Mill entertainment at Aston Township's Yorkshire Mills !!

A postcard c.1906 of part of the Yorkshire Mills water/power system. The exact location is unknown.

NOTE: Aston Twp. was the home of more mills than anywhere else in Delaware County. Mill work whether it was food aka flour etc. or textile aka cotton was long hard work. It is generally thought and true that mill owners worked their employees hard with little enjoyment or benefits. There were exceptions and Yorkshire Mills was one.

 

CHESTER TIMES  

November 29, 1918 

YORKSHIRE MILLS FIRM ENTERTAINS EMPLOYEES 

 Reception and Celebration at Rockdale Enjoyed By Hundreds of People

               About three hundred people assembled at the Yorkshire Worsted Mills, Lenni, on Wednesday evening, in response to an invitation from the firm, and participated in a grand reception and thanksgiving celebration.  The Yorkshire firm has just completed the erection of a large addition to the extensive mills, a brick building 52 x 100 feet, two stories high, and took his method of dedicating it to the prosperity of the town.

               The celebration opened with an address of welcome by Horace S. Griffith, of the Penn Tapestry Company, after which there was a minstrel performance, of which Job Baldwin was interlocutor; William E. Griffith, Bones; and Edwin Brown, Tambo.  The ballads were as follows:  “When I Gathered the Myrtle With Mary,” John Heavens; “A Fool there Was,” Mrs. George Wilson; “Peg O’ My Heart,” Joseph Murphy; “Cross the Mason Dixon Line,” W. E. Griffith; “Last Night Was the End of the World,” Miss Katie McTammany; “What Do You Say, You’ve Lost Your Dog,” George Wilson; “If the Rose Could Tell Its Story,” Miss Annie Murphy; “A Garland of Old-Fashioned Roses,” Fred Cole; “Sailing Down the Chesapeake,” Edwin Brown.

               The firm of Miller & Pleet, which operates the Yorkshire Mills, is one of the most progressive in the textile arena. It is their custom to share with the employees, in the largest measure possible, the great results of their continued success.  Other manufacturers and representative and business men of the community were present as invited guests and the now building and various other departments of the plant were alive with mirth and enjoyment all night.

               The details and executive part of the celebration were well looked after by the committee of arrangements, which was composed of the foremen of the various departments of the works, with Louis Maiz, the superintendent, as chairman.  This committee worked diligently both before and during the ceremonies, and to them belongs a great share of credit for the success of the occasion.  The members of the committee are:  Louis Maiz William Brady Harry White, Clarence Smith, John Bally William Lomas, William Greenwood William Craner, William Lampert, William Lees, John Diamond, Jr., Joseph Davis, Joseph Albany, Roy Sheldon John McFarland, Job Baldwin Mark O’Brien.  Part 2 consisted of ventriloquist specialties by Harry White, songs by Mrs. Edward Schwartz, a recitation by Mrs. George Wilson and monologue songs by Job Baldwin.

               Immediately following the entertainment there was a grand march of a hundred couples, led by William H. Brady and Miss Daisy Hopkins, and dancing was indulged in until early morning.  The music of the entire performance was furnished by the Pipe Line Orchestra of Lenni, Samuel H. Lees, director.

               Coffee, sandwiches, ice cream and various other kinds of refreshments were liberally supplied by the firm, and it was an occasion long to be remembered by all who were fortunate enough to be present.

Note: My Ridley Creek State Park booklet has received an award from the county which I will receive next Saturday, May 6. There are still copies for sale at the locations below. It was some great pictures from my collection.