THE OLD MILL

One of my past posts told the story of the drowning of the young wife and two small children of Professor F.M. Shippey near the old mill.  Following that post I had several comments or questions concerning the mill itself and so I decided to delve into the history of the business. I grew up in the neighborhood where the mill was located and remember hiking in the area near the river as a child.

THE ERECTION OF THE MILL

In 1865 at the time the Civil War was still raging, a Mr. M. M. Foster began the construction not only of a saw mill but also the creation of a dam.  The mill was nestled on the south side of the bend of the river just west of the bridge across Old Mill Drive (which later became known as Highway 169) and north of today’s Veterans Park Drive.  In its early days, John Heckart, father of Sarah Call, operated a turning lathe there which he used to manufacture many pieces of furniture and other specialty items. 

Note wooden bridge over river

The original dam was constructed of brush and dirt by Mr. Foster which many locals believed to be unwise.  They were proven right when an enterprising muskrat burrowed his way through the dam.  Within an hour the rushing torrents swept away the dam and rolled the mill into the river.  Thankfully, J. E. Stacy came to the rescue, purchasing a half interest in the property.  With the help of the community a more substantial dam was installed.  The building itself was enlarged and a stone for grinding flour was added. 

Jerome E. Stacy

This was the first flour mill in the area.  Up to this time grain had to be hauled to either Iowa Falls or Fort Dodge to be ground.  There were no mills to the west or north of Algona.  Charging $5 per sack of flour, Stacy found grist milling to be a very profitable part of the business. 

Stacy bought out Foster’s interest in 1868 and eliminated the saw mill entirely.  D. W. King later purchased a half interest in the mill and actually ran it for many years.  In 1881 J.B. Jones purchased King’s interest and remained as co-owner under the firm name “Stacy & Jones.”  These partners would go on to operate the mill for 16 years.

1896 plat map showing mill and all three dams

During Jones tenure, two additional dams were installed to head off the river from cutting a new channel across the flat.  The old dam by the mill was also rebuilt on several occasions.  All of this came at a great cost to the owners.  It was estimated that over the years $5000 was spent in construction and maintenance of the dams alone.  They also enlarged the building, installed a boiler, an engine and improved machinery.

Note train on hill in background

The building was about 40x60 feet on the ground and 30 feet high.  The engine house was 18x30 feet.  The old portion of the building was framed in oak.

In 1897 Jones sold his interest to J.E. Stacy, making him once again the sole owner.  The following year Stacy sold a majority interest to Farmers’ Milling Company for $8,000.  The company had 125 shareholders with a board of directors consisting of C. Rickard, Myron Schenck, J.W. Wadsworth, C. Byson, H.W. Dryer, C.E. Heise, J.E. Stacy, James Nolan, and Sam Steussy.

A PHOTOGRAPHER’S DREAM 

The mill became a favorite for photographers of all skill levels.  It had been constructed on a scenic bend in the Des Moines river and the dam had created a mill pond nearby which was a popular spot for fishing, boating and swimming in the summer and ice skating in the winter.  The river in the area and the island to the north of the mill were lined with trees and shrubbery giving them a park-like appearance—just perfect for picture taking.  Postcards of children fishing along the banks of the river show the old mill as a backdrop and photos of the landmark graced calendars and other area advertising.

Metal bridge provided good view of dam

The bridge to the east of the mill was a favorite spot for spectators to view the dam, the mill and other activities in the area.  Visitors would sometimes spend several relaxing hours leaning on the side of the bridge watching the water tumble over the dam.

Unfortunately, the dam was also the site of several tragedies through the years.  In addition to the drowning of Mrs. Shippey and her children, Claude and Delta, a young Civil War veteran, O.A. Atwood, lost his life while swimming there on a hot summer afternoon.

A PIONEER RELIC GONE

While getting ready to turn in for the night around 10:30 p.m. on Friday, January 31, 1902, C.E. Heise happened to look out the north windows of his home located on the hill just to the south and noticed flames at the mill.  In a short time, many neighbors from the area rushed to the site.  Had buckets been available, it was theorized that the main part of the mill might have been saved.  However, by the time the fire department responded the flames were so hot the firemen could not get close enough to attempt to extinguish the fire.  The fact that the mill was situated beyond the water system of the city also limited the response.  Although not mentioned in the news articles of the time, the normal temperatures of a January night would surely have hampered any firefighting efforts.

The mill was soon engulfed with flames shooting up fifty feet high with the burning timbers giving off a white heat.  The main part of the building collapsed about 11:30 p.m. The intensity of the fire was sufficient to warp the new steel bridge over Old Mill Road slightly, but did not cause any serious damage. 

So how did the fire start?  Its origin was never officially pinpointed.  The mill had been closed that Friday for machinery repair.  When employees left that evening, there was no fire anywhere about the building nor had there been all day.  The blaze itself began on the north end of the engine room, away from the coal supply. 

