|
THE
HENRY ELLSWORTH
TANNERY AT
BEAVERKILL
ENJOYED A
PROSPEROUS
TRADE IN THE
LATTER 1800s
 |
The
tannery was
located in
what today
would
be the parking
lot and picnic
area next
to the Covered
Bridge. |
Beaverkill,
the river and
community,
has
figured greatly
in the history
of Sullivan
County.
Old Indian
scouts
John H. Osterhout
and Silas Bowker
mentioned it
frequently
in their reports.
In fact, it
wasn’t
far from the
Beaverkill that
they were captured
by the Indians,
spread eagled
and flayed.
Early
pioneer Jehiel
Stewart forded
the Beaverkill
some twenty
times in order
to find the
best crossing
places. One
of the most
exciting occurrences
in the early
history of
the area was
when Indians
from the Jersey
Brook flats
went up to Tunis
Pond at the
headwaters of
the Beaverkill.
They returned
with loads
of lead so pure
that it was
chopped out
with a hatchet.
Others made
trips and excursions
to the area
but the mine
was never found.
It is said
that the story
of the mine
still attracts
an occasional
prospector.
The
idea of mining
might have
drawn some folks,
but the serious
industry was
hide tanning.
Famous tanner
of the Beaverkill
was Henry Ellsworth.
At that time
tanning was
the Beaverkill’s
most lucrative
business.
Tanners
were drawn
by the immense
growth of hemlock
trees that
covered this
area. The bark
of the trees
was used in
curing the hides,
supplying the
needed tannic
acid.
Since
tanning is
practically
an extinct industry
it is worthwhile
to note what
the old-time,
tanners used
to do to properly
prepare the
hides. A mill
that resembled
a coffee grinder,
though much
larger, was
utilized to
grind the tan
bark. Tanning
acid was needed
in liquid form,
so the ground
bark was then
mixed with
boiling water
and allowed
to dissolve.
Pipes were
connected to
the acid vats
to convey the
liquid to the
tanning yard.
 |
Beaverkill
today. |
The
process used
in preparing
the hides was
most interesting.
Hides, some
of which weighed
over 100 pounds,
were placed
in other vats
and left there
for about a
week. After
they were removed,
certain tools
were used to
pound them,
and they were
split down the
middle. The
two pieces were
then taken to
the sweat pits
where they were
allowed to remain
anywhere from
five to eight
days, according
to the heat.
By rubbing their
thumbs along
the sides of
the hides the
workmen could
tell whether
or not the hides
had been sweated
enough. The
test was whether
hair could be
rubbed off.
Workmen
had to be inured
to their jobs
since the odor
from the pits
was enough
to turn the
stomach of one
who was not
accustomed to
it. The hartshorn
alone made
the eyes smart
badly.
After
the skins were
removed from
the sweat pits
they were pounded
again to remove
the rest of
the remaining
hair. The three
tools used
to complete
the de-hairing
were called
the flesher,
the worker,
and the big
knife.
The
next step was
to open the
pores of the
skin so that
the leather
would take
the tan. A weak
liquor solution
was run into
the vats. Usually
one man would
be so stationed
that he could
throw the hides
flat on the
water, and
as they would
sink another
man would throw
a shovelful
of tan bark
over them.
The bark prevented
the skins from
setting too
closely together.
Gradually
stronger solutions
were used until
the hides were
ready to be
placed into
the strongest
solution, there
to remain for
three months.
After
the three month
period the
hides were put
in a loft to
dry, and then
treated with
fish oil and
scrubbed. The
final treatment
was with a
solution called
tanners oil.
The hides were
then rolled
and made ready
for the market.
Tanning
was no easy
job and even
with a cold
in the nose
one could tell
when a tanner
was approaching.
In some of
the larger tanneries
as many as
100 men were
employed. The
plant of Stoddard
Ham Pond of
DeBruce was
said to have
cost over $70,000,
which is the
equivalent of
at least ten
times that much
today. The Ellsworth
tannery was
one of the
first. The tanning
industry reached
its peak in
1867, according
to the Pioneer,
when 4,420,000
sides were
tanned. The
financial panic
that followed
a few years
after the Civil
War caused
most of the
tanneries to
close.
From
the collection
of Jack Obecny
©
Friends
of
Beaverkill
Community
1998-2011. All
rights
reserved. |
