FIRE DESTROYS FRIDAY HARBOR MILL

Fire completely destroyed the plant of the Western Mills & Lumber company at Friday Harbor last night, according to reports received in this city today. The fire occurred in the early part of the evening and although efforts were made to save it, the work of the fire fighters was wasted.

The plant, in its palmy days, was worth probably $15,000. For years it has been in litigation and has changed hands several times. John Templin, of this city, operated the mill about four years, but finally lost it and the Friday Harbor bank took over the property on debts. Some weeks ago Mr. Cooney and Mr. Linsey, two Seattle men, started the mill in operation again. About fifty men have been employed there recently.

The plant was a combination lumber, shingle and box plant. It also included an electric light plant which furnished the light for the town of Friday Harbor.

The Home Security Savings bank of this city, which failed more than a year ago, was heavily interested in the mill property, holding about $15,000 worth of notes which were secured only by the stock of the Western Mills & Lumber company. This paper has been declared worthless and the local defunct bank is said to have lost all of its claim when the Friday Harbor bank took over the property.

The Bellingham Herald, Bellingham, WA 15 Jul 1911
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Transcribed by Linda Horton. Thank you, Linda!