The July 1, 1976 Peterborough Transcript described it as follows: “An event that had long been feared, and one that had worried the Hopkins family for more than a generation, occurred in Greenfield early Sunday morning.

The grain mill burned flat.”

The destruction of the Hopkins grain mill devastated Greenfield’s only industry, one that employed 35 people – “all men except two women in the office” – and was one of only three grain manufacturing firms in New Hampshire.

The company opened an office on the second floor of the old Greenfield fire station, and Crotched Mountain Rehabilitation Center provided office equipment. The company laid off about a dozen production workers.

“The phone number remains the same — 547-3341 and calls are being taken by the same familiar voices as in the past, Marjorie Aiken, who has worked for the Hopkins’ over 40 years, and Louise Russell.”