The Montana Flour Mills Company - Harlowton, MT
Posted by: Groundspeak Premium Member T0SHEA
N 46° 26.204 W 109° 49.402
12T E 590389 N 5143245
Put into operation about 1910, this was once the site of one of the largest and most modern flour mills in the west.
Waymark Code: WMXNAW
Location: Montana, United States
Date Posted: 02/02/2018
Published By:Groundspeak Premium Member Windsocker
Views: 0
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Now empty and derelict, this was once one of the major employers in Harlowton, The Montana Flour Mills Company. Newspaper items of the time recount that the mill was initially built by the Grafton Bolling Mill company of North Dakota. The contract for the construction of the mill was awarded to Van Buskirk & Dunnigan, local contractors, on July 6th, 1909. Work was to begin forthwith on the $15,000.00 stone structure. The contract called for the completion of the building by December 1st. The following photo shows that first stage of the mill, consisting only of the gable roofed three story stone building. At that time the first five concrete grain tanks were built, as well. In the summer of 1912, the taller stone elevator was added to the north side of the original building. By the end of 1912 six more concrete grain tanks had been completed still further to the north. The following news article was published shortly before the completion of these tanks.

Photo goes Here

The mill was sold to Con Agra-Agri Basics in 1969. We don't yet know when the mill was closed.
FLOUR MILLS COMPLETED
HARLOWTON MEAGHER COUNTY, MONTANA
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 18, 1912

The Montana Flour Mills Co. Finishes Best Plant in State
At Harlowton

The Montana Flour Mills Company succeeded in taking first prize at the Montana State Fair for the best flour manufactured in the state. Many of our citizens do not realize what this means to Meagher County and this part of the state. To manufacture the best flour requires the best wheat. So, when they took that prize on flour, it means the best wheat is grown in this part of the state.
The wheat in the Gallatin Valley this year is running very low in gluten, only about 30 per cent. In Meagher county it runs from 43 to 50 per cent. The millers in the Gallatin Valley, realizing this, sent one if their wheat buyers here to purchase this wheat to mix with their low grade.
The Montana Mills at this place have about completed six large concrete tanks capable of containing two hundred thousand bushels. These tanks will be completed about December 1st.
The Mill at present is running night and day and employs three shifts of men. The Milling Company have flour orders on hand to keep the mill running at this rate for three months.
They are paying, three cents over the regular price for wheat.
From The Harlowton News
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Year built?: 1909

Is the mill or gin still in operation?: No

What is or was processed here?: Flour and feed

Are tours available?: None offered, view from the outside only.

How is or was it powered?: Electricity

Related link to this waymark.: [Web Link]

What is it used as today?: Vacant
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