This was the site of the Champion Roller Mills established in 1865 by Benjamin A. Hopkins. Roller mills are different from grist mills. Roller mills use cylindrical rollers to crush or grind grain to make flour. Grist mills use 2 mill stones to grind the grains. Mr. Hopkins was described in one source as an “eccentric character”. He painted his house at 16 Mill Street in red, white, and blue with a star trim. It sounds like he was also patriotic.Ben was also a Sea Captain and was known to be good with his fists. This image was probably taken in the 1890s. Two of his sons, Fred and Bye, carried on the business until their deaths in the 1930’s. Then Bye’s son George ran it until 1954. During the last 50 or 60 years of the business, it was in the red three-story building down the street, which is now used as a youth center. After the business closed as a mill, Ray Houghtaling had a second- hand furniture business there.
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