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The house at 516 North Pine Street in Chaska is known as: The William Scott
House, Burkhart House and Leivermann House. These are the first three owners
of this grand old manor and their histories are closely associated with
Chaska.
William Hunter Scott first rented then bought the John Frank mill and
property to provide a modern, up-to-date flour milling process for the city
of Chaska and surrounding communities. Scott began building the house in
1903 so he would be able to bring his wife and children to live in Chaska by
June of 1905.
William learned techniques of flour milling from his father, Robert H.
Scott. Robert immigrated to America from Scotland before the Civil War. The
family moved to Fergus Falls, MN in 1872 when William was twelve years old.
Later, William attended Carleton College to study business for one term in
1876-77. He was apprenticed to his father at the Fergus Falls Mill, which
was the first mill built in the area by 1872. H.G. Page purchased Robert H.
Scott’s interest in the North Star Mill of Fergus Falls on October 13, 1876.
Robert Scott’s family left the Fergus Falls area for the Cannon Valley area
of MN. Robert H., William and brother, James C. Scott refurbished and ran
the Cannon Valley Rolling Mill, also known as Scott’s Mill, the former site
of the Henry Andyke Sawmill and later the Strunk and Company Grist-mill.
William met Alma Neel, whose mother was of the Reverend and Mrs. John Hoover
family. President Herbert Hoover, a member of Alma’s mother’s family,
settled in West Bend, Iowa, where the Neel family visited frequently.
William married Alma Neel of Cannon City, MN in 1884. There were some
financial reverses for the Robert H. Scott family, and William had family of
his own to consider. As a result, William moved to Grand Forks, ND to become
head miller for the North Dakota Milling Association from 1892-1894. In 1894
William and Alma returned to the Cannon Valley to once again work for his
father. Scott’s Mill operated in the town of Dean, known today as Cannon
City just outside of Faribault, until 1902.
Alexander Faribault saw the need to further develop the flouring industry in
the Cannon Valley area as early as 1865, when the LaCroix brothers,
millwrights from Montreal, were invited to build a mill to grind the grain
using the method that had been developed in France. The idea was to
incorporate the use of purifiers and blowers to separate the outer bran coat
from the gluten layer without crushing the gluten and bran together. Bran
tended to make the flour undesirably dark while the gluten was needed to
make the bread rise and was also the most nutritious part of the kernel.
These two parts of the kernel were known as the middlings. By using screens
and air blasts the bran particles could be removed. The mill in Dundas used
the “middlings purifier” to produce a premium product called graded patent.
This was the first “patent” flour produced in the United States. George
Christian, a Cannon Valley miller, became a partner of Cadwallader Washburn
and prompted him to hire LaCroix to work for the Washburn Mill in
Minneapolis. They virtually locked LaCroix in a room so that he could, in
secret, produce a large scale production purifier by the spring of 1871.
Unfortunately, LaCroix had neither patented his purifier nor realized much
wealth from it. Flour milling drastically changed with the advent of the
“New Process” following 1871. Minneapolis flour milling was on the map.
Losing the services of the LaCroix Brothers did not stop the Cannon Valley
area millers. The Rice County millers continued to develop a process of
milling hard spring wheat into high grade flour. The Archibalds of Dundas
discovered the Hungarian Process of milling at a trade fair. This method
helped to make milling an entirely automatic and faster process. Porcelain
rollers replaced quartz stones and ground wheat into a fine flour. Purifiers
were used to separate the outer bran coat from the gluten layer without
crushing it. This was occurring at the same time the Minneapolis millers
were developing a similar “New Process” of flour milling. By January of
1880, the Rice County millers (Achibald Mill at Dundas, in particular) had
their operations up and running. Flour could be produced profitably from the
hard middlings grains. The flour was of such high quality that it commanded
the highest prices on the New York and London Exchanges by 1880. Cannon
Valley was ahead of the Minneapolis millers in setting up the roller milling
process. The establishment of the nation’s wheat belt was begun.
