LOSS $5,000 (Special to the Eagle News)
 

Pleasant Valley, Sept. 17. -- Fire, starting when lightning struck the building, destroyed the old George BOWMAN's grist mill at the north end of this village, at 5 o'clock this afternoon with a loss of close to $5,000. A portion of the loss is covered by insurance and the machinery with quantities of feed stored, make up the itmes of heaviest loss to the owner of the mill, Henry HICKS.

The village fire department with its new apparatus was on the scene within a few minutes after the building took fire and its efforts saved nearby buildings. The flames reached a tank of gasoline, the explosion which followed seriously hindering the work of firemen and spreading the fire rapidly. A garage which stood in close proximit was saved and the motor car in it was run out to a place of safety.

It was at the height of the storm which swept Poughkeepsie and the eastern part of the county that one of the few flashes which attended the storm struck the mill. In a few minutes the flames spread to all parts of the structure and the efforts of the firemen were bent on saving adjoining buildings.

The mill is known as the George BOWMAN grist mill, was purchased several years ago by Henry HICKS. It stood at the north end of the village on the east branch of the Wappingers Creek and was a landmark of the village, having been erected nearly 100 years ago. Since Mr. Hicks has been owner it has been operated as a rye flour mill.