Gabriel 150 years - Flipbook - Page 16
Fire and a new beginning
±π∂∂-±π∫π
In ±π∂∂, Kjærs Mølle was seriously damaged by
Mølle won the struggle for the finishing of
fire. A chance occurrence threatened an other-
goods made by cottage industries. Better and
wise successful enterprise. But another chance
better equipment was installed in the factory,
occurrence – in the form of a winning lottery
and there was a breakthrough for mineral dyes.
ticket – saved the factory.
This meant that Kjærs Mølle progressed from
Fortunately,
the
market
developed
the manufacture of coarse woollen goods to
favourably during this second building up of
the making of a variety of finer textiles.
the factory that began in ±π∂∂. Clothing facto-
The number of employees increased to ±∑∂
ries in the Duchy of Holstein found their posi-
in ±∫∞±. The workers had their own health in-
tion on the Danish market weakened following
surance, but they could be heavily fined, one of
the war of ±π∑µ, and at the local level, Kjærs
the reasons for a strike that took place in ±π∫∑.
“An unhappy conflagration”
fate had other plans. W.A. Rodskjer won ±∞,∞∞∞
rix-dollars in the lottery and invested the entire
In ±π∂∂, just as stable conditions seemed to
sum in the rebuilding of Kjærs Mølle. This, in
have become a fact of life, Kjærs Mølle was the
any case, is the story told, a story that can be
victim of a devastating fire.
traced back to the first record of Kjærs Mølle’s
A contemporary report reads: “[Kjærs
history, written by the company’s bookkeeper
Mølle] burnt down in an unhappy conflagra-
in ±∫∞±.
tion, the cause of which is unknown, on the
Today, we do not really know whether Lady
night of ≤µ January ±π∂∂. Only the walls of the
Luck smiled on Rodskjer, or whether the mon-
bottom floor of the large ≥-storey factory build-
ey came from some other unknown source.
ing remain standing; all the machines and ma-
Whatever the case, the owners succeeded in
terials burnt. The residence and other build-
securing the necessary capital to reopen Kjærs
ings, including the storehouse were saved...”
Mølle.
Fortunately, Kjærs Mølle had taken out a good
The new factory
fire insurance policy in ±π∂≤ – or so it was
thought. But the bookkeeper had not insured
The new factory was built of brick, and new
the buildings and goods, so there was no com-
handlooms were purchased (one power loom
pensation for their loss. Although the stock
that was also purchased proved useless). While
was saved, it is likely that it was ruined in the
the old factory could produce ∑∞∞ pieces of
fire. Less than four years after the opening of
cloth measuring approx. ≤∞ meters, the new
the factory, the situation looked hopeless, but
factory had an annual capacity of ∫∞∞ pieces.
1855-1898
17
