Overview
The New Century Mill was built in 1900 and was the first steam-powered flour mill in Minneapolis.
- Location: 545 Oak Street Southeast
- Neighborhood: University of Minnesota
Circa 1915 |
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The New Century Mill was built in 1900 and was the first steam-powered flour mill in Minneapolis.
Circa 1915 |
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The New Century Mill was built in 1900 and was the first steam-powered flour mill in Minneapolis. It was located at the intersection of two major railroads. This proximity helped offset the cost of using steam power, which was more expensive than waterpower. This was a significant milestone of the milling industry in Minneapolis. Before, the milling industry relied on St. Anthony Falls.
The mill was designed by William Dixon Gray. He was a lead engineer at the Edward P. Allis Company of Milwaukee. He was the most significant milling engineer of his era. Gray designed several other mills in Minneapolis, including the Standard Mill at 116-118 Portland Avenue South, which no longer stands. The New Century Mill was owned by George C. Christian. He was the son of George H. Christian, who owned and operated mills for the Washburn Company. Milling operations at the New Century Mill ceased in the early 1920s. It was later used for storage.
The building suffered a major fire in 1990 and it was demolished. The site is now owned by the University of Minnesota. One stretch of railroad by the site is now the Dinkytown Greenway.
Circa 1915 photo: Charles J. Hibbard, courtesy of the Minnesota Historical Society
Robert M. Frame III, “National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Form: New Century Mill,” 1987
Community Planning & Economic Development (CPED)
Phone
Address
Public Service Building
505 Fourth Ave. S., Room 320
Minneapolis, MN 55415