Courtesy of the Chester County Historical Society.          

Jeffersonian
14th October 1871

A Mine of Chrome – The Wilmington Commercial says: Moro Phillips, the well known manufacturer and dealer, of Philadelphia, owns a tract of about one hundred acres of land in Nottingham township, near Nottingham station, on the Baltimore Central Railroad, about four miles west of Oxford.  His land is not arable, but contains valuable mines of chrome, a mineral of great value.  The mines are being worked under the superintendence of E. M. Bye, of this city, the material being made into bichromate of potash, a substance used in the manufacture of dyestuffs and paint.

Weekly Leader (Kennett Square)
11th November 1871

Minerals – Wm. Taylor, Editor of the Woodstown Register has been visiting the mineral quarries, near Oxford, in the last issue of his paper he says: “Lately curiosity led us to visit a region 3 mile south of Oxford, PA., called ‘The Barrens.’  The soil there is nearly worthless of agricultural purposes; but for mineral properties and geological interest, the earth is wonderfully rich.  Chrome in grains resembling gunpowder, but very heavy, is the most valuable mineral, found along the streams or strata of slaty rock beneath.  A green soft rock lies near the surface in many places, and when exposed to frost and sun, seems to crumble and become disintegrated.  Here and there are scattered boulders of honey-combed iron stone, streaked flint stone, or sheets of mica, commonly called ‘isinglass.’  Several quarries are open to obtain the serpentine stone, now becoming so valuable for building purposes.

Our geological companion, Chas. B. Pugh, introduced us to Andrew Dunlap, who owns a quarry in the ‘Barrens.’  From specimens of his serpentine rock, we brought away a beautiful netted-figure in black and green that when polished presented a surface as fine as the costliest marble.  Other places have veins of red in the green-hued stone.  A peculiarity of this beautiful rock is its freedom from grit, and one can pare it with a knife without dulling the edge.  Gypsum, soapstone, with Hallite and other minerals, are found in Dunlap’s quarry.  As fine building stone is coming into demand in our large cities, we doubt not that someday the Nottingham quarryman above referred to, will reap a rich reward from his rocky ground.

1872

Iron Furnace in West Nottingham – Iron in considerable quantity has recently been found by prospecting parties on the Cooper property, in West Nottingham township.  Workmen, under the superintendence of Hazel Griest, have been employed for several weeks breaking out the ore.  A party of Lancastrians, some of them interested in the property, visited it a short time since and slightly disturbed the equilibrium of some of the citizens of that stony-faced and iron-hearted region by talking of building furnaces thereon for converting the ore into marketable shape.  The people will extend a hearty welcome to such adventurers, if they mean business.  Between two and three hundred cords of pine wood were cut on this property last winter, which is now being hauled to the Phila. & Balt. Central R. R. Co., to whom it was sold.  Pines on the land in this region, owing to the proximity of the underlying serpentine rock to the surface, do not grow rapidly nor attain a large growth.  The woods cut off some thirty years ago and allowed to grow up are now covered with a growth of stunted, scraggly looking trees, nearly all pines, from six to ten inches in diameter.

Oxford Press
24th May 1872

Items from Nottingham

… Two new engines were received in West Nottingham last week; one at Martin’s green serpentine stone quarries, and the other at E. M. Bye’s chrome works on the Cooper place.  Mr. Bye is operating a patent screener and washer.

Daily Local News
16th January 1873

Flint and Spar – White flint, of the real gold bearing North Carolina Quartz, is to be found in quantity on the farm of Mr. Samuel Dickey, in East Nottingham township.  In the woods of the property huge rocks of it may be seen, and this ridge is a part and parcel of a ridge on the Susquehanna at Conowingo.  Time may develop a want for this mineral, which may at some future day cause mills to be erected for the purpose of crushing the quartz.  We hope so!

Oxford Press
29th January 1873

SERPENTINE – We have been shown specimens of serpentine from the premises of Andrew Dunlap, in West Nottingham township.  They are very fine, of various shades from light to dark green, with black veins, and are susceptible of a fine polish.  There is no doubt but that the quarries of this stone on Mr. Dunlap’s property would prove valuable for building and other purposes if fully developed.

