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ments, Berlin was carved from several farms.

Mixed farming brought about income and supplied local needs of wheat, corn, other grains, potatoes, tobacco, meats, wool, hides, orchard and dairy products, lumber, fencing materials, and firewood. Before 1820, local economy centered on the mill as a collection point for surplus goods and distribution of imports as well as for the processing of feed and meal. 1

After two years away from Berlin, Christian Smith returned in 1879, where he, with associates under Jordan, Wenner and Co. opened a milling business that year.4

MILL OR MILLS? When?

JORDAN, CRAMPTO N, AND CO.

To learn the exact dates and persons involved in the establishme nt of the mill - or mills - will require more research than possible for this printing. Mortimer Wenner may have been the original owner of the local mill, but surely Charles Fenton Wenner conducted the mill business early. The dates 1845, addition 1853, 1855, show up for the building. Original building dates for the mill(s) remain obscure in the extant articles. At any rate, Wenner was attracted to the area because of the local farmers as a market and the proximity to the C&O Canal. It was a successful location. One account says that the Berlin mills were turning out 75 barrels a day in 1853. Another account speaks of the Berlin Milling Co. of 1859. According to an article dated October 17, 1940, by Frank Spitzer, the mill's flour was sold under the name "C. F. Wenner's Choice Family Flour." In the beginning the Berlin mill was powered from the canal. The wooden-gea red waterwheel was horizontal, which is unusual. The mill once had docking facilities for canal boats to load and unload grain and flour.

The name changed to Jordan, Crampton and Co. in 1882, but Smith was still identified with the firm. Mr. Smith remained until 1897, when he sold his interest and withdrew from the milling business.5

CIVIL WAR

According to a caption under a picture of the Brunswick Flouring Mills,2 part of that mill was used for court martial trials during the Civil War. Williams says that the old grist mill building and the sheds were used as the provost marshal's court and several murder trials were conducted therein. In 1872 Walper Musgrove came to Berlin as a miller for C. F. Wenner serving until 1880. A member of his family lives in Brunswick today.

tion. He came to Berlin around 1876 and managed Berlin Mills for Jordan, Wenner, and Graham until 1877.3 JORDAN, WENNER, AND CO.

B. P. CRAMPTO N AND CO. 1883

Capt. B. P. Crampton was born in the Brunswick District in 1836. After elementary education here, he entered the select academy at Petersville. He became part owner of Crampton and Co. in 1882. Then later the mill became Crampton's mill exclusively. He built a beautiful home three miles from Brunswick on a fine farm adjoining the old homestead where he lived when a boy.6 George H. Hogan's biography in William's History states that he was employed for eight years at the Brunswick Flour Mills and in 1897 became interested in the B. P. Crampton Milling Company, where he had remained in charge for 12 years before the publication of William's book in 1910.7 Bookkeeper for Hogan was George McBride. Mahlon Armett .was teamster. The Directory of 1895, the Maryland Gazetteer of 1909-1910-1911, and a Brunswick Directory of 1924 advertise B. P. Crampton and Co., Inc., handling grain and coal. CHANGES: PHYSICAL; PRODUCT ION

By 1920, the mill had become between 80 and 100 feet long8and probably 30 feet in depth. The mill and the elevator had four stories by this time, and the coal tipple was ten feet high. Richard Hogan remembere d containers of cracked corn, corn meal and flour; also middlings (grain that did not come up to flour standards). He recalls the mill's production rating at 100 barrels of flour a day. 9 By this time steam power was already available to run the mill.10 Betty Hedges stated in a Brunswick Citizen article that Benjamin P. Crampton also had owned the

JORDAN - WENNER - GRAHAM

1874,1876,1877 Christian Smith learned the milling trade after seven years at the Gambrill Mill at Frederick June-

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