Whited Grist Mill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Whited Grist Mill
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 Location in Oklahoma
Location in the United States
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| Location | Old Town Museum, W. 3rd St. and N. Pioneer Rd. Elk City, Oklahoma |
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| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1903-04 |
| Built by | Whited, Ruben |
| NRHP reference No. | 76001554 |
| Added to NRHP | January 1, 1976 |
The Whited Grist Mill is a historic building that used to grind grains. It's like a big machine that turns corn into meal or animal feed. This important mill is now located at the National Route 66 & Transportation Museum in Elk City, Oklahoma. It helps us understand how people made food a long time ago.
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What is the Whited Grist Mill?
A grist mill is a place where grain, like corn, is ground into flour or meal. The Whited Grist Mill was built by Ruben Whited in 1903 and 1904. His family kept the mill running for its entire history.
Grinding Corn and Flour
The mill's main job was to grind corn for the people living in Elk City. There was even a sign on the outside that said, "CORN GROUND INTO MEAL OR CHOPS AT ANY TIME." This meant you could bring your corn and have it turned into food for people or animals.
In 1928, the mill got bigger. A new part was added that could also grind wheat into flour. This meant the mill could make even more types of food for the community.
Why the Mill Closed
The Whited Grist Mill stopped working in 1944. This happened during World War II. It was hard to get new parts for machines during the war. Because of this, the mill could not keep running. It was the only grist mill that ever operated in Elk City.
A New Home at the Museum
The mill was originally located at 306 E. 7th St. But in 1985, it was moved to a new spot. Its new home is at the National Route 66 & Transportation Museum. This move helps protect the mill and allows many people to visit it.
A Place in History
The Whited Grist Mill is considered a very important historical site. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on January 1, 1976. This means it is recognized as a special building that tells a part of American history.
