is behind to the right,
One of the earliest maps that details the Haverford Mill dates from c. 1800.
The mill is marked by the asterisk.
The rocky escarpment that is commonly called "Star Rock" was historically known as "Haverford Mountain." (See "Restore Karakung" on this site.)
The mill is marked by the asterisk.
The rocky escarpment that is commonly called "Star Rock" was historically known as "Haverford Mountain." (See "Restore Karakung" on this site.)
Mill Asterisk above the "O"
On the Melish-Whiteside map (c.1816) we see three mills: Humphrey's Paper Mill, Jonathan Miller's Grist and Saw Mill and Whelen's Powder Mill. The Friends' Meeting House is the little building to the upper left.
Cobb's Creek
in the Days
of the Old Powder Mill
By John W. Eckfeldt, M.D. 1917
(The extant) mills were built about 1810 by Jonathan Miller. A few years later David Quinn became associated with him in the business and served as manager. In 1827 Samuel Leedom took charge. In 1844 Mr. Leedom purchased the Miller Mills and lived there until his death in 1872. Augustus B. Leedom, his son, became the owner and was succeeded by a Mr. Lambert. The latter was in turn succeeded by George Dickinson, who as the last owner, purchased the property in February 1879, and came to reside in April of the following year. The decline of the sawmill industry, due to the depletion of the woodlands in that section of the country, together with the failure of the milling business as already described, caused the mills to be closed and the property sold to the Philadelphia & Western Railroad. The mills were removed about 1907 and the railway company's building erected. Situated where the lane united with the public road, these mills were snugly and prettily located. The surrounding rocky and wooded hills, with the dam and creek in the valley, gave pleasing responses to [75] sounds uttered in the stillness of the cool, shaded hollow. This was "Echo Hollow."
Note: Jonathan Miller was the owner of Harford Hall from sometime before 1790 until around 1840.
Note: Jonathan Miller was the owner of Harford Hall from sometime before 1790 until around 1840.
1878
Powder House
Darby and Cobb's Mills 1843
The saw mill, dating from the original Haverford New Mill, operated along Darby Creek well into the 1960"s. The mill stood across from the old Gentile's market and where Barnaby's stands today. Even to its final days people collected free wood chips for their gardens.
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Naylor’s Run
(this article is looking for information on 525 Manoa Road, the Richard Hayes homestead and birthplace of Dr. George Smith. )
(this article is looking for information on 525 Manoa Road, the Richard Hayes homestead and birthplace of Dr. George Smith. )
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Karakung - 1700 to 1900
Back on the other side of the township the banks of Cobb’s Creek saw considerable and continual development up until the early years of the twentieth century. Following William Howell’s first grist mill the early history and location of the subsequent mills and their owners is not always clear. Properties changed hands in rapid and often confusing sequences. Smith and Ashmead propose that the Humphrey family were mill owners around 1703.
Other early mill owners of note were the Lawrence family and the Ellis family. In 1810 Jonathan Miller appears on the mill maps. Miller was succeeded by Samuel Leedom in 1827 and Leedom was followed by George Dickinson in 1879. Leedom and Dickinson gave their names the “mansion” whose first house may have been built by Rowland Powel around 1698. See Harford Hall
Other early mill owners of note were the Lawrence family and the Ellis family. In 1810 Jonathan Miller appears on the mill maps. Miller was succeeded by Samuel Leedom in 1827 and Leedom was followed by George Dickinson in 1879. Leedom and Dickinson gave their names the “mansion” whose first house may have been built by Rowland Powel around 1698. See Harford Hall
Eckfelt's "Cobbs Creek in the Days of the Old Powder Mill" writes of the house, "The Leedom mansion stands a short distance from the mills on the bank to the right of the public road. It is an imposing, well-built home, the yard adorned with noble trees, aged box bushes and cheerful flowers."
Samuel Leedom
The Leedom name is found in the earliest census records throughout South East Pennsylvania. Branches of the family were a well-established in the Haverford Township of the early 19t century. The 1868 map indicates a J.B.Leedom with mills on Darby Creek, Samuel Leedom on Cobbs Creek and a William Leedom with property just south of the current Manoa Road.
By the 1870 Atlas we find John Leedom owning a large property by Darby Creek and in small adjacent plots we see the name of Maris W. Leedom that the census lists as “Master Sawyer.” The map illustrates a saw mill, a grist mill and the Haverford Flour Mill.
The Leedom name also appears on various legal documents. It seems that they were very active in the community. On 23 September 1852 Samuel Leedom placed the following notice in the Public Ledger. The school house in all probability would have been the one on Earlington Road, now a private residence.
