(KAIR)--A short post to the Facebook page of Blair Milling & Elevator Company, based in Atchison for more than 150-years, punctuated the message that customers say greeted them through signage this week: the business was closing its doors permanently. 

The Thursday afternoon statement, attributed to Wes Blair, says it's "with much sadness Blair Milling is going out of business," with Blair adding he wants "to thank all the livestock producers who came in and did business...over the years," closing the comment by adding, "so many of you were not just customers, we became friends."

A reason for the closing was not included in the statement, nor does it include a closing date. However, a customer of the company, posting to a local social media group, cited signage on the business door which stated Friday as the final day, bringing 159-years of operations to an end. 

According to the company's website, Blair Milling began operating in 1867, established as a flour mill along Atchison's Missouri River Banks. Since that time, the manufacturer of feed for livestock producers serviced customers in Northeast Kansas, Northwest Missouri, Southwest Iowa, and Southeast Nebraska.