HISTORICALLY SPEAKING: Mill destroyed > > > By: John Fabiano , Allentown-Upper Freehold Historical Society 10/17/2002 > > > A look at the Allentown-Upper Freehold of the past. The following account, originally published in the Allentown Messenger dated June 21, 1951, describes the demise of the old mill down Doctor's Creek. Remnants of the former millrace can still be seen where the creek intersects Indian Run, north of the old Yardville turnpike in Upper Freehold: The hundred and thirty-seven-year-old grist mill near Allentown, owned by R.B. Richardson and Sons, was completely destroyed by fire on Tuesday, June 19. Theodore Lawton, one of the mill hands, claims that a spark seemed to come from the Diesel motor, which instantly set the surrounding area afire. By the time he had reached the office on the second floor and the company's secretary, Mary Butterfoss, had called the Hope Fire Company, flames and smoke were coming through the floor. Miss Butterfoss and Harry Richardson, a member of the firm, each gathered a armful of papers and rushed out of the mill. They were unable to return, as by then the mill was completely aflame. Besides the local fire company, assistance was rendered by volunteers from Crosswicks, White Horse, Groveville and New Egypt. Water was pumped from onto the burning building from Doctor's Creek in huge quantities. However the fire spread so rapidly that it was impossible to save anything. The loss has been placed at $75,000, which includes $30,000 of modern machinery and eight carloads of recently received feed. The column of smoke with a mushroom-like top, which shot into the sky from the burning building, was about twenty feet in diameter and sixty feet high. It attracted people for many miles about. The heat and roar of the flames was increased by the old timbers of the building, and the several elevator shafts of the mill assisted the fire in its work of destruction. Fortunately, no one was seriously injured. Charles Koppok, a fourteen-year-old boy, who was in an upper story, jumped to safety. He was taken by ambulance to Dr. Farmer's Private Hospital, where he received attention. The three-story brick building was originally erected by the Monmouth Manufacturing Company in 1814 as a cotton factory. It later was used to produce woolen goods. By 1850 this business failed and the mill remained idle until 1858, when it was converted into a gristmill. In 1899 it was purchased by Harry Kirby, and on June 18, 1926, it came into the hands of its present owners. The business will continue. However, it is being considered by the firm to move to a location near a railroad siding. [Also found in an earlier Allentown Messenger dated November 10, 1904, originally titled "The Old Factory on Doctors Creek:"] Doctors Creek in the course through Upper Freehold offered several good mill sites, which were soon taken advantage of by some of the early settlers along that stream. One of three mills was located on the site of what is now the brick gristmill of G.H. Kirby, on the western border of Allentown, and was owned by one of the Allen family of early residents hereabouts. This mill was afterwards removed to the southerly side of the Yardville road, traces of the location of which may still be seen. The pond then covered where is now the meadow between the present mill and the road. After remaining in its new location for some time, it was removed back to its former site, and the pond was again confined by the dam north of the mill. This pond is where Indian Run forms a junction with Doctors Creek, which then continues on till it joins Crosswicks Creek near Yardville. The present mill structure was erected by the Monmouth Manufacturing Company, which was organized in 1814. The company was composed of Dr. George Holcombe, Richard L. Beatty and Samuel C. Newell. On June 6th of that year they purchased of Ebenezer Smith 26 acres of land, in which was included the old mill site, and the present structure was then built for the purpose of a cotton factory. Under the management of James Burlingame and Whitman Arnold, who came from one of the New England States, the enterprise was successfully carried on for many years. In 1836 the place came into possession of William Leavenworth, who then made alterations for conducting a wood type [printing] manufactory. Under the supervision of Ebenezer R. Webb the business prospered for a few years, but was finally abandoned. About 1843 Thomas Simpson, an Englishman from Philadelphia, became the next occupant of the property. He then proceeded to fit up the place for a woolen mill, in which the principal manufacture was woolen yarn. He was assisted in the management by his son, John Simpson. This business was continued until about 1850, when operations ceased. The building then remained idle until 1858, when the property was sold at sheriff's sale, and was purchased by Darnell Brothers, millers at Groveville. Once more alterations were made in the interior of the building, this time for the purpose of a gristmill. The business was carried on by them for several years, when the partnership was dissolved by the withdrawal of Elnathan Darnell. It was then carried on by his brother, Joseph Darnell, until 1899, when he disposed of the property to G.H. Kirby, the present proprietor under whose management the old structure is still in use as a gristmill. The persons composing the Monmouth Manufacturing Company were three of the town's prominent citizen's at that period. Dr. George Holcomb was a native of Lambertville. After studying medicine, he began practice in Allentown, where he became a popular a successful physician. He was several times elected to Congress, serving in all a period of twelve years. Richard L. Beatty was a son of Gen. John Beatty, of Trenton. He was the father of the once large family by that name in our town, and his only son was the late well-known John I. Beatty. Samuel C. Newell as the grandfather of the Gill family of brothers and sisters formerly of Allentown, but now residing in Trenton. He was a son of Dr. Elisha Newell, who was one of the old-time physicians of Allentown. The construction of the brick factory was in charge of Ephraim Robbins, who was the grandfather of Charles Robbins, one of our former townsmen, now residing in Ohio. Mr. Robbins was the principal builder here at that time, and most of the old brick buildings now standing in our town were put up by him. William Leavenworth, after giving the manufacturing of wood type, devoted his remaining years to the working out the various inventions, which were chiefly of a mechanical nature. None of them, however, ever resulted in a complete success. The former factory together with other establishments mentioned in an article in the Messenger a few months ago, shows that a large number of hands were once employed in the various industries carried on in Allentown over forty years ago, not one of which, unfortunately is now in existence. After the factory began operations, it naturally gave its name to the collection of houses in its vicinity, west of Main street, and for many years that section of the town was known by our citizens as "the factory." It is a section, by the way, that has caught the spirit of improvement within a few years past, and which has been shown by the erection of new dwellings and an improved condition of some of the old ones. By most of the property holders along the former turnpike there now seems to be a tendency to give a more attractive appearance to the locality that in future years may become a prominent suburb of Allentown. Historically Speaking is a regular feature presented by John Fabiano, president of the Allentown-Upper Freehold Historical Society. For information about the historical society, send e-mail to [email protected] or call (609)259-9127.