The Golden Rule Flouring Mill was established by Babcock & Gould in 1864 near 3rd Street and Broadway, Oakland, California. As was often the case with wooden structure of the time, the building was destroyed by fire in 1876, but the owners immediately rebuilt the mill. With the main building three stories high, the rebuilt mill employed 18 men and produced 50,000 barrels of flour annually. Additionally, barley, meal, feed and middlings increased annual revenue by $40,000 to $50,000.