Courtesy of the Chester County Historical Society.          

Daily Local News
16th February 1880

Two Men Crushed to Death – We are not often called on to chronicle a more fearful calamity than the sad fate of two miners at the Wood Chrome Mine, along the Octoraro, on Saturday last.  William Mack and Edward Trainer were at work in the end of a drift by the main shaft, when a huge rock left its soft resting place in the muddy wall that enclosed the deep shaft, and rolling on its victims crushed them to death.  The “Woods Pit”, as it is mostly called, is one of the oldest mines operated by the “Tyson Mining Company,” of Baltimore.  It is located just south of Carter’s bridge, on the Octoraro creel.  This creek here forms the boundary line between West Nottingham township and Lancaster county.  Great excitement was caused in this mostly quiet neighborhood and a messenger was sent to Nottingham Station to telegraph for a coroner and to notify the relatives of those who had so suddenly met such an untimely end.  William Mack leaves a wife and two small children, and their sorrow is described as heartrending in the extreme.  Edward Trainer was aged 23 years and unmarried; both were exemplary men and leave a host of friends to mourn their loss.

Daily Local News
15th April 1880

Kaolin – Jonathan P. Butler of Uwchlan showed us this morning a sample of kaolin taken from his farm in East Nottingham township.  The clay appears to be free from iron, and we should think of good quality for manufacturing unless there is too much silica in it.

Oxford Press
18th May 1881

We are informed that parties have again commenced to wash chrome near Media school house, East Nottingham township.  Some years ago chrome was got at this place in large quantities.

Oxford Press
1st June 1881

Thomas T. Lee, at Carter’s old mill, West Nottingham, has his flint mill in full blast and is kept extra busy to fill orders for ground flint and spar from Trenton, Philadelphia, and Baltimore.  He recently put in a pipe to convey water to his buildings by natural flow from a grand spring on the hillside.

Oxford Press
17th April 1882

Harvey Graves has purchased a few acres of timber land in the pine barrens south of Nottingham station and is cutting off the pine wood for fuel for the furnaces at his board mill in West Nottingham.

Daily Local News
21st February 1885

Spar Works Closed – Messrs. J. P. Lee & Bro. of Fountain Green, Chester county, manufacturers of spar, have shut down their works.  They state business very dull in this line of trade, with little prospect of them resuming business in the near future.

Daily Local News
21st February 1885

Chrome Mines Purchased – A Lancaster paper of Friday says: Abner C. Carter, of Kirk’s Mills, Little Britain township, has recently purchased from the Tyson Mining Company, of Baltimore, Md., the old Chrome Mines, known as “Wood’s Pit,” lying along the Octoraro, and the Chester county line, consisting of two hundred acres, for $5,250.  These are known to be the oldest mines in the country, and at one time were the most extensive and contained the purest quality of chrome of any in the United States.  Chrome was first known to be discovered as far back as 1830, by Henry Carson, an old English mineralogist, and afterwards purchased by Isaac Tyson, of Baltimore, the founder of the Tyson Mining Company, of Baltimore, Md., who is now deceased, but it is carried on more extensively with James Tyson as President.  The above company is considered the largest and wealthiest mining company in the world.  Mr. Carter was formerly connected with a chrome firm of New York as general superintendent, has had a portion of his land leased for several years who has been seeking for chrome.  They shut down work some time ago, as they had not sufficient power to keep the water out of the shafts.

Daily Local News
23rd April 1885

Chester County Chrome to go to England
The Rising Sun Journal says: E. Mortimer Bye, of Wilmington, Delaware, having recently received an order from Liverpool, England, for a quantity of sand chrome, has leased the lands in southern Chester county adjoining the Tyson Mining Company’s tract, owned by Powers & Weightman, of Philadelphia, where large deposits of this ore abound.  A force of men is now at work getting it out.  They are under charge of Mr. Wilson Drennen, who is thoroughly conversant with this particular branch of mining.

Daily Local News
30th April 1888

The barrens on the Tyson property in West Nottingham, burned furiously all day yesterday.  People for miles around turned out to fight the flames but their efforts were of little avail.  Two hundred acres were destroyed.  Chrome is gotten out of the barrens in large quantities.
We learnt since the above was written that above five hundred acres were swept by the fire, three hundred being of timber and brushwood whilst the other two were farm land, many fences being burnt.  The dwelling of Samuel Boyd made a narrow escape.

