Category: News

Friends,

Each of the last three years we have placed a series of American flags along the 3 blocks in front of the former Pillsbury plant for the 4^th of July. This year we have added a big addition. A 50-foot flag hanging from the huge crane at the spot where big demolition started just 9 months ago – where the 160-foot-tall smokestack stood for over 90 years.

Our demolition contractor, GreenTrac, provided the 50-foot flag. And we appreciate their spirit of patriotism and partnership in this project. It will be in place until Monday and is certainly worth seeing!  

Last week a new American 9310 crane arrived on-site. It is a 225-ton model and a bit larger than the one used a few months ago. The crane and 10,000-pound wrecking ball will begin next week at taking down the remaining tall structures. The 100-foot-tall north silos, the 120-foot-tall Bakery Tower, and the 224-foot-tall Headhouse.

The overall plant demolition is now 65-70% completed. We started with over 500,000 square feet of tall warehousing and manufacturing buildings. We are now down to just the final 2 buildings and 100 silos.

Thanks for being a part of this important community project!

~ Team Pillsbury

Friends,

The demolition at the former Pillsbury site continues. Five of the largest manufacturing buildings are now completely down (Grocery, AB-Mill, Turbo, Bulk Storage, C-Mill) and the piles of rubble are being sorted by heavy equipment. In the coming month, a concrete crusher will be brought in to crush and recycle most of the material on-site. The wrecking ball will also be back in operation taking down what remains of the silos. We anticipate that the Bakery Tower and Headhouse will then be demolished in late June or July.

One of the unique aspects of the Pillsbury Project has been the attention given to the historic elements of the site. With the high level of public interest and the use of public funding to advance the project, we felt it was necessary to document the site, the people involved, and the historic importance of the site for the Greater Springfield community. A major element of that documentation has been archival photography.

In late 2022, we contracted with Ben Halpern to begin archival photography. He came to us with significant experience and a mix of old-school and digital photography that was perfectly suited for the job. He began the project with a robust set of digital color photos from throughout the site and just this past month concluded with a tremendous set of 4×5 box camera images that were delivered to the Lincoln Library Sangamon Valley Collection for archive and public viewing.

Attached is a photo of Ben in November of 2022 set to photograph the east wall of Warehouse #4 that was built in 1929. He captured the image just two months before the partially collapsed building was demolished. After careful demolition, we were able to recycle over 500 tons of brick from this building. We also sold over 400 engraved Pillsbury bricks from this original warehouse. So, if you have an engraved Pillsbury brick this is where it lived from 1929 to 2023.

Thank you for being a part of this important community project!

~ Team Pillsbury

Friends,

Moving Pillsbury Forward identified early in our formation as a working group that public safety was a real issue with the vacant and partially demolished Pillsbury plant. That was just over 6 years ago. Today, over 60% of the structures at the site have been demolished since we took ownership in 2022. And work will continue for the next few months to demolish the remaining structures.

Earlier this month, we partnered with the Springfield Fire Department to utilize our front yard area and two-story office building for training exercises. Approximately 200 firefighters took the opportunity to practice hose line advancements and deck gun water stream placement (aka Target Practice).

Yes, it is a bit ironic that this place that was a serious public safety concern for over twenty years became a great place for public safety training for one week in early April. Advancing our community is the mission. Partnerships have been a key element.

Thanks for being a part of this important community project!

~ Team Pillsbury

Friends,

Moving Pillsbury Forward and the ALPLM have scheduled a Pillsbury Exhibit reception from 3 to 5pm on Thursday, April 16. The reception is free for all friends and supporters of MPF to attend. Museum staff and MPF members will be available throughout for historical discussions of the Springfield Pillsbury plant. Brief formal remarks about the exhibit and overall Pillsbury Project will take place at 4pm.

Moving Pillsbury Forward partnered with the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum these past several months to develop a new exhibit focused on the early years (1929 to 1949) of the Springfield Pillsbury Plant. The exhibit represents an era in local manufacturing that provided hundreds of good jobs during the Great Depression and set the stage for future expansion at the plant in the 1950’s and 60’s. And it highlights the huge ripple effect of economic activity that came to our community with industrial scale flour manufacturing.

The professional staff at the ALPLM utilized a selection of artifacts and documents to bring the story of those early years to life. Pillsbury not only provided jobs, but it also developed a workforce culture that engaged civic and recreational activities throughout Springfield. The softball and bowling leagues, the company picnics, and participation in civic organizations were all a part of it.

The exhibit is located just outside of the Ghosts of the Library Halovision Theater within the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum. The Springfield Pillsbury exhibit is open now and is scheduled to run through June during regular museum hours.

Thanks for being a part of this important community project!

~ Team Pillsbury

Friends,

The demolition crew at the site is back to big demolition. After a couple of months’ pause, the big crane is back in service and tearing down the AB-Mill. And the old 8000 pound wrecking ball has been exchanged for a new 10,000 pound ball. It is truly impressive what a difference 2000 pounds makes!

The past two months at the site have been productive. Much of the material from the now demolished 100,000 square foot Grocery Mix building has been sorted. Many semi-truck loads of metal have now left the site and headed off for recycling. The crew tells us that each truck carries about 18-20 tons of metal when loaded.

Fifty of the south silos have now been torn down. Each of these 100-foot-tall silos held 18,000 bushels of wheat when the mill was in operation. These silos were built in the Summer and Fall of 1929 using wooden slip forms. The eight-inch-thick walls of each silo stood on heavy concrete piers in the basement. Yes, they were built to last!

The crew generally works from 7:00am to 3:00pm on weekdays. Mid-day is often the best time for viewing the activities. Please use caution near the main entrance at 16^th Street and Phillips Avenue. Heavy trucks and equipment are coming and going with regularity.

Thanks for being a part of this important community project!

~ Team Pillsbury