Saturday attendance increased during annual summer celebration

By Tom Hintgen

Otter Tail County Correspondent

The Phelps Mill Festival, held the weekend of July 8-9, 2023, received rave reviews which were shared at the Tuesday morning, Nov. 28 meeting of the Otter Tail County Board of Commissioners.

“We had increased attendance on Saturday, July 8, took in more revenues after raising the daily entrance fee from $5 to $8 and finished in the black for the first time in quite a while,” said festival chairperson Jerome Holicky to the five county board members.

One key reason for rave reviews from visitors to the two-day festival is that the 2023 festival followed extensive repairs to the flour mill which dates back to 1889. 

“People were amazed at what is inside the mill,” Holicky said, “and they gained some insight into what it took to produce flour through 1939.”

Holicky said that in future years he and his planning committee will work with Friends of Phelps Mill and the Otter Tail County Historical Society to have on-site historians available to answer questions from festival visitors.

“The renovated mill is clean and inviting to visitors,” said County Commissioner Lee Rogness of Fergus Falls. 

County Board Chairman Wayne Johnson of Pelican Rapids said it’s important to show visitors the working operations of the mill. 

Earlier this year the Phelps Mill building was lifted and then new piers were created for the building to be placed back down on. Other work included repairing the boardwalk and unloading dock, replacement of damaged windows, repainting exteriors and other structural repairs and restoration.

Grants were provided by the state of Minnesota and the state historical society. Other money (matching dollars) came from county taxpayers through the annual property tax levy to reach the overall cost of $984,673 for the foundation repair and related projects.

“This plan was the most cost effective and sound plan decided on by our architect, engineer and the contractor,” said Kevin Fellbaum, county director of parks and trails, “with final approval from our county board of commissioners.”

Fellbaum said the foundation restoration and repair work retain as much of the building’s historic fabric as possible, stabilize the structure and make significant repairs to preserve Phelps Mill into the future.

County board members, in 2019, approved the purchase of 71.8 acres of land just north of the current Phelps Mill Park. This more than doubles the park from the original 51.2 acres.

County commissioners, on Aug. 8 this year, reviewed plans to remodel the Phelps Mill Store near the historic Phelps Mill in central Otter Tail County. Both structures are owned by the residents of Otter Tail County.

The Phelps Mill Store, used in previous years by visitors who purchased ice cream, pop, mill-related memorabilia, and other items, is in dire need of repairs. Once repairs are completed, county officials are confident that a renter will again operate the Phelps Mill Store and attract visitors.

Phelps Mill history

Located in Maine Township of central Otter Tail County, the mill built in 1889 was designed to produce 60 to 75 barrels of flour per day.

At the height of the wheat grinding season, 25 to 35 wagons loaded with stacks of wheat would line up outside the mill. Nearby was a restaurant, general store and blacksmith shop.

Phelps Mill was very successful until 1900, but after that year business gradually declined. William Thomas sold the mill in 1919.

By the 1930s the railway was in place and it became easier for county farmers to ship their grain to Minneapolis. Phelps Mill went out of business in 1939.

In 1965 Otter Tail County purchased the mill and surrounding land as a recreational site.

Phelps Mill was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975.