The Shamokin Roller Mills were located at Independence and Orange Streets, Shamokin, PA. Before researching this business, I had no idea where it was located nor that part of the building is still standing.

The original mill location was along Liberty Street. but the space became too limited as town grew and the business expanded. In the 1880’s the owners acquired the lot at Independence and Orange St. which also gave them direct railroad access at Commerce Street. Mr. Andrew Robertson became connected with the Mill in 1882 after purchasing his brother Nathan’s interest in the company. The three-story brick building on Independence Street was built by Robertson and had a grain elevator in the rear. Young boys were paid 10 cents per carload to shovel grain into the elevator, wearing handkerchiefs over their faces to avoid suffocation from the dust.

Before the grain business, Andrew Robertson had been wildly successful in the coal industry. Among his resume accomplishments were: Mine Superintendent at Henry Clay, Greenback, Corbin, and Excelsior collieries, part owner of Excelsior, bank president, Head of Yuma Coal & Coke Co. and VP of two West Virginia coal companies, charter member of Shamokin Elks, stockholder of the Edison Illumination Co.

Partnerships changed several times from Robertson & Parmley to Robertson & Osler, then Robertson & Parmley, then Robertson & Ereig. The mill had a capacity of 100 barrels of flour and four tons of chop per day. Around 1903, the rear portion of the mill was significantly damaged by fire which also claimed the lives of several draft horses.

In 1933, after sitting empty for many years, ownership of the old mill building passed to Richard Jones who converted the industrial space into storerooms and apartments; it was during this renovation that the third story was removed. Today, it holds the offices of Myers & Lynch Insurance and Financial Experts accounting service. This building was also the longtime home of Trains & Things.