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Saturday, November 29, 2008

 

Heritage Site Phelps Mill

On November 28th I visited a heritage site known as Phelps Mill. Phelps Mill is located in Maine Township near Fergus Falls, Minnesota on the Otter Tail River, it was built in 1988 by William E. Thomas and an addition was added in 1895. At the time of its construction the mill's equipment was state of the art. The mill was used to grind up 60-75 barrels of flour a day originally and after the addition ot the mill buckwheat and rye were also ground. Business at the mill slowed by the turn of the century, but the mill still continued some form of grain production under different owners until 1939. After being shut down the mill was unused until 1965 when it was bought by Otter Tail County in 1965 and was turned into a historical site and park. In 1975 Phelps Mill was added to the National Register of of Historic Places. Currently the mill is open for tours during the summer and the park is open year round. Also every summer the Phelps Mill Festival is held in a July, the two day festival is an arts and crafts gathering showcasing local artists. Also included with the festival is live entertainment and a variety of different ethnic foods are available. Phelps Mill also used to be a popular diving spot albeit an illegal one, people would get up on the roof of the mill (a good 30-40ft off the ground) and jump off into the river. The roof has since been closed off to the public.

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