Oxford Press
2nd April 1873

The quarries of splendid serpentine stone on the premises of Andrew Dunlap, in West Nottingham township, are to be developed, Mr. Dunlap having made arrangements with E. Martin of Rising Sun, for that purpose.

Oxford Press
30th April 1873

… D. F. Gordon, Esq., Moro Phillip’s efficient agent, was in our village last week making arrangements for putting in a large new engine and commencing operations at the Nottingham chrome mine.  Swift & Bro. gave him another large order for Phillips, popular phosphate.

Daily Local News
15th September 1873

Stone Quarries – Improvements

Messrs. Martin & Dunlap’s serpentine stone quarries, in West Nottingham township, are becoming justly popular for their splendid quality of stone.  This enterprising firm has just put into their quarries a large derrick to assist in getting out the huge rocks, which are being taken out weighing form four to five tons.  They also intend putting in a twenty horse power engine, at a considerable cost, after which addition the number of employees will be increased some twenty in number.  The quality of the stone is said to be perfect, being easily polished, and when so finished presents a smoother, finer surface, than is possible to give to any other quality of building stone known.  Mr. Martin is from West Chester, being at one time a partner with Mr. Eber Woodward in the dry goods and chinaware business in this place.

Daily Local News
19th July 1873

Nearly Ready to Resume Work – Work will soon be resumed at Moro Phillips’ chrome mine, in West Nottingham township, as the new engine has arrived And is being put in position at the mine.  The vein of chrome struck just previous to the old engine giving out gave promise of a good yield of the valuable mineral.  They have now about two hundred tons on hand awaiting shipment.

Oxford Press
24th September 1873

The engine now in course of erection at the Pine Grove chrome mine, owned by Moro Phillips, will soon be in operation.  It is 60 horse power, large and powerful and looks as if it may be capable of doing its duty.  It is rumored they talk of erecting the one formerly used there for the purpose of grinding coffee to accommodate the workmen!

Daily Local News
7th November 1873

Nottingham Items
Our correspondent writes from Nottingham as follows: Mr. J. Smith Hilaman, of West Nottingham township, while recently engaged in repairing the road that passes through his property, came upon a vein of chrome, which he is now having more largely developed, by Mr. Hazel Gneist, who is an adept in the business; and I am informed by him that the quality of the mineral found is superior, being much softer and consequently more easily manufactured than that of Moro Phillip’s mine.  It is thought by some that a fortune is in store for our friend Smith, who, if such good luck should befall him, will take good care not to squander the same.

Oxford Press
10th December 1873

A correspondent writes from Pine Grove, West Nottingham as follows:  The panic don't seem to affect the chrome business any.  J. S. Hilaman has opened a chrome mine on his premises and has good prop sects of chrome.  We hope Mr. Hilaman's efforts may be crowned with success.

Wood hauling and chopping is the order of the day at Moro Phillip's chrome works.  Choppers are thicker than snow birds in that direction and haulers too numerous to mention.  When Mr. Gordon gets his 300 cords of wood cut, Pine Grove will present quite a different appearance.

Daily Local News
31st December 1873

J. Smith Hilaman’s Chrome mine in West Nottingham twp., has already yielded several tons, and promises to be valuable.

American Republican
6th January 1874

Chrome Mine – The chrome mine lately opened on the property of Mr. Hilaman in West Nottingham township, now proves, on further development, to be quite rich in chrome.  A very large vein of the ore was struck last week and the prospect of obtaining a large quantity appears quire bright.  Several tons has already been taken out.  Its value at the mines is $25 per ton.

Daily Local News
13th January 1874

Chrome Mining – Moro Phillips’ chrome mine in West Nottingham township, is now being worked with much better success than at any time in the past year.  In blasting a few days since the workmen secured the largest piece of rock chrome ever taken from the mine, requiring from four to six men to remove it to the hoisting apparatus, which is worked by steam from a sixty horse power engine.  The workmen are now under the immediate charge of Captain Stephens, an experienced miner from England.

