In 1879, James Chadsey first assembled the heavy timbers of the gristmill at Miller's Landing and used wooden pegs instead of nails in the building's construction. In August 1880, Chilliwack Municipal Council, called a special meeting to deliberate on a petition that requested a grant of $500.00 to move the gristmill to Centreville. Fifty-eight people had signed the petition and it was decided that a by-law would be necessary to grant the bonus of $500.00 to Mr. Chadsey. The bonus would be granted if Mr. Chadsey agreed to maintain the mill, "…in good running order, and when good wheat is furnished at the mill to grind it, and make a good quality of flour as can be made at any other mill for a period of five years. The price to be charged not to exceed $6 per ton and for chopping coarse grain the price not to exceed $4 per ton and to have the mill ready for grinding on or before the first of Dec. 1880". [Chilliwack Council Minutes, August 14, 1880 p. 177]. On August 28, 1880, By Law No. 28, the "Grist Mill Bonus By Law 1880" was passed.
At first the building was located near the site of the present Chilliwack United Church between Yale and Main and along Spadina Avenue. Unfortunately, as the Chilliwack Progress newspaper was not established until 1891, no local story or other details have been recorded that describe the move of the mill in 1880. Even in 1891, when the building may have been moved to the corner of Mill and Wellington Streets, and the Progress was in operation, no story appears. However, in April 1891, it is recorded in the newspaper that James Chadsey had removed the machinery from the grist mill. The building and grounds had been purchased by S. A. Cawley to be used as an implement and hardware store. By September 1891, Cawley's new business, on the corner of Mill and Wellington, and opposite his old location. The store carried a complete stock of hardware, implements, paints and oils.
The first owner to use the gristmill as a feed business was J.L.Denholm who was born in Brant County, Ontario in 1862. He came to Chilliwack in 1892 and managed the 300-acre Fairfield Island farm owned by William DeWolfe and J. Howe Bent. Denholm acquired a tract of this farmland for himself and built his "Fairbanke" home here. At this location Denholm carried out an extensive livestock business and in 1895 opened the flour and feed store in the gristmill. For a while Denholm operated the business on his own, then with his brother-in-law, C.A. Uhley and finally partnered with Thomas H. Jackson in 1905.
Together Denholm & Jackson offered both wholesale and retail goods as well as harvesting machinery, wagons, buggies and democrats. Apart from supplying cream separators, incubators and brooders Denholm & Jackson purchased local livestock and farm produce. In particular Mr. Denholm was instrumental in developing the Chilliwack Valley hog industry. He moved to Victoria after selling his business and continued in the livestock trade with former Chilliwack Mayor, Robinson F. Waddington.
The Denholm & Jackson partnership, dissolved July 6, 1910, was sold to A. M. Rockwell and Company. In 1913, the Rockwell business took on two new partners, W.R. Theal and a Mr. Davison. Both Theal and Rockwell were born at River Hebert, Nova Scotia and may have known each other prior to their arrival in Chilliwack. In 1914 Rockwell, Theal & Davison built a grain elevator and feed mill on their property that fronted the B.C. Electric Railway track alongside their warehouse. In building the elevator the company was careful to consider expansion whereby they could add to the original 45' height of the elevator. They also planned its construction should it become necessary to move the elevator to the Canadian National Railway tracks at any time in the future. The firm remained unchanged until 1929 when Rockwell and Davison disposed of their interests to their former business partner, W.R. Theal and to Kurt A. Boyd.
The new partnership of Theal & Boyd continued with the established connections of the former business to two of Canada's largest milling companies, the Ogilvie Milling Co. and Lake of the Woods. As well, they offered farm machinery from International Harvester and DeLaval dairy supplies. The firm continued to operate until just prior to the Second World War when in 1939 Kurt Boyd became the sole owner. In 1950, the feed business was relocated to Main Street.
During its last few weeks of existence A. Weightman used the Chadsey gristmill as an egg grading station. At the time of the grist mill's demolition, in May 1950, Kurt Boyd had no plans for the vacant property.
Rockwell, Theal, Davison Ltd. Mill company float. 1996 9 1.