Augustine Paper Mill
Augustine Paper Mill is a former paper factory in Wilmington, Delaware, located along the Brandywine River. The complex originally consisted of seven stone buildings constructed in the 1800s, of which only the main building survives today: a three-story structure with thick stone walls and a slate roof.
In 1843, Augustus Jessup and Bloomfield Moore purchased an abandoned cotton mill and converted it into a paper factory. Throughout the 1800s, the company expanded, producing high-quality printing and book paper, and later began making wood pulp to address paper shortages during the Civil War era.
The mill was named after businessman Augustus Jessup, whose name became tied to the factory's founding. The site shows how industrial work shaped the daily lives of workers and their families who lived in this area during the mill's active years.
The main building and some areas of the site can be explored on foot, with the thick stone walls and original industrial appearance still visible. The grounds are situated in a residential neighborhood near the Brandywine River, so daytime visits are best, and it is important to respect private areas of the property.
In 1942, the Container Corporation of America acquired the site and continued paper production until the 1980s, when it was transformed into a gated condominium community. The historic main building was converted into homes, showing how industrial sites are repurposed for modern living.
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