Riding the shimmering highway,
 That leads pioneers to the western frontier,
Small hamlets arise along the creeks,
 As they flow toward the great waters north.
Mills fill the banks grinding and sawing,
 Until the fire guts the massive mill–Abandoned.
Image © Mark A Phillips
Verse © Mark A Phillips
As pioneers to the western frontier flooded in, mills quickly arose to meet the need for lumber, meal, and grain.