Finishing work of putting on the top blank of flashboards at the upper dam. The Mississippi River is full of ice and slush, which hampered the work. The Great Northern Depot is visible in the background.
The dam, mill and cooper shop are located at the joining of the South Middle Branch and the North Middle Branch of the Zumbro River. This was the second mill, built after the first mill was destroyed by a fire in 1879. The mill was built by A. D. Allis.