Cheltenham Township in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Thomas Rowland & Sons Shovel Works
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., September 14, 2010
1. Thomas Rowland & Sons Shovel Works Marker
High quality shovels and spades were produced at the Rowland Mill complex near here, founded by Benjamin Rowland, Jr. in 1795. The millworks, operated until 1901 by the Rowland family, gained an international reputation and helped to establish the value of American manufactured goods abroad. The Rowland house here remains one of the last surviving late 18th century structures associated with early American hardware production.
Erected 2006 by Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC) series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1795.
Location. 40° 3.577′ N, 75° 5.77′ W. Marker is near Cheltenham, Pennsylvania, in Montgomery County. It is in Cheltenham Township. It is at the intersection of Central Avenue and Ashbourne Road, on the right when traveling south on Central Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 300 Ashbourne Road, Cheltenham PA 19012, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Southeast Pennsylvania and in Greater Philadelphia. It is also in the American Northeast and in the Mid-Atlantic. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Trinity Church Oxford (approx. 0.6 miles away); Unmarked Enslaved Graves Memorial
this page online
Also see . . .
1. The Shovel Shop. (Submitted on December 3, 2010, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)
2. Hotchkin's "York Road, Old and New," published 1892. (Submitted on December 3, 2010, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)
3. Bean's 1884 History of Montgomery County PA. (Submitted on December 3, 2010, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)
4. Rowland Marker Dedication Ceremony. (Submitted on December 3, 2010, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)
5. Mills of Cheltenham. (Submitted on December 4, 2010, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., September 14, 2010
2. Thomas Rowland & Sons Shovel Works Marker
Looking south
Credits. This page was last revised on September 5, 2023. It was originally submitted on December 3, 2010, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 3,883 times since then and 190 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on December 3, 2010, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.
