The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1923-08-02

Ian had married Joshua Williams cou-
sin. This led him to visit Skowhe-
gan and finally to establish scythe
business. which was continued by the
Nolan family until about 1907. Out
OF this also grew an ak manufaetur-
ing business in which Robert Will
liams was interested for time. With
him were associated John Allen and
man by the name of Steward.
About 1870 a wooden building, on
northerfy side of Mill street, which
had been built the year or two pre-
vious on the present location of the
First Anderson mill was destroyed by
fire. This had been built for and
conducted as a foundry and machine
shop. Probably the foundry and ma
chine shop business had not been car
ried on at this location previous to
the erection of this building.
Henry u. Mitchell in December l922,
while having some memory of this
building as a small boy, was not Ger
tain as to the people connected with
It, At the time it burned he was
living on West Front street In the
house now occupied by Freeman HON.
sted. His family knew nothing about
the fire. which occurred in the night.
His father, r. L. Mitchell, had some
tools in one of the buildings and in
the excelsior mill across the road,
which was destroyed at the same time.
Simeon Gould, his son-ih-law, Frank
Kitchen and possibly Samuel Cleve-
land, may have been Interested in
the construction of this building and
in the business carried on there. Seth
Fletcher was a machinist in those
days. He may have worked for or
been interested with the people above
named
Mr.. Mitchell knows nothing as to
the construction of this mill or who
manufactured excelsior there. He
does recall that Isiah Bartlett and
Samuel Cleveland manufactured horse
rakes, of the wooden tooth variety.
This rake was patented. 1t had a
self-dumping devise.
Mr.. Mitchell recalls building close
under the hill on the southerly and at
the easterly end of Mill Street, which
he remebers as the skate factory of
C. A. Williams Son. 1t was doubted
ly built for this purpose but Mr..
Mitchell does not recall the time OF
this first building. 1t was burned
during Mr.. Mitchell's boyhood and re-
built. The. second structure was
there until destroyed by fire in very
recent years. About the time Mr..
Mitchell first recalls was 1874, the
skate business declined and soon after
ward C. A. Williams & Son COMMENCED
the manufacture of hatchets and ham,
mers. In part of the lower floor OF
this building, George Downing carried
on a machine shop after the constitute
ton of the other foundry above men
toned. Mr.. Downing was only there
a short time, perhaps two or three
years.
Mt Mitchell recalls the grist mill
located on the southerly bank of the
Kennebec River, just east of the
mouth of Currier Brook and practical
above referred to, operated by David
McDerm.tt Mrs. McDermitt may
have had predecessors. or this Mr..
Mitchell cannot recall. Mr.. Nc
Dermitt sold out to Joseph Buker,
probably early in the 1905.
Mr.. Mitchell thinks the grist mill
was probably bought by parties who
built pulp mill on the same location.
This was undoubtedly about 1881.
Mr.. Mitchell recalls sash and blind
factory on the southerly bank of the
Kennebec River just west of the grist
mill but still on the easterly side of
Currier Brook. When he first re-
calls this building it was occupied by
C. N. Bragg's father in the manufac-
ture of shovel handles.
Mr.. Mitchell's father, r. L. Mitchell,
was born in Norridgewock and came
here as a child about 1880. His first
manufacturing activity was making
wagons. Mr.. Mitchell thinks that
he located on East Front Street on the
east side OF Currier Brook. This was
probably for a short time only. He
was then associated with Samuel
Gould In the mill wright business, To-
Gated for a short time on Mill Street,
probably in the old White, so-called,
sash and blind factory just referred to.
Mr.. Mitchell recalls an axe business
established by Barnet Wharf in a
building on the southerly side of Mil
Street and westerly bank of Currier
Brook. Probably Samuel Cleveland
associated himself with Mr.. Wharff
at sometime In this business. Mr..
Cleveland closed up the business at
any rate after Mr.. Wharff's death.
r. L. Mitchell, above referred to for
some years had charge OF a wood
working crew in the c. A. Williams
& Son Company skate factory and the
wood for the skates were made under
his charge.
Sanford Chase, with others in CO.
partnership (whose names are not al
present available) occupied the east
ern lower floor Of the White and Dane
building for some years previous to
1887, manufacturing croquet sets and
childrens rolling hoops. Mr.. Chase
was q tall man and had quite a re-
putation locally as a singer.
All of these industries have dis
appeared and probably will never
again be renewed In Skowhegan.
They were very important in their
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