History: Sheridan Flour Mill and Mill Inn Part Two

In part one of the story of the Sheridan Flour Mill that is now the Mill Inn Motel, we covered the history up to the fire of 1919. After the fire, the Flour Mill was rebuilt at its present location on Coffeen Avenue. It was a boon to the Sheridan economy for many years.

Taken during the 1920s, the photo shows a group of Crow Indians coming to the Flour Mill for flour and livestock feed. (Photo courtesy of Karen Moody)

The Sheridan Post, October 23, 1921 – Denio Milling Co. Big Asset to City: Started on Decidedly Small Scale, Have Grown to Largest in State of Wyoming. Capacity of New Fireproof Mill 1000 Barrels of Flour Daily – An industry of which Sheridan is particularly proud, not only because it is the largest and most successful of its kind in Wyoming, but because it is a vital factor in the continued economic growth and financial well-being of the entire Sheridan country, is the Denio Mills, owned and operated by the J. W Denio Milling company. Not alone are they worth while to Sheridan as a city, but the company is in large part responsible far the splendid growth of the country’s wheat industry since the establishment of the mill.

The J.W. Denio Milling Company was first established in Sheridan in 1903, being organized by J.W. and Ralph Denio. The latter has been in active charge of the company since its establishment.

The Denio Mills, now the largest in the State of Wyoming, did not enter business on a gigantic-scale. When first organized, and for some time thereafter, the location was in a small building, while the capacity, was 100 barrels of flour daily. But founded on right principles and operated in a business-like manner, the company was soon forced to increase its capacity, and in the summer of 1910,when a disastrous fire completely destroyed its plant, was turning out 400 barrels daily. Likewise its storage capacity for grain had increased from 20,000 to 200,000 bushels.

Immediately following the fire which destroyed the plant on Broadway, the company laid plans for the erection of a new establishment which was finished and ready for use by the fall of 1920. This magnificent institution, costing in the neighborhood of half a million dollars, is vastly superior in every way to the old location, being more complete and modern in every way, of greatly in creased capacity, and capable of storing a great deal more grain. It is built of cement, steel and brick, and is considered practically fire proof. The mill, built on six levels is well arranged for the demands of the business and presents an aspect |of high efficiency, being capable of turning out 1000 barrels of flour daily, and of storing two hundred and fifty thousand bushels of wheat.

Thirty-four thousand sacks of cement, twelve carloads of reinforcing steel, three carloads of windows, doors and other construction materials and a quarter of a million brick were required in its construction. It took sixteen cars to carry the necessary machinery for the equipment of the plant.

The J. W Denio Milling company manufacturers the famous “Pride Sheridan,” and”Best Out Went” flour. The trade of the company is not limited to the borders of the United Slates, but extends to several foreign countries. In every respect and detail. J.W. Denio Milling company is a really big institution, and as such is of vital importance to the continued prosperity of northern Wyoming.

Just as the company first offered to Sheridan county farmers a cash market and outlet for grain, so it has continued growing and expanding with the growth and expansion and ever capable of caring for financial end of this huge business enterprise.

By 1922, the company had 10 elevators in Montana and Wyoming to store grain in. In 1927 the mill was sold and became known as Sheridan Flouring Mills, Inc., with an added for a capacity for the storage of 400,000 bushels. In 1934, the company added 13 country elevators in Montana and Wyoming.

Evolution of the Mill Inn. Photos courtesy of Karen Moody.

This was a tidbit from the Sheridan Post-Enterprise, October 16, 1924

Buffalo Boys Visit Sheridan on Wednesday Boost Big Game and Visit Factories Here. With the dual purpose of stimulating interest in the Sheridan-Buffalo football game at Buffalo Saturday and visiting Sheridan’s largest manufacturing plant eighteen boys of the Johnson County high school agriculture classes with Benron Young, agriculture instructor, came over Wednesday morning for the day.

In the morning, they visited the Sheridan high school and spent several hours in the agriculture classes taught by Carl L. Howard. They ate lunch downtown at noon and spent the afternoon going through the Denio flour mill and the Holly sugar factory. Through the courtesy of the two managers, Ralph Denio and W. E. Baker, guides were provided to take the boys through the plants.

Arrangements have been made to take the Sheridan high school agricultural students through the flour mill Tuesday and the sugar plant Thursday of next week. Th animal industry class here have judged livestock four days out of every five since the school year started and will continue until cold weather.

The mill was sold again in 1963 to Nebraska Consolidated Mill Company, ConAgra. In 1974, milling was stopped due to increased rates in shipping. Buildings and equipment were sold at auction.

For many years, several farmers in the surrounding area grew winter wheat and sold it to the mill to be turned into flour and livestock feed.

Wallace Vannoy was one rancher who grew wheat during the 1960s, but reseeded the fields into creasted wheat grass for livestock grazing around 1970. He mentioned in his notes in July and August of 1963, 29 – combining again. Took a load of wheat to town. 61 lbs to the bushel. Rained out. 30 – Still combining from 11 o’clock on, rained out twice yesterday. Wheat doing pretty good. Aug. 1, Combining still going good but wheat not so good. Stevens (a pasture) wheat averages out a little over 25 lbs per acre. Finished today.

A few years later, opening in 1978, the flour mill was purchased by Bill Eisle, who re-furbished the buildings into a 45-unit motel on the first and second floor, with office suites in the tower.

Karen Moody and Shyda May. The calendars were a popular way to advertise businesses. Many, like these, had C.M. Russel prints.

Torrey and Karen Moody are the current owners of the motel, which has won several awards.

Karen talked about the Mill Inn as a motel.

The Mill Inn is listed on the National Registry of Historic sites, and Moody talked about when the Mill Inn operated a flour mill.

The motel has an old-west feel, and the table and small-scale chuck wagon in the lobby were made by Torrey Moody’s father.

Shyda May has been the manager for nearly 11 years.

A pair of Angora chaps hang on the wall of Karen Moody’s office. They were once owned by well-known Sheridan resident Kim Love.

“I want to thank the community for all their support,” Moody said, “The public has been very generous with the Mill Inn.”