Nelson Aerials - Lower Mill (Crowell Tape) below Yorklyn, DE (color corrected and annotated)
Name/Title
Nelson Aerials - Lower Mill (Crowell Tape) below Yorklyn, DE (color corrected and annotated)Entry/Object ID
FIC.003.0006(a)(c)Description
Nelson Aerials - Lower Mill (Crowell Tape) below Yorklyn, DE (color corrected and annotated) South of Yorklyn along the Red Clay Creek is the former Garrett’s Lower Snuff Mills, and in 1960 the home of the Crowell Tape Company. The entire Crowell Tape Mill complex (4, 16-19), which burnt in December 1964, was still a large center of paper tape production. Centered around the original 1849 snuff mill (4), the mill gradually expanded during the snuff era, first in 1881 (16) then in 1902 (17). Other elements of the complex included the dam (18) which used to fill the millrace (unseen), and a freight siding (19) officially called B&O trestle 12B. It accompanied 12C (20), a trestle still actively used by the WWRR and well maintained, known as the S-trestle for its shape across the creek. Another surviving structure at the site is the Crowell frame home (21), now a private residence that has little changed. This photo also shows a unique view of another Garrett home (22), this one here at Lower Mills. Originally constructed during the mid-19th century, it served as a salesman’s home for Crowell in 1960. And though this building is gone, like many that can be seen within these images, it is valuable nevertheless to see these buildings when they were still standing and still an active part of Yorklyn, thanks to these valuable color slides.Photograph Details
Type of Photograph
35mm slides, color (digitally color-corrected)Collection
FAH Slide CollectionMade/Created
Artist Information
Paul Nelson
Robert Wilhelm, Jr
Elliott Warburton