The East Arcadia Roller Mill is an example of the type of water-powered gristmills that were common in northwest Wisconsin at the turn of the twentieth century. Mills in the rural communities of Trempealeau County during this period were typically “neighborhood” mills that processed the flour of local farmers rather than for commercial production. Mills were frequently one of the first buildings constructed in these communities, and they were seen as institutions equal to churches and schools.

The East Arcadia Roller Mill was constructed in 1900 and operated by Polish immigrants John Kamla and Michael Stelmach. Kamla owned and operated the mill for the next 40 years. The mill was a feature of the Arcadia community, producing flour for the area’s rural farmers while also maintaining a mill pond that served as a community meeting and recreational area.

The mill also represents changing trends in rural Wisconsin milling during the twentieth century. Mills began to decline in the years prior to World War I, and the community mills that survived did so by adapting to changing demands and technology. The East Arcadia Roller Mill diversified to produce both flour and feed, and by the 1940s the mill transitioned from water power to electrical power.

This property is private. Please respect the rights and privacy of the owners.