Robert H. Scott set up his first-class 4-run mill to take advantage of the
high profits from milling hard spring wheat using the process that had been
developed by the Rice County/Cannon Valley millers. William Scott was an
integral part of this mill as an apprentice from 1894-1902. In 1902 William
moved to Milbank, SD as secretary for the Milbank Milling Company. While he
was employed there, he began searching for mills he could run himself.
Chaska was in great need of a mill by 1898 due to the fact that prior mills
had been lost either to fire or floods. John Frank bought the mill property
and by 1900 was building a new and improved mill. His first structure was of
brick and in 1903 a large addition was completed. The mill was covered with
galvanized sheeting to make it fireproof and strong. An office building was
also erected with the mill. John Dols was the construction boss who
proclaimed that he “had done himself proud” on this job. John Frank was
listed as the master miller and hired Charles Nimmer as miller with him.
Frank’s mill became one of the big manufacturing enterprises of the
community and its tallest commercial building.
In April of 1903, William H. Scott leased the Chaska Mill from John Frank
for a term of 2 years at a cost of $100/month. Frank wanted to retire and
care for his ailing son. Scott’s plan was to take over the mill and run it
full limit, day and night, and establish trade beyond the confines of
Chaska. William continued Charles Nimmer’s employment as head miller, a job
he had held since 1880. Nimmer remained head miller until his death in 1907.
William brought in a large force of millwrights from Wilford & Company of
Minneapolis to overhaul the Frank Mill. He wanted to employ the new milling
techniques he learned during his apprenticeships. Capacity was enlarged to
place the mill on a plane with the best in the state. The mill was powered
by a giant single cylinder steam engine that included a boiler and engine
room on the first level. The mill was shut down for a little over 3 weeks
with the cost of renovation said to be just over $2000. When the mill was
reopened, farmers were encouraged to bring in their grist and corn meal
grinding was made a specialty with the new machinery.
Final purchase of the Chaska Mill was completed in 1905 at a price of
$14,000. After Charles Nimmer’s death, Otto Fiebelkorn was appointed head
miller. William Scott gained the lease for the elevator at Carver away from
the New Prague Milling Company in 1908. August Edberg, from the old company,
was put in charge of the elevator. This elevator was needed to obtain and
store more rye wheat to meet increased demand. William promised former
patrons that he would pay the highest market prices at all times. By
August/September of that year George Hammer was appointed buyer/manager of
the Carver Elevator.
By 1908 the Chaska Mill became known as the Chaska Flouring Mills. Again, in
August of 1908, the millwrights from the Wilford Manufacturing Company of
Minneapolis installed a system of bolting and erected a new feed mill.
William purchased the elevator and feed mill in Victoria, Minnesota from
Theo Nordberg. The Security Elevator was upgraded by L.O. Hickok & Son of
Minneapolis to be rebuilt and enlarged. A 25 horsepower gasoline engine was
installed to run the mill. It was a successful business when William
purchased it, and remained so.
John Frank manufactured flour under the name of CHRISTIAN’S MATCHLESS FLOUR,
LADIES CHOICE, BANQUET FANCY PATENT, SNOWFLAKE, and FAMILY FLOUR. William
continued the brands of LADIES CHOICE & SNOWFLAKE and added WHITE DIAMOND &
CHAMPION RYE FLOUR. CHAMPION RYE FLOUR had been a part of the New Prague
Milling Company. When Scott took over the Carver Mill, he acquired that
brand name and developed its reputation of quality along with his own WHITE
DIAMOND brand.
Scott believed in the Chaska area and its potential for commerce. With this
opinion, he invested heavily in the mill and community. The Chaska community
liked “Bill” and supported his efforts. The newspaper, The Chaska Herald,
praised the work of Scott saying that “. . . much of the success attained by
our mill is due to the untiring efforts and practical and capable milling
experience of Mr. William H. Scott, who has brought the mill to its present
rank.” WHITE DIAMOND flour was milled by the “latest process” from home
grown wheat, personally selected by William, gained nation-wide fame. It was
shipped by the carload to points in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa,
Indiana, Ohio and other Midwestern states. It was said to be “absolutely as
high grade flour as the Northwest can produce.” Scott was quoted in the
Herald as saying, “I want quality.” He would rather turn down a large
contract than fill it with flour that wouldn’t measure up to his standards.
