The Stone-Hacker’s War of 1852

A small-scale "war" was fought at Sucdder Falls in 1852, pitting local fisherman and stone-hackers versus the might of the men of the milling industry in Trenton.

In the mid-19th century there were many manner of water mills along the Delaware River in Trenton.  These mills were for grinding, sawing, fabricating and other uses and they needed power to operate. The principle system on the Delaware River for providing this power was the Trenton Water Power. It was a seven mile long power canal that helped fuel industrial development along Trenton’s waterfront. It was completed in 1834, failed early, then was reorganized in the mid-1840’s. At this time it became the primary energy source for Trenton’s mills. At least 20 mills drew their power from the canal. 

Water Power Map

The Water Power was constructed at the same time as the Delaware and Raritan Canal, but served a much different function, an industrial energy source. The D&R canal was primarily used for transportation.

In 1820 a dam was first constructed at Scudder Falls to throw water towards the New Jersey shore. In 1852 a new wing dam was built that allowed the canal to carry 8 feet of water. Some people were not happy with this new dam, as it was a nuisance to them and hindered their way of life.

The stone-hackers were a group of laborers, primarily from Lamberton, who mined the riverbed for cobbles. Their livelihood depended on unimpeded travel through the Delaware River. The group was not pleased, to say the least, about the new dam. It prevented their boats from passage through the falls and prevented fish from getting through the area. 

In August of 1852, fifty fishermen and stone-hackers armed with guns and pistols descended on the dam by boat. They set about dismantling the structure as onlookers watched and cheered from the banks. The few laborers who were in the process of working on the dam could do nothing to prevent the onslaught. The dam was torn apart and it was feared that the group would strike next at Well’s Falls (New Hope). 

1937 Aerial showing the Water Power

Peter Cooper was an industrialist, philanthropist and founder of the Trenton Water Power Company and Trenton Iron Company. He was sent for to parley with the Stone Hackers and come to an agreement in reference to the dam. No agreement was reached, the stalemate continued.

A primary concern for Cooper was the fact that the water to the power was greatly reduced with the absence of the dam. More than a thousand men were employed in the mills, and if the water stopped, the mills stopped. It was of paramount importance for Cooper to come to an agreement with the stone-hackers. Both groups had valid points as to why the dam should or shouldn't be built.

Are the thousands of persons employed in Mills on the Water Power to be thrown out of employ in this city merely to satisfy the whims of the few persons whose right to the river is certainly not greater than that of any other citizen of the state?  Aug 20, 1852 Trenton State Gazette

Another attack was rumored to be planned shortly thereafter. The dam had been repaired, at considerable expense. This time a channel was opened for the stone-hacker’s boats to pass, which should've solved the problem. The paper mused about the upcoming attack wondering why it was necessary since the boats could now pass freely. 

Trenton Water Power

Considerable commotion was caused by the threat of another attack. The papers ran the story every day, waiting for the attack to come. A handbill circulated that called on stone-hackers and fishermen to complete the destruction of the illegal dam at Scudder’s Falls, to-day. Men were held in readiness for the impending strike.

Finally they came. Only this time it wasn’t the stone-hackers, who were sated by the improvements that were made for their navigation of the falls. This time it was person’s upriver whom the dam does not injure in the remotest degree. It seems like pulling down the damn because the fashionable thing to do for some copycat criminals. It was said they did the act out of spite and malice. 

A local business tried to capitalized on the excitement to offer cheap groceries.

Sep 7, 1852 Trenton State Gazette

This next attack was a much stranger affair. Many people assembled, both onlookers and those intending to pull down the damn. The Sheriff was on site, along with nearby farmers and landowners who had differing opinions on the whole thing. Cooper was also there with his partners, who offered to take down 100 feet of the dam, which was shot down by the group. They wanted it all gone and were unyielding. 

After an hour discussion, the work on pulling down the dam commenced while Copper and the others looked on helplessly. Soon, the sheriff read them the riot act, which required him to wait another hour before he could make arrests. The whole time the workers kept pulling down the dam. After the hour was up he went in to make arrests, but they resisted and refused to comply. So the Sheriff took down their names with the intention of later prosecution and left them to their work. Ultimately, a few arrests were made for assault and various offenses in connection with the destruction of the dam.

The destructors message was clear. No dam whatsoever should impede the navigation of the river. 

Mills threatened to move their operations to another place if they could not get an adequate supply of water. Meetings were held with both parties in attendance. After the second attack efforts were made to organize a club to protect the dam. The men directly affected by this were ready to defend their livelihoods as well. The paper mused that a compromise should be made.

It is desirable that an arrangement should be made by which the interests of both sides should be protected. The fisherman and stone-hackers have too much at stake in the prosperity of the city of Trenton to desire that the chief source of that prosperity should be taken away. Such a result would be injurious to them, as well as to those more immediately interested. We hope, therefore, that all will come together in the spirit of concession and compromise. Aug 22, 1852 Trenton State Gazette

If each of the belligerent parties would consider duly the interests of the others, and instead of endeavoring to cause them as much injury as possible, would strive to do them as little - the stone-hacking and fishing interests on one hand and the Water Power Company on the other, might all be in a better condition than they are - and all have water enough and to spare. Aug 20, 1852 Trenton State Gazette

Ultimately, rising waters on the Delaware put the ordeal to rest, as there was sufficient water for everyone's purposes.

Sep 1, 1852 Trenton State Gazette