Northern Mich~Mash Preserve
Petoskey's Bear River
Shaw & McMillan
Hanky Dam and Cable Mills
(1913 AND April 1951 Washout)
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"Clicking" on some color highlighted words may access additional information.
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just come back and visit the site often to view the photos.
just come back and visit the site often to view the photos.
(J.A. Gardner > C.F.Hankey)
1875 ~ Water Power from Bear River was offered for free to interested manufacturers...
by Shaw & McMillan per article below
by Shaw & McMillan per article below
Transcription of article at left:
"The enterprising firm of Shaw & McMillan have recently purchased a tract of land bordering upon Bear River, and includes a portion of the best water power to be found in the State of Michigan. The jobbers are already at work clearing the ground and getting ready to erect a dam upon the upper portion of their land which will turn the river from its natural course into a race where will be mills erected from time to time. They make this generous offer to manufacturers that any corporation or firm that will come here and erect manufacturing interests that will employ 25 men the entire year, they (Shaw & McMillan) will give them water to drive their machinery and land to build on without money and without price. This truly generous offer cannot not be accepted by some firm ere long for a water power which is so complete as this is, can seldom be found. Bear River is the outlet of Bear Lake [Walloon Lake], a lake about 15 miles in length which affords a never failing supply of water even during the driest portion of the year. There is an inexhaustible supply of cedar about here suitable for wooden ware of all kinds, also any quantity of handsomest birds-eye maple that ever grew and will make the finest kind of furniture." |
1875 ~ Building a Dam is NOT a Governmental Undertaking...
Article Above, Left and Below: Already of note is that "One large dam which has lately been thrown across the stream by Shaw & McMillan, affords a splendid chance for some enterprising firm as they offer to give to any Manufacturing Co., which will employ 25 hands..."
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Article Below: "The probabilities are that in the spring there will be a Flouring mill erected upon the site owned by Shaw & McMillan, upon the site of the dam, and another manufacturing establishment on the other site."
Photo Below labeled "Shaw-McMillan Dam on the Bear River in Petoskey"... undated
The Shaw-McMillan Dam created power which ran Winsor's woodenware factory.
The Shaw-McMillan Dam created power which ran Winsor's woodenware factory.
Photo Below labeled "Shaw-McMillan Lumber Co. on the Bear River in Petoskey"... undated
In The Traverse Region (1884) on page 166 it was stated, “In the spring of 1880 he [C.F. Hankey] removed to Petoskey and purchased the Cable Mills [on Bear River]… Mr. Hankey is a very successful businessman.”
Mr. Hankey purchased the grist mill from Mr. Joseph Gardner who operated it for only a short time.
Photo Below Labeled: "Mitchell St. Bridge and Shaw-McMillan Dam on the Bear River looking north in Petoskey"
The Hankey Grist Mill is the huge building at the far right up on the bluff from the Shaw-McMillan Dam
and the cable power.
Mr. Hankey purchased the grist mill from Mr. Joseph Gardner who operated it for only a short time.
Photo Below Labeled: "Mitchell St. Bridge and Shaw-McMillan Dam on the Bear River looking north in Petoskey"
The Hankey Grist Mill is the huge building at the far right up on the bluff from the Shaw-McMillan Dam
and the cable power.
Description of Mr. J.A. Gardner's New Grist Mill Location
1879
1879
1884 Article Below:
Description of "The Cable Mills"
Description of "The Cable Mills"
Article Below: The Builder of the dam was Gardner, NOT Bardner, AND the year was 1879 NOT 1897.
Description for the 1930 article below stated: "The dam in the foreground is where the Hankey Dam is located today. The large building at the right was the cider mill, while the former paper mill may be seen in the background. The original Hankey Dam was built by Mr. Gardner in 1879."
Photo Below: This is the same photo as that used in the news paper photo/text above.
The description with this photo stated: "The Hankey Dam provided power to the Hankey Flour and Grist Mill, manufacturing 'Orange Blossom Flour'. A cable crossed the river for the Leonard Bauerle & Sons Wooden Products Mill. They made measures and funnels for vinegar, butter molds, doll dishes, and baby rattles made from one piece of wood. Later, this was bought out by A.K. Winsor."
Below small article mention is in the 1880 year summary; thus for 30 April 1880.
Article Below Right:
The dam supplying the power for the Hankey mill was the one constructed by Shaw and McMillan in 1875.
The dam supplying the power for the Hankey mill was the one constructed by Shaw and McMillan in 1875.
Article Above: Thomas Forman married Minnie E. Hankey 7 October 1890 in Emmet County, Michigan. This was the beginning of the duo Forman and Hankey families purchasing the Armstrong Company factory which later became the Forman company that evolved into Michigan Maple Block.
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Clipping Below: Mr. Hankey has severed ties with the Cable Mills.
A later article below stated: "Mr. J.J. Hankey having leased his interest in the mill for a term of years,
the firm is now Hankey & Rigg, being composed of Mr. C.F. Hankey, and Mr. Richard Rigg,
both experienced millers and excellent business men."
