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Globe Mill Fire
2001
130-year-old mill building burns
2001
05 03
A part-owner of Empire Globe
Corp. of Watertown said this morning that he had big plans for the former Globe
Mill on South Water Street, which went up in flames today.
"We had hopes it could be
restored," said Larry Mistele, part-owner of the
company, which owns much of the property on South Water Street. Mistele said he
also had hopes of operating some type of commercial venture in the historic
building.
One possibility was to operate a
micro-brewery, the part-owner said this morning as he watched flames whip in
the smoky air above the charred, collapsing building.
"It's a shame. It would have
been a neat pub brewery. The ambiance
would have been incredible," he said.
The building at 321 S. Water St.
was built in 1871. At that time it was
called the Empire Mill, he said. It was later known as the Globe Mill. A to Z
Farm Center then purchased the building, Mistele
said. That company sold seed, dairy
equipment and other items there, he said.
The structure is a historic
building with some "pretty neat stuff," Mistele
said. The structure contained large
floor joists made of pine and maple timber, he said. In the past the mill was
powered by the lower dam, he said.
Empire purchased the building
from A to Z Center about eight years ago, Mistele
said. Empire used the building for storage, he said.
Flames continued to rise from the
former Globe Mill on South Water Street this morning as a state fire marshal
searched the scene for a cause of the fire that completely destroyed the
historic building.
As of late morning, the Watertown Fire Department was unable to explain
why the fast-burning fire occurred, pushing flames through the building's
roof. Acting Fire Chief Keith Becken said the department suspected someone intentionally
set it.
This morning, the smell of
scorched pine and maple timber drifted through moist air as firefighters and
onlookers watched tiny embers, flames, and black and gray plumes push out of
the collapsing structure. Smoke blackened the sides of the building.
Watertown resident Sandi Haseleu watched in disappointment as bricks on parts of the
130-year-old structure crumbled. "This is like a funeral," she
said, snapping pictures. "Another old landmark is gone."
Haseleu said she once toured the
building with the Watertown Historical Society and describes the building as
"unbelievable." She said grain
bins and pulleys inside the building were interesting. She found the names of people from years ago
written on walls.
"Someone told me that you
remember your hometown not only by its people, but also its buildings,"
she said.
Firefighters responded at about
11:55 p.m. Wednesday. Upon arrival, fire
shot through the roof. The structure was
engulfed in flames at about 9:15 a.m. today. Firefighters had been at the scene
for about nine hours.
The former Globe Mill was built
in 1871 and is owned by Empire Globe Corp. of Watertown. That company purchased
the structure about eight years ago from A to Z Farm Center, which sold seed,
dairy equipment and other items, Empire's part-owner Larry Mistele
said. WDT
05 04 Flames continued to rise from the
former Globe Mill on South Water Street this morning as a state fire marshal
searched the scene for a cause of the fire that completely destroyed the
historic building. As of late morning,
the Watertown Fire Department was unable to explain why the fast-burning fire
occurred, pushing flames through the building’s roof. Acting fire Chief Keith Becken
said the department suspected someone intentionally set it. No injuries were reported. This morning, the smell of scorched pine and
maple timber drifted through moist air as firefighters and onlookers watched
tiny embers, flames, and black and gray plumes push out of the collapsing structure. Smoke blackened the sides of the building. WDT
05 04 Arson is believed to be the cause of
the fire that destroyed the former Globe Mill on South Water Street. Larry Mistele, one
of the owners, said he believes the blaze at the mill was intentionally set,
which was suspected by Watertown fire and police officials. Police said today the state fire marshal was
still investigating the fire. The
marshal couldn’t be reached for comment.
Workers have been cleaning up the site for several weeks. Mounds of blackened timber and other debris could
be seen at the site following the fire.
A brick chimney at the mill site, a popular landmark, was still standing
after the blaze. It was torn down last
week. WDT
Cross Reference:
History of Watertown,
Wisconsin