In 1820, Amos Williams and his three
brothers borrowed $20,000 from their friend John Savage
to start a textile weaving business here on the banks of
the Little Patuxent River. The water from the river
flowed over a huge 30 foot water wheel which powered the
machines that wove the cloth. They named the business
Savage Mill after their generous friend. It functioned
as a working textile mill from 1822 through 1947.
The main product woven here in the 1800s was Canvas.
This lightweight, yet strong, material was used in
making sails for the clipper ships that sailed in and
out of Baltimore Harbor. The canvas woven at Savage Mill
was also used for making: tents, cannon covers, and
other supplies for Civil War armies during the 1860s;
painted backdrops for the first silent movies filmed in
Hollywood from 1890 to 1900; tents, cots, truck covers,
and transport bags used by U.S. soldiers in Europe
during both World War I and II.
Between 1947 and 1950, the Mill, which had grown to
12 different buildings, was bought by Mr. Harry Heim who
turned the entire comples into a Christmas Display
illage. He would dress up as Saint Nick and was called
Santa Heim by all who visited the Mill. Reindeer were
imported to graze in the orchards west of the Mill;
Christmas tree ornaments were made; and a miniature
B&O Railroad train transported visiters to and from
the Route 1 parking area. There was also a one-rign
circus in the huge New Weave Room, comoplete with
elephants, trapeze artists, and a carousel. Interest was
great and traffic increased, but Mr. Heim's ideas were
bigger than his pocketbook and he went bankrupt in 1950.
The Bollman Truss semi-suspension bridge which spans
the Little Patuxent River was brought here in 1860 when
the B&O Railroad serviced the Mill. This style of
bridge was use all over the United States and Europe,
but was made of wrought and cast iron which rusted out
in all locations but one. The last standing Bollman
Truss semi-suspension bridge in the world is here at
Savage Mill and is recognized as a national treasure.
Today, Savage Mill no longer weaves material. The
complex has been restored and renovated and is now in
use as a marketplace filled with unique specialty shops,
fine art and craft studios, and renowned dealers of
quality antiques and collectibles.
