Odds and Ends From The MUSEUM!
The story from the Lewiston Weekly Journal, Oct. 26, 1899 continues with part 3…the millsite (Note: spelling, capitalization, punctuation as written in the newspaper)
“After passing the townsite one comes to an open field. On the left are two stores, one of which is a drugstore and farther on is the most conspicuous of all the buildings, the office. This is a pleasant and commodious building. It has the accommodations of two mails each way per day and also has a telephone connecting it directly with the cities. In this building is the civil engineer’s room, in which are five draftsmen. A side track, in front of this, is built from the main line so the company with its two own locomotives, is hauling in large amounts of lumber, brick, steel and various kinds of supplies.
Near by is the site of the large mill, covering about eight acres. Here men and teams are crossing in every direction. Steam engines are running many derricks; steam drills are cutting into the rock, especially down in the deep wheel pit; steam shovels are taking away large embankments and excavating for solid foundations.”
The article continues with details including facts and figures such as: screen room 100 x 208 ft 3 stories high; beater room 72 x 294 ft 3 stories and basement; machine room 240 x 290 one story and basement; shipping room 50 x 290 one story; sulphite bldg. 1 to 4 stories high. The chimney was 23 ft square at base, 235 ft. high and built of German style. Most of the buildings were steel frame filled with brick.
There would be 40 grinders run by 4 water wheels and there would be 8 paper machines run by steam. Other machinery would run by electricity and the building would be lighted by electricity made by three 1500 kw generators. There is a detailed description of how the water would be supplied to the mill (the canal, penstocks, filter house and more).
“Workmen are sending for their families as soon as accommodations are furnished. On one day 15 families arrived which is not unusual; so that now from the most unexpected places children are likely to come merrily out of some footpath through the bushes like partridges.”
Mr. Charles Mullen of Old Town saw the vision of what could happen if a paper mill were constructed here in the forests of central Maine. He saw what could happen “if the waters of the Penobscot were cannelled across to Millinocket” to provide power for a large mill. He purchased the land and brought in Mr. H.E. Ferguson as chief engineer.
The 1899 article ends “with such men behind the idea, with the natural advantages, exhaustless forests, railroad facilities, it seems that within a few months there will spring within this forest a permanent village.”
Visit the museum to read more of this front-page story from 1899!
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