The ownership of the mill this week has passed to C. E. Comstock of Fishers Landing who will use the material from the structure to build a restaurant near the new international bridge. The mill was the property of the Dr. F. I. Santway estate and because of mounting taxes with no returns, the trustees of the estate decided it must be sold, even though they desired to have the building retained because of its historic associations.

The woolen mill is 35 to 68, four stories high. It is of wood, bricked up inside and with plaster over the brick. For 78 years this building has stood perched high above the waters of the Indian river, for its roof is 100 feet above the surface of the water below the high falls.

The clothing industry of the village began in 1822 when Nathan M. Flower, father of the late Gov. Roswell P. Flower, came here from Cherry Valley and erected a fulling mill, as such industries were called at that time. It was an important industry and in the year 1840 John Collis purchased a half interest in the business. Weaving machinery was put in and soon the power looms were turning out woolen cloth. After Nathan M. Flower’s death Mr. Collis purchased the remaining interest of the Flower family.

In 1852 a disastrous fire occurred in the mill section of the village, but the woolen mill escaped. Then came the big fire of 1859, when on the night of the 12th of May the mills on the north side of the river were swept by flames, including two sawmills, a gristmill belonging to Charles Pool, a wood working shop owned by George W. Flower, Gregory’s foundry. In spite of all efforts to stop the flames they got into the wooden bridge and the fire was carried over the river and the woolen mill caught fire and was burned to the ground. The bridge was also destroyed.

Mr. Collis at once rebuilt the woolen mill. He had a son named John who became connected with the business and they erected a large house for their home across the street from the old house that was the home of the Flower family.

After the deaths of the members of the Collis family connected with the business the late W. C. Porter purchased the property and continued to operate the plant. At about this time a water-way was blasted through the rocks under the building for better arrangement of waterpower. A wooden bulkhead, housed in a wing from off the building, had been swept away during a high flood in the 1880’s.

When farmers discontinued the raising of sheep the woolen mill ceased to operate and later it was purchased by Santway & Vock and milling machinery installed and the place operated as a grist and feed mill. When the Utilities purchased the water power Dr. Santway took over the building when he and Mr. Vock divided their mill property along the river bank. The next tenant to come into the building only remained a short time, as the business he was operation, the working of mica, did not pay. For 20 years the mill has been idle.

THERESA -- The “Old Red Mill” at Theresa, once a woolen plant on the site of which Roswell P. Flower, one time governor of New York state and a Wall street magnate, was said to have been a woolpicker as a boy, is being razed, and the lumber from the old structure will be used to build a restaurant along the Clayton-Alexandria Bay state highway near the international bridge site.

The ownership of the old mill has passed from the Dr. F. L. Santway estate to C. E. Comstock of Fishers Landing and the work of dismantling the old mill, which has stood for years perched high above the waters of Indian river, started last week.

Nathan M. Flower, father of Roswell P. Flower, came to Theresa in 1822 from Cherry Valley and built the original mill. He died in 1843 when his son, Roswell, was eight years old. For a time after his death, the widow, Mary Ann Boyle Flower, continued the business with John Collins (sic, believed to be Collis), who had been her husband’s partner. Collins (sic) after some years, bought out the Flower interests. As a boy of 12, Roswell Flower and his brother, Nathan, then 15, put full days of work in the old mill.

According to what data is obtainable the woolen mill burned down in the great fire here May 12, 1859, but it was immediately rebuilt. From the Collins (sic) family it passed to the W. C. Porter family and then to Santway and Vock. It was then operated as a grist mill for a time.

Later, the water power was sold to the Northern Utilities and Mr. Santway in dividing the property with Mr. Vock obtained the mill.

It now passes to become a restaurant in the Thousand Islands territory, to serve those who will journey over the international bridge.