Kent’s iconic Williams Brothers Flour Mill will be the subject of the November 18 Tap Talk at North Water Brewing. Kent resident Red Michel, longtime Mill manager, will be our speaker and tour guide highlighting the history of the Mill – it was built in 1879 – and showing interior photos by Kent’s Brad Bolton, whose photographs tell the stories of many historic Kent landmarks.
Red Michel explains, “Before Kent was a college town, it was a railroad town. Before that, it was a mill town. The Williams Brothers built a family business destined to last through several generations until it was sold to Star of the West in 1999. Star of the West operated the mill in Kent until 2016. The grain elevators which dominate the site on North Water Street were built in 1936 to store grain used in producing cake and pastry flour for clients such as Archway cookies.”
The Williams Brothers Mill was one of the most successful businesses in Kent. Its location close to the Cuyahoga River and the Erie and B and O Railroads was ideal for moving goods in and out of the mill. On December 2, 2022, a major fire broke out prompting fire fighters from Kent and several neighboring communities to work together to control the flames and billowing smoke, which was visible for miles. There were no injuries that day, but a portion of the original building, one of the oldest structures in Kent, was destroyed.
Tap Talks was initiated by Don Schjeldahl, the creator of North Water Brewing, as a way to bring the community together for conversation about life in Kent, Kent’s history, and issues of the day that impact us all. It’s also a chance to enjoy an array of locally-brewed artisan ales and beers. Tap Talks are sponsored by Kent Historical Society and scheduled monthly at 7 pm at North Water Brewing, 101 Crain Avenue in Kent.
