Valley Girl Views: The Susquehanna Mining & Smelting Co

Was there silver in them there hills? Not enough to keep the Susquehanna Mining & Smelting Co in business. Six months after the company was the first to smelt Pennsylvania Ore into Lead, in Pennsylvania, they were headed to Sheriff's Sale.

In November of 1882, The Susquehanna Mining and Smelting Company purchased the mineral leases of Messrs Douty and Raker for mining purposes. President of the Company was Prof. Binns, and W.H. Babbitt was listed as financial agent. The company was "composed of business men from the east." The company was formed after Prof. Lewis had visited Sunbury and examined the area in April of that year.

Sunbury American, Nov. 1882

In November of 1882, the first ore was taken from the mine of the Susquehanna Mining and Smelting Company.

On January 19th 1883, the Susquehanna Mining and Smelting Co purchased the Cadwallader lot , situated between the Sunbury, Shamokin and Lewisburg Railroad and the Shamokin Division of the Northern Central Railway, for the erection of their smelting works.

By February of 1883, plans were in place to construct a smelting works in Sunbury.

In March of 1883 "The product of the mine is being dumped down the side of the hill eighty feet in height, in large carfuls and causes the most intense interest among the crowds of people who visit it.". This would have been at the mine location, at "Silver Hill". I have not yet located a map showing Silver Hill, and only know for certain that it was "three miles below Sunbury, and consists of 250 acres of land abounding in rich silver-lead ore. " Someone suggested that this was in the area of the Sunbury Poor House.

Post Card Description - Looking North on what is now PA Rte. 147, between Sunbury & Poor House Hill [so IF Silver Hill was in the area of Poor House Hill, this may be the right area]

"The mines are located nearly 100 feet above the railroad track. The furnaces can be much lower, and a chute will carry all the ore as it comes from the tunnels directly into them, saving much labor" November 1882, Sunbury American

In April of 1883, Prof. H. C. Lewis came to Sunbury to "Sketch the stratta of the mine at Silver Hill".

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Prof. H.C. Lewis's Visit to Sunbury Lead Mines.

"Prof. H. C. Lewis, member of Geological Survey for Pennsylvania, visited the mine at Silver Hill this week, and was very much pleased and surprised at the development of the Susquehanna Mining and Smelting Company. He made a sketch of the surrounding stratta, and it is believed it was done as a preliminary examination to the general survey, about to be made of the lead deposits in Pennsylvania. Prof. Lew is is also a member of the Academy of Natural Sciences. His testimony may be accepted as fully indorsing the opinion of the other eminent experts who have examined Silver Hill Mine.

Some beautiful specimens are on exhibition at the company's office, brought to town this morning from the mine, fully justifying the sanguine expectations of the stockholders.

The advent of a Smelting company in Sunbury has awakened the deepest interest throughout the State. The prospects of the company are brightening every day. Its operations will create a demand for ores. This of course will stimulate development and rich results may be expected, as it is a settled fact, that large bodies of ore exists in the lime stone stratta of this State. That the company will do a large and profitable business is no longer a question. Sunbury has' a very bright future." - Northumberland County Democrat Fri, Apr 20, 1883

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June 1883

"The property of this company is located at Silver Hill, three miles below Sunbury, and consists of 250 acres of land abounding in rich silver-lead ore. " The Smelting Works were located "within the borough limits of Sunbury", between the Shamokin, Sunbury, and Lewisburg and North Central Railroads.

The Smelting Works in Sunbury was constructed on the "east end of the nail works."

The Sunbury Nail Works was also constructed in 1883. The Northumberland County Democrat, in February of 1883, said "That there is a race between the nail works and smelting works as to which will get in running order first."

Read more about the Nail Works here:

https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2023/04/the-sunbury-nail-bar-and-guide-iron.html

"The connection with the well on the smelting company's land has not yet been made..."