Nitre Hall
Nitre Hall
Nitre Hall (pronounced NY-ter) powder mill appears on the Hill 1810 map, first published in 1808, under (Samuel) Whelen and Company. Across from Nitre Hall the map indicates Haverford Factory under J.J. Ellis, later purchased by Dennis Kelly. Nitre Hall along with the small ruins of part of the mill works are the only remaining buildings. Nitre Hall takes its name from the processing of potassium nitrate or “saltpeter,” the primary element in the manufacture of gunpowder. Saltpeter the base of nitrate was derived from compositing dung and urine: a not particularly pleasant process. Eckfeldt’s “Cobb’s Creek in the Days of the Early Powder Mills” pp. 11- 15, gives a detailed description of nitre milling along Karakung Creek. (For a listing of the mills see "REPORT Of the COMMITTEE Of DELAWARE COUNTY On the subject of MANUFACTORIES, UNIMPROVED MILL SEATS, ETC. IN SAID COUNTY 1826." https://delawarecountyhistory.com/documents/1826MillSurvey.pdf
Mill's Map, 1808-1810
1882: Plan of the Nitre Hall Mills. Today, with the grading created in 1907 for the train line it may be difficult to envision the placement of the mill..
To enlarge the image, increase your screen setting.
To enlarge the image, increase your screen setting.
Photos and Excerpts from Eckfeldt's
"Cobbs Creek in the Days of the Old Powder Mills"
The Dam
Saw Mill
Powder Mill
The Magazine (Powder House)
Workers Row
Dennis Kelly,
Clinton Mills, Castle Hill Mills
and
The Irish
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"In 1806, Dennis Kelly -a very successful merchant- his wife, Mary and their daughter, Margaret, emigrated from County Donegal, Ireland, to Philadelphia. After spending a few weeks in the city, Mr. Kelly arrange for a business venture in Pittsburg. The first leg of the journey was a stagecoach ride along the Haverford-Darby Road to connect to the Lancaster Pike beyond Philadelphia. As the stage neared the little village of Coopertown, the teamster was using loud, vulgar and obscene language. Mrs. Kelly asked the man to stop his offensive talk. When he refused, she insisted that the coach stop immediately so that she and her family could get off.
The Kellys walked to the nearest inn to consider their situation. They had no place to live, and they could not get back the money they had paid in advance for the trip to Pittsburgh. Mr. Kelly found work in powder and textile mills along Cobbs Creek, and over the next few years accumulated sufficient funds and connections to go into business for himself. He established a family home on what was known as the Hermitage Farm, which was also the site of several of his mills. As immigration from his native Ireland increased, many of his countrymen arrived in Philadelphia with one piece of advice in mind: “If you want to go to America, the saying went in Donegal, “see Dennis Kelly.” Soon a large community of fellow Irish was established in the area of Mr. Kelly’s mills and homestead, (History of Saint Dennis Church." http://saintdenis.org/st-denis-history/ )
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In Haverford, Kelly worked at various jobs. For several years the family lived at the Guyger farm at the site of the present Villanova. Then, by 1814, with the help of backers he bought his own mill. According to Ashmead, Kelly bought the mill from Isaac Ellis along Karakung Creek at the intersection of Manoa Road. These were the Clinton Mills. About 1826 he purchased Joshua Humphrey's gristmill just above the Church Road, now Eagle Road, changing it to a cotton and woolen factory and gave it the name of " Castle Hill Mills." Kelly’s properties included the area now occupied by the Joshua Humphry House (Pont Reading) and St. Dennis Church which Kelly founded.
Castle Hill Mills
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Clinton Mills
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Kelly earned contracts for government uniform fabric. He devised a new method for the dying of the fabric. First, he assured the stability of the dye by taking the wool to the shore and testing its effectiveness in the ocean salt water. Then, he dyed the wool before spinning it. His technique was most successful.
https://www.jstor.org/stable/44210873?read-now=1&seq=2#page_scan_tab_contents
To work his mills Kelly engaged the immigrant Irish. Census records of the time enumerate the names of those born in Ireland and employed at the mills as weavers, spinners and carters. Smith's "History of Delaware County" notes, Owing to the large numbers of immigrant foreigners professing the Catholic faith, employed in the manufacturing establishments of Cobb’s Creek, erected by Dennis Kelly, a church became necessary for their accommodation. For this purpose the Church of St. Dennis was erected in 1825. It was the first Catholic edifice built in Delaware County. (p.395)
Workers Row
Census of 1850 showing Irish immigrants
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Original St. Denis Church
Census of 1860 showing Irish immigrants
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Up to the time of his death Mr. Kelly was widely known as one of the most successful manufacturers of cloths in the State of Pennsylvania. He owned property along the creek from the present Township line to beyond Eagle Road. He died in July 1864, worth nearly one-half million dollars.
