In 1925, Rafaelis Lačas bought the Krucių Mill from a Jewish owner for his son, Evaldas Lačas. The mill was built from field stones and featured a single pair of millstones, powered by a wooden wheel turned by water from a channel connected to the Venta River. The Lačas family rebuilt the mill and moved into a wooden bathhouse nearby. A carpenter named Poškus helped with the construction of a two-and-a-half-story wooden annex and the renovation of the mill. They also built a residential house and farm buildings. Later, a barn was constructed on a hill, where Jews were temporarily held during World War II. The barn eventually burned down. The millstones were updated, with wooden parts replaced and worn millstones brought from Riga. A blacksmith from the village made iron hoops for the millstones. The water wheel was renovated, the water channel cleaned, and the dam reinforced. Rollers brought from Sweden were installed. The mill ground flour, produced various cereals, and was also used for pickling. A manual hoist was installed to lift sacks, able to lift 5-6 bags at a time. Two to three mill workers were employed at the mill.
In 1940, Evaldas Lačas left for Germany, and the mill was shut down. When the Germans arrived, the Lačas family returned to Lithuania and resumed the mill operations. However, after 2.5 years, they left again for Germany, leaving the mill behind.
In 1946, the mill was managed by Antanas Čekauskas and belonged to a local industrial combine. A memorial workshop was established in the utility building. At that time, the mill employed four workers and a cleaner. In 1947, while working in the utility building, Antanas Čekauskas stepped on a mine and was fatally injured. Two workers, Konternis and Jokša, also died. From 1948, the mill was run by Bronė Čekauskienė, who renovated the mill, which had been damaged during the war. A flood destroyed the dam. Under her management, the mill was equipped with a telephone. From 1956 to 1963, Elena Valatkaitė took over the management. During this time, an incubator station was established on the hill, a wool carding workshop was set up in the utility building, and wood processing machines were installed to produce doors and window frames. One of the mill workers at that time was Antanas Repšys (born 1909). Later, Normantas worked as the miller for 25 years. The mill processed up to 78-80 tons of grain per day for the collective farm. In extreme cold, the water wheel would freeze and stop turning, and the mill had to be temporarily shut down. Workers would break the ice off the wheel and blades with crowbars. After spring floods, the damaged dam had to be rebuilt.
In 1979, Krucių Mill was completely shut down. The mill was later purchased by V. Mačiulaitis and converted into a recreational facility. The new owners renovated the interior and exterior, turning part of the mill into a restaurant. In 2023, the mill was demolished. Only the foundations of the mill remain.
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