The Dutton Flour Mill was built by Archibald McEachern in 1874 on lot number 7 Main Street north, opposite the Dutton Dunwich Public School. From its start in 1874, the mill remained a major industry for Dutton and the surrounding area throughout the 20th century. In an advertisement in March of 1877 the St. Thomas Times Journal wrote “There is erected upon the property, a three-story frame grist mill (built in 1874) with three run of stones and the property is adjacent to the Dutton Station of the Canada Southern Railway, distance from St. Thomas about 25 miles, and in the center of a good farming district.”
By the 1880’s business was booming. Flour was being shipped all the way from Dutton to Glasgow Scotland in barrels made in a building west of the mill by William Cape. In the early years of operation, the mill had very limited capacity due to its single run of stones to grind the grain. By 1884, A. McEachern sold the mill to Archibald J. Leitch, who advanced the mill by replacing the stone grinder with a single set of steel rollers. The innovation of steel rollers helped mills all across North America operate more efficiently. Steel rollers were not only easier to maintain than stone, but they did not shake the structure of the mill and took less power to operate.
Archibald John Leitch was born in 1848 on the farm of his father, Colin, a native of Argyllshire, Scotland. After A. J left school, he married Lucy E. Cameron. His love for education proceeded throughout his adult life, and he would later teach in Wallacetown in 1871-72. Though this was not the only profession Mr. Leitch had. In his lifetime, Archibald also owned a hotel, was a banker, and operated the Dutton mill. Leitch helped the village of Dutton grow in many aspects. He was one of the first to survey the land into lots and built a business block costing $22,000. However, shortly after this block was overtaken by fire. All of these ventures were done in conjunction with a prominent appearance in municipal affairs. Mr. Leitch was appointed as first postmaster in 1874, represented the township as councilor, reeve, and chairman, and became warden of the county on multiple occasions.
By 1886, the mill would change hands again. Mr. Henry Hollingshead, born in 1841, originally from Galt, moved to Dutton with his family and purchased the mill from A. J. Leitch. In previous years, Henry Hollingshead was a farmer, employed by the Goldie-McCullough Company in Galt. Along with farming, Hollingshead was also a pioneer millwright who helped build many gristmills. The mill saw great technological advancements again as Hollingshead enlarged the building by adding an elevator and an office. At the age of seventeen, William Hollingshead, son of Henry, began working the graveyard shift at the mill from midnight to 8a.m. By 1908 William would take over the business. In 1921, William made a very important move for the milling company. He contracted with Inglehart Brothers of Evansville, Indiana, for the milling of the very popular Swan’s Down Flour. The grain at the old mill was now grinding high grade cake flour and special quality bran. To keep up with the high demands of the industry, W. Hollingshead co-operated with the MPP for Elgin, F. S. Thomas, who was at this point in time the agricultural representative and got the farmers of the district to grow the grades of winter wheat and red wheat required for Swan’s Down Flour.
In 1936, after conducting the business for over 50 years, Hollingshead sold the mill to John E. Davies. Following the death of William’s wife Isobelle (nee Paterson) in 1947, William would make the trek across the country to Vancouver to live with his daughter Mrs. Stanley Remnant. Before he left the Province, Hollingshead sold his ten-room white brick home which was situated on a portion of land that the Patterson family deeded from the Crown to his predecessor John Davies. The other Hollingshead house situated on the adjoining property had been previously purchased by the Sifton family.
On April 8, 1948, page eleven, the St. Thomas Times-Journal wrote “Dutton is Losing ‘A Living Landmark’: ‘Bill’ Hollingshead, Leading Figure for Half a Century, Leaving for B.C. Coast: His Mill Produced Famed Product, He Has Supervised the Building of a School, Been Head of the Municipality, a Valiant Churchman, an Ardent Sportsman, a Busy War Worker, an Entertainer, and an All Round Good Citizen and Good Fellow to Boot; to Live in Vancouver.”
The Knox Presbyterian Church held a remembrance service before he left. And on April 24, 1948, page one, the St. Thomas Times-Journal wrote another piece on Mr. Hollingshead titled “Knox Church, Dutton, Honors William Hollingshead: Presented With “Book of Remembrance” Prior to Leaving for Pacific Coast.”
