The Chicago Lumbering Company mill built in 1876 and destroyed by fire on Dec. 14, 1907.
During the evening hours of Saturday, December 14, 1907, a fire broke out at the Chicago Lumbering Company mill. The cause of the fire was the overheating of the friction feed and was quickly spread by the belts to all parts of the mill. The timbers which had for years been soaked with black oil provided a ready fuel for the fire. In less than ten minutes, the entire structure was engulfed in flames. The timing of the fire was ironic, as the mill was scheduled to be shut down for the winter season at midnight on the evening that it was destroyed. The plant was one of the oldest landmarks in the city, dating back to 1876 when the population numbered only a few hundred people.
The mill employed 75 people on the night shift and 125 during the day. Over the thirty-one years that the mill was in operation, it is estimated that it cut 1,500,000,000 feet of lumber.
Henry Hamiel (also known as John) was the night foreman at the mill. He immediately instructed his son to call in a fire alarm from the machine shop, but by the time the fire department arrived on the scene, the mill was beyond saving. The fire fighters efforts were concentrated on the yards with piles of lumber valued at half a million dollars. The brilliant flames from the mill fire illuminated the city for several hours prompting hundreds of citizens to flock to the site—many assisting the firemen in their efforts to save property. A stiff southwest wind spread burning embers throughout the yard and it was only with great effort that the lumber was saved.
While the fire fighters were busily engaged in saving property, word came that two mill employees from the night shift were unaccounted for. Andrew Norton, age 65, worked underneath the mill feeding the burners. Also missing was Henry Hamiel, age 53, who was the night foreman. He was last seen making his way toward the northwest corner of the building to turn on the water pump. Another mill employee, Asher Fox, tried to dissuade Hamiel from the attempt. Fox barely escaped the flames and suffocating smoke by crawling out of the building on his hands and knees.
Search parties located the body of Andrew Norton on Sunday. He was identified by his personal belonging including a snuff box, match safe, pocket watch and the metal frame of a pocket book. Norton was survived by his wife and four grown children.
The body of Henry Hamiel was never found, but the morning after the fire, searchers discovered the water wheel in operation, Hamiel had reached the pump and in so doing lost his life. Hamiel came to Manistique in 1876 and was employed for 31 years until his death by the Chicago Lumbering Company. Hamiel was also a member of the Manistique Volunteer Fire Department. He was survived by his wife and two grown children.
Circa 1906-07 photo of the Manistique Volunteer Fire Department taken in front of the old City Hall building on River Street. Pictured from left to right are: Ray Stone, Sanford Stone, Seymour Graham, Unidentified, John Durno, Unidentified, Chief Thomas McCullough, Alex Richards Bob Morrison, Leo McGinnis, Allie Bishop and John Hamiel.