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About Ring Factory Elementary School
Ring Factory
History l
Attendance Policy
l RFE Awards
RFE Profile l
Special Programs l Special Activities
Ring Factory History
The history of the Ring Factory, from which the current Ring
Factory Road gets it's name, is elusive. In 1812, Samuel R.
Smith, a
Baltimore merchant, purchased a 500 acre tract
called "Duncale", including the land on which the factory
was thereafter located. Whether there was a factory on the
land in 1812 is not clear. The 1814 tax list seems to indicate
that the factory was not in existence as it mentions only a
dwelling house and out buildings. By 1819, however, a new
road was opened beginning at Smith's Mill, passing by
Mitchell's Mill, (now Whitaker's Mill) and running towards
Bel Air -- the beginnings of the Ring Factory Road.
In a division of land following Samuel Smith's death in
1831, a carefully drawn plot indicates a factory, saw mill and
dwelling closely grouped together below where the High
Bridge Branch flows into Winter's Run.
In 1838 David Davis bought the land from the estate, but by
1839 the factory again changed hands. Harford County
licenses from 1840 to 1851 indicate a 70 by 40 cottonmill run
by Enoch, Asael and Sarah Lampher.
The 1849 insolvency sale to Alex Fisher and partners
describes the land as including a cotton manufactory,
dwelling houses, storehouse, and blacksmith shop. The
fixtures included a water wheel, gearing and drums, 22
cards, one lapwinder, one dress frame, one pair of mules, 21
looms etc. The name "Ring" could have come from the
spinning ring frame used in the early 1800's which was
supposed to be a great improvement over the old "mule"
spinning frames. None, however, is mentioned as
equipment.
Other owners followed -- William B. Bond, John Walters and
Samuel Bagley. By 1862, the deed to Bagley referred to the
"Old Ring Factory" -- it's services clearly outdated.
Historical Society of Harford County Inc.
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