Old flour mill in Nevada
Minden Flour Milling Company, Minden Nevada
The Minden Flour Milling Company building was the last, largest, and only remaining of five flour mills erected in the Carson Valley from 1854 to 1906. The mill had an initial production capacity of 100 barrels of flour per day and the adjoining storage silos were able to hold 2000 tons of grain.
Grist or flour mills were among the first manufacturing establishments constructed in this agricultural valley. They served the emigrants moving along the Carson River Route of the Mormon Trail as well as the settlers who ran the trading stations to accommodate them.
The decision to extend the V & T Railroad from Carson City (15 miles to the north) to serve the Carson Valley was strongly influenced by the Pounders of the Minden Flour Milling Company, and this decision resulted in the opening of many remote commercial markets for the products of the ranchers and manufacturers in the Valley. The mill was also the principal reason for the decision to extend to the Valley electric power generated outside the area.
The architectural style is of a transition period from earlier European and American mill structures to typical turn-of-the-Century American industrial buildings. It also reflects the transition from the more remote "country mills" built by the local ranchers to the larger mills constructed by the railroad companies beside their tracks for mass distribution of mill products to other areas.
The craftsmanship in the building is one of few remaining examples displaying the traditional high quality of northern European and early American carpentry and masonry. This workmanship is rare to nonexistent in later construction. The masonry, bearing-wall type of construction seen in this mill building was replaced in the early 1920's by steel buildings, The concrete foundation was an innovation for its time, replacing the accepted stone or masonry foundations being used elsewhere.
The 45-feet-high steel grain-storage silos reflect the early industrialization and mass-production developing within the United States. The building remains as one of the early examples of this type of construction in the West. The steel segment plates were fabricated by the Minneapolis Steel and Machinery Co. and transported by transcontinental railroad to Reno and thence via the newer Virginia and Truckee (V & T) Railroad to Carson City. Finally, the plates were carried via horse-drawn freight wagons to Minden and field assembled at the site. Without railroads for transportation, this could not have been practical.
The present condition of the building is worthy of note. The high quality of materials and craftsmanship in the original construction, combined with the dry climate and excellent care of the building, renders it nearly in its original condition. The masonry walls, both brick and mortar, are remarkably well-preserved. The brick was fired in a kiln adjacent to the site and was laid up with a high quality cement mortar. The huge supporting timbers, the clear pine bin walls and chutes, (the bins constructed with rough-cut 2" by 6" pine boards laid side by side), and other construction materials are of size and quality not available today.
Most, if not all, of the principal machinery and chutes in the building are still intact. Included are rope-driven wheels in the power transfer system, a huge bull-wheel with wooden gear teeth and wedges, vibrating screen separators, screw conveyors, a pellet machine, vintage Allis-Chalmers machinery, and fabric-belt bucket elevators of several sizes.
The Minden Flour Milling Company building is located in a unique complex of other historical sites. Approximately 125 feet to the north of the mill is the handsome one-story brick Minden Butter Manufacturing Company building (1908 to 1959). The space between the Mill and the Butter Co. (now devoted to vehicle parking) contained the railroad right-of-way of the historic V & T Railroad. The railroad served the agricultural and business enterprises of the Carson Valley from Minden to points north from 1906 to 1950 when the railroad was abandoned. On the adjacent corner of Sixth Street and U.S. Hwy 395 stands the brick one-story building of the Dangberg Land and Livestock Co., established by the founder of the town of Minden. The lettering over the entrance door properly identifies the building as to its original and present use by that pioneer company.
Building Description
The flour mill building is a central 3-story brick-walled, 32' x 48' structure with full basement and attic. Attached to the central building are frame and corrugated sheet metal shed structures on three sides which are from one to three stories in height. Adjacent to the fourth side are four 45' high by 23' diameter steel silos which are covered with a single 46' by 46 sheet metal roof and are connected to the central brick building by a 3½-story corrugated sheet metal enclosure. The overall exterior dimensions of this rectangular complex are 56' by 141'.
The brick and the mortar between are in exceptional condition. Even upon close examination there are essentially no cracks or signs of deterioration in the red bricks or the cement mortar. The condition of the corrugated sheet metal sidings of the attached sheds shows some signs of rusting, deterioration and wear and tear, but is in fairly good condition overall, especially when considering the age of the building.
The masonry structure contains a total floor space of approximately 3600 square feet, shed additions (added in 1908) another 3300 square feet, and the area between the four silos grosses another 1600 square feet.
Each of the three floors in the brick structure consists of 2-inch nominal tongue-and-groove decking on 3" by 12" rough-sawn joists. Heavy 14" by 14" timber posts and beam supports carry the floor loads down to the basement, A considerable amount of strengthening, with additional posting and beams, was installed when the mill was converted to a feed mill in 1942 to support additional grain bins and large, steel molasses storage tanks.
The only known difference between the original and present external appearance is that most of the sides of the 1-story, covered loading dock on the south (Hwy 395) side were at one time covered with sheet metal siding (probably for protection from inclement weather).
The structure is (apparently) the tallest and most imposing structure in all of the Carson Valley, The end walls of the masonry structure (brick parapets) extending well above the roof lines, as well as the tall silos, present an imposing and handsome picture to all who may pass near it.
South-side view of mill located with U.S. Highway 395 in foreground (1978)
North-side view of mill showing corrugated sheet metal sheds attached to the main brick structure, and the four 45' high by 23' diameter steel grain-storage silos. The V&T Railroad served the mill from this side (1978)
South-side (U.S.Hwy 395) one-story dock area (now enclosed) with corrugated sheet metal roof (1978)
Late 1800's Allis-Chalmers belt-driven milling machine located on first floor (1978)
View toward ceiling of first floor showing extra support posts and beams installed in 1942 to support molasses tanks on second floor when mill was converted to a feed mill. Shown is east brick wall of main structure and one of many pine grain chutes (running diagonally top right to bottom middle) (1978)
Wooden work bench next to second-floor window overlooking U.S. Hwy 395 (1978)
Second-floor view of pine grain bin (one of four against west brick wall) which extends up through third floor. Note use of full-measure 2" by 6" pine stacked flat to form bin walls and the smooth wood surface inside the bin created by constant flow of grain (1978)
Third-floor pine bin in middle of floor with intricate carpentry. Floor in back-ground partially removed in 1942 to accommodate metal molasses tanks installed on second floor, Windows facing east (1978)
View looking up to roof and loft area from third floor showing massive beams, machinery, and top of one of a number of storage bins within the mill, White object (lower left) is a smoke alarm installed in the 1970s (1978)
Screw conveyor and chutes in loft area over third floor (looking in direction of silos to the west) (1978)
View from loft area toward southeast corner of brick building looking down into molasses tanks (1978)
View from approximately second-floor level looking into 3-story partition between silos and main brick building. A screened materials bin is at left (1978)
Huge bull-wheel with wooden teeth and wedges located in corrugated sheet metal roof over silos. West brick wall and one of many rope-driven wheels are in background (1978)
View looking west down catwalk over silos, Note chutes which took grain from overhead screw conveyor to silos below (1978)
South facade (1978)
