As a kid in the early 70’s, I lived across the street from Pillsbury Mill at 1529 (or 1528) E. Phillips Street. I’ve got great memories of playing in the grassy area at the corner of Phillips and 15th Street, in front of Pillsbury. We flew our kites there, pretended the bushes around the flag pole was our fort, laid in the grass watching the big clouds go by. We’d climb those trees at the far end and we’d sometimes play on the front steps of Pillsbury. There were times when we’d get chased away from there by the secretaries. There was a ledge around the building on 15th, and we’d climb up on that ledge and walk the building. There were many times when the bakers would come to our house and give us bags of donuts and cakes wrapped in wax paper! Or we could go to the side door, and ask for a bag of donuts. They’d give us a big bag! I think they knew we didn’t have alot of money, so they took pity on us. I remember the area smelling wonderful. We moved away from the area on January 29, 1976 – the day our house burned down. It’s not a very nice area now. I don’t even like to drive in that area. The place we lived is still an open lot. Nothing was ever built there since.
I am a pillsbury child of the past also, When I was born at 1528 E phillips till our home burnt down Jan, 29th 1976, I really miss that sweet smell I use to walk by just to smell it. me and my brothers and sisters and the snider kids played there all the time it was our front yard, we chased lightning bugs in the summer made snowmen in the winter and an igloo, It was a great place to play we climbed the trees roller skated around the flag pole I also remember the guys would bring donuts to our door or we would knock on the side door and they would give us a bag of donuts ohh they were so good, { thanks to all the nice people who gave us donuts we never forgot how you were nice to us ) the neighbor hood has really changed since we were kids its not as nice as it once was. I miss the good times, and that wonderful smell,
My grandfather, Wilbur Thompson, worked for 30 years for this company at this plant, retiring in 1971. I remember him bringing home the cake donuts that would be baked in the kitchen labs as well as the layers of white cake that would be given to the workers for free. Sure wish I could go back to that time as a kid again.It would be great for the city if they reopened the place for business, ‘course that sadly will never happen.
I lived on 13th st. just a few blocks from the Pillsbury plant. The man that lived next to us worked there. He used to bring us donuts and cakes. During the wheat rush. we would go over and sell kool-aid to the truck drivers.
Then in 1970 I got a job there. I worked there until it closed. I moved to Tenn. with Pillsbury. And after 39 years I am still with them.
Than you for your wonderful site. I has brought back many great memories,
As a kid in the early 70’s, I lived across the street from Pillsbury Mill at 1529 (or 1528) E. Phillips Street. I’ve got great memories of playing in the grassy area at the corner of Phillips and 15th Street, in front of Pillsbury. We flew our kites there, pretended the bushes around the flag pole was our fort, laid in the grass watching the big clouds go by. We’d climb those trees at the far end and we’d sometimes play on the front steps of Pillsbury. There were times when we’d get chased away from there by the secretaries. There was a ledge around the building on 15th, and we’d climb up on that ledge and walk the building. There were many times when the bakers would come to our house and give us bags of donuts and cakes wrapped in wax paper! Or we could go to the side door, and ask for a bag of donuts. They’d give us a big bag! I think they knew we didn’t have alot of money, so they took pity on us. I remember the area smelling wonderful. We moved away from the area on January 29, 1976 – the day our house burned down. It’s not a very nice area now. I don’t even like to drive in that area. The place we lived is still an open lot. Nothing was ever built there since.
Tonya | Mar 12, 2009 | Reply
I am a pillsbury child of the past also, When I was born at 1528 E phillips till our home burnt down Jan, 29th 1976, I really miss that sweet smell I use to walk by just to smell it. me and my brothers and sisters and the snider kids played there all the time it was our front yard, we chased lightning bugs in the summer made snowmen in the winter and an igloo, It was a great place to play we climbed the trees roller skated around the flag pole I also remember the guys would bring donuts to our door or we would knock on the side door and they would give us a bag of donuts ohh they were so good, { thanks to all the nice people who gave us donuts we never forgot how you were nice to us ) the neighbor hood has really changed since we were kids its not as nice as it once was. I miss the good times, and that wonderful smell,
sylvette farley | Mar 22, 2009 | Reply
My grandfather, Wilbur Thompson, worked for 30 years for this company at this plant, retiring in 1971. I remember him bringing home the cake donuts that would be baked in the kitchen labs as well as the layers of white cake that would be given to the workers for free. Sure wish I could go back to that time as a kid again.It would be great for the city if they reopened the place for business, ‘course that sadly will never happen.
Bill Thompson | Dec 21, 2009 | Reply
I lived on 13th st. just a few blocks from the Pillsbury plant. The man that lived next to us worked there. He used to bring us donuts and cakes. During the wheat rush. we would go over and sell kool-aid to the truck drivers.
Then in 1970 I got a job there. I worked there until it closed. I moved to Tenn. with Pillsbury. And after 39 years I am still with them.
Than you for your wonderful site. I has brought back many great memories,
Tim House | Mar 25, 2010 | Reply