Daily Local News
19th November 1890

The Oxford Press says: A party of miners have been at work for several days in West Nottingham township, Chester county, boring for mineral.  They are now operating on the land of Howard Spencer, on the barren ridge, about a mile from the Maryland line, and are penetrating the earth to quite a considerable depth.  The borings are frequently examined as the drill descends to ascertain the character of the rock and earth.  The surface indications are regarded as favorable for the kind of mineral wanted.  The operators are rather reticent and shy about telling what they are after, but common report has it that they expect to find a mineral to be used in the manufacture of steel of extra quality.  The company is represented by a Mr. Scott, from Harrisburg, who has several men in his employ.
It is stated that the syndicate has purchased Alpheus C. Cooper’s farm adjoining the tract on which operations have been commenced, and other land will be purchased.  It is said that branch railroad to Sylmar and a smelting furnace are in contemplation, but these improvements are doubtless predicated upon a big find of mineral.  We hope the expectations of the operators, of the owners of the land and the people of the neighborhood will work out, as a good crop of rich ore, whether it be of iron, tin, lead, chrome, silver, or even gold, would measure out quite as satisfactorily as the agricultural crops some of the land is now producing.  There is doubtless something valuable hid away somewhere in the bowels of the earth in that region.

Coatesville Weekly Times
22nd November 1890

Mysterious Miners – A party of miners have been at work for several days in West Nottingham township, Chester county boring for mineral, says the Oxford Press.  They are now operating on land of Howard Spencer, on the barren ridge, about a mile from the Maryland line, and are penetrating the earth to a considerable depth.  The borings are frequently examined as the drill descends to ascertain the character of the rock and earth.  The surface indications are regarded as favorable for the kind of mineral wanted.  The operators are rather reticent and shy about telling what they are after, but common report has it that they expect to find a mineral to be used in the manufacture of steel of extra quality.  The company is represented by a Mr. Scott, from Harrisburg, who has several men in his employ.

Daily Local News
25th November 1890

The farmers up around Nottingham Station are considerably excited over the discovery of a fine vein of iron ore, much of which is being gotten out of the land on the estate of Benjamin Pierce.  It is being shipped to Lancaster county and it has proven an extra good quality for making steel.  Years ago this same ore was tried but found to be too hard for the purpose, but now it is being operated with a much better result.  It is stated that farm land has consequently increased enormously in value since the recent discovery and some is being sold at big prices.

Daily Local News
10th December 1890

It is said that a deposit of iron ore of excellent quality has been found on the barrens in West Nottingham township.  The vein is represented to be of sufficient extent to warrant the erection of a furnace.  Should this prove to be true, it will be a valuable addition to the extensive iron industry of Chester county.

Daily Local News
10th December 1890

The West Nottingham iron prospecting party have suspended operations until spring comes again, gentle spring.  Then for the smelting furnace and the railroad to Sylmar.  In the meantime a few acres of land in the mineral belt can be purchased by any syndicate who wants to make a fortune.

Daily Local News
11th December 1890

All the farmers in the southern portion of the county, especially in the Nottinghams, are delighted over the belief that a valuable vein of iron ore stretches itself through their domains.  Certain it is that one of the richest veins perhaps in the State has been revealed in the prospects that have recently been made on the old Andrew Dunlap place, in West Nottingham, about five miles from Oxford.  Yesterday the prospectors ceased their labors, declaring that what had been developed was sufficient to warrant them in saying the Philadelphian who owns the place is henceforth a rich man.  A short time since, encouraged by what had been learned from the deposits, the owner of this now valuable piece of land purchased 30 acres from A. C. Cooper, whose farm adjoins the Dunlap land, for the sum of $1320.00, and this, it is stated, is only to be sued as a dumping ground.  It is universally believed that an enormous body of fine iron ore is to be found anywhere and everywhere in that country, and it is rumored that other farms are to be tested like the Dunlap place.  Everyone down there is happy and there is considerable excitement attending the discovery, especially since the owners of the Dunlap farm have given orders to stop all prospecting until spring, when iron furnaces and all the paraphernalia for mining will be established there.

