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The Reedsburg Woolen Mill was a historic
James Babb built a sawmill and dam on this location in 1842. This site was chosen, as the river was shallow in this spot, making it a good place for a dam. 5 years later, David Reed purchased and rebuilt the dam and sawmill. In 1853, Joseph Mackey purchased the dam, bringing new businesses along with it. Over the years, interest in a woolen mill for the area grew. Local businessmen founded Reedsburg Woolen Mills in 1879, with $50,000.
By 1882, the Reedsburg Woolen Mill had been built. The building was expanded in the years following. By 1899, the Reedsburg Woolen Mill consisted of a 4-storey building, complete with wool storage and 32 broad looms. The looms produced mainly "fancy cassimeres" for Chicago markets during this time. In 1902 the facility was bought by Appleton Woolen Mills. With this purchase, a new dam was built, and the facility was converted to electricity by 1910. In 1954, the woolen mill reorganized to emphasize novelty fabrics. After this change by Appleton Woolen Mills, the residents feared that the facility may be shut down.
woolen mill
Textile Manufacturing or Textile Engineering is a major industry. It is largely based on the conversion of fibre into yarn, then yarn into fabric. These are then dyed or printed, fabricated into cloth which is then converted into useful goods s ...
along the Baraboo River
The Baraboo River is a tributary of the Wisconsin River, about 70 mi (115 km) long, in south-central Wisconsin in the United States. Via the Wisconsin River, it is part of the watershed of the Mississippi River.
The Baraboo River was ...
in Reedsburg, Wisconsin
Reedsburg is a city in Sauk County, Wisconsin, United States. Located along the Baraboo River, it was founded in 1868, and was named for early settler David C. Reed. The city is surrounded by the Town of Reedsburg. It is part of the Baraboo Mic ...
. With The woolen mill was the largest employer in Reedsburg for much of its life, employing over 200 people. The woolen mill was built in 1891 and lasted until 1968, when most of it burned down, leaving the office building intact. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic v ...
in 1984.
Today, the Reedsburg Woolen Mill Office building is used by DJ Dietz Designs and the Wormfarm Institute. A mural of the woolen mill building was painted in 2000, and it is placed on the side of the Reedsburg Woolen Mill Office building, facing the Baraboo River. The land where the mill once stood was redeveloped, and is currently home to a grocery store
A grocery store ( AE), grocery shop ( BE) or simply grocery is a store that primarily retails a general range of food products, which may be fresh or packaged. In everyday U.S. usage, however, "grocery store" is a synonym for supermarket, a ...
.
History
Early history
James Babb built a sawmill and dam on this location in 1842. This site was chosen, as the river was shallow in this spot, making it a good place for a dam. 5 years later, David Reed purchased and rebuilt the dam and sawmill. In 1853, Joseph Mackey purchased the dam, bringing new businesses along with it. Over the years, interest in a woolen mill for the area grew. Local businessmen founded Reedsburg Woolen Mills in 1879, with $50,000.
By 1882, the Reedsburg Woolen Mill had been built. The building was expanded in the years following. By 1899, the Reedsburg Woolen Mill consisted of a 4-storey building, complete with wool storage and 32 broad looms. The looms produced mainly "fancy cassimeres" for Chicago markets during this time. In 1902 the facility was bought by Appleton Woolen Mills. With this purchase, a new dam was built, and the facility was converted to electricity by 1910. In 1954, the woolen mill reorganized to emphasize novelty fabrics. After this change by Appleton Woolen Mills, the residents feared that the facility may be shut down.
Late 1900s - present
The employees then bought back the building with the help of local businessmen. The woolen mill continued to be the city's largest employer, until it closed down in 1967, after the company declared bankruptcy. The building burned down in 1968. In 1973, the dam that once powered the woolen mill, was removed by the DNR, significantly changing the height of the Baraboo River in Reedsburg. Today only the woolen mill office building remains, and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. A "picker" was discovered in the remains of the old woolen mill. It is currently on display at the site of the old Reedsburg Woolen Mill building.References
{{Authority control Reedsburg, Wisconsin Industrial buildings and structures on the National Register of Historic Places in Wisconsin Buildings and structures in Sauk County, Wisconsin National Register of Historic Places in Sauk County, Wisconsin Industrial buildings and structures in Wisconsin Industrial buildings completed in 1891 Removed dams in Wisconsin Textile mills in Wisconsin