Demolition at Pillsbury Site Draws Community Interest

Demolition of the 96,000-square-foot Grocery Mix Building at Springfield’s former Pillsbury plant is moving steadily ahead this week. An 8,000-pound wrecking ball is steadily chewing through the structure, and many expect the building’s iconic rooftop sugar tower to fall soon.

Last week, crews used six-foot shears mounted on a trackhoe to slice away the second-floor forklift bridge that once linked the Grocery Mix Building to the AB-Mill, an impressive sight that stopped passersby in their tracks.

The work has turned into a small gathering spot for people with ties to the plant. This past week, a retired employee who spent 50 years with Pillsbury made the trip from Murfreesboro, Tennessee, to see the site one last time. He began his career in Springfield and moved when Pillsbury sold the facility to Cargill in 1991, staying with the company for three more decades. Other former workers have also visited the viewing area, sharing memories and stories about the plant’s long history.

Crews are also uncovering bits of history as they go. Among the finds: old railroad tie date nails—heavy spikes the rail industry once used to mark the year a tie was installed. Some of the nails discovered carry stamps from 1949, 1951, 1952, and 1958, reminders of the 11 rail lines that once converged on the property, with many of those early ties still buried beneath the ground.

Each day’s progress has drawn curious onlookers, with residents stopping by to watch the demolition unfold. The public viewing area remains open for anyone interested in seeing the site’s transformation as the project moves forward.