FLOUR MILLING HISTORY at East Bank Mills Site 1879 - 1984

1879:

LeRoy S. Buffington is hired for the planning of the Pillsbury "A" Mill. A West Side location was first envisioned, but sentiment for the East Side laborers by John S. Pillsbury caused the mill to be built there.

1880:

Land is purchased in February on the East Side, located on Main Street and Third Avenue Southeast.

1880:

The construction contract is let to George McMullen on March 6. The interior design is given to the firm of Gunn & Cross. Jack Finch, Head Millwright, was in charge of the equipment installation.

1880:

Work begins on the building foundations on June 15.

1881:

The East "A" milling unit is completed. Power to drive the mill is derived from Water Wheel No. 1.

1881:

The Bran House is completed in October.

1882:

The West "A" milling unit is completed, with Water Wheel No. 2 as the power source. Total cost for both the East and West "A" milling units is $650,000.00.

1884:

The Pillsbury "A" Mill becomes the first at St. Anthony Falls to use steam power.

1889:

An English syndicate purchases all Pillsbury holdings, including the "A" Mill property. The name of the firm is changed to Pillsbury-Washburn Flour Milis Company, and Charles A. Pillsbury is named as the Managing Director.

1893:

Interior of the Bran House gutted by a large fire.

1894:

A world record of 9,490 bbls of flour milled in one day is set on December 1.

1899:

Charles A. Pillsbury dies at age 57, putting Henry L. Little in charge.

1901:

Plans for a brick and stone Boiler House and smoke stack are granted, which will later become the Vitos Building.

1909:

The company name is changed to Pillsbury Flour Mills Company.

1909:

Plans begin for the erection of the Red Tile Elevator. Space is allotted between the existing building the elevator to allow for future milling and cleaning units.

1912:

The interior of the "A" Mill is rebuilt and reinforced with steel.

1914:

The Concrete Elevator is designed and constructed by Barnett and Record Co.

1915:

The Machine Shop is added on to the Bran House, with a Blacksmith Shop nearby.

1915:

The original grain storage elevator adjacent to the "A" Mill is demolished.

1916:

The Pillsbury Flour Mills Company purchases the Phoenix Mill Company property at Main Street and Third Avenue Southeast.

1916:

The South "A" Mill and Warehouse No. 1 are erected on Block 50.

1917:

The north half of the Supply House is constructed on Block 36.

1917:

Production of "Health Bran", which is packaged on the third floor of the Bran House, begins on March 21.

1918:

Pancake flour production begins at the Bran House.

1918:

Warehouse No. 2 is constructed on Block 50.

1924:

East "A" Mill is equipped to make "Pure Bran".

1925:

Warehouse No. 3 is built at Main Street Southeast and Fifth Avenue Southeast.

1925:

Electrical service is provided to all facilities after a contract is signed with NSP.

1926:

Warehouse No. 4 is erected at Main Street Southeast and Sixth Avenue Southeast.

1927:

The name of the company is changed to Pillsbury Flour Mills, Inc.

1928:

The South "A" Mill begins cake flour production.

1929:

All cereal, bran, and pancake operations are transferred to the Springfield, Illinois plants.

1932:

The East "A" Mill is dismantled, and the "A" Durum unit from the Lincoln Mill in Anoka is installed in its place.

1937:

The West "A" Mill is dismantled, and a Rye milling unit is installed in place of the "B" Durum unit.

1939:

The wooden floor in the "A" Mill basement is removed and filled with concrete.

1941:

A concrete tank is installed in the Dairy Rations plant for molasses production.

1942:

A flake cereal plant is installed at the West "A" Mill, donut production is installed in the Bran House, and a Cinnamon Base plant is erected in the Rye Mill.

1943:

Equipment is installed in the "A" Mill for the production of dehydrated soup, cereal, and wheat base concentrates.

1944:

Equipment for pre-cooked cereal manufacturing is installed in the "A" Mill.

1944:

Company name is changed to Pillsbury Mills, Inc.

1944:

The "PILLSBURY'S BEST FLOUR" red neon sign is replaced on the Red Tile elevator.

1946:

A 5,000 Ib. capacity freight elevator in installed in the "A" Mill.

1950:

Warehouse No. 210 is demolished.

1953:

The Rye and Durum units at the "A" Mill are removed.

1955:

The use of water power is discontinued.

1955:

The Bran House is remodeled to hold the mill offices.

1959:

The Blacksmith Shop and Warehouse No. 6 are demolished.

1961:

Flour operations are discontinued at Warehouse No. 3.

1966:

The Research Library and Main Entry Building are constructed.

1974:

The Hydroprocessing plant is constructed adjacent to the Red Tile elevator. The process was patented for the steeping of wheat and separation into starch, gluten and husk.

1976:

The mill offices are relocated to the second floor of the Products Control Building.

1978:

The Hydroprocessing plant is leased to the Manildra Milling Corporation of Australia.

1980:

The Research Pilot Plant, Lab, and Offices are built on Lot 35.

1980:

The Products Control Building is demolished.

1981:

Computer Building is erected on Block 49.

1984:

The Storage Building for perishable goods is built on Block 35.

All data complied and corrected by Richard L. Ferrell in June of 1979. Revised in May of 1987.