The Cowan Mill, named after former Lewiston Mayor David Cowan, was built in 1850 on the site of Lewiston’s very first cotton mill, which burned down in March of that year.

It was first named the Grist Mill, and the majority of it was used for grinding corn and flour. After about 15 years, David Cowan’s company bought the building and used it to manufacture cotton and wool.

In 1864, it housed three sets of machinery and 12 looms. By 1888, the business expanded to include eight sets of machinery and 12 looms. It employed 180 people, including 60 females.

They produced 300,000 yards of wool and cotton for a total monthly payroll of $3,700.

The mill changed names in 1947, becoming the Cotwool Mill. It continued to manufacture wool and cotton until 1968.

libbey mill (behind cowan)

Built in 1845, the Libbey Mill was originally incorporated as the Lewiston Falls Cotton Mill. It later became the Lincoln Mill before being purchased by W.S. Libbey Co.

The first of two fires to strike the mill occurred in 1972.

Two workers were killed and 10 others were hurt in the blaze that destroyed the former Columbia Mill, which was attached to the existing structure.

W.S. Libbey Co. left town in 1993, leaving the mammoth structure vacant.

Since then, the building has changed ownership several times, and half of it was demolished after being destroyed by another fire in 1999.

Since that fire, which climbed up the elevator shaft and moved into the floors of Building No. 2, the future of the mill has remained uncertain.

The city took ownership of it – and its $300,000 in back taxes – in December 1999.

About six months later, the Lewiston City Council voted 6-1 to tear down the entire complex despite the fact that portions of it could be saved.

At the time, Councilor James Carrigan questioned why both portions of the mill had to come down if only half was burned. He was the sole vote against the demolition.

The plan was to level the buildings by October 2000, then clean and market the two-acre lot.

However, Carrigan and local historians were persistent, and they eventually got the city to agree with them.

Building No. 2 came down in January 2001. Building No. 1 got $50,000 in repairs to its roof.

empire theater

The Empire Theater opened in 1903 as a vaudeville theater and soon featured leading musical stars, plays and first-run movies.

The theater had its own concert orchestra, with a main floor containing 1,500 seats. It closed in 1982.