Fire levels nearly 200-year-old grist mill in Madison County
MADISON, Ala. (AP) — The Madison County deputy fire marshal has ruled a pre-dawn fire that leveled a nearly 200-year-old grist mill as suspicious.
Deputy Fire Marshal Dustin Spires said the historic Patterson Mill off Oscar Patterson Road was destroyed in the blaze that occurred about 3:30 a.m. Saturday.
Harold Patterson's father, the late John Patterson, ran the grist mill from 1919 until its closing in 1959. Harold Patterson, 63, told The The Huntsville Times he saw smoke early Saturday and was devastated when he discovered what had burned. Volunteer Fire Departments from New Market, Moores Mill and Hazel Green responded to the alarm but couldn't work fast enough to save it. [...]
Patterson believes the blaze was arson.
He said a camping lantern, folding chair and smoldering fireplace found near the scene raised the suspicion of investigators.
Anyway, it's sad to lose a part of history like this. I do have to say, though, that if you own a site that has some historical value, it might be good to protect it, even if it means hiring a caretaker.
Posted by Terry Oglesby at March 27, 2007 09:49 AMWhat's next, the bridges?
Where will Clint and Meryl go to smooch?
[Ewww, now that was a poor chemistry couple.]
Well, we DO have a few covered bridges left. For now.
We had a nice old rail trestle that burned last year near here, due to a kid playing with fireworks.
As for Clint and Meryl, eww.
Posted by: Terry Oglesby at March 27, 2007 10:33 AM