Axes and other edge tools have been manufactured in central Pennsylvania since before 1825.

Mann Family

William Mann Jr. first arrived in Bellefonte in 1823, and together with his brother Harvey built an axe factory at Boiling Spring on Spring Creek's Logan Branch. For the next 100 years, members of the Mann family would establish and operate axe factories at four main locations in central Pennsylvania: Axemann-Bellefonte in Centre County (Spring Creek); Reedsville-Yeagertown and Lewistown in Mifflin County (Kishacoquillas Creek); and Mill Hall in Clinton County (Big Fishing Creek). Affiliated operations occurred at Paradise, Unionville, Tyrone, Mackeyville, and Flemington, PA. Throughout this lengthy period, the businesses endured despite personal illness, early deaths, family disputes, financial difficulties, labor unrest, and fire and flood disasters that often struck axe works.

Axemann & Bellefonte, PA (1825–1892) – Harvey Mann & Son

William Jr. and Harvey Mann started production of axes in 1825 in Bellefonte. They were only 23 and 21 years of age. Prior to this venture, they were living near Watertown, New York, where William Sr., their father, made edge tools. Three years later in 1828, they moved to Boiling Spring (now Axemann) and built a modern forge on land purchased from Judge Thomas Burnside. Two dams and mill ponds were constructed to provide water power for trip hammers. Axe production at the time was largely a calling of blacksmiths, and the factory was among the first to employ machinery.

Axe production in the 1800s was a laborious process, even with the aid of machines. Early axes were made from two pieces of metal. The poll or head of an axe was formed by folding a bar of heated wrought iron, which also creates an eye. High carbon steel was used for the bit or cutting edge. Two methods existed for attaching a bit to the iron scarf. An early "inlay" method inserted a bit into a V-shaped cleft or "lip" in the scarf, welded in a forge, and then drawn using a trip hammer. The overlay method – patented by Harvey Mann in 1862 (no. 35,480) – welded steel on the outside of the scarf, which exposed more steel on the cutting edge.

Around 1900, all-steel heads came into use. An online video from 1964 captures the effort required to make axes, including steeling the head and hanging ("hafting") a handle or haft.

Initially, output was limited to felling ("chopping") axes and soon grew to over 300 axe heads per day.Fagley, Paul T. (1997, at 8). Man's second tool: Mann’s first tool. The story of the Mann Family and their axe-making dynasty. Canal History and Technology Proceedings, v16, 1–52 (National Canal Museum, Easton, PA). The main building was 350 feet long and 70 feet wide.Magargel, March 3, 1938. Production in 1855 was carried out by a workforce of fifty men. Wages were only $2.50 to $3 per day, but this was greater than the $1 wage received by local iron furnace workers.Fagley, at 11.

An axe-finishing shop at Thomas Mill in Bellefonte was established in 1832 through partnership with Franklin B. Smith, but this venture failed after only a year. Its failure caused a split between the brothers, with Harvey assuming the debts. Later, a finishing plant was added near Paradise (now Fisherman's Paradise; lower left on map above).

The brothers’ partnership did not survive and in 1834 William sold out to Harvey, who carried on as the Harvey Mann Axe Co. Another brother, Stephen, would join Harvey, but illness limited his involvement. Upon Harvey's death in 1870, he was succeeded by a son, Harvey Jr., but a railroad accident in 1875 resulted in the son's early death at age 37. Factory supervision was transferred to J. Fearon Mann, a nephew and a son of William Jr., through a lease with Jane Burnside Mann, the widow of Harvey Sr.Several reports had the Axemann plant leased by Robert Mann and J. Fearon Mann as its manager; see, e.g., The Pittsburgh Commercial (April 21, 1875). This arrangement is not mentioned in Robert Mann's autobiography or in the last will and testament of Jane Mann. After her death in 1885, Jane Mann left 16 acres of axe-works land and her house to J. Fearon Mann, and 80 acres at Paradise to Thomas R. Mann. Business slowed in the 1880s as the use of cross-cut saws expanded. Around this time, steam power was added,Magargel, March 4, 1938. and J. Fearon patented (no. D-2961) the "Red Mann" axe brand.A "Red Mann" axe is on display at the Clinton County Historical Society. However, in 1890 a "monopoly-trust" movement swept the country and – as described below – consolidation included the axe industry. American Axe and Tool Co. purchased the factory and in Oct 1892 after 64 years of operation, it was closed.

