Swany White Flour Mills

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Swany White Flour Mills
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Swany White Flour Mills (Minnesota)
Swany White Flour Mills
Location: Freeport, Minnesota
Coordinates: 45°39′43″N 94°41′17″W / 45.66194, -94.68806Coordinates: 45°39′43″N 94°41′17″W / 45.66194, -94.68806
Built/Founded: 1898
Architect: Unknown
Architectural style(s): No Style Listed
Added to NRHP: April 15, 1982
NRHP Reference#: 82003043

[1]
MPS: Stearns County MRA
Governing body: Private

Swany White Flour Mills is a small flour mill in Freeport, Minnesota. The miller is Gary Thelen, and the mill has been owned by the Thelen family since 1903.[2] The mill is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as "Freeport Roller Mill and Miller's House".[1][3]

[edit] History

The mill has operated continuously at the same location since 1903, although according to Stearns County the mill dates to 1898.[4] Swany White Flour Mills has been owned by the Thelen family from its inception.

[edit] Today

For white flour, Swany White has used the same milling equiment since 1913. It has a milling capacity of about 1,000 pounds (450 kg) per hour, or 12,000 lb (5,400 kg) per business day.[5] This is a faction of the milling capacity of most mills. It is notable that Swany White Flour has continued to operate as a small independent while most other small regional producers have either given up or sold out.

For its conventional products, the mill has a commercial presence mainly in the Upper Midwest, however its organic products are distributed more widely.[5] In addition to sales to distributors and retailers, Swany White has a retail outlet at the mill in Freeport. The mill's most popular product is a bleached flour sold under the brand name Faith's Best, which accounts for about 60% of all sales.[5]

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ a b National Register Information System. National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service (2007-01-23).
  2. ^ Keillor, Garrison (December), “In Search of Lake Wobegon”, National Geographic 198 (6-): 98 
  3. ^ Stearns County Multiple Resource Area. National Park Service. Retrieved on 2008-04-03.
  4. ^ Stearns Pg.12-13 resend.eps
  5. ^ a b c Honest Weight Food Coop
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