Chronological List of Events

The table lists events that occurred in the area of the Powder Hole and the date.
These were all found during our research.
Not all of these events pertain directly to the Powder Hole, but they did happen in the Wapwallopen area.


Year
Event
Source
1786
 County of Luzerne erected from Northumberland County.
2
1787-1789
 Toll road built to Nescopeck to Mauch Chunk by Evan Owen.
2
1798
 A road from Wapwallopen to Macanaque Road was built.
2
1800
 E.I. DuPont disappointed in quality of powder in U.S., conceived idea to open his own powder mill.
7
1801
 E.I. DuPont bought farm near Brandywine creek in Delaware and began construction on his first powder mill.
7
1802
 601 acres of land that compromised Upper Wapwallopen was deeded to Samuel Mifflin.
2
1804
 Toll road built by Evan Owen made into turnpike.
2
1804
 First DuPont black powder produced at Brandywine.
3
1821
 Road built from Scalin (Powder Hole) to Hobbie.
2
1818
 Wapwallopen to Briggsville Road built.
2
1831
 E.I. DuPont died at age 63 before seeing his company become one of the largest powder manufactures in the U.S.
7
1840
 Luzerne County assumed led in number of mills and output of powder in Pennsylvania.
7
1850
 Wapwallopen flooded, sweeping away 2 powder mills of Messr. Knapp & Parrish.
5
1851
 Lackawanna and Western Railroad reached to Great Bend in Wapwallopen.
1
1855
 Black powder works built in Wapwallopen by Silvers, known as The Powder Hole. G.P. Parrish takes on partnership.
4, 7
1857
 A patent was obtained by Lammot of DuPont for a new blasting powder known as soda powder which used sodium nitrate instead of saltpeter (potassium nitrate).
6, 7
1859
 Powder Mill at Wapwallopen flooded, damaging the mills.
7
1859
 Powder mill built at mouth of Big Wapwallopen Creek owned by Silvers and Parrish was sold to Duponts for $35,000 after it went bankrupt.
2, 7
1859
 Woods located near the powder magazine caught fire, but the magazine was saved.
7
1859
 Kegs of powder were shipped by canal from Wapwallopen to Columbia County for 10 cents per keg, which was half the price the railroad charged.
7
1859
 Agents who sold the Wapwallopen powder criticized its quality. Lammot suggested correcting the temperature of the dryhouse which better refined the saltpeter.
7
1860
 Corning mill exploded.
7
1860
 Rolling mill blew up killing the foreman, Hummel.
7
1860
 Several workers lost their jobs because of drunkenness.
7
1860
 New powder magazine built at northwest end of property.
7
1860
 Corning mill caught fire but there was little damage.
7
1860
 Explosion in the double rolling mill injured one worker.
7
1860
 Refinery floor caught fire, but building was saved.
7
1860
 Refinery exploded.
7
1861
 Glazing mill blew up.
7
1861-1865
 Duration of the Civil War, lost a lot of workers when people enlisted.
1,7
1861
 Building used for pulverizing charcoal and sulfur was completely destroyed by fire.
7
1862
 Explosion in double rolling mill injured two workers.
7
1862
 Flood caused considerable damage to the lower yard and the dam over the lower falls.
7
1863
 Another flood washed out the recently rebuilt township road and filled the tailrace with sediment.
7
1863
 The Wapwallopen mill began to use sodium nitrate instead of potassium nitrate.
7
1863
 Workers unsatisfied with wages. Foreman Belin fired the main agitator and gave all other workers a raise.
7
1865
 Double rolling mill explosion killed one worker.
7
1865
 Lammot DuPont patented a horizontal press that could be operated by hydraulic or steam power which was designed to alleviate problems associated with the large number of explosions.
7
1869
 Great Falls Mills built below the Middle Falls of Wapwallopen Creek.
7
1870
 Pennsylvania produced more than $800,000 in powder. There were a total of 15 mills employing 184 workers. Wapwallopen produced 34% of black powder made in Pennsylvania.
7
1872
 The Powder Trust known as The Gun Powder Trade Association was created. It was designed to regulate the terms and sales of powder sold in the U.S.
7
1874
 Corning mill exploded, killing two workers.
7
1880
 At this time, there were 488 living in township of Wapwallopen, 1 hotel, 1 saddler shop, and 1 blacksmith shop.
2
1884
 Lammot DuPont, the lead chemist for DuPont Company, was killed in a nitroglycerine explosion at another powder mill site. 
7
1888
 Largest known accident at The Powder Hole, 4 men killed in explosion. Took place at the packing house.
4
1890
 The worst accident of DuPont Powder Company occurred at Brandywine. 13 people were killed.
7
1902
 First union of powder workers at The Powder Hole was formed.
4
1911
 Two corning mills at Wapwallopen exploded killing one worker and four horses.
2
1911
 DuPont Mill in Wapwallopen shut down, there were over 300 people employed. Machinery moved to a DuPont plant in Moosic.
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