In 1860 Vallejo's founder, John B. Frisbie, chartered a ship to export wheat grown near Vallejo to Liverpool - the first shipment of wheat overseas from California. Captain A.D. Starr established Vallejo's first flour mill in South Vallejo in 1869. Flour shipped from the port of Vallejo would eventually travel to Asia, South America, and Europe as Vallejo became the largest flour-shipping port in California. The mill was purchased by the Sperry Flour Company in 1910 and later became the General Mills Sperry Division.
During WWI the Sperry Mills shipped tons of flour to Europe as part of the wartime relief effort. Employment at the mill increased from 125 workers in 1915 to 363 in 1919.
On August 30, 1934 a spectacular fire destroyed a large portion of the mill. Two marine elevators, 21 bins of grain, and 500,000 grain bags were consumed by the flames. Vallejo Fire Department crews were aided by floating fire equipment from Mare Island. Explosions of grain dust blew huge sheets of corrugated metal off the roof of the mill and 6,000 tons of grain was destroyed before the blaze was finally brought under control.
The General Mills Sperry Division mill in Vallejo closed in 2004.
On August 30, 1934 a spectacular fire destroyed a large portion of the mill. Two marine elevators, 21 bins of grain, and 500,000 grain bags were consumed by the flames. Vallejo Fire Department crews were aided by floating fire equipment from Mare Island. Explosions of grain dust blew huge sheets of corrugated metal off the roof of the mill and 6,000 tons of grain was destroyed before the blaze was finally brought under control.
Wow very interesting. Never knew the late Boris Karloff called Vallejo home too! Or at least he worked here. Thanks for the tidbit and look into Vallejo's history past!
ReplyDeleteAt this same location, in the late 1800s, the Princeton Hotel/Frisbie House was located. In May 1880, Robert Louis Stevenson (of Dr. Jekyl/Mr. Hyde/Treasure Is.. fame) spent his honeymoon night with Fanny Van De Grist Osbourne Stevenson of Indianapolis/S.F./Oakland while on their way from being married in S.F. to Silverado Mine just north of Calistoga (in present day Stevenson State Park)
ReplyDeleteMy great great grandfather worked at this mill for over 38 years. He started when it was owned by the Starr brothers in 1889. Would love to know if I could find out more. His name was Joseph Patricio Lawrence. He lived in Vallejo most of his life.
ReplyDeleteMy grandfather worked at Sperry mills as well. He was an imigrant from Portugal and became a U.S. citizen. He was born in 1901 and he came to America in 1919. He started with Sperry mills in the 1920's and retired in the late 50's. He also resided in Vallejo. I have wanted to tour the old plant but it's gated but I've stood in front of that gate looking and thinking about my grandpa. He lived 93 years. My email is kimbeezy10@gmail.com
DeleteI have an old print of Sperry Mills, someone from UC Davis took the picture. It's nice hearing the history of the mill and seeing the additional pictures.
ReplyDeleteI worked here from 1994-2001
ReplyDeleteI have some old cloth Sperry rolled oats, whole wheat flour and corn meal bags too bad I couldn't post a picture of them on this site.
ReplyDeleteMy grandmother worked there sewing flour sacks sometime after 1937 ish. She lived down the road 34 houses away and walked to work.
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