Since its founding in 1752, Easton has seen surges and setbacks; spurts of growth and years of decline. Easton’s had more ups and downs than a Macy’s elevator at Christmas. Born at a time when nationalism and independence were taking root, Easton was involved in the American Revolution. With the advantage of geography at the confluence of two navigable rivers, Easton was front and center during the industrial revolution. Because of its proximity to both Philadelphia and New York City, it flourished in the 1920s with raucous nightlife and many speakeasies.
We first came to Easton during one of its “slow spells”. What we found were Eastonians who saw the potential of this city and who chose to volunteer and serve on committees, authorities, boards, organizations, and commissions. All in an effort to influence a bright and vibrant future for Easton. One of the collective goals was to preserve and re-purpose the old Simon Silk Mill. It took years of effort, planning, patience and innovation to get the project going. And this week, we returned to Easton and saw the finished product. WOW!!! This is a $100 million redevelopment project that incorporates apartments, artists’ studios and galleries, cafes, pubs, and boutiques. Let me show you how this turned out!
The R&H Simon Silk Mill opened in Easton in 1883. By 1900, it employed over 2,600. the mill closed in 1929 and fell into disrepair. The city of Easton acquired the complex in 2006.A piece of the old mill remains and displays the “raw material” of this redevelopment project.Today, SILK is home to artisans, crafters, and small business owners.The upper floors of Building K are one and two bedroom apartments. Retail spaces occupy the ground floors throughout the complex.The interior courtyard of an apartment building.These meters are visible on every building. Just goes to show how many new tenants have enlivened this complex!The Tucker Tea ShopThe Brick & Mortar Gallery is at the top of the staircase.The Gentlemen’s Barbershop is a beautiful retro-look shop.All the chairs are unique antiques.SILK Bridal is another unique shop that blends the industrial look of an old mill with modern touches and clever use of space.The displays are eye-catching.This is a beautiful space.The Easton Wine Project hand crafts their wines on site.They also have a fully stocked bar and an extensive lunch and dinner menu.You can watch the wine process as you dine.We couldn’t resist tasting the wines. Our favorites were Seyval (2nd from left), a light, fruity dry wine with citrus notes and a crisp finish. Traditions (1st on right) has a unique flavor with cherry and pepper and is medium bodied. It has a smooth bourbon finish.The Caprese Flatbread was a perfect lunch to accompany the tasting.Doesn’t this look just yummy!A Turkey Provolone Paninithe Owowcow ice cream shop was our stop for dessert.The choices were amazing!We managed to spend the entire day at SILK. ‘Twas a very pleasant experience!Later, I’ll tell you about the mill owner’s mansion in Downtown Easton.
Next, we’ll take a walk along the Karl Stirner Arts Tail.
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