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Show Photo courtesy ot Earlene Provo Woolen Mills, later reincorporated as Knight Woolen Mills, was devastated by fire July 30, 1918. It Varney was located at 100 N. 200 West Woolen Mills victim of Provo's worst tragedy By MARK EDDINGTON The Daily Herald Brigham Young's concern about of the railroad being used to break up the Mormon's political and economic control over the Utah Territory led indirectly to the founding of the Provo Woolen Mills in the advent 1869. Worried that the railroad would entreprebring in money-hungr- y neurs. Young proposed that Mormons in business by exclude setting up cooperative merchandising. This suggestion spurred the organization of the Timpanogos Manufacturing Company in Provo on June 1, 1869. Organized with a prospective capital of $1 million that was divided into 10,000 shares of $100 each, the company was able to purchase a flour mill on 200 West that was owned by John Taylor of Salt Lake City. On May 28, 1870, Mormon Stake President A.O. Smoot presided over a ceremony in which the southeast cornerstone of the "Provo Cooperative Woolen Factory" was laid. Smoot acted as superintendent over the construction of the buildings. Workmen from all over the territo- sub-i.ue- nt 28 ry came to lend a hand, accepting stock in the fledgling company in lieu of cash. Those that furnished materials for the mills were also paid in stock. In the spring of 1872, construction on the mills at 100 N. 200 West was completed. The main building was a four-stor- y stone structure that was 65 feet by 145 feet. Its roof was covered with tin. Adjacent the main building on the south was a story adobe building. The factory also consisted of the former flour mill and several smaller half-mansa- rd buildings. Machinery for the new enterprise was made possible with a $70,000 cash advance from President Young, and F.X. Loughery, of Philadelphia, was put under contract to install the machinery and begin operation of the mill. Yarn was spun as early as 1872. but it wasn't until the following June that the first cloth was manufactured. Company officers that year were as follows: Brigham Young, president; A.O. Smoot, vice president; directors, Myron Tanner, William Bringhurst, Orawell Simons, Joseph S. Tanner and A H. Scott. Despite the successful launching of the company, the people of Provo and surrounding communities were not enthused with the "home-mad- e material" that lacked the finished quality of imported fabric. Mill workers also had to sacrifice during the early years of operation. Instead of receiving cash for their work, they were paid in cloth scrip that was redeemable in cloth and merchandise at area coop stores. In 88 . a retail store was opened under the direction of the mill superintendent. And soon afterward, the factory began paving in cash. There were other changes as well. In 889, the articles of incorporation were changed and the factory was renamed the Provo Woolen Mills 1 1 Company. With the purchase of improved machinery, the quality of the product improved dramatically over the years until it was of comparable quality to the imports. The number of employees at the mill ranged from 125 to 150, many of whom had experience working in the woolen mills in England and Scotland. The yearly output of the factory during the early years was roughly $200,000. Most of the goods were sold in Utah and surrounding territories, but in 1876 the company began selling its product to the eastern market. In June of 1910, the factory was purchased by the Knight Investment Company and reincorporated as the Knight Woolen Mills. Four years later, with capital supplied by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-da- y Saints, a brick building was erected to house a cutting and sewing department. The factory was at its productive peak during the World War I years when disaster struck in July. 1918. An article in the July 30 edition of the Provo Post newspaper described the tragic event. "With a wild cry of 'fire. Grant Eggersted, one of the employees of the Knight Woolen mills, gave the first warning cry for the worst holocaust in the history of Provo." The fire was attributed to spontaneous combustion in the wool drier. The ensuing conflagration destroyed the main building, machinery and several surrounding structures. The damage was estimated to exceed $500,000. It was a blow from which the woolen mills could never fully recover. ' |