Columbia Mill
The Columbia Mill is a former grist mill on Cedar Creek in Cedarburg Wisconsin, in the United States. The mill was built in 1843 by Dr. Frederick A. Luening.[1][2]
History
The Columbia Mill was the first mill to be built on Cedar Creek, and several others would be built in the following years, forming the local area's early industrial economy. The mill was sold nine times before 1900, including to Joseph Trottman, who owned it from 1853 to 1864 and also had an interest in the Hilgen and Wittenberg Woolen Mill upstream.[1] It was later partially owned by Ernst Hilgen, the nephew of Cedarburg founder Frederick Hilgen, from 1864 to 1874.[1][3][4]
The mill also suffered from flooding issues. Soon after completion, settlers upstream complained about flooding on Cedar Creek, and the dam was torn down and rebuilt further downstream.[5] In 1881 the mill's dam washed out during heavy spring flooding and was later rebuilt.[1] It was rebuilt again in 1914.[6]
In 1910, the mill had a capacity of 100 barrels per day.[7] In 1926, the mill was bought by the Wire and Nail Company, whose mill is located just downstream, for use of the mill's hydropower.[1] Through the 1970s, the mill fell into disuse and disrepair and was demolished in the 1970s and a bank was built in its place, with the dam and millrace remaining. In 2019 the City of Cedarburg completed significant repairs to the remaining dam and millrace to increase the dam's capacity.
See also
| Mill Name | Year Built | Products Produced | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concordia Mill | 1853 | Grain | Dam washed out and removed 1996 |
| Excelsior Mill, later Cedarburg Wire and Nail Factory | 1871 | Grain, lumber, drawn steel, hydroelectricity | |
| Columbia Mill | 1843 | Grain | Demolished |
| Cedarburg Mill | 1844 | Grain | Rebuilt 1855 with current stone structure |
| Hilgen and Wittenberg Woolen Mill | 1864 | Textiles |
References
- "The State: Early history of Ozaukee County, Wisconsin: The Columbia Mill - now known as the Weber Milling Company". digicoll.library.wisc.edu. Retrieved 2021-04-21.
- Rappold, Edward (1994). Reflections of old Cedarburg. Cedarburg. ISBN 0-9625597-2-5.
- "N60 W5314-6 COLUMBIA RD | Property Record". Wisconsin Historical Society. 2012-01-01. Retrieved 2021-04-21.
- Department of the Interior. National Park Service. (3/2/1934 - ) (2013–2017). Wisconsin SP Columbia Historic District. File Unit: National Register of Historic Places and National Historic Landmarks Program Records: Wisconsin, 1/1/1964 - 12/31/2013.
- History of Washington and Ozaukee Counties, Wisconsin: Containing an Account of Its Settlement, Growth, Development and Resources ... Biographical Sketches, Portraits of Prominent Men and Early Settlers; the Whole Preceded by a History of Wisconsin ... and an Abstract of Its Laws and Constitution ... Western historical Company. 1881.
- "Dam Inspection - Report". dnr.wi.gov. Retrieved 2021-04-21.
- "Image 1 of Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Cedarburg, Ozaukee County, Wisconsin". Library of Congress. Retrieved 2021-04-22.
Further reading
- Butterfield, C.W. (1881). "The Town of Cedarburg: § The Columbia Mill". History of Washington and Ozaukee Counties, Wisconsin. Chicago: Western historical Company. p. 532.
- Gierach, Ryan (2003). Cedarburg: A History Set in Stone. Arcadia Publishing. pp. 43–44. ISBN 9780738524313.