On August 9, 1817, a flood washed away the 3 arch stone Limestone Run bridge, and part of Eckerts (later Bakers) stone mill, in Milton.
While researching the bridge, I learned that prior to 1792, Limestone Run took a different course. A plowman had attempted to plow an area to make the too wet farmland drain better, and then in the spring flooding the next year, Limestone Run followed a new route made by his furrows, never to return to it's old path. Interesting! Straub was in the process of building a mill on Limestone Run at the time, but the change in the waters course made him abandon that and build in a new area, where the water now ran. It was a much better location for the mill anyway, so this worked out well for him. Eckerts mill was later built on the site of Straubs Mill, and that mill was later purchased by Eckerts brother in law, changing the name to the Baker Mill.
From the Miltonian of August 16th, 1817:
“Awful Calamity. - The fine, industrious, and very thriving town of Milton was visited, on Saturday last, by an awful calamity. From Friday evening till Saturday, at four P.M., the rain poured forth in continual torrents, and the small streams emptying into Limestone Run, which enters the river through the town, increased with so much rapidity, that the inhabitants were compelled to guard against it, and, if possible, to impede the force of that destructive element; but though every effort of human industry was used, it was still unavailing.
The stone bridge on the main street was undermined and almost entirely razed to the foundation, which filled up the channel, and opened a new one on the opposite side. The water continued to come with an increased force and rapidity, undermining some houses, and sweeping the lots on which they stood to a level with the water."
Eckerts Mill was later known as Bakers Mill
"The stone mill was constructed by George Eckert, Jr. in 1815 on the same site as Andrew Straub’s wooden mill, which Eckert razed. After Eckert’s death, the mill went to his brother-in-law, George Baker. Part of it was swept away by the Great Limestone Run flood of 1817. It was quickly rebuilt." - Homer Folk
The houses swept away are:
- the inn of Mr. Hill, occupied by George Nagle, and dwelling and store-house of Arthur McGowan, and a small saddler’s-shop, occupied by Mr. Merkle;
- the store-house of D. R. Bright, and the foundation of part of his inn, tenanted by H. Wolfinger; the store-house of Mr. Moses Teas. By the activity of the inhabitants, the movable property was saved from destruction.
- One corner of Mr. George Eckert’s superb stone mill was partially undermined, but, we are happy to state, this valuable edifice, so necessary to the community at large, is now under repair.
Part of the Early Settlements of Milton Map, Showing the Flood Location
“Mr. McGowan’s carding-machines were also saved, together with the building in which they stood, and we rejoice to think that they can be put in operation in a short time. This building stands upon the edge of the run.
Mr. Samuel Teas’ distillery sustained considerable injury, as did also the buildings attached to the distillery of Mr. John A. Schneider.
A substantial bridge is now erecting over the run, on the old foot-bridge, to pass by Mr. Moses Teas’, Mr. Eckert’s, and the saw-mill, and then into the main street by Dr. Dougal’s.
The persons at work at this bridge proceed with a celerity and industry highly creditable, and we think the bridge will be passable by Monday next.
Added to this calamity, we will have to regret the great impediment to travelers, as it will probably be eighteen months before we can possibly have the new bridge in the main street, together with all the other repairs necessary.” -The History Of Northumberland County, Everts & Stewart, 1876
When Limestone Run Changed It's Course - Permanently
When Limestone Run Changed It's Course - Permanently
Limestone Run in 1858
In 1792, Limestone Run ran west to a bend, then ran south west, until 100 yards from the West Branch River. There it turned sharply south for two miles, emptying into Housels Run "only a short distance from it's mouth".
Andrew Straub had built a raceway from the easterly bend of the Limestone Run, to the river, planning to elect a mill to grind corn and wheat. The mill was to stand on the river bank, near the line between his lands and the land of James Black, right beside the ruins of Hulings blacksmith-shop. But before Straub could built his mill, Limestone Run changed it's course.
About 100 yards from the river, there was a low neck of ground which at high water was sometimes submerged. A plowman, with an eye for better drainage, had "thrown the furrows from the lowest part, leaving a deep depression there. And the result was, that when the high summer freshnet [flood] the waters went tearing through the accidental furrow, making a permanent channel, closing forever the lower part of the stream to it's injunction with Housels Run."
The new channel made a better mill site at the lower bend, so without any regrets, Straub closed the head race. Within a few months, he had built a a log mill. "When the mill was completed, and in operations, the settlers of the surrounding country, glad to abandon the long route to the mill at Warrior Run, flocked to Andrew Straub's town and called it "Mill-town".
The new channel cut by Limestone Run to the river made it necessary for a bridge to be built across it, to connect the upper and lower sections of town.
The first bridge was a narrow, low, and rather insignificant bridge. "Two stone abutments were built, with short wing walls, and an 18 foot wooden bridge was thrown across it. The earth was embanked and the roadway (now front street) passed over it.
This bridge stood for 15 years, but became so decayed that in 1810 it was replaced by a new stone bridge, with three small arches, built by Peter Swartz.
Seven years later, the bridge was washed away in the flood of 1817.
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Find More Of Milton's History Here
When The Mighty Susquehanna Flooded Our Towns
An index of flood related posts & photos
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THE OLD "ECKERT" FLOUR-MILL,
Built by George Eckert, in 1816. Mr. Eckert died January 25th, 1850, after which it was rented for two years by George Baker, who, in December, 1851, (before the expiration of his rental) purchased the mill, and has owned it till the present time. Re does custom work, wholly, has four run of burrs, and a capacity of fifty barrels per day.
"The stone mill was constructed by George Eckert, Jr. in 1815 on the same site as Andrew Straub’s wooden mill, which Eckert razed. After Eckert’s death, the mill went to his brother-in-law, George Baker. Part of it was swept away by the Great Limestone Run flood of 1817. It was quickly rebuilt. Water-powered until after the fire of May 14, 1880, it had two overshot wheels with a fall of sixteen feet. Water turned the wheels thirty revolutions per minute generating thirty horsepower on each wheel.
From June 1, 1879 to May 31, 1880 the mill, with ten full time employees, produced seven hundred barrels of wheat flour, twenty barrels of rye, 20,280 pounds of cornmeal and 67,800 pounds of feed with a value of nine thousand, six hundred and seventeen dollars. Profit for the year was one thousand, seven hundred and fifty-seven dollars. The mill operated four stones and paid skilled workers one dollar and fifty cents a day. Laborers were paid ninety cents a day. Unable to compete with steam operated mills with roller grinders, the Baker estate built a brick smoke stack and a brick building to house a boiler and steam engine. No longer needing Limestone Run, they closed the mill race. If they ever installed a boiler and steam engine, these would have been taken to his new factory when Samuel J. Shimer began to negotiate with the Baker estate and mortgage holders. All deeds were completed by August 1889 and Samuel J. Shimer owned the land and buildings from the main line of the railroad to the Susquehanna River. He used the limestone from the mill in his factory buildings." “Milton, Pennsylvania, the 19th Century Town on Limestone Run” by Homer F. Folk
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