Saving Slater's Mill
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Saving Slater's Mill
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
BY LESLIE SCOTT
SUBURBAN TRENDS
STAFF WRITER
It looks quiet and uninhabited now. But Slater’s Mill once bustled with activity as it played an important role during the Industrial Revolution.
This building has been lifeless for at least the past 15 years and is on the list of the most endangered historic sites in Morris County for 2010.
This is not the first time Slater’s Mill has made the endangered list. Marion Harris, chairman of the Morris County Trust for Historic Preservation, said this property has been on the organization’s list since 2007.
Slater’s Mill has been on the New Jersey and National Historic Register of Historic Places since 1975.
The building has been up for sale for a number of years.
It was last owned by Henry Shotmeyer and is still in his family’s name. Family spokesperson John O’Brien said the family has not been able to sell it because the property is in a flood zone.
Although this site is historic, this designation does not protect it from demolition if it is purchased, Harris explained.
"What we would like to have is an appropriate use of that building. For instance the Riverdale Art Center wanted to establish a gallery and studio there and that would have been a perfectly good use of it. We would have loved to see that happen," Harris said.
"Whenever there is a significant site like Slater’s Mill, we would like to see it used appropriately, which doesn’t really limit the use of what we would like to see there. But in some cases, the use would require changes to the historic character of the building that we would find appropriate," said Harris.
Although there are no existing campaigns in place to save the building, the County Trust for Historic Preservation would like to see this property preserved.
"It’s a significant building and it is significant to Riverdale history. It was a mill that was important to the commercial history and the industrial history of the area," said Harris.
History
The history of this property dates back to the early 1700s. A grist mill, which grinded flour, was operated on the property. It had been said that the mill was built as early as 1712 from stones that were taken from a nearby quarry known as the Millstone Lot.
During this time, Garret De Bow and Robert Colfax owned the mill. It was sold to a Peter Jackson in the early 1800s. He maintained his store at that spot for several years before selling it to his son James, who continued in the business until 1844 when a fire destroyed the mill, a store and other associated properties.
After this fire James sold the site to James Pewtner and Appollos Terris, who erected another grist mill on the property. In 1849, Pewtner and Terris sold the mill to Joseph Slater of Orange, who converted it into a felt factory.
Slater moved into the borough, which was known as Pompton at the time. He established the factory for the cutting and renovating of furs and conducted the business until his death in 1871.
This business was then operated by Slater’s son, Robert, who was proficient in every area of the fur trade. Equipped with automatic machines, the factory employed up to 16 men and manufactured a large quantity of hatter’s furs for J.B. Stetson, a well-known hatter.
In 1903, a flood destroyed the dam at Slater’s Pond Mill, which furnished the water power to run the factory.
According to history records, the dam was never rebuilt and residents missed the place where they had their skating parties.
In more recent years the existing building served as a tea room, service station, and a go-go bar. It has been vacant for at least 15 years.
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Original Article Link: www.northjersey.com/news/morris/10885228..._Mill_property_.html
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
BY LESLIE SCOTT
SUBURBAN TRENDS
STAFF WRITER
It looks quiet and uninhabited now. But Slater’s Mill once bustled with activity as it played an important role during the Industrial Revolution.
This building has been lifeless for at least the past 15 years and is on the list of the most endangered historic sites in Morris County for 2010.
This is not the first time Slater’s Mill has made the endangered list. Marion Harris, chairman of the Morris County Trust for Historic Preservation, said this property has been on the organization’s list since 2007.
Slater’s Mill has been on the New Jersey and National Historic Register of Historic Places since 1975.
The building has been up for sale for a number of years.
It was last owned by Henry Shotmeyer and is still in his family’s name. Family spokesperson John O’Brien said the family has not been able to sell it because the property is in a flood zone.
Although this site is historic, this designation does not protect it from demolition if it is purchased, Harris explained.
"What we would like to have is an appropriate use of that building. For instance the Riverdale Art Center wanted to establish a gallery and studio there and that would have been a perfectly good use of it. We would have loved to see that happen," Harris said.
"Whenever there is a significant site like Slater’s Mill, we would like to see it used appropriately, which doesn’t really limit the use of what we would like to see there. But in some cases, the use would require changes to the historic character of the building that we would find appropriate," said Harris.
Although there are no existing campaigns in place to save the building, the County Trust for Historic Preservation would like to see this property preserved.
"It’s a significant building and it is significant to Riverdale history. It was a mill that was important to the commercial history and the industrial history of the area," said Harris.
History
The history of this property dates back to the early 1700s. A grist mill, which grinded flour, was operated on the property. It had been said that the mill was built as early as 1712 from stones that were taken from a nearby quarry known as the Millstone Lot.
During this time, Garret De Bow and Robert Colfax owned the mill. It was sold to a Peter Jackson in the early 1800s. He maintained his store at that spot for several years before selling it to his son James, who continued in the business until 1844 when a fire destroyed the mill, a store and other associated properties.
After this fire James sold the site to James Pewtner and Appollos Terris, who erected another grist mill on the property. In 1849, Pewtner and Terris sold the mill to Joseph Slater of Orange, who converted it into a felt factory.
Slater moved into the borough, which was known as Pompton at the time. He established the factory for the cutting and renovating of furs and conducted the business until his death in 1871.
This business was then operated by Slater’s son, Robert, who was proficient in every area of the fur trade. Equipped with automatic machines, the factory employed up to 16 men and manufactured a large quantity of hatter’s furs for J.B. Stetson, a well-known hatter.
In 1903, a flood destroyed the dam at Slater’s Pond Mill, which furnished the water power to run the factory.
According to history records, the dam was never rebuilt and residents missed the place where they had their skating parties.
In more recent years the existing building served as a tea room, service station, and a go-go bar. It has been vacant for at least 15 years.
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
STAFF PHOTO BY JOE SARNO
Several operations have worked out of the property where Slater’s Mill currently stands since it was first built during the comings of the Industrial Revolution. Its rich history has this property listed on the state and federal registers of historic properties. However, one historic group believes this site is in danger of disappearing.
Original Article Link: www.northjersey.com/news/morris/10885228..._Mill_property_.html
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