150 Years of Milling #3 -- Guenther House, San Antonio TX
N 29° 24.703 W 098° 29.758
14R E 548897 N 3253706
Third of three signs of history at the Guenther House, in San Antonio TX
Waymark Code: WMXNCW
Location: Texas, United States
Date Posted: 02/02/2018
Views: 2
Three signs of history are located on the grounds of the Guenther House in San Antonio. This sign is located at the front entry to the Guenther House, between the house and the mill, where breakfast guests wait to be seated by the coffee wagon.
The sign reads as follows:
"MORE THAN 150 YEARS OF MILLING
Carl Guenther & Sons Inc, THE OLDEST FAMILY-OWNED BUSINESS IN TEXAS and THE OLDEST MILLING COMAPNY IN THE UNITED STATES CONTINUOUSLY OWNED AND OPERATED BY THE SAME FAMILY.
1851
Carl Hilmar Guenther, a 24-year-old German immigrant, arrives in Fredericksburg Texas to build his own flour mill on Live Oak Creek. The mill is successful, but it’s succession of floods and droughts prompt him to consider greater opportunities.
1859
C. H. Guenther and his growing family move some 65 miles southeast to the fast-growing town of San Antonio. He purchases a mill site within a sharp bend of the river outside town, on the site of the present-day operation. In exchange for credit on the books of the future mill, farmers from Castroville dig deep millrace. The child water turns the mill wheel and powers grinding by two hand-chiseled millstones, imported from France and of the finest quality. The mill opens the following year.
1868
As demand for flour and cornmeal grows, Guenther increases his capacity by building a second mill a quarter of a mile upstream, toward downtown. Its operations moved to the main mill when steam power is added 3 decades later. Some of its solid limestone foundations are visible today.
1899
Pioneer and White Wings flour brands are created. The picture of the bearded founder goes on flour sacks for the first time. The mill incorporates as C. H. Guenther & Son, Inc. under the management of Guenther’s youngest son, Erhard, who becomes president after his father’s death in 1902. He remains in the position until his death in 1945. Having only two chief executives in 94 years lends a stability that still underlies the company’s growth beyond its 150th anniversary in 2001."
Group that erected the marker: Guenther Mill
URL of a web site with more information about the history mentioned on the sign: [Web Link]
Address of where the marker is located. Approximate if necessary:
Guenther House
E Guenther Street
San Antonio, TX
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