Forbidden City Tour: City Mills

With profound gratitude extended to Downtown Mansfield Inc. and Preservation Ohio, hundreds of residents were afforded the opportunity to delve into Mansfield, Ohio’s rich history through a series of guided tours encompassing five significant sites within walking distance. The first installment of this five-part series spotlights the City Mills Building.

Originally constructed in 1847, the five-story City Mills Building posed a formidable challenge due to its location within a swampy area. An unstable foundation hindered progress during the early stages of construction, necessitating the replacement of 1,300 loads of ground and swamp with 600 perch of stonework. The stonework, upon which the machinery was installed, was completed by Gandert and Sons. The bricks were supplied by the local Everly Brick Works and laid by Foulke and Mohler, while Cyrus Hershiser served as the architect and contractor overseeing the construction.

Upon completion, the building functioned as a warehouse and terminus for the Sandusky and Mansfield Railroad, later incorporated into the Baltimore and Ohio system, which commenced operations that year. Subsequently, the warehouse underwent renovations to accommodate Burger and Brubaker, who installed the necessary equipment for a flour mill. Dr. Joseph Hildredth held a significant interest in this enterprise, known as “City Mills.” The building housed 13 sets of iron rollers, two sets of millstones quarried from Tobias Cline’s quarry east of the city, eight large wheat cleaners, two flour packing machines, eight patent dust removers, and conveyers. Additionally, two large boilers were connected to a 125-horsepower William Wright automatic engine from Newburgh, New York.

Around 1865, Frank A. and Andrus Gilbert acquired the City Milling Company. Four years later, J.M. Waugh joined the venture, and the company became known as the Gilbert, Waugh Milling Company. To increase production from 200 barrels to 350 barrels per day, the business deemed it necessary to renovate the building and install higher-capacity production equipment. An addition, costing $35,000, was constructed in 1881, and the original structure was subsequently demolished. It is believed that the 1881 structure occupies a portion of the 1847 lot.

Newspaper advertisements from 1881 listed Gilbert, Waugh and Company as offering flour at prices as low as $1.40 for a hundred-pound sack. They manufactured several brands of flour, including Non Pareil, Victor, Morning Glory, City Mills, Millstone, Blue Diamond, and Michigan Amber. By 1890, City Mills produced an impressive 40,000 barrels of flour annually.

One of Gilbert’s esteemed customers was The Steam Cracker Biscuit Works, located on West 4th Street, which later merged with several smaller companies to form the renowned National Biscuit Company, or NABISCO.

During the 1920s and 1930s, the City Mills Building served as the home of John Aricon and Company, comprising John, Charles, Andy, and Joseph Amicon, who operated a produce commission house.

In recognition of its historical significance, the City Mills Building was added to the National List of Historical Landmarks in 1986.

Through this informative tour, we gain invaluable insights into the rich tapestry of Mansfield’s industrial heritage, woven by the City Mills Building and its pivotal role in the city’s past.