August 1883

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An article in the Sunbury Weekly News, June 1883, Describes the new Smelting Works in detail:

"Another enterprise that gives much promise is the Susquehanna Smelting Company. Adjoining on the east side of the nail mill this company are about completing a smelter of large dimensions. The stack is 95 feet high, 9 feet by 8 inches square at the bottom and 7 feet 3 inches at the top. It is built of brick and presents a singular but not unattractive appearance. At the bottom it empties into a culvert forty feet long which is attached to the furnace a flue, through which the poisonous gasses are conducted.

The furnace will take a charge of seven tons every twelve hours which will produce three tons of lead. The furnace is 8 feet wide, 11 feet long, 2 feet 6 inches high inside measurement. The out side dimensions are 12x14 feet. The fire box projects and is 5x6 feet. The building is 45x59 feet, about 40 feet high and floored with brick. The roof is of slate and the structure as nearly fireproof as possible with wood.

Provision is made for enlarging-by the erection of another building and adding six, more furnaces. The receiving kettles - are of ; iron, and weigh 1,500 pounds each.

This company has opened a lead mine in the hill three miles south of the town. Considerable progress has already been made in developing the very extensive and rich vein of lead ore that has been discovered. The mine is a, curiosity. The seam isa sinuous affair that dips and jumps and cavorts in all shapes and directions.

The pit follows where it leads, however, and the result is highly satisfactory. An abundance of ore is found. Already enough has been taken out to keep the smelter going for two months. Fifteen men are employed working it and as soon as the furnace is lighted the business of producing it will be begun in earnest. There is every promise that this is the golden egg of Sunbury and the goose is being carefully managed.

Mr. A. H. Kidney, a celebrated metallurgist Of Boston, is in charge, and Mr. W. H.Babbitt, an angular but, genial Yankee, also from the Hub, and a geologist of excellent reputation, is an able assistant. His conversation sparkles with wit as his nose blooms with the rosy tint of warm blood, and all in all the enterprise seems to be in safe hands.

An electric light company has been organized and a building is already under way to produce the illuminator. The Edison light has been adopted."

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On July 19th 1883 the Susquehanna Mining and Smelting Company was the first to smelt Pennsylvania Ore into Lead, in Pennsylvania.

"This is the first lead smelted in this state from Pennsylvania ore. The company have opened three veins of ore and have at least 5,000 tons developed in sight in their drifts, averaging 60 per cent of lead. The lead produced will average ten to fifteen ounces of silver to the ton. "

Six months later, the company was up for Sheriff's Sale.

January 18th, 1884

In January of 1884, it was believed that a Philadelphia Company would purchase the Smelting Works and erect the second furnace. "They will pay no attention to the mine here, but buy western ore and run that in the Smelter."

In February of 1884, the Sunbury Weekly news reported that the company was prepared to organized on a "finer more businesslike basis. Instead of attempting to do business on fictitious capital of $500,000, they will come down to about $50,000. If they had done that in the first place, there would have been no trouble. There is no question but that lead ore can e brought here from Colorado and smelted cheaper than the coal can be shipped from here to Colorado."

None of those plans however, came to fruition.

The Smelter and Property were sold at Sheriff's Sale on Wednesday April 30th, 1884.

The Smelter was sold to Henry Clement for $2,450. [Henry T. Clement was the son of Ira T. Clement Sr, and the father, or Ira T. Clement junior.]

The property of David Moyer was sold to C. Persing for $501, and the property of A.A. Cherry was sold to Amos Vastine for $24.75

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MAPS

The first Sanborn Map for Sunbury was made in 1887 - 3 years after the close of the Susquehanna Mining and Smelting Company.

A June 1883 article in the Sunbury Weekly News, describes the location.. "Another enterprise that gives much promise is the Susquehanna Smelting Company. Adjoining on the east side of the nail mill this company are about completing a smelter of large dimensions." In the map above, the nail mill is shown to the left of the 7.