One item in the collection of the Fenton History Center brought back memories of buckwheat pancakes. The item is a paper sack in which D. H. Grandin’s Crown Buckwheat flour was packaged. D. H. Grandin was a local milling company that produced various flours and other grain products for the home and farm.

Daniel H. Grandin was an early settler in Jamestown and went into business with Daniel Hazeltine in the wool manufacturing business. In later years he was associated with Allen and Preston in the wool manufacturing business. By the late 1870s, he was the owner of the “Old Stone Mill” on East First Street, dealing in flours and feed. This became the family business for another three generations. His great-grandsons, Daniel G. and John Grandin, were owners of the D. H. Grandin Milling Company, located on Allen Street, when it ceased business in the 1960s. There was a small fire in 1960 and Daniel, in an attempt to repair some equipment the following day, was caught in some equipment and died. The complex of buildings burned in a fire in 1963.

Buckwheat was just one of the many grains that were raised in Chautauqua County and ground into flour by the Grandin Milling Company. In 1855, Chautauqua County had 1,055 acres planted in buckwheat, which yielded 9,665 bushels. This was about half of the quantity of spring wheat and barley produced in the county. Oats, corn and potatoes produced many more bushels. Just as an aside, almost 2 acres in the county produced 1,390 pounds of tobacco and 5 acres produced 2,416 pounds of hops. In 1864, only 930 acres were planted with buckwheat but yielded almost 11,000 bushels. In 1865 the acreage dropped to 355 planted in buckwheat. This was during the Civil War so farming was not as productive because of the many men who were off fighting the war.

Buckwheat is a short season crop (10-12 weeks) that does well in acidic soils. It produces better without the newer nitrogen fertilizers from the 20th century that helped to increase production of other crops. The seeds are triangular shaped with dark brown or green hulls. The seed is white but the seed coat can be green or tan which, when ground, will produce a darker flour. The flowers are usually white and are the source of buckwheat honey which is strong, dark and tasty. Buckwheat is gluten free so gluten sensitive people can eat buckwheat. Today buckwheat is probably consumed in this country mostly as pancakes or soba noodles from Japan. It can be a porridge and is used in other ways in other countries.