HARRAH-LaBARRE LUMBER MILL COMPANY
Dead Indian
July 19, 1927: "The Harrah-LaBarre lumber mill, which is situated 14 miles from Ashland on the Dead Indian road was burned to the ground Sunday afternoon. The loss, which is estimated at $20,000 is partly covered by insurance.
J. H. Harrah, manager of the mill, is said to have made a thorough inspection of the plant less than an hour before the blaze was discovered. It then was shooting through the roof, which so weakened it that it collapsed, making it impossible to check the flames anywhere in the building.
The building, constructed of timber, was extremely dry. and the fire swelled into a huge mass of roaring flames and coals. No efforts of the workmen were successful in putting it under control.
Nearly 300,000 feet of piled lumber was saved by tearing down a trestle leading from the yard to the mill. Water secured from a nearby spring was used to prevent it spreading through the grass, endangering the salvage.
No cause for the fateful occurrence has been determined, almost any of the usual sources of fire being thought possible.
The owners of the mill, Mr. Harrah and Norman La Barre have not as yet announced whether they will rebuild." (The Ashland Register)
J. H. Harrah, manager of the mill, is said to have made a thorough inspection of the plant less than an hour before the blaze was discovered. It then was shooting through the roof, which so weakened it that it collapsed, making it impossible to check the flames anywhere in the building.
The building, constructed of timber, was extremely dry. and the fire swelled into a huge mass of roaring flames and coals. No efforts of the workmen were successful in putting it under control.
Nearly 300,000 feet of piled lumber was saved by tearing down a trestle leading from the yard to the mill. Water secured from a nearby spring was used to prevent it spreading through the grass, endangering the salvage.
No cause for the fateful occurrence has been determined, almost any of the usual sources of fire being thought possible.
The owners of the mill, Mr. Harrah and Norman La Barre have not as yet announced whether they will rebuild." (The Ashland Register)