Asotin Mill / Jerry Milling Co.
Asotin Co. | Washington | USA
Watersource: Asotin Creek.
Asotin Mill / Jerry Milling Co.
Located on the edge of Asotin near the river, 6 miles south of Clarkston, Wa. on Wa 129.
The 1881 mill was originally powered by Asotin Creek, built by Luther Stimson and Frank Curtis. The dam was upstream and a flume ran along the hillside to an overshot wheel, which powered one set of stones and was later changed out to a turbine. The main structure of the 3.5 story frame mill is about 32'x45'. Hand-hewned support timbers were brought down from the Blue Mountains. Various additions have been added through the years of 1 and 2 story.
An old Fairbanks scale in one of the surrounding sheds.
The stones were originally barged up the Columbia and Snake Rivers from Portland, Or. to Asotin. Eventually the mill was powered by a diesel generator which was later moved to Golden & Elk City, Idaho to generate electricity for the communities.
The mill operated under various owners until 1927 when it was shut down. Six years later it was purchased at a tax sale by D.A. Silvers for $12,000. The equipment was gone, along with the millstones.
Silvers installed the roller milling equipment from the old Jerry Mill, later demolished, that was located at Jerry, Washington and resumed operation in 1934, with F.H Stephensen and Harmer Robeson, as the Jerry Milling Company. The mill produced flour (under various owners) until after WW II when it was converted to a feed mill. The mill closed c. 1970.
Asotin Mill
It was purchased in 1972 by Coast Trading Company and then by Bill Marvel. It became the Marvel Mercantile Company.
It was finally purchased by Gerald Halsey in 1976 and converted into a private dwelling. Much of the historical information about Jerry Milling Co. was supplied by Brenda Shultz, the photographer of photo #5.