What They Learned

The prospectors on the Dunlap farm bored down many feet in four places, in one of which they struck a solid bed of rich iron ore 10 feet thick; in another they struck 22 feet of wash ore and in another 18 feet and the latter and in the forth they went through 10 feet of pure izingglass.

[Wikipedia: Thin transparent sheets of mica called "isinglass" were used for peepholes in boilers, lanterns, stoves, and kerosene heaters because they were less likely to shatter than glass when exposed to extreme temperature gradients. Such peepholes were also used in "isinglass curtains" in horse-drawn carriages and early 20th century cars.]

Daily Local News
23rd March 1891

West Nottingham and the adjacent townships are undoubtedly rich in ore, as the recent diggings in the former township have proven.  Howard Spencer, of Philadelphia, owns the richest iron part yet discovered, but a number of specimens in ‘Squire Taylor’s law office, Oxford, taken from the latter’s farm, which is adjacent to that of Mr. Spencer, have been pronounced as excellent for surface ore, and some of the same, which have been analyzed, turned out from 35 to 85 per cent of iron.  Close to this is a section containing a heavy vein of oxide of iron, which is used in the manufacture of paints.  This expert declare to be of the best, while the renowned Nottingham serpentine vein also passes through the above places.  Altogether the prospects for a boom in Nottingham are favorable.

Daily Local News
9th September 1891

George W. Walton of East Nottingham, has discovered a cone-shaped vein of kaolin on his farm, which is being taken out and promises to be of the finest quality.

Daily Local News
21st December 1891

To Get Out Kaolin
Josiah Cope & Co., owners of a large kaolin farm in East Nottingham have received an extensive order for kaolin and will soon start to fill it.  It is stated that the P. R. R. Company will run a siding into the land.  The deposit has never before been worked.

Daily Local News
20th January 1892

About twenty workmen are employed in the magnesia quarries near Goat Hill, West Nottingham. A new stone and brick kiln is being built near Lee’s mill, in which, it is said, the magnesia will be dried.

Daily Local News
2nd March 1892

In and Around Oxford

From the Press

Work in the magnesia mines on mineral Ridge, West Nottingham, has ceased for the present.

Oxford Press
18th June 1892

Mancill Tweed has commenced mining sand chrome on his property in West Nottingham.  He had a place of about 50 acres in the pine barrens of this township, about four acres of it chrome ground.  Paddy Cain is superintending the work.

Daily Local News
1st December 1892

A party from the city has been looking up the magnesia mines in West Nottingham with a view of working the pits on the Tyson and Powers & Weightman lands.  Josiah P. Lee showed him around a short time ago.

Oxford Press
24th August 1893

Mr. Barnes of the National Fire Brick Company, Philadelphia, is now engaged in prospecting for magnesia in West Nottingham’s mineral fields.

Oxford Press, 12th October 1893 and
Daily Local News, 12th December 1893

Oxford and Near By
From the Press

Henry K. Vandusen, a Philadelphia manufacturer, has leased Power & Weightman’s magnesia deposits on Goat Hill, West Nottingham township.  The lessee’s Superintendent, William T. Reynolds, expects to ship two cars of crude magnesia from Rising Sun this week to Philadelphia.  The mineral will be used in the manufacture of fire brick, Mr. Vandusen being the proprietor of the National Fire Brick Works.  Superintendent Reynolds is engaging in prospecting for this mineral, and he informs us he has located three nice veins on other properties.  Several years ago Power & Weightman, manufacturing chemists, mined and shipped large quantities of magnesia from their property in West Nottingham to Philadelphia.

Oxford Press
5th November 1893

Azahel Griest has opened a spar mine on the farm of Edward Boyd, West Nottingham, which he purchased from John Welch some time ago.  Mr. Griest has dug down a distance of about 20 feet below the surface and has taken out about 1500 weight of spar.  It is of excellent quality and runs in a large vein from a northeastern to a southwestern direction.  He has also found mica of the purest quality and soapstone of elegant appearance, also some of the finest white building sand ever found in these parts.  This looks quite encouraging to Mr. Griest when there is nothing thought of or talked about except silver and gold – from one who was down in the pit and saw the operations. 