“A Book of Remembrance of Knox Presbyterian Church was presented to WIlliam Hollingshead, by the congregation, at a dinner and program in the church, Friday evening. The presentation was made by William F. Kendall, with the address read by James Bruce, elders with Mr. Hollingshead on the Sessions for a number of years. The Book of Remembrance contains photographs of the old and new church, of the choirs down through the years, the various ministers and other interesting data on the church and pastorate.”
Though Hollingshead was surely missed by many in the community, Mr. Davies did a great job taking over the operations of the mill and became heavily involved in the community as he settled into his new life. Davies served in various local organizations. He was an active member of the Anglican Church, a member of the Elgin-St. Thomas Hospital Provisional Board and Elgin St. Thomas Tuberculosis Association, and also served as the village’s reeve. Under John Davies the mill would increase production from 125 barrels per day to 230, an increase of nearly 100 percent. On January 2nd, 1953, John Davies sold the mill to Harold Keedwell, who had moved his family to Dutton taking up residence in William Weston’s house on Centre Street. Though Mr. Davies sold the mill, he remained in the business acting as an advisor.
In Vol. 64 NO. 49 of the Dutton Advance on January 8, 1953, the paper wrote about the transaction. “An important business transaction took place here last week, when J. E. Davies disposed of Dutton Flour Mills to Harold Keedwell, who took over on January 2nd, has been in the milling business for 32 years. At one time he was president and manager of T. H. Taylor Company, Limited, Chatham, and since the fall of 1951, has been manager of the King Milling Company, Limited at Sarnia. He is a native of Gloucester, Gloucestershire, England, coming to Canada in 1913. During World War I he served with the Canadian forces overseas.
Mr. And Mrs. Keedwell have one son, Charles, who is attending Harvaard University, Cambridge, Mass. And one daughter, Mrs. Ericminns, a schoolteacher at Chatham. Mr. Adn Mrs. Keedwell attend the United Church.”—
At this time the Dutton Flour Mill was operating 24 hours per day, six days a week and provided products to many parts of the world. It was the chief source of supply for McCormick’s of London, Weston’s of Toronto and other firms. By 1963, the mill would change hands for its final time to Millin Products. Due to the increased labor costs, new government regulations, and the fact that it was not located on the railroad, it was decided to close the mill. July 20, 1967, the mill closed its doors after a service 93 years.
On July 14th, 1969, the mill, unoccupied and in the process of being torn down to make way for housing, was destroyed by a fire, its origin unknown. The St. Thomas Times Journal published many articles of the fire. One read “Fumes and smoke shoot high in the air as fire engulfs the old Dutton Flour Mills on Main Street in Dutton. The fire broke out at 11:15 a.m. and shortly after mid-day the buildings were a mass of flaming ruins.”
Firemen from Dutton, Dunwich, West Lorne and Aldborough fire departments were called out to battle the flames of the old mill. Water from the Dutton swimming pool was even held in reserve to fight the fire. Some reported that it was the worst fire in the history of Dutton. An apartment building later was erected on the site.
The Dutton Flour Mills served not only Canada but the world, providing many people with flour even throughout food shortages and wars. Since its start in 1874, the Dutton Flour Mills grew rapidly and remained an important business for the Dutton and surrounding area for 93 years. The business worked closely with farmers and created employment for many people. All past owners of the mill, Archibald McEachern, Archibald John Leitch, Henry Hollingshead, William Hollingshead, John E. Davies, Harold Keedwell, and Millin Products played a fundamental role in advancing the business. Many of which also strengthened the community through their works in public service. Though the mill is no longer in place, many people are grateful for the time it spent in operation.
At Backus-Page House Museum, you can see the Dutton Flour Mill 1931 Rio truck restored by Junior Hull, an electrician in Dutton, who used to drive the truck in all the local parades and whose wife, Eileen Hull was piano teacher to many area students including me and board director of THS until 2009. The truck is on loan from the Canadian Transportation Museum and Heritage Village in Essex. Visit our agricultural centre.