In the 1880's there was a unique and unusual structure on the Sheyenne River just south of where the Sheyenne River enters Griggs County near the Nelson County line. A dam had been constructed here and a water-powered mill built to grind feed and flour for the homesteaders. It was known as the Lee Mill. The Lee post office was nearby and also a Township by the name of Lee in Nelson County.
The dam and the mill seem to have been very well built and necessarily so to withstand the ice jams, spring floods and summer downpours. The mill had a very high foundation and it was a tall building. From its appearance it must have had a leg for elevating grain to bins for grinding or cleaning. In 1910, which was a dry year, a large pulley and shaft were installed so Nick Westmann's steam engine could be used if the river should cease to flow. In cold weather, men had to watch so the wheel wouldn't freeze up, it was better to have the wheel turning and mill grinding. The mill was very modern for that period and the frame was solid cast. The residence for the mill operators was on high-ground.
The dam had ice breakers to protect it during the spring ice break up. Logs were placed across the channel, parallel to the dam beneath the spillway, to prevent water from eroding the riverbed. The logs were probably also used as a foot bridge as there were no bridges to begin with and persons living on the east side had to carry the grain across in sacks below the dam. Water was diverted to the large water wheel under the mill, which was on the west side of the river.
From courthouse records, some interesting information was added to the history of Lee Mill. NELS C. RUKKE was the first owner of the mill-site of 91h acres by homestead patent dated February 5, 1884. Mr. Rukke petitioned the court to be granted a right to erect and maintain a mill-dam across the Sheyenne of Section 1, Township 148, Range 59, Griggs County, Dakota Territory. The dam was not to exceed eleven feet in height. In Mr. Rukke's petition it was stated that the demand for such a mill was urgent, there being no mill for making flour or grinding feed within the County of Griggs or within a radius of forty miles of the proposed mill and dam.
Three disinterested persons to be appointed to make an assessment of any damage resulting from erection of the dam. The three appointed were:
George W. Pratt, Stewart McRoberts and Henry Pinkerton. The following persons were found to be entitled to damages as follows:
Aslak Nelson $2.00
Nels Nelson $1.00
Ben Nelson .50
and Ole C. Nelson $3.00. . . . Signed March 28, 1888.
On May 21, 1888 Nels C. Rukke and his wife gave deed to FRANK GOLDTHRITE (1/2 int.) and Hillen McCrea (V2 int.). The Goldthrites were Canadians and experienced in mill operations. There were several transfers of deed between Scotts and Goldthrits until September 19, 1913 when John G. and Anna Goldthrite made the deed to Ole Reinhart. The mill site is still in the Reinhart family, now the property of Melvin Reinhart.
The mill and dam are now only a memory, but a precious one to those that remember grinding feed or flour there. There are persons still living that remember going with their fathers to grind flour at the mill, one of these is Ed Ressler of Jessie. The mill served a radius of more than 20 miles and served its purpose for many years.
There still are stones at the site where the mill stood, and the place where the house stood is marked by evidence of the basement.
At one time there was a picnic area beside the mill site.
Source: Griggs County History 1879 - 1976 Page 363