With the above came some specimens of mica of nice quality – Eds. Press

Oxford Press
5th April 1894

Developing Chrome Deposits

Mortimer Bye, of Wilmington, whose experience with chrome represents much time and money, returned home with samples of the stuff.  Mr. Bye will develop the deposits of chrome on R. R. Hastings farm in East Nottingham, which are said to exist in quantities inviting working.  Chrome can be shipped and sold, Mr. Bye claims, in cargo lots from Europe to the United States cheaper than it can be secured in this country.  Fortunately all consumers do not need a cargo and it is the minor men using the mineral in coloring that he hopes to supply.  Chester county chrome is a superior article.

Coatesville Weekly Times
7th April 1894

Mortimer Bye, of Wilmington, Del., the chrome king of Chester county has leased Ressie Hasting’s farm, near Oxford, and is developing the mineral deposits.  A number of men are working along the run which has for years carried the chrome down and pocketed it at spots along the banks.  The chrome is found in the “Barrens,” a rocky ridge that has been prospected and mine for the last half century.

Oxford Press
12th April 1894

Shipping Chrome from the Barrens

Mortimer Bye's lease for one year on the mineral right of Ressie R. Hasting's farm in East Nottingham may result in the revival of the chrome mining and shipping business, which several years ago was a industry of importance in this part of Chester county.  Mr. Bye has erected a number of buildings at the prospect and has a force of eight or ten men digging, washing, drying, and shipping the mineral.  It is reported that the chrome will be shipped to Liverpool, England where it will be employed in colors and dyes.  The chrome pockets in the barrens are about as prolific as ever and if demand is sufficient the business will assume large proportions, embracing working and transportation outfits.

Oxford Press
10th May 1894

Bye’s Chrome Banks

The third shipment of chrome from Mortimer Bye's lease on the banks on R. R. Hasting's farm, East Nottingham will be made Saturday.  The mineral is barreled and hauled to Oxford and freighted to Baltimore, and thence taken to Liverpool, England by vessel, and sold.  Chrome is heavy, and averages 1300 pounds to a barrel, twenty of which make a car load.  Fourteen men are now employed at the workings on the edge of the barrens.  The prospect is good for securing a large supply.  Mr. Hastings receives a royalty of $2.50c for each tom hauled away.

[Where was the Hasting's farm? East Nottingham, northern edge of the barrens next to Tyson Mining Company property.]

Oxford Press
15th May 1894

A car load of chrome was shipped from Oxford this morning to Liverpool.  Mr. Hastings, who owns the land from which the chrome was taken, says he has about four acres.

Oxford Press
21st June 1894

Mining Chrome Extensively

Chrome, the sand mineral abounding in the barren ridge extending across a portion of the territory south of Oxford, is being mined rapidly and extensively these days.  In addition to the find being worked on R. R. Hasting’s farm by Mortimer Bye of Wilmington, the Tyson Mining Company of Baltimore has, after a lapse of several years, resumed operations in chrome mining.  Years ago the Tyson mining Company conducted chrome mining on a great scale in the barrens and so extensive were their operations and so extra the quality of mineral shipped that the company grew very wealthy.  The Tyson Mining Company possess about 500 acres of mineral lands in the barrens.  They and Mr. Bye ship the mineral from Oxford to Liverpool via Baltimore.

Oxford Press
19th July 1894

Hot Weather in the Barrens

Editors Oxford Press – I could not help writing to you in regard to the hot weather of last Friday.  In travelling over my sub-division, which is part of the Central Division of the P.W. & B.R.R. and extends through the famous “Pine Barren” located in southern Chester county, the heat was so great that the oil of the pine trees flowed down the branches and lodging on the bark, cooled in the evening and became hard, forming a very fine quality of turpentine or rosin.  This is what I consider hot weather when the trees submit to the laws of nature.

I have also discovered a very fine vein of asbestos in this same section of the country.  I think it would be a good thing if the Board of Trade of Oxford would visit this place and start up some industry.

Oxford Press
2nd August 1894

Cope & Bro. of Lincoln University are shipping clay from this place for their pottery for the manufacture of earthenware.

