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Location DB > United States > Maine > Lewiston > Cowan Mill
 Name
Cowan Mill
 Viewing Options
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 Database Info
created by Neptune on 7/17/2009 3:12 AM
last modified by MrGreenJeans on 9/18/2009 7:18 PM
 Viewability
Publically Viewable Publically Viewable
This location has been labeled by its creator as Public, and therefore can be viewed by anyone.
 Overview
 Description

 Basic Information
Type: Building
Status: Being Demolished
Accessibility: Burned down, to be demolished in late July 2009
Recommendation: check it out if you're nearby
 Physical Information
Address
Island Mill St.
Lewiston, Maine
United States
Owner:
 Hazards
  • unsafe flooring
  • Walls falling down
  •  Interesting Features
    Just a charred shell now, demo in a matter of days.
     Security Measures
  • High police, firefighter, and media attention
  •  Historical Dates
    Built: 1850
    Closed: 1960
     Required Equipment
     Recommended Equipment

     History
    1850: The Cowan Mill, named after former Lewiston Mayor David Cowan, is built on the site of Lewiston's very first cotton mill, which burned down in March of that year. It is first named the Grist Mill, and the majority of it is used for grinding corn and flour. After about 15 years, David Cowan's company buys the building and uses it to manufacture cotton and wool.

    1864: Cowan Mill houses three sets of machinery and 12 looms.

    1888: The mill expands to include eight sets of machinery and 12 looms. It employed 180 people, including 60 women. They produced 300,000 yards of wool and cotton for a total monthly payroll of $3,700.

    1938: Blast endangers workers.

    1949: The Cowan Mill is taken over by the Cotwool Manufacturing Corp. of Maine in a deal that also gives it the Farnsworth Mill in Lisbon. The deal is worth $375,000.

    1956: Mill curtails production.

    1960: Workers are laid off due to lack of orders.

    1967: Mill is sold to Roy's Diversified Industries, Inc.

    1985: Bradley C. McCurtain of Boston Bay Capital Inc. in Portland tells city councilors that he plans to redevelop the mill and call it the Androscoggin Falls Plaza.

    1999: A month after fire guts the nearby Libbey Mill, city councilors consider demolishing both the Libbey and Cowan mills. Ultimately, the Libbey Mill is razed but the Cowan Mill is tapped for redevelopment.

    2005: Developer Travis Soule and the city sign agreement to jointly develop the spit of land that juts into the Androscoggin River, the remnants of the Libbey Mill, the Cowan Mill, the former CMP building and a substation. The multi-million dollar Island Point project would convert the two mill buildings into upscale condominiums, bring a mix of retail and office space to the other buildings and site a high-end hotel.

    2007: The joint development agreement with the city expires when Soule cannot secure financing. Also that year, the rest of the W.S. Libbey Mill is torn down.

    2008: Councilors unanimously approve an agreement with Winston Hospitality Group to take over work on the Island Point project. Later that year, Lincoln Jeffers, development director for Lewiston, says the Island Point project is still viable but has been scaled back. Also that year, Barry Rodrigue, an assistant professor of archaeology and geography at University of Southern Maine's Lewiston-Auburn College, urges caution in redeveloping the site, saying the Cowen Mill was built over a 1700's gristmill. He said the site — which is listed with the National Register of Historic Places — should be further researched.

    2009, June: The state's highest court upholds much of a lower court ruling requiring the owner of the vacant Cowan Mill to pay substantial architectural fees owed to Platz Associates of Auburn. Cowan Mill owner Martin Finley, of Wales, had appealed a Lewiston District Court ruling that he owed $150,000 in fees to Platz and had possession of architectural drawings that he had not paid for.


    On June 15, 2009 the mill was burned down by 3 teen arsonists.
     Media Coverage
    Footage of the mill burning/falling down
    http://www.wmtw.co...0073845/index.html

    Video of the ongoing investigation to find the teen arsonists.
    http://www.wmtw.co...0080048/index.html
     Future Plans
    To be torn down between July 16-20, 2009
     Stories


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     Validation
    This location's validation is current. It was last validated by Opheliaism on 4/2/2011 5:46 PM.

     Latest Changes
  • on Apr 2 11 at 17:46, Opheliaism validated this location
  • on Dec 31 10 at 19:37, Steed conditionally validated this location
  • on Sep 24 10 at 17:09, Steed conditionally validated this location
  • on Jun 24 10 at 0:15, Steed conditionally validated this location
  • on Mar 23 10 at 1:55, Steed conditionally validated this location
  • on Dec 21 09 at 9:17, Opheliaism conditionally validated this location
  • on Sep 20 09 at 17:15, Emperor Wang conditionally validated this location
  • on Sep 18 09 at 19:18, MrGreenJeans changed the following: History, Media Coverage
  • on Jul 19 09 at 6:54, Steed conditionally validated this location
  • on Jul 17 09 at 3:36, Neptune changed the following: History, Year Closed
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