Thanks to Westby historian, Eric Leum, who writes the "HISTORICALLY YOURS" column for the weekly newspaper, we know alot about the history of the Mill.  Additionally we are grateful to Donna Bean, one of Ben Logan's granchildren who owns a title company, for the research she did at the Vernon County Courthouse to verify this historical account.   The significant eras in the history of the building seem to have started in these years...

1905 - 1910 - 1911 - 1940 - 1962 - 1966 - 1990 - 1999

(scroll down to read history of each era)

1905 The CARGILL era  -

The Construction of the Grain Elevator. 

The Cargill family completed construction of the LaCrosse & Southeastern Railroad (see Railroad page for complete details on this very short lived but extremely interesting railroad) which ran from LaCrosse to Viroqua, going through 5 Vernon County villages.  The Cargill family, then as now, were heavily invested in the the agri-business of grain trading so besides building the railroad they built a grain elevator in each of the 5 villages, including the one at the corner of SEcond and Bekkedal in Westby.  Above you  see a postcard with a photo which shows that the tracks and the grain elevator had been completed.  Unfortunately the elevator was torn down in the 1970's. The 50 ft x 28 ft mill warehouse that was built on the east side of the Cargill grain elevator (see photo below),  probably not built until about 1910, still stand today at the corner of Bekkedal & Second. It has stood the test of time, withstanding storms which destoyed several neighboring buildings!

1910 - The McEachron era -

The Construction of the Mill Warehouse.

There is some confusion about what years Mr. H.E. McEachron was involved with the Mill and what role he played, i.e. owner or manager.  Some records indicate he was connected with the Cargills in some way from the very beginning in 1905 when it was just the grain elevator.  Other records seem to indicate he might have entered the scene later than the Cargills, possible not till 1909 when we believe the Mill Warehouse building east of the grain elevator was completed. Maybe he was the owner of the warehouse and the Cargills the grain elevator? 

 (NOTE:  If anyone has more information about this era please contact us so we can more accurately record the Mill history. We are also looking for a photo that would have been taken the year the Mill Warehouse was completed in about 1910. The above photo is approximately how the elevator and warehouse appreared in 1910, but at that time the metal sheets of siding seen in this photo were not on the building. We believe Ben Logan covered the wood siding with the metal sheets in the early 1940's. )