Charlestown Woolen Mill
Chester Co. | Pennsylvania | USA
Watersource: Pickering Creek.
Charlestown Woolen Mill
From Phoenixville, go southwest on Pa. 29 about 2 miles to Pickering Dam Road on the right. Turn right and go about 0.8 miles and turn right onto Charlestown Rd. Cross over Pickering Creek and the mill will be on the left.
This mill was built c. 1740 with upgrades c. 1840 and 1902. In June of 1860, Thomas Senior, advertises the Charlestown Woolen Factory open, operating with new equipment.
In February of 1861, a fire destroyed much of the business. The loss was great, but only partially covered by insurance. Unable to fully recover economically from the fire, the Senior property was sold at sheriff sale in September 1866.
John Senior advertises, in 1871, new improvements to his woolen factory; and indeed, John Senior plays with the idea of expanding the mill in 1873.
The refurbished & expanded mill was doing good business in 1875. Sometime after 1875, the mill closed and sat abandoned until it was repaired in 1886.
Again the mill is soon propering, making carpet yarn with 30 men employed, working the machines.hir A new owner enters a new era in 1902. The woolen and carpet making machines were torn out and the mill was converted into a roller mill to grind wheat, processing it into flour.