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HISTORY OF ALPENA COUNTY BY WILLIAM BOULTON IN 1876
ALPENA IN 1864
In 1864 the population had increased to 674, and the village began to assume a more civilized appearance. In August of the same year, Lockwood & Minor's mill burned down, but was rebuilt during the summer, and started sawing October 20th. This mill was known as the Home mill, and is now owned by Bewick, Comstock & Co. The other mills built during the year 1864 were the Lester mill, now known as the Mason, Luce & Co., built by G. S. Lester, and the Oldfield water mill, built by John Oldfield. The latter mill is now owned by Richardson, Avery & Co. Besides the saw-mills there was a small tar factory owned by a person named Doer, which was burned down during the latter part of the. summer.
Mr. Lockwood was very unfortunate in his early struggles, having been twice burned out, but with an unfaltering determination to succeed, he cleared away the smoking ruins of his mill and erected another in its place. Mr. Lockwood was, and is yet, one of our most energetic citizens; confident of Alpena's success, he was ever ready to aid and project that would ensure prosperity to the place. The same remarks are true as regards Mr. J. S. Minor.
At the spring election of 1864, sixty nine votes were cast, and among other motions passed by the electors on that occasion, was one for raising $1, 000 by tax for the purpose of erecting a bridge over the river. Mr. Obed Smith had the contract. This bridge was afterwards replaced by a superannuated floating concern, which disgusted the citizens so much, that it was removed and the present fine structure erected in its place.
Michigan
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