Oxford Press
30th August 1894

Mined about 65 tons of Chrome

Mortimer Bye, of Wilmington, will resume working next Monday the chrome banks he has leased on R. R. Hasting's farm on the northern edge of the barrens in East Nottingham.  Since commencing operations last Spring Mr. Bye has mined about 40 tons of chrome and shipped several tons to Liverpool, England.  He has not been working the ground for about a fortnight.  His workings are superintended by John P. Cain.

The Tyson Mining Company, whose superintendent is Joseph "Paddy" Cain, has been working right along, taking out between 18 and 20 tons of the mineral sand.  The company has not been working the same length of time as Mr. Bye has this year.

Oxford Press
15th November 1894

Since the death of E. Mortimer Bye, who had a lease on the sand chrome beds of R. R. Hasting's farm in East Nottingham, it is probable that the business will be operated by a new party.  A Mr. Harvey of Phoenixville has been inspecting the deposits and will soon decide whether or not he will take hold.  John P. Cane was Mr. Bye's superintendent at the chrome workings.  The Tyson Mining Company is continuing the chrome mining on their land in the "Barrens."  Their superintendent Joseph P. Cane, last week shipped 30,678 pounds of the mineral to Baltimore.

Oxford Press
6th December 1894

Leased the Chrome Land

R. R. Hastings has leased the chrome land on his farm in East Nottingham to Calvin T. Bye, of Wilmington.  He is the son of the late E. M. Bye of that city who at the time of his death, November 7, was engaged in ming chrome on Mr. Hastings farm.  His lease will not expire until next April but the son will continue the business on the terms made by his father.  On April 1, 1895, C. T. Bye will commence the business of mining and shipping the mineral sand himself, having leased the property one year from that date.

Oxford Press & Daily Local News
22nd November or December 1894

Expect to Continue Operations

It is expected that C. T. Bye of Wilmington will take up the work of chrome mining that his late father E. M. Bye, conducted this last summer and up to the time of his death at R. R. Hasting's farm in East Nottingham.  The lease between Mr. Bye and the owner of the property will not expire until next Spring and if the winter is open to outdoor work the operations will continue for as long as is possible.  Mr. Hastings on Monday informed the Press that the Tyson Mining Company, who have large holdings of chrome land adjoining his farm, expect to prospect for the sand mineral this week in his other meadow.

Oxford Press
14th March 1895

Will Resume Operations

Calvin Bye of Wilmington, who has the lease for 1895 on R. R. Hasting's chrome banks, East Nottingham, will resume operations as soon as the weather is settled and admits of out-door work.

Oxford Press
18th April 1895

Several large teams are hauling spar from the Taylor mines, near Rock Springs, also from the mines near Fremont, Pa., to this point for shipment.

Oxford Press
27th June 1895

James F. Daily, of Philadelphia, accompanied by Justice B. F. Taylor, Oxford, on Tuesday morning visited and inspected the chrome deposits on R. R. Hasting's farm, East Nottingham.  Mr. Daily is interested in a machine sued in washing gold sand and is of the opinion it could be operated and effect a saving of minute particles of chrome which also receives a washing during the process of handling preparatory to shipment.  He took samples of the chrome home with him and will experiment in the matter.

Oxford Press
16th January 1896

Low Water Retarded their Work

Bye Brothers of Wilmington, lessees of the chrome land of R. R. Hasting's farm in East Nottingham, will on commencing operations at the opening of favorable weather, have considerable material to work on.  It is the accumulation of chrome diggings made last summer which increased weekly on account of the scarcity of water necessary in washing.  The small stream running through the chrome tract is utilized in a number of washings before the black sand mineral is in proper condition for barreling.  That portion of the country will become a scene of activity when the weather opens outdoor work. 

Oxford Press
27th February 1896

Auctioneer Dowland was in the Press offices Tuesday and reported fire was sweeping a large tract of barren land in West Nottingham.  He supposed the land belonged to the Tyson Mining Company.  Origin of fire unknown.

Oxford Press
1897 (reprinted 24th November 1937)

Taking Out Flint

J. C. McDonald is engaged in taking out flint rock from a deposit on his farm in East Nottingham and shipping it to Trenton potteries.  The flint is imbedded in the earth and sometimes pinches out, requiring the removal of much earth to again contact it.  W. F. McHenry, employed there, was in the Press office the past week and told us some of the flint carries a variety of beautiful shades a makes a handsome collection.  He showed a piece of mineral which Prof.  J. H. Kerr says is carbonized wood.  It is said to be valuable and is occasionally found in the flint deposits.

