Columbia Mill

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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[]

Early operation[]

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. While the mill was initially successful, overall it had a troubled history. The mill was sold nine times before 1900; notably it was owned by Joseph Trottman from 1853 to 1864, who would later have an interest in the Hilgen and Wittenberg Woolen Mill, which was located upstream.[1] It was also 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 addition, in 1881 the mill's dam washed out during heavy spring flooding and was rebuilt some time later;[1] it was also rebuilt again in 1914.[6]

20th century[]

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] In 1939 the Highland Avenue Bridge above the mill's dam and millrace was rebuilt as a PWA project for the City of Cedarburg.

From the 1960s through the 1970s, a sewer carried waste oil including PCBs from Mercury Marine's Cedarburg factory to the Ruck Pond above the Columbia Mill Pond.[8][9] The contamination was also carried downstream to the Columbia Mill Pond where it settled into the sediment of the millpond.[10]

Decline[]

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 2017, PCB-contaminated sediment was dredged from the millpond in a large scale effort to clean up Cedar Creek.[9] In 2019 the City of Cedarburg completed significant repairs to the remaining dam and millrace to increase the dam's capacity.

See also[]

Mills on Cedar Creek
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[]

  1. ^ a b c d e "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.
  2. ^ Rappold, Edward (1994). Reflections of old Cedarburg. Cedarburg. ISBN 0-9625597-2-5.
  3. ^ "N60 W5314-6 COLUMBIA RD | Property Record". Wisconsin Historical Society. 2012-01-01. Retrieved 2021-04-21.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ "Dam Inspection - Report". dnr.wi.gov. Retrieved 2021-04-21.
  7. ^ "Image 1 of Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Cedarburg, Ozaukee County, Wisconsin". Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. 20540 USA. Retrieved 2021-04-22.
  8. ^ Writer, Richard Wronski, Tribune Staff. "QUAINT TOWN'S TAINTED CREEK TO GET CLEANUP". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 2021-04-21.
  9. ^ a b "CEDAR CREEK Site Profile". cumulis.epa.gov. Retrieved 2021-04-21.
  10. ^ Wawrzyn, Will (1986). "Distribution of Polychlorinated Biphenyls in Cedar Creek Sediments at Cedarburg, Ozaukee County, Wisconsin". Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Water Resource Management Southeast District.

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.

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