Page:Historical and Biographical Annals of Columbia and Montour Counties, Pennsylvania, Containing a Concise History of the Two Counties and a Genealogical and Biographical Record of Representative Families.pdf/380

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COI.UMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

Although having two destructive fires dur­ slo%-cs. plows and other agricultural imple­ ing its history, the company has rebuilt bet­ ments. ter and more securely than ever before and now has a scries of almost fireproof buildings, Enterprise Foundry & M achine U 'orks admirably fitted for their various purposes. The Enterprise Foundry & Machine W orks Dantilte N ail & ManHfacturing Co. were located on Ferry street between the canal and .Mulberry street, on the site of the present The Danville Nail & Manufacturing Co. stone works o f Thomas L. Evans & Sons. was incorporated in 1883. and at once erected ■Hwy were first erected in 1872 by Jam es a large mill and other necessary buildings, and Cruikshank, J. W. M oyer, Robert Moore and imniediately commenced operations. The Thomas C. Curry, under the firm name o f plant produced muck bar. nails and tack iron. "Cruikshank, Moyer & Company." In the fa ll The tremendous capacity fo r one item alone, o f 1873 the whole structure, with its contents, that o f nails, during the early days of the in­ was destroyed by fire. In the succeeding year dustry was 900 kegs per diem, l l i e initial the works were rclHiilt and for a number o f number o f machines for Ihe production o f nails years were carried on successfully and profit­ was fifteen. Four years later it had increased ably by this firm. to eighty. By the 1st o f Jan uary. 1887. one About 1880 Robert Moore withdrew from hundred had been installed and gas was being (he firm, but the business continue«l to lie c a r­ used in the process of manufacture. ried on by Cruikshank, Moyer & Company. T his plant was the first user o f electric 'I'hese partners were practical men. Mr. C ru ik ­ tight prwiuccd in the community. It was first shank being the foundryman and M r. M oyer used in the plant during the month o f Novem­ and Mr. Curry being first class machinists ber. 1886. .At that time the officers w ere: D. and splendid workmen. Ileav)’ castings were M. Boyd, president; R. M. Crove. treasurer; the principal products o f this foundry. In William C. Frick, secretary and general man­ 1892 this |)lant was sold to W . G. Pursel, a fte r a long term o f idleness; and again, in 1897. it ager. In 1889 this plant produced 52 k ^ s o f rail­ was sold to Dan Curry and Forbes Vannan. road spikes in a day’s work. The directors then w ere: D. M. Boyd, R. H. W oolcy, R. M. P a n fille FoMiidrv & .Machine Company (jrove. David Clark. Jam es Cruikshank. E. C. 'oris, T. O. Van Alcn, W. C. Frick. J. I.. This company was incorporated in 1906 and Riehl. The officers w ere: W illiam C. hrick, has one of the few foundries in the State fo r resident; R. M. Crove. treasurer; John E. the production o f ornamental and utilitarian castings for structural purposes. In these days lill, secretary. In 1890 this company became involved finan­ of exclusive concrete reinforced buildings, cially and the plant was closed down, being there is a demand for castings suitable fo r soon sold by the sheriff to the Copley Iron decorative |Kirposcs anti at the same tin>c of Company, o f P i t i s b u ^, Robert C. Neal, of practical use. which will harmonize with the Tyrone, and L. S. wintcrstccn. o f Blooms­ fireproof construction now adopted in almost all buildings o f commercial character. T o burg, fo r ^ 7 ,0 0 0. In 1892 it was started up after a year o f idle­ this demand the DanviUe Foundr>' & Machine ness and ran a few months, but in 1893 it was Company caters almost exclusively, although many other classes of castings arc also pro­ finally closed. In 1905 the Reading Iron Company acquired d u c t. T his plant was formerly a part of the N a­ this plant and have operated it ever since that tional Iron Company's works and was con­ date. ducted in connection with the operation of that plant. The title to this property passed DoHville Iron Foundry with the different conveyances o f (he National The DanviUe Iron Foundry was built in Iron Company's pro|>erty. until it became 187a by Daniel Dc Long, along the Delaware, vested in the present owners. The old build­ I^ckaw anna & Wcsicrtt Railroad. It was 56 ing formerly used by the National Iron Com­ by 84 feel in dimensions, and the capacity was pany is now the machine shop, and the pattern seven tons al a heat. With its blacksmith and shop occupies the upper floor. A numlwr of pattern shops, it w as one of the best plants in new buildings have t ^ n erected, making the Danville at that time. The products were plant one of the most complete in this section

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