The Mill Explosion that Shook Forest City

On May 2, 1878, Minneapolis was rocked by the explosion of the Washburn Mill A. The explosion was heard for miles around, and debris was found blocks away. The effects were even felt as far away as Forest City, Meeker County. Not felt in the physical sense, but in the pain of loss as the mill disaster impacted the community.

A photograph of Mill A with illustrations added to show the explosion. From the Library of Congress photo collection.

The Washburn Mill A was completed in 1874 and was the largest flour mill in the United States at that time. Around 300,000 pounds of flour were produced each day. At 6:00 on the fateful evening, fourteen men started their shift at the mill. Just over an hour later, the mill was destroyed. Flour dust is highly flammable and when airborne it can explode. The cause of ignition remains a mystery although the investigation that followed found no evidence of human error or wrongdoing.

All fourteen men in the mill were killed, along with four other men in surrounding buildings that were also damaged or destroyed. Most of the men in Mill A would have been killed instantly by the pressure of the blast. The rubble of the roof and seven floors, combined with the extreme heat of the fire, made survival and rescue attempts impossible.

With little hope, families began to gather for word of their loved ones. Among these was Forest City’s JB Atkinson and his family. Atkinson was one of the most prominent citizens of Forest City. Three years prior, his daughter Clara had buried her husband and infant son. Now Clara was waiting for word on her second husband, mill worker William Leslie. Eventually, enough of his remains were found for Atkinson to make a positive identification of his son-in-law. Several of the mill worker families didn’t even have that much, with four of the bodies never being recovered.

Clara would return to Forest City with her parents and her young son. Four months later, she would give birth to a daughter. Leslie, age 27, had been a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, however his membership had lapsed due to financial difficulties. Under normal circumstances, this would mean his family wasn’t entitled to death benefits provided to members, but the A.O.U.W. rallied together and provided support for Leslie’s family.

One of the first bodies pulled from the remains of the mill was that of 21-year-old Charles Kimball. He had spent several years in Forest City and was “beloved by all.” He lived with his uncle Edwin Kimball, one of the leading millers and shopkeepers in the area. Charles had only been employed at the Washburn Mill for a short time before the disaster. A double funeral was held for Kimball and Leslie at the Forest City School, and their remains were laid in the Forest City Cemetery.

In reporting on the funeral, the Litchfield Independent summarized the tragedy. “A spark, an explosion, and these two souls had left earth. How slender the thread of life!”