The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1896-02-07
THE OLD MILL BURNED.
Dewey & Stewards Flounng Mill makes a
$4,000 Blaze-Insured for $4,000.

About one o'clock Wednesday afternoon al
department and more than thousand specta
tors TO the old Touring mill OF Dewey & Stewar
at the west end OF Exchange street, which IL
spite of heroic efforts became an unsightly mass
of smouldering ruins in less than three hours
the loss being close TO $4,000.
In less than ten minutes three streams, par
OF the time four streams one OF them a
double one, were throwing torrents of water or
the east side and corners and at lao two addi
tional streams from the steamer Silsby were
playing on the south and west sides of the build
ing Ladders were used 80 that water was ap
Piled, in spite Of the densest smoke, to the
second floor. The crowd saw nothing but smoke
which poured out of the top of the building in
clouds which looked like ostrich plumes piled
mountains high. light breeze fromthe so nth
carried the smoke towards the north and increas'
ing carried brands as far as west Oliver street.
| 1t was fully an hour before the flames were seen
| and then they shot hundred feet or more into
the air. The Flagstaff on the south end was
placed there thirty-seven years ago and sue.
cumbed only after the flames had played about
1t for an hour when it laid itself down quietly
and was consumed by the flames. That the
building burned so slowly was largely due to its
being made of hewn. oalxen timbers and quar-
tered'oak studding throughout.
The office furniture and books were saved and
the two safes we're kept free from danger by q
liberal supply of water in that vicinity. Persist
ent and intelligent efforts of the firemen in
charge of the double stream prevented the
warehouse, at the north of the mill, containing
several thousand dollars worth OF hay from
burning, it's damages being estimated at 800.
Before three o'clock the fire was under con-
troll, the intense heat was subsiding and the
crowd gradually lost interest leaving the fire
men to finish their work of extinguishing the
blaze. Chief Smith, although heb as been i'll for
two months, answered the alarm and directed
the firemen with his usual foresight
This mill was an old landmark but was not
the first one built on this site. The first mill,
run by water-power and using the old fashioned
mill-stopes, was built by Daniel Ball in 1887 and
was burned in 1849, the fire, as it was supposed.
being incendiary. A man named Fox was tried
and acquitted of having done the deed. The
site was purchased from Mr.. Ball by firm COM
posed of II. ID. Dewey and John Stewart, who
built the present mill In 1850, making additions
to it in 1858 and 1875.
This mill was run by water-power until 1869,
when it was entirely remodeled and steam DOW
er was emplo yed; about 1881 the roller process
was introduced Between 1860 and 1869 the
water lessened greatly and the earlier introduce
tion OF steam would have vastly increased the
worth of the concern.
When the mill was erected Owosso was lit
tie village without railroad and flour had to be
carted as far as Pontiac and Detroit Mr.. Dew
ey said he had bought wheat there for forty
two years at prices varying from 81 cents in
1858 to 1886 per bushel in 1865 and had sold -four
at the same dates from So 3S to $l6 90 per barrel
and that in those days when wheat was cheap
and commodities dear the people seemed as
happy as now, social equality being greater.
The mill commanded the patronage of the coun-
try around here for thirty or forty miles. AT
one time the Ann Arbor railroad intended to
run spur to this mill along the old millrace
and do its switching between o p. m. and a.
m, but the city authorities vetoed it. The site
is an excellent one and with railway advantages
added none could be better
John Stewart died last April and the mill is
now owned by It. d. Dewey, who controls the
property and owns one-half of it, the Stewart
estate owning the other half.
The building was insured for $500, of which
1880 was placed on the mill proper, and 500 on
the engine house and contents. There are two
policies, one for So, 600 in the Miler's National
and s., 500 in the Ohio Miller's Insurance com
pany. The hay warehouse, damaged 500 worth
is covered by $1,000 policy.
The loss of the mill building is $40 GOO and
Mr.. Dewey says younger hands than his must
rebuild it, If at all
Messrs. G. E. Miller and w. j. Hoxse, two en-
terprising young men of Vernon, leased the
mill last June and have worked up very good
business. The contents lost were valued at
$4,000, covered by insurance to the amount of
$500, OF which $4,000 is in the Ohio Miller's
Mutual, and $1,000 in the Saginaw Valley
Mutual Fire Insurance company.
The cause OF the fire was, in all probability, a
hot box on the second floor. The alarm was
turned in by the teanster, T.. p. Miller, who
having just entered the first floor door noticed
smoke and Immediately gave the alarm.
The head miller, W. e. Guyant was at dinner
at the time and was surprised to find the mill
on fire, he having been all through it less than
half hour before the fire whistle sent forth its
unearthly, preliminary screeches.
T. ID. Dewey, who has been i'll for over year
and is well along in years. bears the loss with
creditable equanimity and commends the
efforts of those who tried to save the property.
The engine house and contents are injured
only to about sl75 worth The sm oke stack has
fallen, and, though large portions Of the walls
remain. standing, the old building is CHASTITY
ruin, sight which, it is to be hoped, some bust
ness enterprise will replace with q new struc
ture
"Wit and Wisdom of the CrayOn, Is the
subject Of the next lecture in the Y. M. Q.
A. Star Course. 1t will be given on Friday