The Daily News Leader from Staunton, Virginia • 49

Staunton, Daily News Leader, Thursday July 3, 1906 Tradition of quality still evident at White Star Mills By BETH GREENAWALT Special Writer From the early 1890s until 1963, White Star Mills in Staunton produced flours that became a by-word throughout Virginia. Now, the White Star Mills Restaurant carries on the tradition of quality in the renovated mill, offering fine dining to visitors and residents. Customers eating among the original pillars and stone walls can enjoy anything from salmon (flown in once a week from Washington State) to crab from the Eastern Shore and cheeses straight from Italy. "'We try to get everything from its original source," explains co-owner and chef Don Yoder. "We only buy the top of the line." "Our food's one of the most important things," agrees his wife, Nancy, who' serves as secretary-treasurer of the family-owned business.

"'The most common comment we get from people is that they can't believe there is a restaurant like this in Staunton, Va. They say New York doesn't have anything on it," she adds proudly. Six stained glass windows placed along one wall of the restaurant depict grain from its harvest and storing, milling, kneading, and baking to the finished product. The windows, fashioned by Del Guercio in 1980, offer a mystery all their own. each picture, he has something written, but it's hidden," explains Mrs.

Yoder. "It's driving me crazy trying to find them all!" The steam-powered mill, built in a trapezoidal shape in order to fit the land, was designed by T.J. Collins, a Staunton architect. "It's much nicer than your average says David Brown, executive director of the Historic Staunton Foundation. "Unfortunately, the flour chutes and machines were removed in the early 1970s." "The mill stood empty for 20 to 25 years," explains Mrs.

Yoder. "Finally, it was sold at public auction." "There were a number of flour mills in the Staunton area, but this was probably the most important, and the one with the longest life," says Brown. "'It produced different brands including the Royal Patent, the White Star brand, and the Valley Extra. The reason the mill closed in 1966 was essentially because the nationally marketed brands of flour eventually killed all the local flour mills." The ownership of White Star Mills, formed in 1890 by Michael Kivlighan, Isaac Witz, Charles Holt, and Andrew Boling, remained in the same families until 1963. When Kivlighan died in 1942, his son, J.

Harold Kivlighan, became owner and manager. Harold immediately converted the mill from steam to electrical power, increased storage capacity, and installed milling machinery that increased output to 1,000 barrels a day. Occasionally, someone who worked in the mill in days past will turn up. "A man came in who used to work here and told us how these splits in the pillars came to be here," Mrs. Yoder said, running her hand over one of the rough beams.

said the men who used to come and unload grain from wagons would throw their axes into them." SINITON Complete FABRIC Fabric Store" Welcomes You To Downtown Staunton We Salute The Stater Brothers And Invite You To Attend "Happy Birthday, U.S.A." We Feature Dress Fabrics For All Occasions Patterns Trims Notions Belting Buckles Your Craft Needs Thousands of Yards Headquarters of Place Mat Materials Drapery Candlewicking Needlepoint Slipcover Lace Ribbons Upholstery Cross Stitch Supplies Pillow and Doll Materials Cut Outs And Supplies STAUNTON FABRIC CENTER Across From The Wharf Parking Lot Open Daily 9 to 5 15 W. Johnson St. Tues. Fri. Till 8:30 See map On Page 36-37 For Our Location AFTER THE 4TH OF JULY REMEMBER THE STATLERS ON HOME VIDEO! "Brothers In Song" VHS and Beta Video Tapes only $1095 Video Director, Inc.

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