Date
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Event
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1856
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Thomas S. Marshall (1818-1887) first manufactures paper in the family grist
mill at Marshall's Bridge, one mile north of Yorklyn
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1870's
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Thomas' sons, Israel W. Marshall (1850-1911) and Thomas Elwood Marshall
(1855-1929) take an interest in paper-making, and much prefer that to farming,
which had been the family's occupation in William Penn's colony since 1687
|
1877
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Israel marries Elizabeth C. Mitchell of Hockessin, and they live at the old
farm property near the "homestead Mill" now converted to paper-making
|
1880
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Elwood marries Ella Good, and they too, live at Marshall's Bridge
|
1889
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Israel and Elwood, needing to expand their paper business, buy the old Clark
woolen mill at Yorklyn, completely converting it to a paper mill
|
1890
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Israel and Elizabeth (Lizzie) move their family to Yorklyn and move into
the old farmhouse next to the mill, while Elwood and Ella remain at Marshall's
Bridge. Subsequently, the name is changed from "Thomas S. Marshall and Sons"
to "Marshall Brothers Paper Company". Elwood continues to operate the Homestead
Mill at Marshall's Bridge. Soon they were selling all their paper to small fibre
companies around Wilmington.
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1896
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Israel and Lizzie began the construction of "Auburn Heights" on a hill above
the Yorklyn mills, and the next year, upon completion, they and their three
children, J. Warren (1881-1953) Anna H. (later Mancill) (1883-1986) and Thomas
Clarence (1885-1969), move in. Clarence is to live here for the rest of his life.
|
1901
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Expanding into the manufacture of Vulcanized fibre, the "Insulite Mill"
housing the first fibre machine in Yorklyn, is built adjoining the lawn of Auburn
Heights. By this time, Israel's sons Warren and Clarence, and Elwood's sons J.
Albert (1882-1961) and Henry W. (1884-1953) are working in the business.
(The "Insulite Mill" collapses and is torn down in February 2001).
|
1902
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The Stable and Carriage House (now garage and shop) is built behind Auburn Heights.
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1904
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The first mill of the main fibre plant is built along the railroad in Yorklyn,
and the young J. Warren Marshall is made president of the National Fibre and
Insulation Company (later National Vulcanized Fibre Co.), a position he will hold
for 49 years. 19 year old Clarence builds his first steam car, installing a small
steam plant in what had been an Orient Buckboard.
|
1906
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Fred Marriott, driving for the Stanleys, sets a land speed record of 127.66
m.p.h. in the Stanley "Rocket" on the beach at Ormond, Florida
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1908
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Clarence, after owning 3 used gasoline-powered cars, buys his first Stanley, a
1906 Model H, and photographs it alongside the carriage house
|
1910
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Clarence buys a used 30-H.P. Model K Stanley from the Philadelphia agent,
and himself becomes a dealer to sell and service Stanleys in the State of
Delaware and Chester County, Pennsylvania. He travels to the factory at Newton,
MA, and meets with one of the Stanley twins. Although Israel never drove a car,
he rode many miles with his son in the Model K, as did Israel's mother, Mary Way
Marshall (1821-1917). Parts of this car are restored in the Model K now in the
Museum.
|
1911 -
1912
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The main NVF plant is completed at its present location near the bridge in
Yorklyn. One of the buildings houses the longest endless fibre machine n the
world. Israel dies before it is finished.
|
1910 -
1918
|
Clarence, while maintaining all the mill machinery (he loved it) sells and
services 53 Stanleys from his shop in the carriage house at Auburn Heights
|
1914
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A torch used by a mechanic working on a Stanley sets the hay or straw on fire,
and the interior of the carriage house is destroyed. The walls remaining are intact;
it is soon rebuilt as a modern garage with concrete and steel and no posts.
Subsequently, an apartment is enclosed in the old loft above. Clarence also becomes
a serious trap shooter
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1917
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Clarence Marshall becomes interested in Packards and buys a Second Series
Twin Six roadster from salesman Frank w. Diver. After that, however, he owns a
new 1918 Stanley Model 735.
