By Nancy Ehlinger Saathoff, Devine Historical Association
*Can you imagine driving through Devine and not seeing the grain towner at the Mill? What an empty skyline we would have! Fortunately for us, the current owner of the Mill is a visionary and wants to make the Mill useful again for our community! It all starts with the clean-up and planning, which is already underway.
“Saving a historical building & reusing it can enhance a community and opens it up for future use!”
“According to the standards of many national historical associations, a building is worth saving if it has significant historical, architectural, or cultural value, such as a connection to important events or people, unique design, or cultural importance to a community. Other factors include the quality of its original materials and construction, its potential economic viability, and whether it holds a central place in the community’s identity.”
Historical Value: For over 100 years a grain mill and elevator has stood on the corner of Bright Dr. and Hondo Ave. (Hwy 173), in Devine, Texas and served as an agricultural hub for Devine and South Texas in the form of the Adams Corn Sheller, ACO Mill & Elevator, Devine Mill & Elevator, Tri-County Farmer’s Co-Op, and SWT Farm & Ranch Supply. *An early Devine entrepreneur, W.B. Adams built the Adams Corn Sheller business in 1918 and is designated on the 1922 Sanborn Fire Insurance map for Devine, Texas.
Architectural Value: The iconic tower elevator is unique and stands tall in the Devine skyline! The thick brick walled buildings were expanded as the area and agricultural needs grew over the century, and some parts are at least 80 years old, but at this time we do not know if any parts of the original 1918 buildings remain. Research is ongoing to find more information on the structure.
Cultural Value: The story of the Mill is more than just the brick and mortar, it is the story about the people in and around Devine – the farmers who needed seed, fertilizer, & equipment, for their crops and later to bring their crops to market; the ranchers who needed feed, medicine, and supplies for their cattle, horses, and other livestock; the home gardeners & homemakers who needed seeds or plants for their gardens and advice on better planting to get better yields to feed their families; the high school & college students who needed summer & school break jobs; the DHS students who needed jobs for the work study program, the pet owners who went there for food, supplies, and often pet care advice; the FFA & 4-H kids who bought feed and supplies for their livestock projects, and depended upon the businesses there to purchase their animals at the county livestock show each year; and the many full & seasonal Employees who learned the value of hard work and reliability to serve their customers.
Potential economic viability: It does take a visionary who loves our community, and is willing to work hard toward making this, or other local historical buildings, a valued part of our community again!
*If you have any pictures or stories to share about this building, or the people who worked there, please comment on our Devine Historical Association Facebook page, or contact Nancy Saathoff at 210-289-6205 (text) or email at 210-289-6205.
