|
|
|
Tanning & Quarrying on the River
In the 1890s at the corner of Bald Friar Road and Conowingo Road (Castleton & Franklin Church Roads) there lived a German by the name of Bruninger. He had previously severed his apprenticeship at the Moores Mill Tan Yard at Bynum Run to start a tannery at this location. This was an ideal area to start a tanning yard because it had plenty of oak trees and a stream to make tannic acid, which was needed in tanning hides. It was a main thorough fare between Philadelphia and Baltimore and only a quarter mile from the mighty Susquehanna River, also there was still enough wilderness for hunting and trapping along with domestic animals to provide the hides. Tanners would dig pits, lined them with clay, fill it with water and oak leaves, bark or wood then soak the hides of animals in this solution for 15 to 30 days. between the house and the tanning shop is evidence of those pits. Along with an industry of tanning Bruninger quarried flint stone from the hill side behind the tanning house to be shipped out, as far away as England to be ground into a powder to make fine China ware. There is still evidence of several quarry holes, some close to 100 ft deep scattered all the hill side. For the last 25 years Cindy and Richard Carr have owned his house, shop and quarries. In the repairs and up keep of the place they have the feeling of reliving the long bygone days. The simple life. Keep up the good work Cindy & Richard.
The tanning/mill house. In the foreground is the evidence of the pits use to soak and treat the hides.
The Tanners house.
Flint Stone Behind the tanning/mill house is evidence of the quarrying for flint stone The hillside is riddled with quarry holes.
|
|
Send mail to
info@dublincountryfair.org with
questions or comments about this web site.
|
