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“New Hope Mills”
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March brings dreams of hot pancakes and maple syrup, and what better way to delight in decadence then by using products that are available right here in our hometown. Yes, we’re talking about New Hope Mills, Inc. This company has produced quality products for more than 180 years, earning its distinction as one of America's oldest grist mills. |
New Hope Mills products are free from chemical additives and artificial enrichments. Their quality has made New Hope Mills Pancake Mixes the number one pancake flour in central New York, and a long time Adirondack favorite.
Span of Influence
Evidence of this company’s staying power can be witnessed in the numerous websites that boast and carry New Hope Mills products. Syracusegiftbasket.com’s “Come Home to Syracuse” Breakfast Gift Pack is filled with their infamous pancake mixes, and maple and berry syrups. Other Internet sources include maplesyrup.com, adirondackgiftstore.com, and someone is even selling their mix on E-Bay!
Mill History
New Hope’s flour mill was built by Judge Charles Kellogg, who was a member of the NY State Assembly (1808-09, 1821-22) and later reelected to Congress (1825). (Mr. Kellogg was a relation to the cereal-fame Kelloggs, of Battle Creek, MI.) Judge Kellogg sold the mill to Horace Rounds in 1851, and it remained in the family until 1947. The mill was then sold to Howard Weed, Hubert Latta, and Leland Weed; and they name it New Hope Mills. Dale Weed became the sole owner of the company in 2001.
Pride
Local history contends that the community of New Hope was given its name from atop its new flour mill in 1823. After the mill's 40’, five-sided ridge pole was installed a man climbed to the top, threw a gallon jug of whiskey over his shoulder, and declared the town of Sodom was renamed New Hope.
It may seem amazing that such an historic operation can remain competitive on the market. Even today, as industries strive for more modern machines and methods for increased production to keep up with demands, New Hope Mills operated much the same in the 1800’s until the 1990's.
Looking to the Future
New Hope Mills is currently in the process of expanding their business. Their manufacturing branch produces their non-organic products, as well as carrying other brands. These facilities provided the opportunity for an expanded production and warehousing operation. New Hope Mills Organics will be another branch, specializing in organic-only products. Visit their new retail store at 181 York Street in Auburn, the home of New Hope Mills Manufacturing, Inc.
Or if you aren’t local, go to the websites above to purchase their products.
The Deliberate Agrarian, Blog Entry
by Herrick Kimball, August ‘06
 Half way through 9th grade, my family moved from suburbia to the rural countryside here in the Finger Lakes Region of upstate New York. The old farmhouse we bought was about 1/4 mile down the road from New Hope Mills. Shortly after moving into the neighborhood, David Weed, son of Lee Weed, owner of the mill, stopped in to welcome us and give us a bag of the mill’s famous buckwheat pancake mix. He also invited us to visit the church he and his family attended, which was in an old one-room schoolhouse. (Read more...)
When I was 17, my father worked at the mill half days. One day he came home with cuts on his fingers. He had accidentally run his hand through a machine that was used to sew a lock stitch into the folded-over top of the bags of pancake mix. He was not seriously injured, but it was the end of packing pancake mix for him, and I took over his job. I worked there much of that summer, then every day after school, and on Saturdays.
In the years since then, Lee Weed passed away, his son David died of cancer, and the mill is now owned by another son, Dale, who happens to be the pastor of the church my family attends. New Hope Mills has outgrown its wonderful old building, and has moved its operation to a more modern location on the outskirts of Auburn. But once a year they have an agrarian festival at their New Hope location. They have a pancake breakfast, plus a showcase for homemade products, family games and mill tours.
Even though I worked at the mill long ago, I decided to take a tour. Pastor Dale told our group about the history of the mill. He also shared that Millard Fillmore, 13th president of the U.S. was born in Summerhill, a few miles from New Hope. When Fillmore was a boy his family moved to New Hope and, according to local lore, worked in a carding mill not far from the Kellogg’s mill.
The water wheel on the outside of the mill is a 26’ overshot. It looks like it’s always been there, but Lee Weed installed it in the 1970’s. Power to run the mill comes from a water turbine in the bottom of the structure. The turbine delivers 70 horsepower and runs an assortment of shafts and pulleys that convey grain to old grinders and sifters, way up on the top floor. When the mill was working, I remember the whole building creaked and rocked. But the framework of massive hand-hewn beams, held together with wooden pegs, accommodated the movement just fine.
The Weed family has cared for New Hope Mills for over half a century. Even though their business has outgrown the old mill, they still cherish it and are taking steps to preserve this wonderful relic of the past.
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