The Yale expositor., 1921-05-19
Mrs. +. J. Howell Contributes
Another Interesting Story of
Our Early Days

Just a few more words about
the mill that Squire Grinnell
built. Mr.. Levi Morrill, sold the
mill to DR.. A. Howell For the
first four or five years it did a
good business, but other mills
began to spring up, in little burgs
that were starting in all direc-
tions as Brockway Centre had in
the past Peck, nine miles north
was where Samuel Welch, Pic
neer lumber man, was doing a
big business, it being nearer for
the northland with their saving
and grinding.
Samuel Welch was a resident of
Brockway, his home being 11a
miles south of BrOckway Centre.
He drove north to his place of
business in the morning and back
at night for many years.
William H. Palmer built an
other mill in town, and when the
two mills were running, it made
the farmer pretty sure he would
not have to wait so long for his
job or go home without it. The
old mill was sold to d. G. Williams
who continued to run it, he was
the last miller. In 81 the MAR
row Gauge" came to town. We
had railroad, but it went so far
to the north that it was not in
the town proper. So there was a
rush to the north end. Every one
wanted to be near the depot, and
by this change in affairs, the
south end was destined to stand
still until it could get its breath.
But it took a new lease of life
when Jesse A. Rapley bought IL
acres of land on the east side of
Mill creek from Jesse A. Morrill,
and surveyed out the lots on S.
Main street. All is not gold that
glitters and the north end soon
found out that a railroad has
some disadvantages when it runs
through your front or back door
yard, but handy when you want
to catch your train.
Samuel Welch moved his mill to
Brockway Centre to get near the
R. R. Another mill was built but
matters were finally settled so
that only one of them went into
service.
The machinery in ID G. Will
Jams mill was sold, and the shell
stood, a spectre of the past, but
soon it. too, was missing and peo-
pie often wonder nowadays why
the street on the north of my
home is called Mill street.
Three homes occupy the ground
that belonged to this mill,
homes beautiful added to Yale's
many beautiful homes.
Squire Grinnell, when he sold
his mill to John Stilson, went to
work and with w. d. Wear,
built woolen mill, had it run
ming full blast in III, making
good cloth and flannel to relieve
the people of the vicinity from
their never ending work with
wool. 1t did not last long. Dis
satisfaction c,rept in, they sold
out, the machinery was taken
away, our mill was gone until
81, when G Andreae & Sons
came to Yale. That was Squire
Grinnelps last venture, but he
had done his bit for Brockway
Centre. 1t attracted others and
now we have a woolen mill second
to none in the state.
We are making a journey to
Brockway and stop at Squire
Grinnell's gate to chat and rest
the horses. The road is good
with rail fence on either side
We pass James and Samuel
Boyce"s farm. Both were pio.
neer lumberTen, and both sold
their farms and went to Port
Huron to live. Jim sold his
mercantile business to William
II. Ballentine, another pioneer
merchant. Ballentine, in the
course Of events, sold out in
Brockway and moved up t
Brockway Centre, continuing
his business for number oi
years.
As we drive up to the Brock
way House, the travellers home
built the year before. a large
stage coach arrives, coming
from the southeast. 1t is thu
Port Huron stage, loaded inside
and out with passengers and bag
gage. It has made the trip ovel