| Creator/Compiler | Albert A. Thurston |
| Repository | Dyer Library Archives & Special Collections |
| Inclusive Dates | 1886-1946 |
| Bulk Dates | 1918-1946 |
| Collection Size | 3 linear feet |
| Bio/Hist. Notes | Thurston
Mills (originally known as Watson Mill) was acquired, owned and
operated by the Thurston family. Ancyl Augustus Thurston was a millman
during the 1870s and acquired the mill in the 1880s. His son, Albert A.
Thurstonm born 1888, worked for his father and a millman and
Ancyl’s nephew, Arthur E., operated the machines. Albert went
on
to control the mill after his father’s death. He then passed
it
on to his nearest kin, his twin sons Virgil Augustua and Victor Ancyl. The mill did typical sawmill work such as building lumber and rought lumber, cut logs, provided cords of wood to customers and created molding. During the heyday of the family company a majority of what came out of the mill was lumber which was used to create wooden boxes and sold to DuPont who used the boxes to send Saco-Lowell’s machines to China. During this time most of the work at the mill was done by horses that would carry the loads to Bar Mills and Pine Point where they were loaded on to trains. Another large part of the products that were created was firewood. The Thurston Mill was hired out to provide firewood to most of the schools in Saco and even Dayton. All of the wood was delivered by horse back. The Mill itself did not have electricity until 1925. For further information, “Saco: Then and Now,” Peter N. Scontras, Scontas Pub. Co., Saco, Maine, c1994. pp. 174-79.Albert and his wife, Nellie had three sons (Laurence, Virgil & Victor) and three daughters (Gladys, Nellie and Rachel A.) Albert A. Thurston died October 1968. |
| Scope/Content Notes | This collection focuses on the financial aspect of the Thurston Mill when Albert Thurston was running the company. Included in the collection are ledgers, cancelled checks, account statements and other groups of financial records. Aside from financial records the collection contains a very small personal item, an autograph album. There is one artifact not related to the mill buisiness. It is an autograph album with thefollowing inscription. “Merry Christmas Frank B. Emery, December 25, 1886. |
| Provenance | An inventory sheet is the only accession that can be found of this collection. The items originally came to the York Institute (now the Saco Museum) The donation came from Rachel Thurston. No date on inventory sheet. One item, War Ration Book, on the inventory list was noted as missing |
| Restrictions | Unrestricted |
| Series Descriptions | Series
1. Ledgers.
This series contains Thurston Mill’s cash sales with those
they
have done business with. Account receivable information were notated in
ledger books Series 2. Check Stubs. This series contains check stubs showing expenses paid belonging Albert A. Thurston and the Thurston Mill. Series 3. Cancelled Checks & Bank Statments. This series not only contains the check stubs and bank statements for the Thurston Mill, but for the personal account of Albert A. and Rachel A. Thurston between 1944-46. There is also a 1933 bank statement year for the Thurston Brothers. This may mean for Virgil and Victor Thurston, sons of Albert and Rachel. Series 4. Business correspondences. Only a few business letters resides in this series. Letters pertain to merchandise delivered, interest in specific merchandise abd insurance compensation for injured worker. Series 5. Financial papers. This series is grouped in a few series: expenses, customer receipts, handwritten financial reports, other supporting financial papers. Series 6. Tax records. This series contains real estate tax papers and personal income tax returns. Series 7. Miscellaneous supporting documents. Business cards, licenses, contracts, small autograph album [may have belonged to Albert’s wife, Nellie.] |
| Organizaton of Series |
|
for Thurston Mill Finding Aid