In the 15th century, Lübeck's leaders noticed that providing wheat to the city was a task much too important to rely on the capacities of private mills around Lübeck. So a large scale project became reality: The river Wakenitz was dammed up, thus forming the Mühlenteich, or mill pond, which powered seven municipal mills situated on the Mühlendamm (mill dam). Grinding grain wasn't their only task, and each of the seven mills had a special function. One, for instance, was a pure malt mill, since beer was regarded as being nearly as important as bread in the Middle Ages. The two mills still existing today date, however, from the 19th century. They shut down in the 1930's, and municipal offices now occupy the space here.