Oxford Press
21st January 1874

The Chrome business is brisking up.  Besides the reported activity at M. Phillips’ mine in West Nottingham township, and the finding of a valuable vein on the farm of a J.S. Hilaman, in the same township, it is reported that a large vein was recently struck in the celebrated Wood’s chrome pit in Little Britain township, Lancaster county.

Daily Local News
28th January 1874

The Nottingham Serpentine Quarries
We have upon our table several beautiful specimens of serpentine stone, from Mr. E. Martin’s quarries, in West Nottingham township, which is certainly another grand addition to the discoveries of Chester county’s mineral resources.
This tone is of a darkish blueish-gray color, very rich and pretty, and almost as susceptible to polish as the finest grade of marble.  It is taken out in very large pieces, (some weighing 5 tons) and the supply is reckoned as being very extensive.
It has been tested by some of the most thorough marble workers in the State, and in every instance the most flattering testimonials have been tendered Mr. Martin, showing its superiority over all stone of the serpentine quality yet discovered.
For it is claimed superior quality, size, less susceptible to waste in working, finer grain and partakes of a finish with less labor than all other like productions.  It is especially adapted for building trimmings and facings, yet its sphere of usefulness is unlimited, possessing as it does a grade of grain perfect and compact in the fullest sense of the term.  Its weight is 160 pounds to the cubic foot, thus confirming its nature.  It can be worked in a lathe into almost any design, thus fitting it to become a feature in the general market.  Mr. Martin is now filling orders for 2,000 perch to Philadelphia, Bristol, and Baltimore, and everything points towards the stone becoming the popular one in all sections where beauty and utility are regarded as requisites.

Oxford Press
4th February 1874

THE NOTTINGHAM SERPENTINE BARRENS – We have upon our table several beautiful specimens of serpentine stone, for Mr. F. Martin’s quarries, in West Nottingham township, which is certainly another grand addition to the discoveries of Chester county’s mineral resources.

The stone is of a darkish blueish gray color, very rich and pretty, and almost as susceptible to polish as the finest grades of marble. It is taken out in very large pieces (some weighing 5 tons) and the supply is reckoned as being very extensive.
It has been tested by some of the most thorough marble workers in the State, and in every instance the most flattering testimonials have been tendered Mr. Martin, showing its superiority over all stones of the serpentine quality yet discovered.
For it is claimed superior quality, size, less susceptible waste in working, finer grain and partakes of a finish with less labor than all other like productions.  It is especially adapted for building trimmings and facings, yet its sphere of usefulness is unlimited, processing as it does a grade of grain perfect and compact in the fullest sense of the term.  Its weight is 160 pounds to the cubic foot, thus confirming its nature.  It can be worked in a lathe into almost any design, thus fitting it to be a feature in the general market.  Mr. Martin is now filling orders for 2,000 perch to Philadelphia, Bristol, and Baltimore, and everything points to this stone becoming the popular one in all sections where beauty and utility are regarded as requisites. – West Chester News  

Daily Local News
29th February 1874

The serpentine quarry on the premises of Andrew Dunlap, West Nottingham, gives promising prospects of developing into an extensive quarry.

Daily Local News
14th March 1874

Chrome Mine – the wood chopping business at Moro Phillips’ chrome mines in West Chester township, is finishing up.  Over 400 cords have been cut during the winter, and nearly 100 cords are standing in ranks on the ground ready for delivery at the mines.  The amount consumed averages about 5 cords per day, besides a considerable amount of coal.  The mine has the promising appearance of developing into an extensive business.  The workmen say there must be an outlet from the Octoraro into the mine.

Oxford Press
25th March 1874

The workmen in Moro Phillip’s chrome mine, West Nottingham township, have been on strike for higher wages for the last ten days.  The mine has since filled up with water.

Daily Local News
25th March 1874

On Benjamin Irwin’s farm, in East Nottingham township, a lot of very rich iron ore was taken out yesterday, ten feet under the surface.