Today, a few structures remain as reminders of past activities. Axemann Spring still flows and Mann Road crosses the creek opposite the spring. A shed at the crossing was part of the factory. A large stone house, Mann's Edgefonte, sits near the spring house and was the home for Mann and his bride. The original Mann house sits across the street. Nearby stands the General Store and the United Methodist Church, built in 1882 and paid for by Mrs. Mann as tribute to her late husband.Linn, John Blair (1883, at 437). History of Centre and Clinton Counties, Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: Everts.

Reedsville & Yeagertown (1835–1903, 1901–1923) ‒ William Mann Jr. & Sons

After leaving Axemann, William Jr. first relocated to Mauch Chunk (now Jim Thorpe), and built an axe works. This operation failed due to weather or fire. In 1835 he returned to Mifflin County and built a factory in the narrows of Kishacoquillas Creek (now Mann Narrows), at the base of Jacks Mountain between Reedsville and Yeagertown.Early names for Mann Narrows included Short Narrows, Jack's Narrows, Logan's Gap, and Brown's Narrows. Around 1840 a second shop was acquired in Yeagertown, mainly devoted to finishing of axe heads and making of other edge tools.Mann, at 28. Maps for 1877 and 1886 show a "grind shop" and mill pond, near today's Meadowfield Drive. An 1884 Mann catalog refers to this site as "Willow Grove." This was the site of the Hall and Rawle mill, purchased by William Mann on November 20, 1847 (Fagley, at 13). Mann's Station was located on the river-left bank of Kish Creek. The plant was dismantled around 1970. William Mann Jr.’s residence sits at the end of Rosemont Ave, above the former works site. A short distance downstream was a second mill pond. Further downstream was Logan Iron and Steel Co. (now Standard Steel). Two of William's brothers – Harris and Robert – were put in charge of the Lower Shop as part of William Mann & Co. Harris would disappear on a business trip to Philadelphia in 1840. With his opportunities limited by William's sons, Robert left in 1847 to start his own business at Mill Hall. A flood in Oct 1847 hastened his departure.Mann, at 35. About 1845, Robert had a small shop in Reedsville where he employed two men to make edge tools, which was damaged by a flood. When William Jr. died in 1855, the Reedsville works were left to his sons, James H. and William III. They were only 22 and 18 years old. While on a business trip in 1876, William III would die tragically in a boiler room explosion of a steamboat on the Ohio River. Several of James’ sons ‒ Frank, Walter, William H., and Percy ‒ would later join the business.

Factory capacity in 1855 was 500 axes per day.Mann, at 9. Brand names included "William Mann Superior" and "William Mann’s Celebrated Axes." In March 1868, James added a trademarked label (no. D-2948), "The Red Warrior," which became a prominent name in the industry. Location was indicated by the wording, "Manufactured Near Lewistown Penna." James also pioneered use of colorful paper labels. By the 1880s, the Reedsville factory was turning out an average of 1,400 axes per day.Ellis, at 640. In November 1880 the plant was damaged extensively by fire. It took three months for production to resume.

In 1881, James acquired the Pennsylvania Axe Co., located at Cold Springs Forge near Tyrone in Blair County. This factory could produce about 400 axes per day and employed 40 workers. The Reedsville plant was expanded and steam power was added. Total capacity was now 2,000 axes per day.Fagley, at 16. Around 1889 the plant was damaged again by a flood, and then in 1890 the factories were purchased by the Axe Trust. The Reedsville plant continued to operate and James was made treasurer, while Frank was appointed plant superintendent. The plants at Yeagertown and Tyrone were closed as the Trust attempted to reduce overall industry capacity and increase prices. Production was consolidated at Beaver Falls and Glassport, near Pittsburgh.

The Reedsville factory was finally closed in late 1903. Remnants of the works are still visible along the banks of Kish Creek, including portions of a mill race, protective stone walls, and footings of the dam and railroad spur. Above the creek sits the Mann Mansion, built in 1858. Downstream are remains of bridge foundations for a trolley-line that operated between Lewistown and Reedsville from 1900 to 1932. On the second floor of the Mifflin County Courthouse hangs a large painting (dated 1905) of the once active plant.

Around 1901, James left the Trust and built a new plant in Yeagertown. Early brand labels used by James H. Mann Co. included the "Juniata Axe" and "Blue Juniata."Fagley, at 42. A fire destroyed the plant in 1911, but it was rebuilt using structural steel. After James died in 1904, his sons operated the plant until 1923, when it was sold to Collins. Reports are that Collins continued to produce axes at Yeagertown until 1927 or possibly as late as 1940.Lamond, at 10. Mann Ave exists today as a reminder of the town's industrial past and at the end of Rosemont Ave sits the William Mann Jr. Mansion.

Mill Hall, PA (1849–1890, 1891–1926) ‒ Robert Mann and Sons