The mill also ran a delivery service in a “big white Wilcox truck” driven by
Herb Schroers, to the people of Chaska as well as the surrounding area. A
sack of Chaska made flour would be delivered right to the homemaker’s door
if so ordered.
The “big mill” would grind feed for the farmers while they waited and always
paid the highest cash market price for all kinds of grain. CHAMPION RYE
FLOUR was used extensively by the local Chaska bakery, several of the
largest and well known Twin Cities bakeries, and other Midwestern city
bakeries. Each article in the Chaska paper made a point to mention that
Scott was a “fair and square” businessman. He would always give a “square
deal” to the farmers who would come from “miles around” (as far as the
Dakotas) to sell to him. Scott was considered a “big asset to Chaska” who
“should be encouraged by the citizens of the town and surrounding area.” He
was said to be broad-minded, energetic, and a booster for Chaska and her
industries. He was a firm believer in patronizing home town industry.
1910 found Scott sponsoring a local baseball team which he named THE WHITE
DIAMONDS in honor of his flour brand. Chaska had been in love with the game
from as early as 1876 when the National League was formed. Chaska fielded
teams of amateur adults and/or semi-professionals. Some of the old timers of
the town worried that the semi-pros brought an untimely end to the sport. In
truth, it was the advent of television that brought a drop in popularity of
town baseball teams. By 1911 only two local players were on the WHITE
DIAMONDS team. Joe Burkhart, who later went on to own the Wm. H. Scott house
at 516 N. Pine Street, was one of the two local ball players. Lila Melvin,
dressed as “The White Diamond Girl”, an outfit consisting of flour sacks,
was part of Chaska parades. After William Scott’s death, the team eventually
became known as the Chaska Cubs.
Scott was extremely involved in civic welfare as he continued to live in
Chaska. Not only did he sponsor the baseball team, he was a member of the
school board serving as clerk. He was an alderman from the First Ward. Scott
also held memberships in the Chaska Commercial Club and The Chaska
Automobile Club. He worked for municipal improvements and promoting the
qualities of his home community. While a determined man who stuck to his
convictions, he respected the views of others. His death in 1933 brought a
loss to the community.
Emil Teske bought the Chaska Flour Mill from the estate of Wm. H. Scott on
January 8, 1934. Teske moved his operation to the mill and continued to
operate it as a coal and feed mill until the 1970’s. Flour was never
produced again at the Chaska Mill after William’s death.
After Wm. H. Scott’s death, the estate sold the home to Joseph and Ann
Burkhart. Joseph (Joe of baseball fame) owned the Standard Oil Filling
Station across the street from the house. The Burkhart family had been
owners of a “mammoth” furniture store in Chaska in 1903. Joseph died in
1938. Ann Burkhart then married James F. Halloran and continued to live in
the house until he returned from active military duty. Halloran was awarded
the Purple Heart in World War II and served 25 years as City Clerk for the
City of Chaska. In 1958, the house was purchased by Cyril “Cy” and Virginia
L. Lievermann. Cy, as a paperboy had delivered to the Burkhart family and
vowed that he was going to own the house some day because the ceilings were
high enough to accommodate his height. (Told by Cy’s daughter.)
The Leivermann family had a hand in the brewery business of Chaska. Bernard
Leivermann of Germany along with his daughter, Mary Leivermann Halloran,
operated the brewery 24 hours a day. They bought barley directly from the
farmers. Beer was delivered in barrels by wagon in the beginning. Later
Leivermann was the first to bottle beer. The State bought the land when
Highway 12 (now 212) was built in 1922, and the brewery was torn down. 1988
found the house sold to Kathy L. Blunt who ran a business in it called
“Country Peddlers.” Between 1995 and January of 2000 various businesses
operated out of the house. In January, 2000, Michael J. and Sara L. Hanlon
bought the house. It is now the MILL HOUSE GALLERY and their residence. Sara
is a professional regional artist of some significance. The Hanlons have
begun to lovingly research and restore the property to the time of William
H. and Alma N. Scott.
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