Valley Girl Views: From Rough & Ready To TRW - The History Of The Mills on Market & Railroad Street In Danville

At the Corners Of East Market and Railroad Streets

An early photo of the rough and ready mill started by William Hancock and John Foley.

According to The History Of Montour County by Fred Diehl, the first cannon cast in the united states made from anthracite iron was made at the Montour Iron Works in 1842. The book also states that many of the cannon and mortars used the civil war was cast in the foundry of the Montour Iron works.

Hancock and Foley first worked at the Big Mill, located at the current site of the Danville Middle School. They came from England to share their expertise on rolling iron T-Rails. They were instrumental in the rolling of the first iron T-Rail in 1845.
The two then branched out on their own, acquiring a mill from Burd Patterson, located at the corners of East Market and Railroad Streets. Their mill became known as the Rough & Ready Mill, a name derived from the exploits of Gen. Zachary Taylor during the War Or Mexico. Taylors men were among the miners who discovered gold in California. The flood of miners who traveled by wagon train to the West Coast called themselves "Rough & Ready Riders".

In 1867 The Rough & Ready became the National Iron Company. Foley returned to England, and Hancock remained as president of National Iron.
In 1870 the National Iron Co. built a new mill north of the original. By 1974 it was called the Hancock Steel and Iron Co.

The Glendower Hotel, Part of the Glendower Iron Works

In 1879 Glendower Iron works was formed on the site of National Iron Works, with Alfred Creveling as it's president. Glendower Iron works rolled iron T-Rails.

1885 Map showing Glendower Iron Works

In 1885 H.S Pierce purchased the Glendower Iron Works for $29,000.
In 1886 it was sold again, this time to LX Grier.

Mahoning Roller Mill Co.

In 1887 Grier sold the mill, known as the Mahoning Rolling Mill Company, Abram Patterson President.
According to an 1885 newspaper article, the mill employed "some 80 men at good wages".
The Mahoning Rolling Mill Company closed in 1893.
In 1898 it was purchased by F.P Howe, Rufus K Polk, Mary E. Frick, T.J. Price and William Pursel, and was named Howe & Polk. The firm manufactured steel tubing.

In 1889, Iron Ore was discovered on the Messabi Range. The Great Lakes ore was easily accessible and did not have to be wrestles from the earth like the rust colored rock of Montour Ridge, and it's discovery was the death of the Danville mining industry.

The Danville Structural Tubing Company

In 1903 the mill was operating as the Danville Structural Tubing Company.An August 1903 edition of the Danville morning news applauded the firms use of a swamp located on the East Market Street Property.

"The company now has an indisputable right to the the water there which exists in unfailing supply and which is about the only source available for the works. The company has constructed an aqueduct, which carries the warm and polluted water from the mill over the canal, draining it into the swamp."

Charles Michael Schwab, Steel & Mining Magnate

https://www.legendsofamerica.com/ah-charlesmschwab/

In 1915, Charles M. Schwab purchased the tubing firm for his nephew.
Schwab, involved with the Bethlehem Steel Corporation, was one of the most important industrialists of the day. He worked with Andrew Carnegie.

The Danville Structural Tubing Co. was created in 1902. Iron Street was called "Rough & Ready Street" at that time.

In 1927, the Danville Structural Tubing Company merged with the adjoining Pennsylvania Break Beam Company, located on East Market and Wall Streets.

The two firms now called themselves the Danville Structural Steel Company.

In 1928, Schwab rebuilt the No 2 Mill on the corners of East Market and Wall Streets. In 1928, he rebuilt the No 1 mill

The Danville Morning News

January 12 1928

Rebman Returns To Town
June 20 1929
Danville Morning News

September 30 1929

"Danville" was painted on the top of the building, to assist passing planes, at the request of the Post Office.

Executives at Bethlehem Steel - Marvin Mottern, Mose Jenkens, Irving Wolfe, Neutin Pursel, Harry Johns

In 1942 The US Government took possession of the Bethlehem Steel Corporation and opearted it until the end of the war. Almost 1400 men and women made equipment for US destroyers escorting convoys, as well as gun barrels for canons. It was named Rheem Manufacturing Company.

Read More About Rheem Manufacturing here:
https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2019/12/when-goverment-took-over-danville-steel.html

In 1945 Rheem was purchased by Isteg steel. The corporation manufactured a special copyrighted steel bar for reinforced concrete. Isteg employed 50 men with plans to increase production to payroll 250.

In 1951, Thompson (later known as TRW - for Thompson, Ramo & Woodridge) took over the site, employing 1700 workers. Thompson made various components for the automobile, as well as ammunition for the military.
Charles E. Thompson, the plants namesake, pioneered the welding of a valve to the stem, resulting in savings of time and material. The new valve won approval from the US military, who used it in military aircraft.

Working at Thompson in the 1950s
Beryl Metzger in the background, Joan Crawford on the left, Ray Erlston on the front left, and Charles St Claire

" Did you know Charles Schwab had connections to Danville? The Danville Structural Tubing Company, was situated on the old TRW site on the corner of East Market and Railroad Streets. This is also the site of the old Rough and Ready Mill owned by William Hancock and John Foley and named after the old general, Zachary Taylor. The company purchased the Pennsylvania Brake Beam Company, further up Market Street. The new firm, the Danville Structural Steel Company operated both companies and Charles Schwab took a full and outright interest in Danville when Bethlehem Steel purchased the entire operation in 1930. He was quoted at various meetings as saying “I love these boys who are running this mill, and I have phoned New York that the officials of the board of concern will be entirely Danville men.” In 1942 the operations of the plant were sold to the Rheem Manufacturing Company. Bethlehem Steel is still in operation but no longer plays a role in the community life in Danville. This photo is of the Structural Tubing Works." - The Montour County Historical Society

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