Archibald Mill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Archibald Mill
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Ruins of the 1870 Archibald Mill from the southeast
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 Location in Minnesota
Location in the United States
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| Location | Railway Street Dundas, Minnesota |
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| Area | 9.64 acres (3.90 ha) |
| NRHP reference No. | 76001071 |
| Added to NRHP | October 8, 1976 |
The Archibald Mill was a very important old mill in Dundas, Minnesota. It used the power of the Cannon River to grind grain into flour. Today, only the ruins of this historic place remain.
The mill started in 1857 and grew bigger with a second mill in 1870. It was the first mill in the United States to make and sell a special kind of flour called "patent flour." Its "Dundas Straight" flour was once known as the best in the country! The Archibald Mill also helped introduce a new type of wheat, called hard spring wheat, to Minnesota. It was also one of the first mills to switch completely to a modern "roller mill" system.
Because of its big impact on business, industry, and flour making, the Archibald Mill is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's a nationally important historical site. Today, you can see the foundation of the 1857 mill. The ruins of the 1870 mill stand near the Mill Towns Trail.
History
Building the First Mill
The first mill in Dundas was built in late 1857. It was started by two cousins, John Sidney (J.S.) Archibald and George Archibald. They built it on the east side of the Cannon River.
Back then, the Cannon River had only one path through Dundas. But in 1860, a big flood changed things. The flood split the river, sending water further east of the mill. This created an island that is still there today.
Across the river, there was a sawmill built in 1856. The Archibalds bought this sawmill. They used its lumber to help build their new flour mill. They also built wooden dams on both river paths to control the water flow for their mill.
New Technology and Famous Flour
The Archibald Mill used the newest technology available at the time. This helped them make very high-quality flour. They called their best flour "EXTRA." It was so good that they sold it for $1 or $2 more per barrel than other local flours.
In 1870, a second mill was built. This one was on the west side of the river's west path. Then, in 1879, the original mill got a complete makeover. They added a new system called a Hungarian roller system. This made even better flour and helped the mill produce it much faster.
Fires and Rebuilding
On December 31, 1892, both mills caught fire and burned down. After this, the Archibalds sold the site. The new owners were from the local grain elevator company. They decided to rebuild the mills.
However, a rebuilt mill burned down again on November 19, 1914. This fire caused $30,000 in damage, but some of it was covered by insurance. After the 1914 fire, the Archibald Mill was rebuilt one last time. Sadly, parts of it were destroyed again in the early 1930s.
