Question: This contemporary photo shows a section of the 19th-century cobblestone foundation of a Baldwinsville building. The cornerstones are large blocks of limestone. Thousands of people have passed by this wall, some on boats and others on foot. Can you identify it? Do you know its story?
Last week’s answer: The photo from last week showed a flour bag that was used by the Frazee Mill to hold flour. The company label is in the dark band on the bottom of the logo.
Baldwinsville farms grew a large quantity of grain and there was adequate water power so the erection of flour mills was a natural outcome. Producing 1,500 barrels a day surpassed all other areas and made us the largest producer of flour in the U.S. This was before grain was grown out west.
One of five prominent mills, the Frazee Mill, located on the Baldwin Canal that stood across from the current library, was the largest producer, with 500 barrels a day. In later years, it was located on East Genesee Street next to the railroad and was known as the International Mill.
The earliest mill, whose bones are a part of the current Red Mill Inn, went by several names over the years: McHarrie Mill, Red Mill, White Mill, Farmer’s Mill of Van Buren, Clark and Mercer, Clark, Mercer and Co. and Mercer Mill. It was originally built by John McHarrie, Jr. and Stephen Baldwin. Another mill that stood behind it also went by several names: the Hotaling Mill, the Parker Mill and the Stone Mill. It was made from stone quarried at the Bigelow Quarry located in the vicinity of Church Road and routes 690 and 48. The largest structure, although not the largest producer, was the Amos Mill. Its owner was Jacob Amos, one-time mayor of Syracuse. It was located on the Baldwin Canal where the Baldwin Canal Park (Village Square) is now. The fifth mill, also on the Baldwin Canal, was located where Dunkin Donuts and the dance studio are now. Over the years it was known as the Hart Mill, Wilkins Mill and Seneca Mill.
Much of the flour was shipped in barrels with a least two of the mills having their own cooper shops. Along those lines — did you know that Maple Road was once called Cooper Street because there were so many coopers (barrels makers) on that road?
Another type of container used for the flour was the flour bag. These were very popular, having many attractive prints and made of relatively good-quality material. Housewives recycled them into play clothes, dresses and other household items like dish towels and aprons, etc. And we thought we invented recycling!
Contact Editor Sarah Hall at [email protected] or leave a message at 434-8889 ext. 310 with your guess by 5 p.m. Friday (please leave the information in the message; we are not generally able to return calls regarding History Mystery responses). If you are the first person to correctly identify an element in the photo before the deadline, your name and guess will appear in next week’s Messenger, along with another History Mystery feature. History Mystery is a joint project of the Museum at the Shacksboro Schoolhouse and the Baldwinsville Public Library.
