Star of the West Milling Company

Composed of rock faced concrete block and poured concrete elevators, two and three story frame warehouses and an orange brick, International style office building, the complex of this milling company was once one of the main businesses of Quincy. According to the website www.starofthewest.com, the name “was taken from a side-wheel merchant steamer of that name. It was normally used on a New York to New Orleans run but had been secretly chartered for $1,250 a day to carry soldiers and supplies to Fort Sumter in January, 1861. On January 9 the ship approached Charleston harbor and Fort Sumter when South Carolina gunners and Confederate forces fired on it. The ship was hit and fearing sinking, it turned around and headed for open seas.”