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1902: Founder Carl Hilmar Guenther dies at the age of 76, and Erhard
becomes president.
1909: C.H. Guenther & Son, at this point preferring to be known as
Pioneer Flour Mills after its most popular brand, begins an annual series of
commemorative gift plates.
1914: A six-story building of steel and concrete is built to replace the
1877 frame mill building and to increase production, helping fill new orders
from San Antonio's growing military establishment.
1915: Mill President Erhard Guenther transforms his parents' modest home
beside the mill into a three-story landmark with oriental motifs.
1916: Motorized Packard delivery trucks begin replacing mule-drawn
wagons. Delivery also soon becomes easier with replacement of wooden flour
barrels by smaller and lighter cloth and paper sacks.
1918: World War I food conservation requirements lead to production of
Cornserve Flour, ground from corn rather than wheat.
1919: To meet growing customer demands, financing is secured to begin
doubling Pioneer's production capacity over the next 10 years.
1922: The 20-story concrete grain elevator, for a short time the tallest
structure in the city, is completed. Today, it is still a well-recognized
landmark in San Antonio.
1924: Additional construction is highlighted by a seven-story mill
building of reinforced concrete.
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