THE BIRMINGHAM MILLING COMPANY

In 1904, William Eugene Smith constructed a combination grist mill and saw mill just south of East Maple, west of the Grand Trunk Railway tracks. At that time, the Grand Trunk ran near the center of Birmingham along the route followed by present day Woodward Avenue. There are both logs, and finished lumber visible in this photo showing the south end of the building.

Here is the mill's truck parked on West Maple in front of the Ford Building which presently houses ASTREIN'S FINE JEWELRY. You will note that the alley on the left is much wider than it is today. At the left is the rear of what was once BLAKESLEE'S DRY GOODS STORE, later the ERWIN & SMITH MEAT MARKET, DUNN'S CAMERA SHOP and the ROOTS shoe store. The large house at the end of the alley became PRICE'S CHATEAU TEA ROOM. The one next to it with the black roof was purchased by Elmer Huston and moved to Hamilton Ave. in order to make room for Mr. Huston's third building on Woodward Avenue.

William Eugene Smith was an experienced miller, having worked for a number of years at his father's saw and cider mill which was once located about a quarter mile west of Woodward on Chesterfield Rd. This water powered mill was the first to be constructed in Bloomfield Township and, for a time, was owned by pioneer John West Hunter. William H. Smith purchased the mill on Chesterfield from his father-in-law, John Hagerman, in 1865. The pond for that mill is still dammed up along the west branch of the Rouge River and is now known as Endicott Lake. The water powered mill could produce a carload of cider a day which was shipped to Detroit by rail to be used in the manufacture of vinegar. William H. Smith owned a three horse team and a Moses Wagon which he used to haul much of the lumber he had sawn from Bloomfield Township to Pontiac for use in the numerous buggy factories located there. In later years several of these factories switched from manufacturing buggies to building automobiles.

Since William Eugene Smith processed a great deal of corn brought in by area farmers, a large supply of corn cobs accumulated next to his Birmingham mill. Some of these were burned to operate a steam engine that powered the mill. However, one of Mr. Smith's sons realized that the cobs could also be sold to produce a worthwhile income. Here is his ad which can be found in the 1922 BALDWINIAN.

In later years the mill became a fruit market, a grocery store and then a restaurant operated by the late James Peabody. After a disastrous fire, the structure was rebuilt and somewhat enlarged to its present dimensions. Peabody's Restaurant is now owned and managed by Jim's daughters.

Here you can see a painting by ROBERT THOM who produced MANY illustrations for two Parke Davis projects--THE HISTORY OF PHARMACY and THE HISTORY OF MEDICINE.

If you'd prefer to do so you may return to the TABLE OF CONTENTS.