Morning Republican & Daily Local News
12th April 1874 (alternatively 1894?)

Patrick Corcoran, Elk township, who is one of the force of miners engaged in digging chrome on R. R. Hasting's farm, East Nottingham, made a "strike" last week that was unexpected.  As he was digging in the soil, near the surface of the ground, he noticed a penny, and further investigation proved that the ground was full of them.  He and the men working with him picked up 124 pennies.  They were of comparatively recent date, the latest coinage being 1874.  How they came there is hard to explain.

Oxford Press
15th April 1874

Items from the Barrens

The serpentine quarry on the premises of Andrew Dunlap, West Nottingham, gives promising prospects of developing into an extensive quarry, and from it is taken an immense amount of stone of fine quality, which, when manufactured into shape and polished to order presents a splendid appearance.  This quarry is situated in the “worthless barrens,” as some people call it.  Though her rolling hills are thickly covered with green briars and towering pines are not attractive to the traveler’s eye, yet underneath lies her wealth, abounding in large quantities of minerals.  The power by which these stones are sawed is rather slow, but no doubt the individuals who pull that big saw think it fast enough.  The latest novelty talked of on the ridge is a narrow gauge railway.  Won’t that be convenient?  Can go rabbit hunting by steam power then.

Daily Local News
25th May 1874

A 25-horse engine has just been placed in Martin’s Serpentine quarries in Nottingham twp., for the purpose of dressing the stone.

Oxford Press
22nd July 1874

Items from Nottingham

… E. M. Bye spoke in flattering terms of his steam power washer at the Cooper mine.  The supply of sand chrome there is quite large.

Oxford Press
22nd July 1874

Items from the Nottingham Barrens

… The small engine and boiler, formerly used at Moro Phillip’s chrome mine, was lately shipped to Philadelphia.  The chrome is also to be shipped, and teams will be in demand to deliver it to Nottingham Station.  The amount is estimated at 500 tons.

… If that fingerboard at the cross roads neat Pine Grove school house was erected in its proper place instead of lying along the road-side it would be of greater benefit to the travelling community, and persons would not so frequently get bewildered among the pines.

Oxford Press
2nd September 1874

Items from Nottingham

… Moro Phillips began operating the Nottingham Chrome mine yesterday, and the familiar sound of the large engine will once more be heard in our village.  The employer and employees are both satisfied with the late strike and understand each other now.

Oxford Press
16th September 1874

Items from Nottingham

… The regular relief calls of the Nottingham Chrome mine engine’s whistle makes us work on time.

Oxford Press
30th September 1874

The Line Chrome Pit
For the Press

The chrome pit one mile southeast of this place in Maryland, after standing a long time, is being worked again by the Tyson Mining Company of Baltimore, - under a lease from Messrs. Kirk, Wood, and Roman, heirs of the late Levi Brown, dec’d.  Said pit is some 230 feet in depth, situated near the Mason and Dixon line, in the 8th district, Cecil county, Md. The mouth of the shaft and the ladder shaft are in Pennsylvania, but the ore is in Maryland, where they are mining, having a good prospect and a good article of Rock Ore.  We have seen some lumps of ore requiring two hands to handle them on the upper surface, and four hands in the pit.  There is always a gang of four hands mining at a time.  They work on the eight hour system with three reliefs.  A steam engine is soon to be erected to haul up the buckets of ore, rock and water.  The wash house and smith shop also require the attention of several men.

It took two months to pump out the water and the miners are now working on a seven foot vein of rock ore at the end of an eighty foot drift in the bottom of the mine.  There are two shafts coming into one at the depth of eighty feet, when it descends from this greatest flow of water by an inclined plane to the bottom.  In this latter portion the water barrels are continually passed up and down, day and night, drawing water, rock, and ore – the last two are drawn in the day time.  The mining is continually going on.  There is one man continually tending the horses at the whim, another to empty and unload the barrels, a third to wheel ore and rock away from the mouth of the shaft, while the fourth washes and pick, the small pieces of ore from the rocks and dirt.
The miner’s work is disagreeably wet, muddy and laborious, and it requires much nerve to those who, to gratify their curiosity in seeing sights climb on wet ladders, enshrouded in darkness and surrounded by rocks, carrying your light with you to the bottom of the shaft and up to the daylight again.  We were pleased with the gentlemanly kindness of the miners to strangers and visitors to their works.  Their perseverance and energy in raising the ore is remarkable.
Pleasant Grove, Lancaster county.

