Name/Title
The WissahickonEntry/Object ID
2013.34.3.31Description
The Edwin C. Jellett Series of Scrapbooks, Volume 3 -The Wissahickon
Page 31 contains 2 small newspaper clippings, and a newspaper article.
(a, left top) This small clipping relates that the first paper mill in America stood back of the Rittenhouse birthplace. The original mills were built in 1690 by William Rittenhouse and others. In 1700 the first mill was washed away by a freshet. The second mill was rebuilt the same year and torn down some years ago (sometime prior to 1900).
(B, bottom, left) The clipping relates that the Rittenhouse paper mill provided paper to William Bradford, Christopher Saur and other early colonial printers. Initially, it was reported that the mill had neither dam nor race; however, Nicholas Rittenhouse clarified that there was indeed a dam on property adjoining Township Line road to the east, with the water being conducted to the mill by a race. Later, the mill become known as Markle's and was lastly used for manufacturing cotton.
(c, right) This newspaper article is entitled "William Penn Helper of Private Industry" by George H. Eckhardt. William Rittenhouse is credited with being the founder of the first paper mill in America. However, a company composed of Samuel Carpenter (the land owner), Robert Turner, Thomas Tresse, William Bradford (printer) and William Rittenhouse (who with his son, Claus, made the paper and managed the mill) actually founded the mill. Over the course of time, Rittenhouse (William and Claus) "bought out" the shares of the other partners and became sole owners. In 1700, the mill was destroyed by a freshet and rebuilt through "public funds" (the loss being considered a substantial one to the Colonies). In 1702 a more substantial buildinfg was constructed near the site of the first mill. William Rittenhouse died in 1708, and his son died in 1743. The last Rittenhouse died in 1811 and the mill ownership passed to the Markles, who married into the Rittenhouse family. In 1713, a second paper mill (in Germantown) was conveyed to Claus Rittenhouse and three others.. In 1746, the (second) mill and properrty belonged to Henry Dewees, son of William Dewees, a brother-in-law of Claus Rittenhouse.Collection
GHS Scrapbook Collection