History of Vernon NY

Preserving and Sharing Vernon NY's History

Pohl’s Engine Works

Founded: January 1, 1894

Location: 4551 Verona St, Vernon, NY, USA

Other names:

George D. Pohl Manufacturing Company

Overview

One of the preeminent internal combustion engine makers of their day, the factory churned out engines on the banks of the Sconondoa at Verona Street from 1898-1918.


Details

“In 1898, [Vernon Mayor J.J. Bartholomew] persuaded Pohl to move his company [from Ava] to Vernon with the incentives of free land to build on and an adjacent, established railroad spur to ship engines far and wide. Prior to that, the nearest transportation means available for shipping Pohl engines from Ava were a railroad station and the Black River Canal in Boonville, about 10 hilly miles from Ava. In addition, the land in Vernon bordered on Sconondoa Creek. Every manufacturing factory needed a moving stream to carry away waste in that era and the creek served the purpose well.” – Woody Sins

Pohl’s Advanced engines, including the initial “hit or miss” type which only fired when the governor fell below a certain speed, were powerful, economical and widely used in mills, factories, washing machines, electric lighting plants, and pumping among others.

Read more
Gas Engine Magazine: https://www.gasenginemagazine.com/community/farm-shows/george-d-pohl-manufacturing-company/
OC Web: https://oneida.nygenweb.net/photographs/pohl.html
http://vintagemachinery.org/mfgindex/imagedetail.aspx?id=6757

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