A Historic Rehabilitation Project

HISTORY

Ellicott Mill sits on the banks of the Patapsco River, the original site of the historic Ellicott Brothers’ grist mill, which began operations in 1774, the first merchant flour mill in Maryland. The current high rise flour mill complex dates back to 1916 and includes the main mill building, an attached maintenance building, and nine large silos. The main mill building was constructed for the C.A. Gambrill Company and is eight nine stories tall. The Dougnut Corporation of America, first rented and then purchased the complex in the 1920s. After a fire, the brick-faced machine shop was rebuilt. In 1967, the Wilkins-Rogers Company acquired the complex and resumed flour mill operations. It was the last extant flour mill operating in Maryland until Wilkins-Rogers ceased operations in 2020. 

When the B&O Railroad ran the first commercial railroad in the nation from Baltimore to Ellicott City in 1831, a railroad spur was constructed from the main line across the Patapsco River to the Ellicotts’ flour mill.

With an industrial use no longer viable, the building was preserved through adaptive re-use by converting in to apartments and a small amount of retail compatible with the building and its location.