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The Gerberich, Hale & Co., mill was a five story stone, brick and frame building with a capacity of 125 barrels of flour per day. It was one of the most complete as well as valuable small mill properties in the state. Having been built with the first year of the 19th century its claim to age is beyond dispute. Jas. Smith, a son-in-law of Jas. Dunlap, was its builder and operator until 1809 when Hamilton Humes became his successor. In 1834 Wm. A. Thomas purchased the property and operated it with Jno. M. Wagner under the firm name of Wagner & Thomas. J. M. Wagner & Co., afterwards became its owners and were succeeded in 1874 by Duncan, Hale & Co., In the early 1890s Wm. P. Duncan retired leaving C. T. Gerberich and the late Dr. E. W. Hale as sole owners. The building had been improved and rebuilt, from time to time, until it bore no resemblance to the original structure. It was later owned by the Hale estate and was equipped with the most improved machinery for the manufacture of its celebrated "Snow Flake" flour. The building was destroyed by fire May 25 1892.
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