The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-05-04
"Reminiscences. of ar Octogenarisn.
THE STEAM SAW MILLS OF VIII
NINGTON.

mer years was immense, and II Is still
lucrative though not to so great a de-
| gree as of old, as its character and ma
ture ave greatly changed since its in
cipicncy. Then the product OF the mills
found a ready market at renumera,ive
prices in the West Indies and South
America, bringing in return, coin, for
| eign exchange or the produce Of those
lands. which latter was equivalent to
money as it generally commanded a
ready sale. and thus all Of that large
amount Of available funds was distri-
buted freely mons the people at home.
l Every interest felt its Influence and
| while ii is true that most of those who
| owned and operated the mills realized
| fortunes yet its benefits to the cOmmu-
| nifty at large were so generally distrlb-
| uted as to give tone and a healthy
| impetus to trade and investments. 1t
| is difficult to determine which has been
| of more benefit to Wilmington, naval
! stores or its lumber business, the latter
| we think. for the reason that the pro-
| duct of the former has become exhaust
ed while the latter is still carried on
with its original vigor and energy.
| Like most great undertakings it was
in it's beginnings confined to a limited
area and with only 3 local enquiry, but
as the products of the mills became
known abroad there sprang UP a de-
| mand which frequently taxed their re-
| sources to their utmost capacity and
which still continues to the present
time. While there may not be mil
lions in it" just now, it is yet a most
widely extended and profitable bust
ness, and properly conducted. seldom
fails to yield generous returns.
At the suggestion of some who LAY
thought hat a brief mention Of the
pioneers in that great enterprise which
was established here nearly four score
years ago might not prove altogether
uninteresting we indite the following:
The first steam saw mill erected in
Wilmington was put up on the western
bank Of the Cape Fear river nearly OPP
posite the foot OF Chestnut street by an
Italian, named Nazareth, in 1919 OF
20. SOOn after it's completion he dis
posed of it to Mr.. H. B.. Howard and
removed from Wilmington, and what
his future was. is unknwn to any OF
the p%resenat day. Mr.. Howard operat-
ed the mill for a year or two when 1t
was destroyed by fire and he did not
rebuild but disposed of the site to other
parties.
At the southern limit Of the town Mr..
ia - " aHih az
was and still is KNOW by the name
Of the Cowan mill. and it was in that
locality that the first ship was built in
Wilmington or perhaps in North Car
DINA. She was named the Eliza and
Susan and made several voyages to
Europe under the command Of Captain
Huntington who is we'll remembered
by many of our citizens.
Mr.. McIlheny disposed OF that prop
erty To the late CantaiD Gilbert Potter
who carried on the business for some
years in his own name until Joined by
his ~son-in-law. Mr.. EdWard kidder,
when under the firm name of Potter q
Kidder it became widely extended and
was known at home and abroad as one
of the most conservative and reliable
houses engaged in that business. Upon
the retirement of Captain Potter from
the active duties of life. Mr.. Silas n.
Martin became a partner with Mr.. Kid
der and the firm under the name Of
Kidder & Martin vas for q number of
years the most active and prominent
house in that business in the south,
and were eminently successful. 1t is
now owned and operated by George
w. Kidder. Esq, under the name OF
Edward Kidder's Son.
Captain Potter in early life had fol-
lowed the sea and commanded ships,
and was a very active n energetic
specimen Of stalwart manhood. and
among other qualities he possessed, was
a voice remarkably deep and powerful
and resonant in it's like the
tones Of a French horn. when he had
a mind to tune it. The writer trusts
he may be pardoned for mentioning a
little incident in this connection which
occurred many years & which still
fingers in his memoir and in which
that voice played quite a conspicuous
part.
It was late one night, in the early
spring time of the year, when the town
bell, there was but one bell at that
time, rang out the fire alarm. The in
habitants were asleep at the time, but
at the first clangor Of the bell they
down to the old court house
which then stood at the intersection Of
Front and Market streets and was the
general gathering place OF the citizens.
each asking the other where the fire
was as they had not been able to locate
it, but none seemed to know. A crowd
soon gathered on the street n there
was great noise and confusion, the bell
ringing necessarily amidst shouts from
the populace where's the fire, where's
the fire" The inevitable small boy
was there of course in all of his glory.
and was conspicuous by the noise and
racket he kicked up, but no n could
answer the inquiry, which was on every
lip, as to where the fire was. Suddenly
an upper window in the hotel adjoining
was fiercely thrown open with a crash.
a head protruded and then a s~tentorian
voice like a bugle's blast a n out above
the hideous din and uproar in COM
manding tones lin the neighborhood
of nv mill" There was no need for
further enquiry and there was none
the crowd rushed off to the scene OF
the co~nfagration, which was SUI
enough found to be. as indicated by
that voice in the neighborhood Of that
mill"
Prior to his election as governor
Edward B. Dudley and p. K. Dickin-
son under the firm name of Dudley &
Dickinson owned the adjoining mill,
Mr.. 0. G.. Parsley subsequently pur-
chasing an interest in il. At one time
Messrs. Billiard & Huntington owned
nd ran it, and finally it passed into
he possession Of Messrs. Pierce & Dud
ley. The 49, / mill in that portion OF