Daily Local News
4th March 1897

Mrs. J. R. Dickey of Oxford has leased the flint deposits on her East Nottingham farm to Messrs. Lee and McCann of Harford county, Maryland.  They have shipped a car of the flint to Trenton, N.J. where it is manufactured into whiteware.  Advices received are favorable as to the quality of the flint and the operators of the deposit will develop it.  The body of stone is extensive.

Chester Valley Union
23rd April 1898

A New York Syndicate has purchased a quantity of land in West Nottingham and will open mica mines.  Before the discovery of the mica the land was only worth $6 per acre.  It sold for $100.

Oxford Press
30th June 1898

J. P. Cain, operator for Mancill Tweed of Newark, Delaware, will begin operations at the chrome banks in West Nottingham next week.  The diggings are the same that Cain and a force of workmen operated last year.  Shipments of the mineral will be made to Philadelphia.  This will be good news to the people of that neighborhood.

Daily Local News
28th July 1898

A Lancaster party has taken out a car load of flint from the deposit on Job. S. Pugh’s farm, East Nottingham.  It is of good quality.  The car awaits shipment.

The flint quarry on Mrs. J. R. Dickey’s farm, East Nottingham, continues to be worked and large shipments of the mineral are made every few days to Trenton, N. J.  Many tons have been hauled here for shipment since operations began.

Daily Local News
18th August 1898

‘Squire Campbell’s little farm of about 37 acres along the Ridge road in West Nottingham, is quite productive.  The ‘Squire made a discovery in one of his fields that was foreign to legal matter and unclassified in Purdon’s Digest.  It is a mineral, and is commonly known as “fool’s gold.”  On being told the stuff was pyrites of iron, the ‘Squire’s reply was, “Are you sure there is no gold in it?”  “An assay will determine that,” was the reply.  If ‘Squire Campbell has a gold mine he can afford to give up the office of Justice of the Peace and retire from business. 

Oxford Press
24th November 1898

West Nottingham people wait the intended development of an iron ore prospect in their township, so rumor says.  It is the Harvey Spencer property of about 40 acres which, as report goes, is a great bed of valuable iron ore some distance below the surface.  The projectors of the enterprise compose the Mineral Ridge Mining Company, capital $150,000.  Joseph Black of Columbia is President and the other officer and directors are known in business as careful investors.  The manager of the company is a party of the name Wallace who has had western mining experience and is now out there arranging matters prior to operations in the “Barrens.”

Mr. Black’s purchase of the property from Mr. Spencer’s estate was made some time ago and it is reported that he has since refused $47,000 for it.  John Dabler, we are informed, recently bored several holes in various parts of the property and at a depth of about 32 feet stuck ore.  This confirmed Mr. Black’s expectation and he is satisfied that an inexhaustible supply of ore is there.  A party that has been looking over the ground says that tunnels will be run and crude material taken out wholesale.  The ore is said to be of superior quality and will be made into steel rails.  It is thought shipments will be made to Sparrow’s Point, Maryland, where the ore will be treated in the great iron works.  If the force of men talked of, about 40, go to work on the company’s property and continue it will be a good thing for the neighborhood.  There had already been some talk between Mr. Black and local parties about hauling the ore to the proposed shipping station.  Mr. Black visits the property frequently, reaching Rising Sun by rail and is then driven to it.  He is said to be an approachable man and of jovial disposition. Our informant says this is what he understands about the enterprise and if it is incorrect he had been misinformed.  The Press hopes there is millions in it.

Oxford Press
24th November 1898

Good news is that we hear on all sides and if one half of the mining industries materialize next year this township will be a territory of activity.  We need something like continual work to make the dollars coming in and put the spirit of prosperity in our homes.  West Nottingham’s rugged surface may yield big returns to those who invest and develop.

Oxford Press
9th November 1899

Sold Property to a Company

J. H. Black, Columbia, sold this week his iron ore property of about 53 acres in West Nottingham township.  The purchasers are Frederick Shoff, Colemanville; William Diller, Lancaster; A. M. Nevin, Oxford.  Mr. Black retains a fourth interest in the property.