Forbes Mill in Los Gatos began as a flour mill completed in 1854 by James Alexander Forbes, making it the town's earliest commercial building and giving the growing settlement its first names. Built to meet Gold Rush demand, the operation faltered because Forbes lacked milling experience, his water system was inefficient, competition increased, and flour prices fell, leading to his loss of the property in 1857. Under William H. Rogers after 1866, major improvements made the mill productive year-round, and it became known for high-quality flour before milling ended in 1887. The original mill was demolished in 1916, and the surviving structure is its 1880 storage annex.