During the middle of the nineteenth century Free Hollow was a thriving manufacturing community. Joseph Sydney had moved on to the shores of Cascadilla Creek at the turn of the century. Soon other settlers came and harnessed the waters of Fall Creek³ in the Hollow.

"... the mills and establishments which depended on water power literally sprang up along the source of so much unharnessed energy. It was natural then, that until the coming of steam machinery, our little place was far and away ahead of Ithaca in the number of industries." (12, p. 4)

Maps made in 1829 and 1833 (44 and 43) show two mills in Free Hollow along Fall Creek. One was a flouring mill, one of six in the Town of Ithaca at that time, and the other a saw mill, one of three in the Town of Ithaca. The New Topographical Atlas of Tompkins County (46), published in 1866, shows thirteen mill buildings and lists six businesses.⁴ We know of other mills that were built in the intervening years. Some were abandoned, others destroyed by fire or flood. The early mills were simple wooden structures, often built precariously at the edge of the creek. The fortunes of the owners were often as insecure as the mill buildings.

Many of the early mills were on the Mill Lane, which ran parallel to the present Byway. In 1853 Arnold McIntyre began to manufacture telescope canes and telescopes in a little shop which stood on the plot behind Albert Force's former home. Before Mr. McIntyre opened his shop, a blacksmith had worked in this location.

On the west side of the creek, on the ledge of the gorge, stood Arnold McIntyre's powder mill. The powder mill was operated by a rope drive attached to the water wheel machinery of the turning shop, which was located across the creek next to the Red Mill. The workmen would prepare the powder mix for grinding and then cross the footbridge to the safer side of the creek to operate the machinery. (11) (27)

"The most startling and altogether exciting thing that ever happened in the Holler took place there one night in 1849 when everyone was sound asleep." (12, p. 9)

The Ithaca Journal and Advertiser of Wednesday, September 26, 1849, reports:

EXPLOSION - The drying house attached to Mr. McIntyre's Powder Mill, on Fall Creek, about two miles east of our village [Ithaca] was blown up on Tbursday night last. About 300 lbs. of powder partly grained was in the cylinder at the time of the explosion. No person was injured, and the loss is about $300. Portions of the cylinder, hoops etc. were found half a mile from the location of the building. (25)

Then with J. E. Van Natta and William Baker, an inventor of guns, he [Arnold McIntyre] began the manufacture of firearms which finally became the present gun company. (12, p. 9)

The Ithaca Gun Company, which manufactures high quality guns known the world over, is the oldest factory in Ithaca.

---

³ W. Glenn Norris wrote in 1965 (25: 5-22-1965): "In early times when Fall Creek was on the rampage travelers wishing to cross this stream were obliged to ascend East Hill to Forest Home where the creek began its swift descent..."

⁴ A business man or mill owner usually had to pay five dollars to get his name on a map. Therefore all existing business and mill names do not appear on the old maps.

---

Chap. 2:   1   2   3  4   5   6   next

~    ~    ~    ~    ~    ~    ~