Gervais Grist Mill - Little Canada, MN - Minnesota Historical Markers on Waymarking.com

This marker stands in the parking lot of Gervais Mill Park in Little Canada, and while the history is interesting, I found it amusing that the marker goes out of it's way to describe both historical figures as "short" and "honest". The Mill also seems to have suffered an abrupt and inglorious end...the full text on the marker is below:

"Just across the road and creek from this marker was the site of the first commercial grist mill built in the region now named Minnesota. Constructed in 1844 -- five years before the birth of Minnesota Territory -- the water-powered, flour and meal mill was operating when present day Little Canada was an unmapped wilderness on the western frontier of Wisconsin Territory. Its builder was St. Paul's first carpenter, Charles Bazille (1812-78), a Montreal native who was remembered as a short, "honest man, full of kindness." Its owner was another short, honest French Canadian, Benjamin Gervais (1786-1876) -- the founder of Little Canada, and one of the pioneers of St. Paul. A former voyaguer born in Riviere du Loup, Quebec, Gervais came to this site in 1844 on the recommendation of his Dakota Indian friends. Aided by his wife Genevieve and eight children, Gervais carved out a large farm along this creek and adjoining lake now named for him. After their first harvest, the Gervais family used the mill to make cornmeal and flour for the lumber camps of the St. Croix Valley. In 1847 Gervais replaced his original pair of seven inch diameter granite mill stones for a better set from St. Louis.

The Mill was razed in the 1880's."

Marker Type:: City

Visit Instructions:
A photo of the 'Marker' or 'Plaque' is required to identify the location, plus a picture of the 'Historic Site'.

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Date Logged Log User Rating   01/30/2022 MasterSergeantUSMC visited it 03/12/2013 rosebud55112 visited it 07/22/2011 Go Boilers! visited it

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