Heritage in the Hat: Flour power
By SALLY SEHN on April 25, 2023.
The Silver Buckle Inn, as we know it today, has obvious origins of a flour mill. The structures were built in 1916 but it was not the first mill on this site. The original flour mill, first named “McNeely’s Mill”, began operations in 1903. Initially, it was owned by John McNeely, W.B. Marshall, and Harry Yuill, who built the mill on land he owned. In 1910, John’s son William McNeely acquired Marshall’s share. The business became the Medicine Hat Milling Company Ltd. The flour mill was so successful that in 1914, it was sold to the Lake of the Woods Milling Co. Limited for $300,000. William McNeely was given a two-year contract to manage the mill under new ownership. When the Five Roses Flour product-line was introduced, the mill became locally known as the Five Roses Flour Mill. William McNeely’s term ended in 1916. In the same year, the mill was destroyed by a mysterious fire. Because the mill supplied product to the war effort, there was an unsubstantiated rumour that the fire was caused by enemy sabotage. The only building to survive was the office. The mill was quickly rebuilt to better standards. Two years later, at age 37, William McNeely died of the Spanish flu leaving behind a wife and 9-year-old son. In 1921, local businessman Adolph Dederer opened a grocery store located about two blocks from the Lake of the Woods Mill. Initially, the grocery store was also the Dederer family living quarters. But in the late 1920s the Dederer family relocated to a home at 722 Allowance Avenue, a stone’s throw from the large flour mill. This residence had been built around 1905 for none other than William McNeely, co-owner of the original flour mill. This move was eerily prophesying because decades later, Adolph purchased the historic mill. While living in the former McNeely house, Dederer felt compelled to become a miller himself. In 1931, he established The Gas City Flour Mill. The mill, located on Spencer Street, today the site of Medicine Hat Sign Works, developed cream loaf flour for breads and pastries, puffed wheat and puffed rice. The mill was sold in 1944. Ten years later, the Lake of the Woods Milling Co. was purchased by Ogilvie Flour Mills. With an existing Ogilvie mill in Medicine Hat, production was intermittent. The mill closed in 1964. It was purchased by the Labatt’s Company in 1968 but remained vacant until the mid 1970s. Enter Mr. Dederer. In 1976, the local entrepreneur purchased the landmark mill that had been so influential in his life. Significant renovations, including the removal of the top two storeys led to the creation of the Inn at the Olde Mill. Adolph Dederer was 90 at the time of his new venture. Later renamed the Silver Buckle Inn, the hotel portion ceased operations in the 1990s. The tavern portion, a popular watering hole known as the Silver Buckle Sports Bar, is regularly visited by the descendants of Adolph Dederer. Sally Sehn is a past Member of the Heritage Resources Committee, City of Medicine Hat. 1918 AJHS Yearbook advertisement (Esplanade Archives) Adoph Dederer, age 87 (Lorine Dederer Marshall) 13-12
