The Grange advance., 1874-01-14
Red Wing Mills.
A LITTLE HISTORY.

LITTLE HISTORY,
The building Of what is now the "Re
Wing Mills" was suggested by the prese1
Secretary to Mr.. Hill of this city who 6
once joined heartily in the enterprise. Thi
was on the 18th or 18th day of February
1873. Howe Brothers. the proprietors O
the Bluff sawmill were consulted at one
with regard to the erection of such mil
Immediately above their saw mill, SO tha
the waste sawdust and slabs from thei
mill could be used as fuel for the grist mill
These gentlemen suggested that the com
pany which was proposed to be formed
should buy out the saw mill and lumber
business and run the two mills in connec
ton.
This proposition was acceeded to, and on
the 18th day Of February, Messrs. Howe
entered into written contract with Messrs
B. B. Herbert and D. c. Hill, whereby thew
agreed to sell their mill for stipulated
amount within fixed time to stock COM
pany, for the purpose Of erecting and ope-
rating in connection Herewith of a grist
mill. The plan was to form Joint stock
company, with majority Of the stock in
the hands of the farmers, the originators of
the scheme believing this would be for the
best interests Of the country as we'll as of
the city. On the following Monday the
gentlemen first named started in the country
for the purpose Of soliciting pledges for
stock. The weather turned cold, the roads
became slippery and the horses lame, and
after struggle Of three days with the
cold, and the piercing winds, in which the
winds and weather came off the conquerors,
they returned home, and went to work
through articles in the papers, through per-
sonal solicitation, and by circulars to which
the signature of the leading men through
out the county were obtained, to create
sentiment in favor of the enterprise which
seemed to them SO important to the welfare
of both city and country
a canvass was made for conditional
pledges for stock; Mr.. VIM. Howe aiding
in the canvass. On March 25th, pre-
liminary meeting was held Of which E. Il.
Wilder was President, and B. B. Herbert
Secretary. At this meeting it was report
ed that sixty-tour thousand dollars had
been pledged toward making up the capital
stock; 1t was decided that COMPANY
should be formed, that the name should be
8 Red Wing Mills and committee was
appointed to draft articles of incorporation.
An adjourned meeting was held on March
18th. OF which L. L. Baker was chairman.
at which incorporators were named. art
lcles OF incorporation signed and a CON-
mlttee appointed to obtain renewal Of
and additional subscriptions for stock. con.
sisting Of J. NJ. Hodgman, B. B. Herbert.
D. {. Hill, 0. 0. Hegna and E. L. Baker.
Subsequent meetings were held on April
I'd and 1th, and finally on Saturday.
April 18th, 1873, at which meeting a per-
manent organization was effected. and T.
l. Wilder was elected President. and B. E.
Herbert, Secretary. The committee pre-
viously appointed to canvass for subscrin-
tlons, reported at said meeting, that there
had been S88,65O subscribed to the capital
stock Of the association. Vim. Howe. r r
Sheldon, Z. 7. Wilder, J. NJ. Hodgman and
T.. l.. Baker, were at that meeting elected
as Board of Directors. The Board Of III
rectors held Il subsequent meeting and
elected L. B. Sheldon, President: b. 3.
Herbert, Secretary aud A. Howe, sr.,
TREASURER, and said gentlemen still remain
in the same Offices as at that neetino
elected.
AT the time Of organization the company
consisted of ninety-two members. with
$50. 300 stock actually subscribed: the COM
pany has since been increased to lO4. the
capital stock is 100000 The COMPANY
is organized under 'An Act relating to Man
ufacturing Corporations, approved March
1th, 1878. Excavations were commenced
for
THE BUILDING
on the 2sth of April under the supervision
Of Mr.. 4. Danielson. The building is set
ON the river bank just above the old saw,
mill at the foo- Of Barn Bluff. It is bui,t
Of the very best quality Of stone and brick.
there being one story of stone in front and
three at the sides and rear. Particular
care was taken to have the foundations laid
solid and firm. The building is 6lxso feet
and five stories high, with cupola on the
top l6x2O and twelve feet high. Besides