Cowen Mill established in 1850 housed the manufacturing of everything from shoes to artillery shells in WWII burned yesterday. Closed since the 80s, it's a National Historical Landmark, one of many giant mills built along the river below the famous falls, harnessed to drive the mills.
I was driving on the other side of the river and saw the huge column of smoke, raced home and went on FB where several friends had taken phone pictures and explained quickly what was going on. Suddenly someone posted that a second building had caught fire- one of the largest buildings in Maine also around since the mid 1800s. Streets were being closed down left and right as authorities feared the whole city could be threatened.
It fell on Mark LaFlamme's shift at the Lewiston Sun Journal here, where you'll find his write up. I stole some pictures from the article to use here to give you some idea of the size of the place. A few years earlier a similar sized building behind it had burned. It had been bought for a song (19K) by the grandmother of one of my kids who had hoped to turn it into a huge all faith Spiritual center.
Some of you may be familiar with Bates bedspreads, an ornately woven bedspread of worldwide fame. Those buildings built Lewiston with it's strong French Canadian heritage. They cover several blocks of the city on the river and folks have done everything imaginable to keep them useful and alive. It is not hard to imagine knowing someone for 40+ years day after day after day working beside you-knowing their whole family for generations back and attending the same Roman Catholic churches. Cowen Mill was in that tradition.
There were plans to change it into a luxury hotel that never materialized. Sheraton built a hotel across the river in the town's parking lot ( there goes the view). But both cities have built parks beside the river a couple miles long and I hope this spot becomes part of that complex as it's right next to the Great Falls.
I found a winter photo of the mill to show how close to Great Falls it is ( winter shot of course).Below are the famous falls and a pciture of Bates mills to show you how huge and how much of the city they take up.
7 comments:
Saw it on the news this morning! Was in a big fire like that as an 8th grader in the tiny coastal town we lived in. Very scary for a while as we had no way to get out of harm's way except on a Swedish freighter. Fires like yours always dredge up uneasy feelings. Hope all firefighters are safe.
It was seriously one of the most intense fires I've ever witnessed. Bricks glowing red, fire roiling like something out of hell, parts of the building collapsing like thunder. Amazing. That's a hot corner of the city right there. Ten years ago, it was the Libby Mill right next door. More recently, the radiator shop exploded across the street after a natural gas leak. Catch me living in an apartment in that area.
FP: and wow. what if a freighter were not available at such a time.I remember you picts...wood wood wood right up the banks. A tinder box community.
Mark: I was instantly suspicious. All those empty old factories seem to be a liability to whomever owns them. City red tape has always dragged its heels on those properties. Being what they are, privately owned with public interests and historical standing, owners must be stuck with white elephants trying to get something done there.
Seems the original claim of three teenagers seen leaving the site just before the fire, has changed.
I recall the Libby building...couldn't give it away and that grandmother I knew bought it for less than 20k. It too was a huge but decaying property.,
What a shame. Such a beautiful old building. I've always dreamed of living in an old mill along a river somewhere; it seems such a romantic lifestyle.
I agree with Bob. I can't imagine they couldn't have converted it into a gorgeous apartment building.
Thanks for posting this.
XOXOXOXOXOXO
Bob and David, communities farther down the river have converted beautiful old giant paper and linoleum, mills into mini malls and senior low cost condos.
That's sad and also suspicious. I wish they could have converted them. Fires are so scary!
Post a Comment