There were several theories.  J.E. Stacy believed that someone fishing started a fire to keep warm and then did not fully extinguish the blaze before leaving.  The mill was banked with manure which could easily have ignited when an unattended fire spread to its location. 

A gentleman by the name of George Hollins claimed that when he was on his way home about 8 o’clock that evening he saw what appeared to be a lantern moving in the second story.  Had someone broken into the mill and started the fire?

Others thought the slack coal in the engine house spontaneously combusted causing the inferno.

Whatever the cause of the fire, it was soon discovered that the insurance policy covering the facility had expired just a few days before the event.  The milling company was incorporated which protected the private property of the stockholders with the exception of several board members who had guaranteed promissory notes.

Photo from 1913 History of Kossuth County showing road

PROTECTING THE DAM FOR THE TOWN

The community of Algona mourned the loss of this pioneer relic.  It wasn’t long, however, before citizens began to express their concern that the dam must be protected, especially if judgment creditors forced the property to be sold.  The high stage of water provided by the dam afforded a source of ice for Algona’s ice houses.  These businesses provided ice to creameries year round for a dozen miles in all directions. 

The City of Algona finally was able to purchase the dam for $250 in the spring of 1906 with plans of installing a dynamo to produce electricity, but also to provide a sufficient flow of water to clear sewage from the river so that ice could be provided to creameries and for other necessary uses.  I could not find any evidence that the dynamo project ever came to fruition.

TODAY

Today the bridge over the highway has been moved farther to the east and the “old mill road” has been redirected.  The channel of the river which cut to the north where dams were strategically installed to keep as much water flowing to the mill site as possible has been re-routed so that there is now only one channel that twists and turns through the north end of town.

Looking toward the site from the
bridge over Highway 169

It was said that J. E. Stacy would have died $50,000 richer if he had never seen the mill. Despite every effort to make the company successful, the old mill and the dams that served it were a poor business investment, due much to the fluctuating river levels.  Our early pioneers went to great lengths to bring innovation and progress to their new home, despite much personal financial and physical risk.  It is good that the memories of structures like the old mill linger on reminding us of their sacrifice.

Until next time,

Kossuth County History Buff

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THE ENTERPRISING LARS SORENSEN

The Kossuth County Genealogical Society received some photos and information from Jeanette Sorensen Ramseth who is the granddaughter of Lars Sorensen, long time grocer in Algona.  Among the materials she provided was a short rendition of her memories of growing up in Algona and facts about Sorensen Grocery Store which operated at the corner of State and Moore.  Those items in turn reminded me that Lars was featured in the book “Enterprising Men of Algona.”  With Jeanette’s permission, I want to use some of her materials along with my own research to recall the life of Lars Sorensen.

CAME FROM DENMARK

Lars was born in Albeck Skov, Denmark in 1869.  He was educated there and apprenticed as a butcher.  At the age of 21 he immigrated to the United States, coming directly to Kossuth County where he worked a time for Frank Winkel in his meat shop.  He left for a short period to work in Spencer and then in Chicago, but eventually came back to Algona where he opened his own meat market. 

He met a young woman by the name of Ida Olson and they were married December 11, 1895 in Burt.  Ida had come to the United States of America from Sweden four years before.  The newlyweds lived in Burt for three years before moving to Algona. 

Lars continued to run his meat shop until 1904 when another opportunity presented itself.  He and Wesley A. Dutton purchased the grocery business of Ed Gilmore and opened their own store known as “Dutton & Sorensen.”  Often known as the “Corner Grocery,” the business was located in the northeast corner of the intersection of State and Moore.  Besides stocking staples like flour and sugar, they carried a large selection of canned goods, meats and other grocery items.  They also carried China and Wedgwood creamware called queensware which was a big attraction to their lady customers.

The partners had purchased the Gilmore building and took great pride in its maintenance.  They repainted often and in 1913 installed an iron ceiling.  Although they were devoted to their business, the owners had a good sense of humor as well.  On April Fool’s Day in 1914, they cut a 2 x 4 on a slant and glued one to each side of a display window.  They then glued some pieces of broken glass to the window to give the impression of a damaged window.  That day many visitors stopped in the store to let them know that the 2x4 had fallen and broken the window, only to find the joke was on them.

Sorensen Grocery in the 1930s

Later that same year the two acquired the store of C.W. Cook in Hobart.  Jed Dutton was chosen to manage the store.  It was perhaps not as profitable as they had hoped as they sold it slightly more than a year later to Robert Vincent.

Storekeeping was not without its dangers.  In June of 1913, Dutton was getting a bag of flour from the back room for a customer when the pile of flour sacks – forty or fifty in all – toppled over on top of him and burying him and 12 cases of eggs, creating a mess and leaving him with bruises.  On another occasion, a Mr. Barker attempted to park his automobile in front of the store where he intended to sell eggs to the proprietors.  The gas pedal malfunctioned causing the vehicle to jump the curb and run into the front door of the establishment, breaking the door posts and its west window. 

