Downtown East in Minneapolis in Hennepin County, Minnesota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Washburn Mill "A" Memorial

Photographed By McGhiever, August 4, 2023

1. Washburn Mill "A" Memorial Marker

Inscription.

This mill was erected in the year 1879 on the site of Washburn Mill "A" which was totally destroyed on the second day of May 1878, by fire and a terrific explosion occasioned by the rapid combustion of flour dust. Not one stone was left upon another and every person engaged in the mill instantly lost his life. The following are the names of the faithful and well tried employees who fell victims of that awful calamity. Viz.
E.W. Burbank, Cyrus W. Ewing, E.H. Grundman, Henry Hicks, Chas. Henning, Patrick Judd, Chas. Kimball, Wm. Leslie, Fred. A. Merrill, Edwd E. Merrill, Walter Savage, Ole Shie, August Smith, Clark Wilbur.

Labor, wide as the earth, has its summit in heaven.

Erected 1879.

Topics. This historical marker and memorial is listed in these topic lists: Disasters • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical date for this entry is May 2, 1878.

Location. 44° 58.757′ N, 93° 15.415′ W. Marker is in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in Hennepin County. It is in Downtown East. Marker is on West River Parkway east of Portland Avenue, on the right when traveling east. The marker is mounted above the north entrance to what is now the Mill City Museum. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 704 S 2nd Street, Minneapolis MN 55401, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking

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distance of this marker. The Washburn A Mill (a few steps from this marker); Did You Notice a Plaque Outside This Entrance? (a few steps from this marker); A Milling District Timeline (a few steps from this marker); The West Side Mills (a few steps from this marker); What is Urban Archaeology? (within shouting distance of this marker); Beauty and Nature at the Falls (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); A Changing Landscape (about 400 feet away); Tailrace Skyline (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Minneapolis.

Regarding Washburn Mill "A" Memorial. The Mill City Museum is built into the ruins of the second Washburn Mill "A", which closed in 1965 and was greatly damaged by fire in 1991 while vacant.

Also see . . . The Great Mill Disaster on Wikipedia. (Submitted on August 21, 2023, by McGhiever of Minneapolis, Minnesota.)

Washburn Mill "A" Memorial above the entrance to the second Washburn "A" Mill, now Mill City Museum image. Click for full size.

Photographed By McGhiever, August 4, 2023

2. Washburn Mill "A" Memorial above the entrance to the second Washburn "A" Mill, now Mill City Museum

Credits. This page was last revised on August 25, 2023. It was originally submitted on August 21, 2023, by McGhiever of Minneapolis, Minnesota. This page has been viewed 69 times since then and 15 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 21, 2023, by McGhiever of Minneapolis, Minnesota. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.