We imagine that this mill was in full, or part, at least, operation when the American Guide Series writers passed through Harlowton. The mill remains the largest structure in town and didn't escape their notice:
Harlowton was named for Richard Harlow, who built the "Jawbone
Line" (see TRANSPORTATION). It is a division point on the C. M.
St. P. & P. R. R., whose electrified section begins here, and whose shops and yards provide much local employment.
The flour mill, outstanding for this region, has 22 storage tanks with a capacity of 25,000 bushels each, and the daily output is 950 barrels of flour and large quantities of poultry and stock feeds. The town is the trading center for a steadily productive sheep and cattle region.
From the Montana, a state guide book, Page 330
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. 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.
Once the mill was in full production it regularly ran advertisements in many local newspapers extolling the virtues of its flour, produced in the "Finest and most modern mill in the west". The ad below was placed on page 2 of the
July 4, 1913 issue of the The Harlowton News.
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