Motor Mill and Cooperage, Clayton County, Iowa

Motor Mill Historic Site; listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Completed in 1869, the mill ground barley, oats and rye for livestock feed. Corn was ground into cornmeal. Wheat and buckwheat was ground into flour. To ship flour and corn meal, barrels were made in the cooperage. A livery stable, 10-room house, and an icehouse were also built. In 1875, the town was platted; already the site boasted a few houses, a school, general store, sawmill, and tavern. After less than 20 years of operation, the mill closed due to crop losses, competition, flood damage and failure to obtain railroad access.

2014_09_28_2_4627historic sitehistoric sites1800's1800s1860's1860s19th centuryArchitectureClayton CoClayton Co.Clayton CountyClayton CtyGermanhistoricIAIowaLandscapeMidwestMotor Mill Historic SiteNational Register of Historic PlacesUSUSAautumnback roadback roadsbackroadbackroadscooperagecooperagesfallflour millflour millsgrist millgrist millsgristmillgristmillshistoric placehistoric placeshistoricallimestonemillmillsnational registeroldold timequarried stonerefurbishedrestoredrockrock bluffrock bluffsrock cliffrock cliffsrock facerock facesrocksruralscenesceneryscenesstonestonestan