Rockford Mill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Rockford Mill
|
|
 Location in Iowa
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | Shell Rock River at 4th and Main St. Rockford, Iowa |
|---|---|
| Area | Less than one acre |
| Built | 1871 |
| NRHP reference No. | 83000358 |
| Added to NRHP | July 28, 1983 |
The Rockford Mill is an old building in Rockford, Iowa, United States. It has a long history of helping the community. This mill was important for processing crops and even tried to make electricity.
Building the Mill
A man named J.T. Graham learned how to run mills in Sacramento, California. He learned this during the exciting time of the California Gold Rush. Later, he moved to Iowa in 1853.
Mr. Graham built and ran several mills across Iowa. In 1871, he teamed up with D.D. Cutler to build the Rockford Mill. It was a two-story building with a pointed roof, sitting on a strong stone base.
A smaller addition with a sloping roof was built on the east side later. After 1875, Graham became the only owner of the mill.
What the Mill Did
This mill was special in Floyd County. About 90% of its work was "custom grinding." This means people brought their own crops to be ground.
The mill processed many different things. It ground wheat, buckwheat, and cornmeal. It also made feed for farm animals.
Changes Over Time
After J.T. Graham passed away, several different people owned and ran the mill. In 1899, H.W. Winston tried to use the mill to make electricity for the town. However, he was not successful.
A dam was added to the river near the mill in 1918. This dam helped control the water flow for the mill's operations.
From 1913 to 1920, different companies used the building. The Rockford Light and Power Company and then Cedar Valley Electric Company ran it. They combined making animal feed with producing water and power.
Feed milling continued until World War II. During the war, there weren't enough workers, so the milling had to stop.
By 1952, after the war ended, the mill pond had filled with dirt and mud (it "silted in"). Also, the dam was old and broken. So, the mill had to rely only on electricity to run.
At that time, it was the last feed mill still working in the county. But as farming changed, there was less need for local feed mills. This led to the end of the mill's operations.
The Rockford Mill is an important part of history. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. This means it is recognized as a special historical site.