Dennis Kelly's grave at St. Denis
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Sacred to the Memory of Dennis Kelly who departed this life July 21 1864 in the 85th year of his age.
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1902
On the 1902 map we can see the number of mills that lined Karakung Creek. The creek is dotted with three ponds or lakes created by the damns that powered the mills. (Lakeside Avenue recalls their presence.)
At the top on Merion Road, the present Eagle Road, is the woolen mill.
Below, at the intersection of what was called the Dickinson Mill Road, is the Castle Hill Woolen Mill.
The road which leads from the "Y" to Haverford Road is difficult to determine and was certainly altered with the establishment of Beechwood.
The center property of George Dickinson is the present Harford Hall. At the creek side, the bottom of the present Mill Road, are the first grist and saw mills that date from around 1698. The site is now occupied by the brick power station.
Below the lake Nitre Hall is a woolen mill.
At the top on Merion Road, the present Eagle Road, is the woolen mill.
Below, at the intersection of what was called the Dickinson Mill Road, is the Castle Hill Woolen Mill.
The road which leads from the "Y" to Haverford Road is difficult to determine and was certainly altered with the establishment of Beechwood.
The center property of George Dickinson is the present Harford Hall. At the creek side, the bottom of the present Mill Road, are the first grist and saw mills that date from around 1698. The site is now occupied by the brick power station.
Below the lake Nitre Hall is a woolen mill.
The Last Success and the Final Days of the Mills
Kelly was succeeded by Patrick Boyle whose business failed. The mill then passed to John and Thomas Burns. In 1884 Castle Hill Mills was operated by Taylor Wolfenden & Company who with more than one hundred workers produced cassimeres worth several thousand dollars every month.
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“The cassimere twill weave gives the fabric a slight spring which makes it ideal for making breeches and pantaloons. Its relatively light weight, when compared with broadcloth, also made it popular for waistcoats and lining coat tails. In common with other types of cloth from this period Cassimere was produced in different weights and qualities. A number of different sources have been consulted in order to gather sufficient information to allow this fabric to be reproduced. It is intended to produce a superfine quality as it was frequently used for Officer's waistcoats, breeches, turnbacks, lining coat tails and sometimes collar linings. It was also apparently used for lining Heavy Cavalry Officer’s coats.”
("cassimere" is the old spelling of "cashmere." http://www.najecki.com/repro/PDF/Kochan%20cloth/KPHF%20-%20Cassimere.pdf 
December 15, 1881
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Then in 1909, during a violent storm, the mill dam burst. The water supply was no longer sufficient. By this time too, modern plants were replacing the water mill. In 1910 a fire destroyed most of the building. Shortly thereafter the ruins were cleared away. In 1907 The Philadelphia and Western Rail had already bought up most of the property along Karakung Creek. In that year they built their short-lived amusement park and set out plots of new homes in what was called Beechwood.
The Dam 1908
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The ruins
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Remnants of the 19th century mills along the stream that rises along Mill Road.
Remains of an intake from the pond to the mill house and ruins of the damn.
The plate reads June 18, 1888. These ruins are just opposite Star Rock/Haverford Mountain.
The plate reads June 18, 1888. These ruins are just opposite Star Rock/Haverford Mountain.
TODAY
Today, the history of Karakung Creek, the cradle of Haverford Township, is known only to a very few. There are no historical markers. Nothing tells of the first Welsh settlers, of Dennis Kelly or of the role of the mills in our history. The Powder House, the last remnant of past times, is falling into ruin, yet no township agency, committee or society has sought to preserve it. The ruins sit on SEPTA property and only township authority can negotiate its preservation.
Please, contact your councilman.
Please, contact your councilman.
Preserve The Powder House
Darby Creek
Haverford New Mill
At the other side of the township “Richard Hayes in company with David Morris and Samuel Lewis, about the year 1707, erected a mill on Darby Creek, for a long time known as ‘Haverford New Mill’." The Haverford New Mill stood near the present site of Barnaby’s. The mill, as a saw mill. stood well into recent times and residents often collected garden wood chips there. Short sightedness destroyed the mill and the mill house but all was not lost. The Lawrence cabin which was attached to the house was removed in 1961 to its present location next to Nitre Hall along Karakung Creek. The 1816 Melish-Whiteside map shows a grist and saw mill: G.S.Mill.
The Lawrence Cabin
The Saw Mill
Smith's Saw Mill
(This photo can be seen in the Acme in Manoa.)
The Lawrence Cabin which stood near the present "Barnaby's" was dismantled and rebuilt next to Nitre Hall along Karakung Creek in 1961. The mill, in its last years called "Smith's Mill" was demolished.