Oxford Press
28th October 1874

ACCIDENT AT THE CHROME WORKS – A correspondent informs us of an accident at the Tyson Mining Company’s works, near Rock Springs, Cecil county, Md., on Friday last.  He says: A scaffold pole in the lower level, where the water, rock, and ore are raised to a platform by windlass power, and from whence it is raised to the surface, gave way, the timbers falling some 30 feet upon four miners, breaking the leg and crushing the foot of Andrew Weaver, of Fulton township, Lancaster County.  One of the men carried the wounded man on his back up a ladder to the platform, where Capt. Paul (the manager of the gangs) took him and put him in the ore barrel at the other end of the platform and with one foot in the barrel and his arms around the wounded and the rope, they were thence hoisted by horse power up the shaft some 200 feet to the surface  of mother earth.  The wounded man was conveyed to his home where a physician dressed his wounds.  Well done, noble Captain, though a stranger among us, thou hast made many friends by this one brave and humane act to thy fellow man. K.

Oxford Press
28th October 1874

The accident at the chrome works near Rock Springs, on the 23rd, of which a correspondent kindly sends us an account, happened at what is called the Line pit.  The accident occurred to the injured man over 200 feet under the surface of the earth, in Maryland, but when he was brought up he landed in Pennsylvania, as the mouth of the pit is in this State.

Daily Local News
17th November 1874

A vein of corundum, one of the most valuable minerals, has lately been discovered at Dunlap & Martin’s serpentine quarries in West Nottingham township.

Daily Local News
18th November 1874

Operations have ceased at the Line Chrome Pit owing to the ore not being obtained in paying quantity.

Oxford Press
2nd December 1874

Items from Nottingham

… The regular whistle call at Phillip's chrome mine still loudly echoes through the barren forests and makes us work on time.  This enterprising mine is now about 150' deep.  The unusually small amount of chrome that has been lately taken out accounts for the miners having to sink the shaft deeper.  The supply of water is as large as ever and is said to be very beneficial to unhealthy persons as a drink.  The obliging engineer, Geo. Robinson, says he will waken all the surrounding natives in the early morning or pull the whistle off in the attempt.

Oxford Press
9th December 1874

West Nottingham Items

A new chrome mine has recently been discovered on the Tyson property, and gives good prospect of developing into an extensive mine.  The opening is close to the property of Mr. James Johnston, and from present appearance elf the vein will doubtless extend into his property, which will greatly increase its value.  The barrens seemed determined to be ahead in the mining business and those who reside there should be thankful, as her rolling hills are daily unfolding new features of attraction and valuable treasures to view.

Daily Local News
12th January 1875

Work Suspended – Work in Moro Phillips’ chrome mine was suspended for the winter season on Saturday morning last.  The workmen off duty were called to the mine by the blowing of a steam whistle, and all hands were then paid off and discharged by Mr. Phillips’ agent, who arrived on the 10 o-clock train from Philadelphia.

Daily Local News
21st January 1875

Local Hash At the Chrome mine of Mr. Moro Phillips, in Nottingham township, only about 100 tons of Chrome is on hand.

