Here's a picture Wellsville Historical Society President Brassy Beresford loaned us to scan about a month ago that we wanted to share with you. Brassy said while cleaning up some files he just came across it himself.
The N. U. Walker Clay Plant was located along the river just about mid-way between Wellsville and East Liverpool. The numbers in the top right corner is the late Edgar Davidson's filing system. Davidson was at one time President of the Historical Society. On the back of the photo is a post-it sticker noting it was an early 1890s photo by Austin Ferguson. Stamped on the back of the photo is F. Sheets Photographers, 414 Main St., Wellsville. The Sheets home was located where CF Bank is today at the corner of 6th & Main.
Among sewer pipe the Walker plant also produced chimney toppers. You can see sewer pipe stock piled to the left on the photo. There are probably many places in the village that still has Walker pipe in the ground. The chimney toppers are still on many houses throughout the town and the area. If you ever see one with N.U.W. stamped in the base it's a Walker.
The Walker plant is long gone. An article that appeared in The Review many years ago said the area was home to some 28 families with houses near the plant. There are some concrete pilings that were part of the plant still in existence. They got their clay from mines in the hillside directly behind the plant. Those mines are the most visible reminder of the plant today. When they cut back the hillside along Route 7 they put concrete covers over the old mines with plastic pipes sticking out to allow for water to drain.
We cleaned up the photo as best we could. In the original photo much of the detail was faded out. Brassy & we disagree on the direction of the photo. We believe the photo is looking west toward Wellsville. Brassy thinks it's looking toward East Liverpool. Which ever way it is it's visible evidence that the plant existed. We had heard of it but this is the first we've seen an actual picture of it.
We hope you enjoy this as much as we do.
ole nib
1 comment:
Nib,
I think that you are correct in thinking that the picture is taken towards Wellsville.
I say that not because of what might be the trees showing above the roof of the building on the right, but if they mined clay, they would have to cross the railroad tracks to move the clay to the screens and then to the slip house.
I was unaware of the size of that operation as the building appears to be at least two hundred feet long.
Thanks for the picture, Nib and Brassy
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