Waterpower

Waterpower. Where The Rivers Meet. The Flat River has provided water power for numerous industries. Little evidence remains today of the large factories that once lined the east and west banks below the Main Street dams. , Hooker Grist Mill (Forest Mills) was built on this site in 1847 by Cyprian Hooker. Moving water turned the Leffel turbines that you see to your left; they in turn spun millstones which ground wheat into flour. The mill changed hands several times finally consolidating with King Milling in 1896. It was torn down to make way for a city parking lot in 1965. , Lowell Mills (Superior Mills) were built to your right, on the west bank, by Hatch and Craw in 1867. King Milling Company purchased it in 1890 and replaced the millstones with a roller process. On March 7, 1943, disaster struck, the mill burned! Against great obstacles due to World War Il, owner William C. Doyle secured government permits, materials and recruited labor to rebuild. Just 10 days after the mill resumed operation in 1945, he died. His son, King Doyle, was released from the US Navy to become president of the firm at age 23. 3. Today, King Milling remains a family owned business and is believed to be the oldest continually operating gristmill in Michigan. , Lowell Woolen Mills were built just south of the Hooker Mill on the east side of the river in 1867 by C.A Clark. Water power propelled the machinery which filled the two story building and its basement. After sheep were sheared on nearby farms, the fleeces were brought to the mill to be scoured (washed), mechanically carded, combed, knitted, spun, dyed, and woven into "as good woolen cloths as any Michigan mills." , Lowell Cutter Company was founded by Robert Flanagan and A J. Peckham in 1886. Waterpower was delivered through a race (channel) which diverted river water under Main Street to the factory. They made horse drawn sleighs, buggies, delivery wagons and surreys. This factory became Lowell's largest industry and the country's largest manufacturer of cutter and sleighwoods producing thirty thousand bodies annually in 100 styles by 1909. , Timeline , 1847 , First dam built to create waterpower , July 4, 1848 , First gristmill began operation (Hooker Mill) , 1867 , Lowell Mills/Superior Mills built on west side of river Lowell Woolen Mills built on east side , 1880 , Forest Mills replaced millstones with roller mills , 1886 , Lowell Cutter Factory built , 1890 , King Milling Co. bought Lowell Mills, installed roller mills , 1896 , King Milling bought Forest Mills , 1904 , Woolen Mills building bought by Lowell Cutter Factory , The Dams , Flat river flows 70 miles from Lakeview to Lowell with a fall of 300 feet. Two dams were built here. This, the west dam, supplied power to turbines under King Milling Company. The east dam supplied power to Hooker (Forest) Mills, Lowell Woolen Mills, and Lowell Cutter Factory. (1939), In 1890 King Milling purchased this mill called Superior Mills on the west side of the river. A fire on March 7, 1943, burned the mill. It was the coldest day of the year (-15 degrees F) so water sprayed on the fire immediately froze., Lowell Cutter Company buildings stretched from South Monroe St. to the river. All buildings were painted red with white trim. The power plant with its two chimneys and the iln were in the center. The bottom photo shows employees in 1904. The cutter factory employed 90 people. Henry Ford offered to buy the company but was turned down., Hooker Mill/Forest Mills/King Milling Co. was located to your left where the parking lot is now. Cyprian Hooker bult the front part in 1847-48. The mill changed hands several times and the name was changed to Forest Mills. After King Milling purchased it in 1896, the mill ground corn. (c1908), Lowell Woolen Mills were built south of the Hooker/Forest Mills in 1867. Wool cloth, yarns, and knit good were made there. They sold flannels, red flannel, sheeting, yarns, mitts, stockings, socks, winter shirts and pants. A train trestle spur ended at the mills.