The Springdale news., 1908-03-13
THE OLD
 WOOLEN MILL. One of the Landmarks of Spring dale Has this Week Been
 Demolished.


 5. N. Haxton Is this week de molishing the old building known as the Springdale woolen mills, and thus passes away ole of the old landmarks of tl1e town.
 Through the efforts of the late Joseph Holcomb and other pub- lie spirited citizens of the then small village of Springdale, W. B. Haxton and his son, $. N. Haxton, and his son-in-law, J. \. Armstrong, were in 1878 induced to come to the town and estab- fish woolen mill. These gem tlemen, who were originally from Indiana, We're then operating t mill at Wager, Benton county, by water power and did nothing but wool carding and spinning. They operated tile plant at Wager for about five years, and were contemplating buying tile water power there, which they had OIL ly leased, but Mr. Holeonb, be- liesing that such an enterprise would be of benefit to tile town, made number Of trips out there and finally induced them 10 come to Springdale. NIT. Holcomb 1 donated the lot on which the building was erected, and other citizens of the town gave dona- tions in the way of labor and money.
 The building was completed in 1879, and was a frame strue- ture 40X70 feet, two stories with a two-story ell, 19x24. The di- mension lumber for the building was sawed on the ground by MT. Haxton and his associates, who installed a saw mill outfit for the that purpose, and most of the saving was done by $. \. Hax- ton.
 The firm which conducted the woolen mills was known as w. B. Haxton & Go. They not on- ly did custom carding, spinning, etc., but also manufactured piece goods, such as james, l1ndseys, knitting yarns, blankets aud some casimeres. They operated eleven looms, four sets of cards and about +4o spindles, and during the busy season gave employ ment to about fourteen people. As this was the only mill of the kind in this section, people came here from a distance of 75 miles bringing their wool with them, and ln those days II was no un- usual sight to see q dozen fami- lies canped around the mill wait ing for their wool to be worked up. Naturally these people bought supplies while here. and NIT. Haxton tells The News that he remembers one family that spent s225 in the town on one trip. In addition to the eutsom work HaXton X Co. usually kept wagon or two on the road all the time taking orders and selling piece goods. While the mill vas all that was expected, so far as benefits to the town are concern ed, It was never much of q pay ing proposition to the owners. Mir. HaXton thinks this was due to the fact that the machinery which they installed was second hand and not of the latest in- proved patterns and the further fact that they were greatly handi capped for want of capital with which to operate.
 After remaining with the mill for six years Mir. Armstrong sold his interest to ]. E. S1auter, and few years ago $. N. Haxton became sole owner. The nill has not been operated for two years, and has not paid for ten years. Piece goods a number of years ago ceased to be sold through the retail stores, all now going to the tailor shops where they are made up. And If man wants pair of james pants he goes to the store and buys them instead of buying the cloth and having his better half make them.
 Mir. Haxton will use the lum- Der in the old building for the erection of residence on the southeast corner of the lot which will be 40x40 feet, two stories.