History and Location of Denton Flour Mill
Other Names: Smith Mill. Redden Sawmill, which possibly replaced the M.F. Allaband Steam Sawmill at this site.
Years: 1886 – 1897
Structure Exists? No
Historic Site Location Precision: 30 meters
The 1875 Isler map of Caroline County shows a steam sawmill (“St. SM” in the map) probably at the same site described by McGrain below for the Denton Flour Mill. McGrain also identified a “Redden Sawmill” at the flour mill site. The Redden Sawmill may have succeeded the M. F. Allaband Steam Sawmill at that site.
The following text is extracted from John F. McGrain, The Molinography of Maryland, Expanded, 2007 Edition for Posting Online at the Maryland State Archives.
The Manufacturers’ Record, 9 (April 10, 1886): 290, reported, “Frank W. Redden will erect a roller flour mill at Denton, Md., with a daily capacity of 55 barrels.” The American Miller, 14 (June 1, 1886): 332, reported, “Frank W. Redden is building a roller flour mill at Denton, Md., which will have a capacity of about sixty-five barrels per day. The mill is expected to be in running order some time during the summer.” The American Miller, 14 (November 1, 1886): 688, carried an advertising testimonial from Frank W. Redden, signed October 19, 1886, stating that he was entirely satisfied with the George T. Smith Centrifugal Reel. The 1887 State business directory listed F W. Redden as owner of a sawmill at Denton. The Salisbury Advertiser, March 10, 1888, reported that the “Denton Flour Mill of Frank W. Redden in West Denton above the iron bridge . . . burned Wednesday [the 13th] . . . nearly new . . . completed 1886.” The American Miller, 16 (April 1, 1888): 260, reported the same event but placed the fire on March 6, saying the mill was “nearly new, having been completed in 1886 and were considered among the best patent process mills in the State . . . . Redden was in Philadelphia buying more equipment . . . was about to enlarge the mill.”
The American Miller, 22 (May 1, 1894): 377, reported, “Mark H. Smith, Denton, Md., will build a 30 to 40 barrel roller mill, and has awarded his contract to Aug. Wolf & Co., Chambersburg, Pa.” The Denton Journal, November 7, 1896, reported, “The engine at the flour mills at Denton Bridge broke down on Thursday of last week, and the proprietor, Mr. M. H. Smith, will put in a new one in a few days.”
John Johnson, miller, placed an advertisement for Denton Flour Mill in the Denton Journal, February 6, 1897, stating that the mill was at Denton Bridge, owned by M. H. Smith. The brands listed were: Pride of Denton, Matchless, Globe, and Choptank.
Denton Flour Mill in the Historic Landscape
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Other Historic Grist Mill and Sawmill Sites Caroline County
See the larger map of Sawmills and Grist Mills in the Historic Landscape of Caroline County, Maryland with historical and imagery basemaps.
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