THE REPUBLICAN

November 6, 1891

 

FIRE FIEND’S FURY.

 

Destroys the Old Star Mills

Loss, $10,000.  Insured for $6,000.

 

 

 

            About eight o’clock Wednesday morning, the fire bell clanged out its alarm and it was soon discovered that the old Star Mills near the stone bridge was on fire in the top story.  The firemen and steamer were quickly on the grounds and two streams were soon pouring liquid spray on the flames, but owing to the inflammable character of the mill dust and dry timbers and lumber in the machinery, the mill was soon doomed to destruction and all that could be done was to save the warehouse and woodwork of the dam and flume adjoining.  The old hand engine was placed at the river and willing workers pumped on the brakes and a stream was used to wet down the mill barn now owned by A. G. Nelson.  During the progress of the fire innumerable sparks and flying fire brands lit over in the lumber yard and near the planing mill of A. G. Nelson & Co., but Mr. Nelson promptly provided for the emergency by getting a big supply of pails and forty or fifty men filled them with water and when a fire-brand came over ready to do its wicked work it would promptly be extinguished. Much praise is due firemen and citizens for the work performed, and as luck would have it the old steamer did good service, but had there been a second break-out in the vicinity the steamer would have had to have been moved to another reservoir, which would have consumed time and given the fire further spread, showing the necessity of a water-works system in fighting fire successfully.

            Quite a lot of feed and stuff was got out of the mill, belonging to W. C. Lord, but Olson & Yorkson whose lease expired a few weeks ago lost $150 or $200 worth of wheat and flour upon which the insurance expired just the day before.  A most unfortunate event for the boys.  The mill was undergoing repairs and being put in good order by W. C. Lord who had recently taken possession on his mortgage claim.  It was Mr. Lord’s intention to run the mill until such time as the property could be sold so as to make good his interest of $6,000 and a $4,000 interest held by Evan Townsend.  But the fire fiend has caused a sudden change and now all that is left is the water power, foundation and warehouse and $6,000.

INSURANCE

which is represented at I. P. Lord’s local agency in the following companies:

            Farmer’s Insurance Co. of York, Pa.                  $1,000

            Trader’s Chicago                                                2,000

            Milwaukee, Mechanic’s                                       1,000

            Fire Association, Philadelphia                               1.000

            German Insurance Co., Freeport, Ill.                     1,000

                                                                                    $6,000

            How the fire originated is a mystery, though chief of fire dep’t W. H. Baldwin, says he was just hitching up his horse to go to Ogdensburg, when he discovered smoke issuing from the roof and gable near the chimney.  In all probability it caught from a defect in the chimney, caused by burning soot which ignited the flour dust.  Others think it might have been caused by spontaneous combustion.  The mill was one of the oldest industrial landmarks of the city.  It was built originally by G. L.and W. C. Lord in 1851, and they ran it continually until after the fire which destroyed the Baldwin & Oborn mill in 1885.  Messrs. Baldwin & Bailey purchased the mill of Lord Bros. for $12,000 and soon after put several thousand dollars worth of improvements to it.  In 1889, the mill came into Rant Bailey’s possession and he turned it over to E. Coolidge on a bill of sale for money advanced for mill and grain buying expenses, and the whole thing was soon in the soup caused by the bank failure of E. Coolidge & Co., in Sept. 1889, and W. C. Lord foreclosed it and took the property in 1891.  It is not known just what will be done.  There is a fine site for a mill and it is not at all likely it will remain idle very long.  A mill or manufacturing enterprise of some kind should occupy that splendid water-power right soon.

            In the above picture you will notice the warehouse marked “X”; that is the building adjoining which was saved, although only ten feet from the main building, but the wind blew from the south-west which was favorable.  The lumber yard and planing mill is located just north of the Danish Lutheran church shown in the engraving.