What began as a grist mill soon became a focal point of life in Luling. The gin sparked the town's first industry, the saw mill cut lumber for construction, and the grist mill produced cornmeal. A steady stream of farmers, merchants, builders, and townspeople made the riverside mill a gathering place for business and for exchanging news and gossip. The mill began supplying Luling with water in 1890 and power in 1894. In 1902 Fritz Zedler sold the mill to his sons Herman and Charles, and in 1914 Herman and Charlie Zedler built a concrete dam and new powerhouse to meet the needs of the growing community. Merchants bought cotton baled at the mill, sold it to eastern markets, and purchased goods and sundries to stock their shelves. By 1881 Luling was thriving, with downtown stretching for four blocks along Main Street. In 1917 the Zedlers began milling flour, and in 1922 Charles bought out Herman and became sole owner.