The year 1914 saw the end of the partnership between Lars and Wes Dutton.  Sorensen purchased Dutton’s interest who went back into the flour and grain business. 

PERSONAL LIFE

During these years Lars personal life was busy too.  He became an American citizen.  He and Ida would go on to have eight children together, two of whom died in infancy.  Edna, Arthur, Russell, Evelyn, Harold and Richard grew up working in the store when needed.  He was active in the local Presbyterian church, serving many years as superintendent of their Sunday school.

Tragedy struck the family in October of 1918.  Ida was only 44 years of age when she contracted Spanish influenza which was sweeping the nation.  She then developed pneumonia.  It took her life after being ill for just one week, leaving her family motherless.  One of her sons, Arthur, was a soldier serving in France at the time of her death and word of her passing didn’t reach him until many weeks later. 

Just the month before Lars had sold the grocery business to S. J. Ramsey and Harry J. Liebenstein, retaining ownership of the building.  It is unknown what Lars’ plans were for his future following the sale of his grocery business, but with the loss of his wife, I am sure his world came tumbling down.  Over the next few years he worked in sales both at local stores and as a traveling salesman of products to grocery stores.

In 1924 Lars married Clara Stacy with whom he had a daughter, Frances. Unfortunately, the marriage proved to be an unhappy one and they were divorced in 1930.

THE “NEW” SORENSEN GROCERY

In 1930 Lars’ son, Harold Sorensen, was a newlywed working for Swift & Co. in Hutchinson, Kansas.  He and his wife, Mable, desired to move back to Algona and he and his father decided to re-open Sorensen Grocery which was quite an undertaking during the depression years.  Lars still owned the building at 201 East State Street where the original Sorensen Grocery had been located.  Ellis Runchey had been operating a grocery at the same location, but soon found another site to relocate.

Front: Woodrow Cook, Bert Randall, Ellen Pommerining,
Mable Sorensen, and Dick Sorensen;  Back: Harold Sorensen,
Robert Dutton, Julius Petersen and Lars Sorensen

Lars and Harold set out to make the layout of the store more convenient to serve their customers.  They left the refrigerated meat locker in the rear of the store which had been installed by Mr. Runchey where a rope operated, open elevator was also located which was used to move merchandise to and from the basement.  They remodeled the rest of the area moving the meat department closer to the front. They held their grand opening on January 31, 1931.

Mable Sorensen

The store was a busy place.  A true family affair, in addition to Lars and Harold, youngest son, Richard, worked there and Harold’s wife, Mable, would often work after hours stocking shelves while baby Jeanette napped in an orange crate.  The local telephone exchange was located on the upper floor of the building which added to the hustle and bustle as operators would come and go at all hours for the day.

In addition to selling meat and groceries, the proprietors also bought milk, eggs and produce from area farmers.  Many items such as sugar, nuts and candy came in bulk and had to be weighed and packaged by the pound.  The printed cloth sacks that flour came in became popular with customers who used them to make aprons and other items during those tough economic days.  Customers brought jugs to have them filled with vinegar from a big wooden barrel. 

TRIP BACK TO DENMARK

By 1936, Lars was yearning to visit Denmark.  In the 47 years he had lived in America he had only gone back once.  In July he and his niece, Mrs. Julius Petersen, began the journey of a lifetime.  They sailed for Europe, spending three months touring Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Germany.  Lars took his personal Chrysler auto along allowing convenient transportation during the visit.  Besides sightseeing he was able to visit many family members including spending the day with his sister when she celebrated her 80^th birthday.

Upon his return in October, he was shocked to learn of the sudden passing of his son, Harold, shortly before his return.  The family had refrained from notifying Lars and his niece of the death during their trip as they would have been unable to reach home in time for the funeral.

SORENSEN GROCERY ENDURES

With Harold’s passing, Richard “Dick” Sorensen and Harold’s widow, Mable Sorensen, operated the store.  During the next several years, Lars began to lessen his involvement in the enterprise.  He took another trip in 1938, this time a three-month sojourn in California.  In February of 1940 he and his friends celebrated his 71^st birthday and despite failing health, he took one more trip that fall to visit a sister that lived in Idaho.  A few days after his return, he traveled to Rochester for treatment.  Returning home, Lars died at General Hospital here in Algona on November 21, 1940.

The storefront today

Another view

Sorensen Grocery lived on for almost two decades, serving customers’ daily needs through the rationing days of World War II, numerous community events including the Centennial, and many holiday celebrations.  Dick Sorensen left the business in 1956, leaving Mable in charge.  Sorensen Grocery officially closed its doors in 1959.

Until next time,

Jean

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