|
Linns History of Centre and Clinton Counties, Page 243
"The Bellefonte flouring-mills, located on Spring Creek. and now carried on by Duncan, Hale & Co., were built in 1800 by James Smith, son-in-law to James Dunlop. John Dunlop was probably interested with Smith in the mill business. The first miller is said to have been Daniel Weaver. In 1810, Hamilton Humes rented the mill property and carried it on until 1814. Various persons were concerned with the business until 1834, when W. A. Thomas purchased it. From that time forward it came to be known as the Thomas mill, and by that name it is most commonly known to this day. Wagner & Thomas succeeded W. A. Thomas, and were in turn followed by John M. Wagner & Co. The latter sold their interest in 1874 to the present owners, Duncan, Hale & Co., composed of William P. Duncan, E. W. Hale, and C. T. Gerberich. Mr. Gerberich, the managing partner, took his first lessons in milling in this mill in 1854, and since 1864 has been its miller. The mill is fitted with five runs of stone and a seventy-five horse-power water-wheel. The capacity is seventy-five barrels of flour daily. From forty thousand to fifty thousand bushels of wheat are ground annually. The mill building, constructed of brick and stone, is three stories in height, and measures ninety by forty-two feet.
There is also a large warehouse for the storing of grain shipments of grain as well as flour are made by Duncan, Hale & Co. in considerable volume. They manufacture also at the mill a superior quality of plaster."
|
|