A later article below stated: "Mr. J.J. Hankey having leased his interest in the mill for a term of years,
the firm is now Hankey & Rigg, being composed of Mr. C.F. Hankey, and Mr. Richard Rigg,
both experienced millers and excellent business men."
Winsor WoodenWare at the West Side of the Hankey Dam
(Several Photos Below)
(Several Photos Below)
Clipping Below: Michigan Maple Block web site posted history told of history involving the Baurele woodenware manufacturing plant evolving into the business of Charles H. Broman and Frederick, with the new company becoming The Petoskey Block and Manufacturing Company.
Photo Right Labeled "Old Water Wheel".
Photo Below Labeled in the photo album of Allen McCune: "Bauerle Woodworking Plant - Burned March 14 1890 (on left Hankey Dam & water wheel on rt.) Largest woodworking institution in the world. Winsor Wooden Ware Company..."
Photos Below one B&W and one Colorized:
1898 G.R.&I. Railroad Trestle over Bear River just south of the Hankey Dam...
1898 G.R.&I. Railroad Trestle over Bear River just south of the Hankey Dam...
Photo Below Labeled: "1890-Birkett's Wooden Ware Factory. South of Charlevoix Ave. on the River"
Another description stated: "Saw mill at Wachtel and Jackson Street on river bank"
Another description stated: "Saw mill at Wachtel and Jackson Street on river bank"
The June 1890 article at the right explained: The Winsor factory which was located across the Hankey Dam from the Hankey Grist Mill, was purchased several years before by Mr. L. Bauerle. Mr. Bauerle then purchased a tract of land south of Petoskey, near the site of today's Michigan Maple Block. There he grew the huge Armstrong Company for wood working... perfect location by wood floating down the river, and by the railroad to ship out product. The same article laments, however, the factory burned, just as it was complete. The articles below tell of the fire and the community's involvement in resurrecting the business.
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F.K. Winsor's saw mill and woodenware factory (in the photo below on the right) was built
on the west side of the river from the Hankey Cable Mills near the dam.
Paper Mill is in the background with the smoking stacks.
1883
on the west side of the river from the Hankey Cable Mills near the dam.
Paper Mill is in the background with the smoking stacks.
1883
The Little Traverse Historical Society has an original postcard shown below and in the header photo
on this web page, of the exact photo above showing...
Hankey Dam
on this web page, of the exact photo above showing...
Hankey Dam
Two Photos Above: Hankey Dam is front center with the railroad bridge (mentioned in article at left) in the background running over the Bear River toward the then Petoskey Fibre Paper Co. with its huge smoke stacks sticking into the air.
The Petoskey Fibre Paper Company was built in 1899; later to become the Bear River Paper and Bag company; still later the company was leased to the Wheat Paper company of Elkhart, Indiana. This paper mill site is the property on which Mitchell Dam was built in the 1930s. |
Photo Below: Hankey Dam
1907
Hankey Milling Company
Hankey Milling Company
Photo/Postcard Below: 1907 Viewing Petoskey from the west... looking across the Bear River with the railroad's wooden trestle leading to the east side of the river where Hankey Mill was located on the river's bluff.
Photo Below: 1915 ~ Engineer was A.B. Moeller and Fireman was O. Jones. The railroad trestle led across the Bear River north of the paper mill. Hankey Milling is in the background on the east riverbank.
Photos Below: Hankey Milling Company (East Side Upper Bank of Bear River)
Article Above and Photos Above and Below: The 11 July 1940 Northern Michigan Review announced the ongoing razing of the original 1879 Hankey Milling Company. "C.F. Hankey purchased the mill the same year [1879], along with the dam. The power dam was one of the most unique features of the mill. The power for the mill was derived from a cable, operated by the passing of water over the mill wheel. This cable, driven by the wheel was strung up the hill to the drive-shaft of the mill. The mill was operated in this fashion from the time it was built. Hankey incorporated in 1901-04, with his sons Lou and Guy as partners. The name was changed to the Hankey Cable Mill."
News Photo Below: John Perry and Harriet Kilborn's 1968 article farther above explained: "Joseph Gardner purchased 14 acres on the east bank of Bear river and erected a flouring mill on the high bank. He operated it only a short time before selling to C.F. Hankey. Under Mr. Hankey's management, the mill became a very successful venture. Water power turned the wheels of this plant by means of a steel cable, from which the name 'cable mills' derived. The dam supplying the power for the Hankey mill was the one constructed by Shaw and McMillan in 1875." This explains the cables showing in the 1913 news photo below and also seen in photos above of the Hankey Dam.
The Hankey Brothers Cable Mill was located at the corner of Elizabeth and Grove streets.
Hankey Dam Washout
1913
Hankey Dam Washout
1913
Photo Below: "Bear River Between Paper & Hankey MIlls"
Petoskey Needed Hankey Dam for Electricity Plant
1939
1939
Hankey Dam Washes Out AGAIN
1951
1951
1967