R. R. Hasting Chrome Mine
Location: East Nottingham, next to Tyson property (in Elk township?)
Newspaper Clippings
Oxford Press
5th April 1894
Developing Chrome Deposits
Mortimer Bye, of Wilmington, whose experience with chrome represents much time and money, returned home with samples of the stuff. Mr. Bye will develop the deposits of chrome on R. R. Hastings farm in East Nottingham, which are said to exist in quantities inviting working. Chrome can be shipped and sold, Mr. Bye claims, in cargo lots from Europe to the United States cheaper than it can be secured in this country. Fortunately all consumers do not need a cargo and it is the minor men using the mineral in coloring that he hopes to supply. Chester county chrome is a superior article.
Coatesville Weekly Times
7th April 1894
Mortimer Bye, of Wilmington, Del., the chrome king of Chester county has leased Ressie Hasting’s farm, near Oxford, and is developing the mineral deposits. A number of men are working along the run which has for years carried the chrome down and pocketed it at spots along the banks. The chrome is found in the “Barrens,” a rocky ridge that has been prospected and mine for the last half century.
Oxford Press
12th April 1894
Shipping Chrome from the Barrens
Mortimer Bye's lease for one year on the mineral right of Ressie R. Hasting's farm in East Nottingham may result in the revival of the chrome mining and shipping business, which several years ago was a industry of importance in this part of Chester county. Mr. Bye has erected a number of buildings at the prospect and has a force of eight or ten men digging, washing, drying, and shipping the mineral. It is reported that the chrome will be shipped to Liverpool, England where it will be employed in colors and dyes. The chrome pockets in the barrens are about as prolific as ever and if demand is sufficient the business will assume large proportions, embracing working and transportation outfits.
Morning Republican & Daily Local News
12th April 1894
Patrick Corcoran, Elk township, who is one of the force of miners engaged in digging chrome on R. R. Hasting's farm, East Nottingham, made a "strike" last week that was unexpected. As he was digging in the soil, near the surface of the ground, he noticed a penny, and further investigation proved that the ground was full of them. He and the men working with him picked up 124 pennies. They were of comparatively recent date, the latest coinage being 1874. How they came there is hard to explain.
Oxford Press
10th May 1894
Bye's Chrome Banks
The third shipment of chrome from Mortimer Bye's lease on the banks on R. R. Hasting's farm, East Nottingham will be made Saturday. The mineral is barreled and hauled to Oxford and freighted to Baltimore, and thence taken to Liverpool, England by vessel, and sold. Chrome is heavy, and averages 1300 pounds to a barrel, twenty of which make a car load. Fourteen men are now employed at the workings on the edge of the barrens. The prospect is good for securing a large supply. Mr. Hastings receives a royalty of $2.50c for each ton hauled away.
[Where was the Hasting's farm? East Nottingham, northern edge of the barrens next to Tyson Mining Company property. ]
Oxford Press
5th May 1894
A car load of chrome was shipped from Oxford this morning to Liverpool. Mr. Hastings, who owns the land from which the chrome was taken, says he has about four acres.
Oxford Press
21st June 1894
Mining Chrome Extensively
Chrome, the sand mineral abounding in the barren ridge extending across a portion of the territory south of Oxford, is being mined rapidly and extensively these days. In addition to the find being worked on R. R. Hasting’s farm by Mortimer Bye of Wilmington, the Tyson Mining Company of Baltimore has, after a lapse of several years, resumed operations in chrome mining. Years ago the Tyson mining Company conducted chrome mining on a great scale in the barrens and so extensive were their operations and so extra the quality of mineral shipped that the company grew very wealthy. The Tyson Mining Company possess about 500 acres of mineral lands in the barrens. They and Mr. Bye ship the mineral from Oxford to Liverpool via Baltimore.
Oxford Press
30th August 1894
Mined about 65 tons of Chrome
Mortimer Bye, of Wilmington, will resume working next Monday the chrome banks he has leased on R. R. Hasting's farm on the northern edge of the barrens in East Nottingham. Since commencing operations last Spring Mr. Bye has mined about 40 tons of chrome and shipped several tons to Liverpool, England. He has not been working the ground for about a fortnight. His workings are superintended by John P. Cain.
The Tyson Mining Company, whose superintendent is Joseph "Paddy" Cain, has been working right along, taking out between 18 and 20 tons of the mineral sand. The company has not been working the same length of time as Mr. Bye has this year.
Oxford Press
15th November 1894
Since the death of E. Mortimer Bye, who had a lease on the sand chrome beds of R. R. Hasting's farm in East Nottingham, it is probable that the business will be operated by a new party. A Mr. Harvey of Phoenixville has been inspecting the deposits and will soon decide whether or not he will take hold. John P. Cane was Mr. Bye's superintendent at the chrome workings. The Tyson Mining Company is continuing the chrome mining on their land in the "Barrens." Their superintendent Joseph P. Cane, last week shipped 30,678 pounds of the mineral to Baltimore.
Oxford Press
6th December 1894
Leased the Chrome Land
R. R. Hastings has leased the chrome land on his farm in East Nottingham to Calvin T. Bye, of Wilmington. He is the son of the late E. M. Bye of that city who at the time of his death, November 7, was engaged in mining chrome on Mr. Hastings farm. His lease will not expire until next April but the son will continue the business on the terms made by his father. On April 1, 1895, C. T. Bye will commence the business of mining and shipping the mineral sand himself, having leased the property one year from that date.
Oxford Press
22nd November 1894
Expect to Continue Operations
It is expected that C. T. Bye of Wilmington will take up the work of chrome mining that his late father E. M. Bye, conducted this last summer and up to the time of his death at R. R. Hasting's farm in East Nottingham. The lease between Mr. Bye and the owner of the property will not expire until next Spring and if the winter is open to outdoor work the operations will continue for as long as is possible. Mr. Hastings on Monday informed the Press that the Tyson Mining Company, who have large holdings of chrome land adjoining his farm, expect to prospect for the sand mineral this week in his other meadow.
Oxford Press
14th March 1895
Will Resume Operations
Calvin Bye of Wilmington, who has the lease for 1895 on R. R. Hasting's chrome banks, East Nottingham, will resume operations as soon as the weather is settled and admits of out-door work.
Oxford Press
27th June 1895
James F. Daily, of Philadelphia, accompanied by Justice B. F. Taylor, Oxford, on Tuesday morning visited and inspected the chrome deposits on R. R. Hasting's farm, East Nottingham. Mr. Daily is interested in a machine used in washing gold sand and is of the opinion it could be operated and effect a saving of minute particles of chrome which also receives a washing during the process of handling preparatory to shipment. He took samples of the chrome home with him and will experiment in the matter.
Oxford Press
16th January 1896
Low Water Retarded their Work
Bye Brothers of Wilmington, lessees of the chrome land of R. R. Hasting's farm in East Nottingham, will on commencing operations at the opening of favorable weather, have considerable material to work on. It is the accumulation of chrome diggings made last summer which increased weekly on account of the scarcity of water necessary in washing. The small stream running through the chrome tract is utilized in a number of washings before the black sand mineral is in proper condition for barreling. That portion of the country will become a scene of activity when the weather opens outdoor work.
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