The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1912-03-09
IWilliamstoWn's mill Village"
Section T. Saned !.
T.. BUILDINGS LOST
George w. Lynde, the Owner, Carried
Insurance of $4,000 and the Loss Is
Estimated at More Than Double
That Amount.

WiiiGmstown, March 9--One of this
towns leading industries was wiped out,
and many cottages were threatened, in
a fire which broke out last evening in
the Lyme mills at Mill village" and
which burned unchecked until the three
mills were laid fiat, causing a loss which
is estimated at $1,000, ON which there
was an insurance OF $1,000
The fire was discovered by Albert
Norris shortly after 9 o'clock, and the
alarm was given by telephone and the
church bell m the main village. The
FIRE had made such start that it was
sccal to be impossible to save the mills,
anG the efforts of Fire Chief Frank
Canning and large force of volunteers
were directed toward saving nearby
houses. At one time, word was sent
to the Barre central fire station; but
as there are no hydrants here it woult
have been of no avail for the firemer
to come from there with apparatus
Chief Gladding Of the Barre department
offered suggestions as TO methods for
saving the surrounding property, and
aided by favorable wind, the local
fire fighters were able to save the cot
tages.
The house Of Frank Bacon was the
most in danger as it was located just
across the road from the large build
ing formerly used as polishing mill
ana later as storage for sawdust. 1t
wac about thirty feet away. At first
there was no wind, but later a breeze
sprang up from the south which car
ritd the flames away from the direc-
tion OF the nearest houses, thus averting
far greater loss Meanwhile the mills
burned rapidly the mill going down
first then the gristmill and finally the
polishing mill
The polishingmll had not been oper-
ated for some time. The gristmill was
in operation last fall, hut had been
idle recently. The sawmiI was in full
ops ration and had been doing consid
cradle business in saving up logs from
wide territory, Most of the lum-
her of other parties had been carried
away. so that their loss will be small;
but Mr. Lyude had about 800 feet
Of lumber piled nearby, which was lost.
The cause of the fire is not known.
When the workmeu left for the day,
the engine was attended as usual. and
everything was thought to be in safe
shape. Mr. Lynde, who lives on the
west HILL was in the village at the
time the fire broke out attending an
and he was one of the
first to arrive at the mills. He re.
ports that the engine and boiler were
located about 80 feet from the center
of the sawmill, and when she arrived
the greater part Of the fire. seemed to
b. III the center of the mill. The roof
faI1inr IN at that
Mr. Lvnde's insurance was carried as
follows; 81 500 in the Niagara company
OF New York, $500 in the Equitable
of Providence and $1,000 in the Bos-
ton Insurance company The insurance
does not. of course. nearly cover the
less on the buildings and equipment.
Asked as to rebuilding Mr.. Lynde stat
ed to-day that he was uncertain. but
that undoubtedly the polishingmill
would not be rebuilt. and perhaps not
the gristmil He said that Williams-'
town needs sawmill, but whether he
should be the one to supply it he was
rot prepared to say today.
The original building was the grist
min built about 50 years ago and un-
Usually well-equipped for custom work.
This contained three sets Of stones, one
for wheat one for corn and one for
mixed grain and feed of all kinds; also
/, wheat bolt for making flour cobcrack-
n, cleaning sieves etc, The property
was bought in 1856 by George w. Lynde.
rhc added steam power to the water
Lat had been the only power and built
.hc sawmili This was furnished with
arge circular saw, shingle saw, planer-
,dger. and slab saw There was also
i band saw in the building directly
over the engine, and connecting the
lev. mill with the old