Schmidt's mill, built around 1880, is considered the oldest surviving mill in Kupiškis town. Initially owned by landlord Minkevičius, it was later purchased by Chonel Schmidt, who began reconstruction of the building and expanded the business. After the installation of the steam engine, the wind power was no longer in need – this mill has already been called a steam mill in 1922. Schmidt already had a sawmill, a fulling-mill and a power station between 1921 and 1923. A carding mill was also established. After Chonel's death, the business was inherited by his son Nochem Schmidt. The mill became "motorized" – an internal combustion engine started turning the millstone (mentioned since 1931). It is said that the equipment made in England, Sweden and Germany was used in the mill, 350-370 tons of grain were ground per month, groats and various flours were produced. There were queues of people wanting to have their flour ground, they had to wait even overnight, and the employees worked double shifts. The mill also produced electricity, which supplied Kupiškis town. N. Šmidtas was considered the richest man in Kupiškis and was the first to buy a car. When the Second World War started, he remained in Lithuania. His mill and power station were nationalized in 1940, and he, like most other Jews of Kupiškis, was killed in 1941. The former Prime Minister of Independent Lithuania, General Jonas Černius (1898–1977) worked as the director of the mill from 1941 to 1944. The mill was nationalized in 1949. During the Soviet Era, it belonged to the personal service centre, served the city and its surroundings. Schmidt's mill with the technological equipment was included in the Register of Cultural Property in 1995, and it was recognized as protected by the state in 2005. Currently, the mill is located in the neighborhood of Kupiškis district municipal fire service.
+2
Reviews