OLDEST -- Family-Owned Business in TX & OLDEST Continuously Operated Family-Owned Milling Co. in USA, San Antonio TX
N 29° 24.668 W 098° 29.741
14R E 548925 N 3253643
A sign at the Guenther House, in San Antonio TX, proclaiming the Guenther Mill the oldest family owned business in TX and the oldest continuously family-operated milling company in the US
Waymark Code: WMXND0
Location: Texas, United States
Date Posted: 02/02/2018
Views: 2
This sign with some history of the C. H. Guenther Mill is located at the rear of the Guenther House, in the garden by the original 1859 mill stone.
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 COMPANY 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."
Type of documentation of superlative status: Historical sign
Location of coordinates: at the sign
Web Site: [Web Link]
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