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1920
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Clarence gives up the Stanley dealership. Francis I. du Pont becomes the new Wilmington agent.
|
1921
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Clarence marries Esther L. Shallcross of Middletown, Delaware, and she
replaces his mother as hostess of Auburn Heights. The partition is removed
between the twin parlors to make a large living room, and a sun porch is added
to the east side of the big house, eliminating a portion of the wrap-around open
porch.
|
1921
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The first of the Marshall Trapshooting Tournaments held on Poplar Hill above
the fibre mills is held. Except during World War II, this becomes an annual
event through 1950. For a time in the 1930's, it is the second largest
trapshooting tournament in the world.
|
1922
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Clarence joins with Frank Diver to form the Packard Motor Company of Wilmington.
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1924
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Thomas C. Marshall Jr., is born and moves into Auburn Heights with his parents.
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1926
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Elwood, Albert, Henry, and Clarence retire from National Vulcanized Fibre,
although Clarence stays on as treasurer of Marshall Brothers Paper Company.
|
1929
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Clarence is elected president of the National Bank & Trust Co., of Kennett
Square, a position he holds for nine years.
|
1933 -
1934
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A 1 ½ story addition is added to the rear of Auburn Heights, housing a new
kitchen, pantry, breakfast nook, and recreation room below. The old kitchen is
converted to a den. Electricity is first used for cooking.
|
1937
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A new shop with basement below is added to the end of the garage (carriage
house). Two new bathrooms are installed in the big house.
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1938
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Clarence is elected to a one-year term as president of the Amateur
Trapshooting Association of America.
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1939
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Tom, at age 15, wins the first of nine State trapshooting titles.
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1940
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With a desire to own a Stanley again, Clarence buys a 1913 Model 76 from
neighbor John Becker for $150. He soon gets it running again
|
1941 -
1942
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Clarence converts his 1940 Packard 180 into a steam car, using a water-tube
boiler and many Stanley parts.
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1942
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Clarence buys two more Stanleys, both condensing cars, and with the advent
of World War II gasoline rationing, he uses one of them on a regular basis with
a liberal kerosene ration. He hears about the Antique Automobile club of America,
headquartered in Philadelphia, joins, and starts to participate in Club events.
Tom enlists in the Army Air Force. Esther enlists the women of Yorklyn to sew
for the Red Cross and is active in the USO in Wilmington.
|
1943
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Tom, home on leave, is allowed to drive a Stanley for the first time.
Unbeknown to Tom and possibly his wife Esther, Clarence starts collecting
Stanleys in earnest.
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1945
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With the War over, Clarence and two friends drive the Model 76 to Westport,
CT, and return to attend a Meet there. He is elected treasurer of the Friends
Boarding Home of Kennett Square.
|
1946
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Clarence has bought about 25 cars and has them scattered over the northeast,
so he decides to construct a building on the rear of the Auburn Heights property
to house them. Tom returns home from the service and buys his first Stanley, a
1914 Model 607.
|
1947
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The Museum building is completed, and soon is filled with over 30 unrestored
cars, many of them Stanleys. Clarence begins many years of productive mechanical
restorations, and he and Tom enjoy their first of several early Glidden Tour
revivals.
|
1949
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Tom and Alexander Burton establish Marshall & Burton, Travel Associates, in
Wilmington (later Marshall & Greenplate)
|
1952
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Clarence is elected president of the Antique Automobile Club of America for a one-year term.
|
1953
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J. Warren Marshall dies, and both NVF and Marshall Brothers soon pass out of family control.
|
1956
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A frame second story addition containing dining room and kitchen is added to
the rear of auburn Heights. Clarence and Esther plan to live on the second floor
(Both of them do so for the rest of their lives). Having built a smaller steam
locomotive during World War II, Clarence orders castings and drawings for
building the first of two locomotives, later to be used on the miniature Auburn
Valley R.R.
|
1958
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Having thought about the idea for several years, Tom approaches Clayton Hoff
and George Sargisson about the establishment of a steam passenger operation in
the Red Clay Valley on a branch of the B & O R.R., They offer encouragement.
|
1959
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Clarence and Tom and some early supporters buy a full size steam locomotive
from Canadian National Railways and it is towed to Yorklyn. George Sargisson and
Tom visit the B & O offices in Baltimore, but find little enthusiasm and no
precedent for the leasing of a branch to a group of volunteers. Clarence plans
the building of a tiny railroad around the grounds of Auburn Heights and engages
Everett Hollingsworth of Fairville to do the grading and built the first Auburn
Valley R.R.
|
1960
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The first trains run on the Auburn Valley as Clarence completes his first
locomotive and four tiny cars for this purpose. Tom, George Sargisson, and Leroy
Scheuerman incorporate Historic Red Clay Valley, Inc., and in the first year
membership approaches 100. Clarence and Tom buy a second full-sized steam
locomotive from Paulsen Spence in Louisiana, and have it shipped to Strasburg,
PA. Tom becomes HRCV's first president.
|
1961
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With still no encouragement from the B & O, Clarence agrees to let volunteer
members of HRCV operate the Auburn Valley on 7 weekends, and to open the car
museum at the same times to raise funds for a future full-sized railroad operation.