Daily Local News
15th May 1875

Asbestos Mine Discovered
Mr. J. W. Brown, residing in West Nottingham twp., proprietor of the Chromedale mills, has discovered a vein of asbestos on his farm which bids fair to become a mine of wealth to him.  He began digging last Monday, and had already succeeded in taking out over one ton of the valuable deposit, which he ships to a firm in New York city who have engaged to pay him $80 per ton delivered on the cars at Nottingham Station.  Asbestos is a fibrous mineral, the fibers of which are very long, flexible and easily separated by the fingers, resembling flax.  It is composed of tremolite, actmolite, and other forms of hornblende, excepting those containing much alumina, and has been supposed to be a vegetable production, although good for making incombustible cloth.  The amianthus of the Greeks and Latins was the same; the word meaning undefiled and alluding to the facility for cleaning the cloth by throwing it into the fire.  The colors vary from white to green to wood brown. The name amianthus is now applied usually to the finer and more silky kinds.  The ancients were familiar with the combustibility of asbestos, and wove cloth of it for the purpose of wrapping up the bodies of the dead when expose don the funeral pile; they have also made napkins of it, which were cleaned by throwing them onto the fire; and they have employed the finer varieties for the wicking of votive lamps.  Gloves for handling hot iron, and firemen’s clothing have been made of it in Bohemia and France; at one time it was thought that an important industry would grow out of this application, but experience has developed some practical difficulties asbestos fabrics are now a curiosity.  The use of this mineral for the non-conduction envelope of steam pipes, for fire-proof roofing, and for safes, bids fair to become extensive.  Asbestos is found in abundance in Switzerland, Italy, Scotland, on the Island of Corsica, and on Staten Island, and numerous other localities. A magnesium-iron hornblende, called amthophyllite frequently, occurs as a boulder on the island of New York.

We understand that the vein discovered by Mr. Brown is about 18 feet deep, and West Nottingham bids fair to become noted for its great mineral wealth.

Daily Local News
13th July 1875

Great Mineral Deposits
Some few weeks ago we spoke of a vein of asbestos having been discovered of Mr. T. Wilson Brown, in West Nottingham township, which gave promise of proving a deposit of considerable magnitude and value.  Since then Mr. Brown was unearthed what gives promise of being two valuable deposits of Soapstone or Steatite, and the other of Feldspar.  The first named is of a very rare and superior quality, being soft and perfectly free from any granite or hard substances, thereby making it quite valuable for the uses for which it is chiefly adapted.  When it is very strongly heated, it looses the small portion of combined water, which it invariably contains, and becomes harder and susceptible of a very fine polish.  In this state it is made into jets for gas burners, which have the advantage of not being liable to rust or corrosion.  When reduced to a powder, it is used like plumbago, as a lubricator and to diminish friction, as well as to give a surface to some kinds of paper-hangings.  It is also made use of in some manner in the manufacture of rubber shoes and other ware made of rubber material.

The Feldspar deposit is equally good in point of quality, and the market for this mineral is both a continuous and lucrative one.  There are several kinds of this mineral, and of them may be fused before the blowpipe to a more or less vitreous enamel, and this property causes them to be extensively used for glazing porcelain.  Some of the varieties also partake of a dazzling splendor when subjected to a high order of polish, which renders them quite valuable as articles of jewelry.  In general terms, the decomposition of the feldspathic rocks has furnished the principle parts of the various clays, those containing the largest proportion of feldspar affording the finest deposits, such as kaolin, of which porcelain is made.  The soil derived from them, particularly from the common potash species, is noted for its fertility when under good cultivation, on account of them furnishing a large supply of potash, and important constituent of plants.  The feldspars are in all cases anhydrous double silicates consisting of silicate of alumina combined with a silicate of some one or more of the protoxides of potash, soda, lithia, baryta, or lime.

Mr. Brown has on his premises a grist mill, in which he purposes grinding both the feldspar and soapstone into such powders as shall be fit for shipment and immediate use.  Parties from Philadelphia have visited the mine. And made Mr. B. some liberal offers for these products by the ton, but he prefers to look about for a market himself before entering into any contract for their sale.
As to the asbestos, operations have been temporarily suspended owing to an accumulation of water in the mine, but he hopes soon to have all obstacles removed, and the work of developing the hidden treasures of his farm begun and pushed forward in lively earnestness.  Should either of these deposits prove to be what it promises, that portion of Chester county will speedily be made the scene of envied activity and luxuriousness.  Mr. Brown’s farm lies a little distance east of that tract known far and wide as “The Barrens.”

