Prehistoric and Euroamerican Archaeology of Elk River, Minnesota: Current Knowlege and Probability Modeling

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to shut down from time to time because of the low stage of water in the Elk River.'" In 1901, the planing mill owned by William Houlton and the flour mill owned by the Elk River Milling Company argued over the use of the water power because the water level was too low for both mills to run at full capacity.39 Wheat shortages and competition from other mills also hampered the flour mills at times. In 1875, Mills and Houlton were running their flour mill 24 hours a day "notwithstanding the great depression of the flour market. ,40 An 1899 article in the Sherburne County Star News said that "it requires over twelve hundred bushels of wheat per day to keep [the flour mill] running and the local supply has not yet been large enough to keep it going."41 By 1911, the Elk River Milling Company flour mill appeared to have been in a desperate economic situation. An advertisement appeared in the Sherburne County Star News that listed the following six benefits of having the Elk River Milling Company in business: "First, the Elk River Milling Co. when building a mill in Elk River paid large amounts of money to the people of Elk River. Second, the Elk River Milling Co. improves the market of Elk River. Third, the Elk River Milling Co. gives work to five men, most of them heads of families. Fourth, the Elk River Milling Co. pays a heavy yearly tax ... [Sixth], The Elk River Milling Co. gives the farmer a chance to receive more for what he raises. [Seventh], the Elk River Milling Co. sells at a lower price than the farmer could buy for, should there be no flour mill." The advertisement also claimed "If you want [the mill] to remain, we will have to have your support.i42 Ironically, the Milling Company's mortgage was foreclosed on a week before a flood washed out the dam and undermined the mill, rendering it inoperable. The mill was dismantled in 1913.43 Fire destroyed four of the six known flour mills: the George Albee flour mill burned in 1868; the Mills and Houlton mill burned in 1887; the Mills and Sons mill burned in 1902; and the Leslie Hill flour mill burned in 1932. The burning of the Leslie Hill mill in 1932 marked the end of the flour milling industry in Elk River. 18