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Historic Landmark Ravaged
Fire Destroys $50,000 Mill and Grain Elevator, Friday MorningSource: The Steamboat Pilot
March 6, 1958
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By: Charlie Truscott
Flames from a boiler, steamed up for rolling grain Friday morning at the historic Yampa Valley M&E mill south of town, spread rapidly to destroy the $50,000 main building and nearby office as countless Steamboat residents drove out to watch the impressive blaze.
Mill Operator Don Foster had fired the boiler, located in the basement in the northwest corner of the brick portion of the building, and within a few minutes uncontrollable flames started their path of destruction, claiming the building and office a few hours later.
Owner Dillon Rich, the only other occupant of the building, said he rushed to the boiler room but found no chance to get near fire extinguishers as the fire was already shooting hot flames upward soon to ignite the frame constructed portion of the building.
Rich and others were able to save valuables from the tiny white office which stood in front of the mill for several hours until it too fell heir to wind-swept fire.
Volunteer firemen from Steamboat who rushed to the scene of the blaze after Rich had called, had to draw water from the Yampa river in a vain attempt to fight the raging tire. However, cross-currents of wind from the north and south quickly demolished the building machinery and merchandise it stored.
The estimated value of grain stored was set at $16,000 by owner Rich, with some 350,000 pounds of oats, barley and wheat in the mill ravaged by the fire. Rich carried $21,000 worth of insurance on the building and machinery and insurance for the merchandise.
During the course of the blaze the chimney of the main building toppled and, not long after, the entire front brick wall crumbled to the ground below, leaving as smoldering remnants of the fire two brick turrets on the left and right and the chimney of the office building, centered in front of the mill. A small eight by five foot compartment alongside the office and rectangular storage space to the south survived the fire.
Old-timers were undoubtedly reminded of the fires that destroyed the Cabin hotel in 1939 and the old Steamboat Pilot building in 1909.
The M&E building, originated as a flour mill by ranchers in the area in 1890 with most present additions completed in 1912, was one of the earliest landmarks of settlers here, built when it was found a good quality wheat could be raised in the valley.
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