Old Feed Mill
I discovered the old feed mill in Johnson City, Texas, in 2008. It had been converted into a complex of businesses that were no longer in operation and it was already in disrepair. I took it upon myself to attempt to photograph it. Recently I came back to these photos and realized there seems to be very few photos of it on the internet, so I decided to process my photos for a story. The complex has now been turned into the Science Mill and it is from their site that I got its history.
This photo is the widest view of the complex that I have, so I decided to start with it. As you can see, someone went to a huge amount of work decorating the buildings. Stay tuned for many photos of the complex I took in 2008, 2009 and one last shot of what the street side looked like in 2018. The Science Mill was established in 2012.
One of the first things you noticed was figures climbing on the tower, murals, pieces of equipment turned into art work everywhere you looked. It was amazing and I always wished I had been able to see it when it was a restaurant and entertainment complex. (Please click on any image to see it larger.)
It was started by J. P. Johnson in 1880 as a steam grist mill and cotton gin. In 1901 it was converted into a flour mill, later electrified, and finally became a feed mill in the 1930s. The words (F)E(E)D MILL are still on the side and I think I see the remains of “PURINA CHOW” on the front and Purina uses a checkerboard. The mill ceased operation in the 1980’s and was converted into a restaurant and entertainment complex, but that had been abandoned for some time when I came along in 2008.
Starting at the front was apparently an art gallery, maybe called Dunn and Dunn, and a mural on the right. Many of the decorations were likely taken from the old mill equipment.
It was all done with a good sense of humor. On top is an armadillo and along the alleyway, a woman (fat lady?) sings.
Note that even areas that can hardly be seen are decorated with metal objects, like up there with the armadillo.
Below are two more views of the complex. On the left, the view in 2008 from the right facing the complex. On the right, the front view in 2018 after it had become the Science Mill. Don’t forget you can click on a photo to see the larger view.
From the Science Mill website: “In transforming the building into the Science Mill as it is today, much care and attention was given in ensuring that much of the original structure was kept intact. This is the Science Mill’s way of honoring the history it is proud to build upon.”
You can read some more history of Johnson City on the John City Bank website.
