The Girard Mills were built in 1870, and began operations in the spring of 1871. The first building was a -story frame, costing, with the machinery and power, $10,000. The property was owned by Tontz & Hitz. In 1879, Tontz retired from active participation in the management of the business, In 1882 he sold his interest to Hitz, who erected a -story brick mill, put in five run of buhrs, and two sets of Gray's patent rollers, making it a combined mill.