The Chautauqua County Silk Industry

Here's something interesting from the history books: for about 30 years, Chautauqua County had a flourishing silk industry. Apparently silk production in Chautauqua County began in the late 1820s by a man who is more famous for his role in grape production. Within ten years a "cocoonery" was in operation along the Chadakoin River in Dexterville (East Jamestown). A detailed history of the Chautauqua County silk industry can be found in a book entitled "The Conquest of Chautauqua" (1932) by Arthur Wellington Anderson - County Historian.

The raising of silk worms, and the reeling of silk was introduced in this county by Elijah Fay, of Brockton, in 1827, when he brought from the East the mulberry trees, prepared for the production of silk. The industry spread slowly at first, but rapidly over the county in the 30's and 40's. About the year 1845, it began to decline, and was probably nearly extinct by 1860.

- Chapter XII: Highlights in County History -The Silk Industry in Chautauqua County (p. 357)

Anderson does a thorough job providing as many details as possible about the silk operation in Jamestown. He explains that the Dexterville Silk Company was located on East Second St. on the east side of the Dahlstrom's plant north of the Chadakoin River. This roughly puts the operation across the street from where the Puzzle Lounge (1065 E. 2nd St.) currently sits. For a short period of time, there was even a monthly newspaper entitled "Chautauqua County Silk Journal."

The manager of the silk farm was Edwin P. Lord, "whose identity the author has been unable to establish. He first appears in 1841 as manager of the Dexterville Silk Company plant. In the spring of 1842 he moved to Ripley, and was there in 1843. In 1841 he was married to Miss Rachael Mather, of Sugar Grove, Pa."

 The book also cites a lengthy article from the Jamestown Journal, printed in spring of 1902. below is a transcribed copy of the original article:

Jamestown Journal, April 18, 1902

Silkworm Industry

It Thrived at Least Sixty Years Ago At Jamestown

     One of the first plants of its kind in the country-O. E. Jones and Levant L. Mason tell a Journal reporter something about the work as they recall it.

     A Statement which has recently appeared in the press to the effect that the silk raising industry was introduced into this country about 40 years ago and started in Georgia, is incorrect. Just when the valuable worms in silk wrappers came to this country we are not prepared to state, but it was certainly more than 40 years ago for at least 62 years ago Jamestown had a thriving silkworm ranch where after much riotous living mulberry leaves the rubs wrapped themselves in their silken mantles and went to bed for an eternal after-dinner nap. 

     Not many of the present generation of men and women remember the ancient industry of our city and the name of the man or men who owned the plant has passed from memory, but there are a few veterans still living who have a clear recollection of the institution.

     Orsino E. Jones is one of the men who, looking back to his early childhood, recalls a picture of the silkworm plantation. 

     "My attention was called to this matter," said Mr. Jones, when interviewed, "by the statement in the papers that the first silkworms were grown in Georgia 40 years ago. Now I remember perfectly well when there was a silkworm growing enterprise flourishing in this city. I was only a boy at the time but the picture of the building where the worms were kept and the big field of mulberry bushes on the opposite side of the street is as clear in my mind as it was then. A large force of boys and girls were employed picking the mulberry leaves and carrying them to the house, where the were fed to the worms. I was in the place often and saw the worms eating the leaves and then winding themselves into their cocoons. As I remember it these cocons were shipped away with the worm still inside. The cocoons were in shape something like an egg, only, perhaps, a little longer and slimmer.

     "The building stood on the flats, along the Chadakoin, not far from East Second Street, and about where Flagg Avenue is now located. The mulberry bushes occupied a field on the opposite side of the street and always looked fresh and thrifty. I do not remember the names of the persons who owned the establishment, nor the causes that led to an abandonment of the enterprise. I only know that it apparently flourished a number of years and was then given up. I think Levant L. Mason can tell you more about the enterprise than I can."

     Mr. Mason was found at the Bee Hive jewelry store and when asked what he could remember about the silk raising industry in Jamestown replied: "I do not remember much about the business in detail because I knew very little about it. I was only a boy but I have a clear recollection of the establishment in a general way. The building where the worms were kept and where they did their work was a long barn-like structure, two stories high and stood on the right hand side of East Second Street as you go toward Falconer, nearly midway between East Buffalo Street and the old Jeffords farm, now the Woodlawn Dairy. Around the building grew a few mulberry bushes and on the opposite side of the street was a large field of them. They were big thrifty looking shrubs in spite of the constant pruning of their leaves which were picked by boys and girls and carried to the feeding house. A fresh supply had to be secured every day but apparently there were many more than enough leaves to supply the demand, for those which were plucked could hardly be missed from the foliage. I think the silk growing establishment must have flourished more than 60 years ago. In fact I am sure it did, because it was here before my father moved his family out of the village in 1837."