Daily Local News
21st July 1875

Carter, Reynolds, Griest & Co., are now shipping stone of fine quality from their serpentine quarries in West Nottingham, to Philadelphia, to be used in the front of the new Orphan Asylum on Broad St.

Oxford Press
28th July 1875

We have been shown a fine specimen of feldspar found on the property of David D. McCray in West Nottingham township.  It is of the white species and had the regular vitreous or glassy appearance.  Mr. McCray is fortunate in finding a large vein of it.  There is a great demand for feldspar in the manufacture of stoneware, and it is said to sell for $15 per ton in the rough and $40 per ton or 2 cents per pound when ground.  Land is surely valuable in the “Barrens” but you must go more than a furrow deep to find it.

Oxford Press
18th August 1875

Items from Nottingham

… The engine has not been operating during harvest and the water is ninety feet deep in the chrome mine.

The Dunlap Serpentine Quarries have stopped during the rainy season and will not operate again until the clouds clear away.  The other quarries are being worked extensively.

Oxford Press
20th October 1875

The proprietors of the serpentine quarries are shipping two car loads of stone per day on the P. & B. C. R. R. to Philadelphia.

The chrome engine is still inactive, but it is rumored that the Moro Phillips mine will be reopened next spring, and at the same time the mineral water which is similar to the katalysine of Gettysburg, and better than the famous Black Barren Spring water, will be shipped to the city.  While the engine is operating it furnishes continually a twelve inch stream of this medical water, so there is little danger of the supply becoming exhausted.

Daily Local News
15th December 1875

Andre Ortlip, of West Nottingham, is again working his valuable serpentine stone quarry.

Oxford Press
12th January 1876

Sales of Real Estate – the mill property in West Nottingham, belonging to the estate of Samuel Lee, deceased, has been purchased by Abner Carter, of Little Britain, Lancaster County.  It is reported that Mr. Carter has purchased for a company in Baltimore, and that machinery will be put in it for grinding field spar.

Daily Local News
8th March 1876

The Tyson Mining Company have sold about seven acres of their farm in Elk township, to Michael Young, of Cecil county, at $70 per acre.

Daily Local News
18th May 1876

The ringing of the hammer at Phillip's Chrome Mine Shops reminds the public that the proprietor, Wm. B Sproat, is always on hand and ready for business.  Mr. S. is an excellent and experienced workman and thereby has secured a large patronage.

Oxford Press
18th October 1876

Nottingham Serpentine at the Centennial – Messrs. Carter & Reynolds, of Rising Sun, Md., have on exhibition at the Centennial this week some specimen blocks of serpentine stone from their quarries in West Nottingham township, Chester county.  They will give on Maryland Day, Thursday, an exhibition of the facility with which this stone can be cut when fresh from the quarries.  The cutting will be done at the sawmill annex of the Main Building by the Diamond Circular Saw of Branch, Crook, and Co.

A block of this stone has been prepared by one of our marble cutters, George E. Jones, to ornament the exhibition by Carter & Reynolds.  Mr. Jones has cut the coat of arms of the State of Pennsylvania on the face of the stone, bringing out in full relief the eagle, horses, shield, plows etc., over which is represented the old Federal arch and on the ribbon underneath the name of the quarries.  This work was executed in a very artistic manner, reflecting credit upon the artist.  It will be the cap-stone of a column of the serpentine at the exhibition.

Daily Local News
22nd October 1878

Tyson’s Chrome Works – These works, situated near the southern line of this county with Maryland, which have been standing idle for some time past, begin to show some signs of activity.  Workmen are now engaged in pumping water out of the shaft, which is, we learn, about 1000 feet deep.  As soon as the water is removed we presume the works will again be put into full operations.

Oxford Press
6th November 1878

About 12 acres of the barren woods belonging to the Tyson Mining Company, in West Nottingham township, was burned over on Saturday last.  It is supposed the fire was started by some hunters.

Oxford Press
29th November 1879

West Nottingham Items

Improvements – Lee, Brother, & Co., manufacturers of ground flint and feldspar, are building a large addition to their mill. – They have been unable to supply their large and increasing custom.