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Pillsbury History

Flashback to 1940

Friends,

As we begin 2025 with the anticipation of large-scale demolition at the remaining structures at the site, we pause today to look back 85-years to 1940. This was the 10th anniversary of Pillsbury’s grand opening in Springfield. And it was a time when quantities of flour produced were still measured in barrels rather than pounds.

During the first ten years, the Springfield Pillsbury plant expanded tremendously. In 1933 the north silos were built and added 2 million bushels in wheat storage capacity. In 1935, a fifth floor was added to the Grocery Mix Building. In 1937 the 9-story C-Mill was built and doubled the milling capacity at the site to nearly 8000 barrels a day.

The February 1940 advertisement in Illinois State Register (PDF link to download) is a great visual and fact-filled glimpse of the true economic impact on Springfield. 1000 people were employed at the plant in 1940. The plant had a connected load of 6,000 horsepower and used 12,000,000 KWH of electricity to produce flour and bakery goods that were shipped worldwide. 

Our Springfield Pillsbury is a great example of mid-twentieth century manufacturing at its best. Moving Pillsbury Forward has documented and collected samples of the advertised silk screens, hand carts and flours sacks depicted, and taken archival quality photographs of the plant and equipment that is still in place. We have given historic tours to hundreds of area residents…and we are so glad we did.

Thanks for being a part of this important community project.

~ Team Pillsbury