History of the Millstadt Mill

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Built in 1857, Millstadt’s historic mill was erected by men from Germany with old world craftsmanship. The timber framing is astonishing, 18”x18” bents, 16”x16” tying joints, complex compound mortis and tenon, triple bypass corner tying, all on a hand-stacked limestone foundation. These ancestral founders knew how to withstand the torque the industry would generate with the weight of grain, vibrating equipment, the roll of wagons, and an eventual train spur. The superstructure is an articulated old growth forest scarred by vertical and occasioned pit saw marks, never to be replicated by any amount of money, resource or technical skill.

Incepted in 1857 under the name Backer and Stern, it originally was a flour mill built on the Oliver Evans' design, converting to feed grains, corn meals and finer wheat flour mixes by 1880. With a booming economy the wooden stack crib grain elevator built on the Joseph Dart design was added in 1880 to store an incredible 50,000 bushels, the largest in the area in its time, double the size of most. This consisted of Eight 2”x6” wooden stacked cribs that are an architectural marvel to see.

In 1883 The Mobile and Ohio Railroad was brought to Millstadt to the mill and a huge town celebration was held. The mill was the heartbeat of the surrounding community: a destination for farmers and their families, bankers, brokers, mill workers, wagon and railroad men and a village gathering place.

Through time and as technology changed, the mill’s power plant adjusted to meet the demands of the generations. Hirsch and Sons were the second owners from 1885 through 1894 continuing the operation as the founders had. With the Baltz family taking ownership (Millstadt Milling Company 1894-1957) steam power was altered to electric. Every piece of equipment-boilers, drive shafts, pulleys and venting that could be adapted to meet the new energy source was salvaged to save money and materials, creating a remarkable time capsule of the history of milling through the centuries.

Reflecting the political concerns of the Cold War era in the 1950's, a significant portion of the lowest level was designated as a community "Fall Out Shelter" with the appropriate atomic emblems, signage and some supplies left in place.

Midland Milling and then Handy Feed and Grain were the next owners operating from 1957 - 2017. They added a larger warehouse and a dock for the new demands of the tractor trailer and trucking industry. 

Jim and Melissa Helfrich purchased the business in 2017 with the mission now of preserving part of the mill as an operational museum.

The prudent management of the mill is evidenced by the amount of the original machinery left in-situ.

Very little has been moved. When many mills forfeited their aged machinery metals during the WWIl, Millstadt Mill was still using theirs. The physical engineering of the plant's operation is readable even to an untrained eye. Two original wooden pieces are still located on the fourth floor just before entering the catwalk above the grain bins. They are aged and completely intact with intricate embellishments made in a time when even functional machines were given artistic detail to show pride.