The second locomotive is rushed to completion, passing tracks are added by Tom,
and more passenger cars are put into service. The operation is a huge success -
on the last day of the season over 1,000 passengers are carried. HRCV buys 4
passenger coaches from the D L & W at Scranton for $ 700 each and they are
shipped to Yorklyn. Tom and Walter Anderson open the first Holiday Inn in
Wilmington.
|
1964
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Tom and Walter Anderson open their second Holiday Inn near Newark, DE.
|
1965
|
With a lease agreement with the B & O finally in sight, HRCV's operation of
the Auburn Valley terminates. It has carried 33,000 passengers in 70 operating
days. A pole barn engine house is built on leased land at Marshallton, and HRCV's
equipment is moved to that site. A tiny passenger station from Kennedyville, MD,
is re-erected at Greenbank.
|
1966
|
Wilmington & Western RR operation is begun over Memorial Day weekend with 5
round-trips per day between Greenbank and Mount Cuba every Saturday and Sunday
through late October. Tom retires as president of HRCV to become General Manager
of the Wilmington & Western RR
|
1968
|
Tom succeeds his father as treasurer of Friends Home at Kennett Square, a
position he holds for 25 years.
|
1970
|
Following the death of Clarence Marshall, Tom and Weldin Stumpf prepare to
open the grounds, Auburn Valley RR., Museum and other rides to the general
public under the name "Magic Age of Steam". It is hoped this can be a profitable
business venture. Many improvements are made including the building of the snack
bar building with rest rooms and boiler room, a new steam heating system, a
storage building behind the museum, a double-tracked tunnel and trestle, much
track relocation, and a pond with a real paddle wheel steam boat. The Museum is
also upgraded and many special exhibits added. Several antique gas cars are sold
from the collection.
|
1971
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The Magic Age of Steam opens in September, and the Old Fashioned Christmas
takes place for the first time just before and after Christmas.
|
1972
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Additional rides are offered, including the Toonerville Trolley and the
small Ferris wheel at the Magic Age of Steam. Tom and Weldin Stumpf make the
first of Tom's 4 cross-country trips in his 1912 Stanley, this one 8,328 miles
from his home to Montreal (Canada, Tijuana (Mexico), and return.
|
1977
|
The Magic Age of Steam closes after the Old Fashioned Christmas annual event.
The railroad soon falls into disrepair. Tom and Weldin Stumpf take in Stanley
mechanical work for many owners.
|
1979
|
Esther Marshall dies and her son Tom becomes sole proprietor of Auburn
Heights. She establishes a charitable trust in her Will, which under its terms
could have been used to perpetuate some of the things at Auburn Heights and in
the Yorklyn community. This does not happen, the assets are distributed to other
charities, and as mandated, this trust is closed out in 1998.
|
1980
|
Small heating units are installed in each of three buildings, eliminating
the large high-pressure boiler that had supplied "house" steam for heating and
for operating miniature steam engines on the property.
|
1981
|
The apartment over the garage (carriage house) is enlarged and renovated.
|
1981
|
Tom marries Ruth L. Pierson of Hockessin, and she becomes the new hostess of
Auburn Heights. The old property starts to come alive again.
|
1986
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The first floor kitchen is gutted and renovated (completed 1987). Weldin
Stumpf retires after 17 years with Tom. He dies four years later.
|
1988
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The second-story frame addition is removed from Auburn Heights, two new
bathrooms are installed and one is renovated, and Tom builds a bridge to the
island in the pond and engineers a spiral staircase in the north tower.
|
1992
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Tom begins to rebuild the Auburn Valley RR. After 16 years, the first train runs again by late 1993.
|
1992
|
The first group of volunteers and "students" who are to become the Steam Team meet, and
lectures and driving lessons, given by Tom, commence. The cars, and eventually the Auburn
Valley Railroad, become active again.
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