MILLER COUNTY, Mo. — A 160-year-old mill was saved from a fire on Monday, thanks to the quick response of firefighters from across the county.
According to the Iberia Rural Fire Protection District, at 9:31 a.m., firefighters were called to a structure fire with flames showing, at 4 Brays Mill Rd.
When they arrived and firefighters realized they were dealing with a large, historic building—Bray’s Mill—they called for aid from nearby departments. Brumley, Dixon, Tuscumbia and Eldon Fire Departments came to help, and crews were able to find and quickly extinguish the fire.
photo by Iberia RFPD
According to the Iberia RFPD, the fire had started at the flu and extended to areas around it, in the attic.
The district posted on its Facebook page, “Due to these quick actions the Historic Brays Mill was saved and remain a piece of Miller County History! A big THANK YOU to our Mutual Aid Departments for their response and assistance!”
photo by Iberia RFPD
Bray’s Mill was built around the 1860s and was overhauled in the late 1800s. In those early days of Miller County, the museum notes the county was fiercely divided and localism affected county-wide decisions. Residents on both sides of the Osage River referred to those on the other side as “yond siders,” the museum notes, and in one notorious act, the people of Richwoods Township unanimously voted against a railroad bond that would have helped western Miller County but not the eastern part.
Bray’s Mill was around during those divisive days, and now stood amid the county coming together to save one of its most historic and unique structures: the mill itself.
