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The History of the
Amanda Jones In 1885 William Bruchhauser established a flour mill in the Union County city of Anna in southern Illinois. While there were many county mills in the past, the only one operating until 1989 was the Phoenix Flour Mills. This historic mill shipped flour and meal products all over the South. William Bruchhauser and his wife moved to Jonesboro, Illinois, in 1885 from Worden, Illinois, because the mill William Bruchhauser worked for had burned down. Bruchhauser incorporated the Anna Roller Mills at 216 East Davie Street in Anna. Soon after its purchase, the plant was remodeled, and the new Roller Process type of equipment was installed in place of the heavy stone burs. From time to time, other improvements were made to keep pace with modern developments. William Bruchhauser had three sons, William F., August F., and Charles H. Much of the success of the family mill can be credited to these young sons. At an early age the Bruchhausers showed that they had the ability to run the business. With their father's guidance, they shared the wealth of his knowledge and experience. The three children worked, planned, and learned together with their father. Because of their closeness, they were prepared to assume important roles, not only in the conduct of their private business, but also in the commercial and industrial development of the community as a whole. All three sons joined their father in the building and the expansion of the Anna Roller Mills. In 1906 the three sons purchased the Phoenix Flour Mills plant at 140 East Vienna Street from the Union County Milling Company. This mill was operated as Bruchhauser Brothers until 1933 when the business name was changed to Phoenix Flour Mills, Inc. The name change was dropped for tax purposes. Though the business name and location had been changed, the history of the Bruchhauser family as millers continued to unfold. William Bruchhauser died in 1911, and his sons William F. and Charles H. died in 1941 and 1945 respectively. August F., the only survivor of the brothers, became president of Phoenix Flour Mills, Inc. With his father's and brothers' deaths, August's son, W. A. Bruchhauser, and his son-in-law, Elbert O. Michels, became part of the corporation. During the latter half of the operation of Phoenix Flour Mills, the business covered a trade territory within a fifty-mile radius around the city of Anna. The company also carried a complete line of high-quality wholesale groceries and a variety of seeds along with its original line of merchandise. Michels reports, "Salesmen contacted their customers on a regular basis and trucks made weekly deliveries direct to retail and wholesale trade up until the 1940s." The Bruchhauser family also owned retail stores for their goods in Mound City, Cobden, and Makanda, Illinois. A branch elevator located near the railroad in Ullin, Illinois, served to increase the facilities of the company for the buying of grain within their local territory. In the past, this policy of purchasing all kinds of grain from the farmers in
the area was a fundamental principle of the operation of the business. "The branch in Ullin is still owned by the Bruchhauser family and open for business today, although it does not receive goods shipped by train any longer," states Michels. This company had the only fireproof warehouse in the community, which was used for storing company commodities. The Western Sugar Refinery and Spreckels Sugar Company also used this warehouse to store sugar. In 1957 the mill employed about ten people. Throughout the mill's history, there were never many people employed by the business. In the 1920s the employees were paid about twenty dollars per week. The Phoenix Flour Mills offered four types of flour to its customers. Each brand was designed for a particular use. The Belle of Anna brand was ideal for baking bread and rolls. The White Swan brand was used for baking pastries, cakes, and biscuits. The Red Rose brand was the same quality as the White Swan, but it was finer. This brand was sold at a slightly lower cost. The last brand of flour produced was the Honeymoon Biscuit Flour, a biscuit and waffle flour. Water and milk was required to use this flour. In 1971 the brick section of the mill collapsed onto Vienna Street. As a result, that portion of the building was torn down on July 14, 1971. However, the mill continued to serve the public until 1989, when it shut its doors for good. The Bruchhauser family closed the mill because it had become increasingly difficult to compete against larger companies, and flour was more readily available in larger grocery stores. In December 1989 the Phoenix Flour Mill was torn down to make room for a restaurant. Only one building of the original complex is left today and is adjacent to two restaurants. When the mill was demolished, only two parts of the mill were saved, the steam whistle and the Corliss steam engine. The whistle's history is not fully known, but it is thought to have been used in the old mill on Davie Street. The Corliss steam engine was used almost constantly from around 1895 to 1949. Tim Jones, of Anna, bought the parts in 1971 after the brick portion of the mill fell down. The Phoenix Flour Mills has had a long and prosperous business. During its years in Anna, the mill provided service to many families and farmers. Much like the flour the mill produced enriched the meals of those who baked with it, the mill itself enriched the history of Anna.—[From Fifty Years of Service and Success; student historian's interview with Tim Jones, Nov. 16, 1999; Mary H. Kent, One Hundred Years of Progress; Lulu Leonard, History of Union County; student historian's interview with Ann Michels, Nov. 16, 1999; "Part of Anna Flour Mill Stays Alive," Monday's Pub, July 31, 1989.]
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