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.
^ abcde"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. ISBN0-9625597-2-5.
^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.
^"Image 1 of Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Cedarburg, Ozaukee County, Wisconsin". Library of Congress. Retrieved 2021-04-22.
^Writer, Richard Wronski, Tribune Staff. "QUAINT TOWN'S TAINTED CREEK TO GET CLEANUP". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 2021-04-21.
^ ab"CEDAR CREEK Site Profile". cumulis.epa.gov. Retrieved 2021-04-21.
^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. ISBN9780738524313.
January 14, 2023
columbia, mill, topic, this, article, meet, wikipedia, general, notability, guideline, please, help, demonstrate, notability, topic, citing, reliable, secondary, sources, that, independent, topic, provide, significant, coverage, beyond, mere, trivial, mention,. The topic of this article may not meet Wikipedia s general notability guideline Please help to demonstrate the notability of the topic by citing reliable secondary sources that are independent of the topic and provide significant coverage of it beyond a mere trivial mention If notability cannot be shown the article is likely to be merged redirected or deleted Find sources Columbia Mill news newspapers books scholar JSTOR April 2021 Learn how and when to remove this template message 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 Contents 1 History 1 1 Early operation 1 2 20th century 1 3 Decline 2 See also 3 References 4 Further readingHistory EditEarly operation Edit 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 Edit 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 Edit 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 EditMills on Cedar Creek Mill Name Year Built Products Produced NotesConcordia Mill 1853 Grain Dam washed out and removed 1996Excelsior Mill later Cedarburg Wire and Nail Factory 1871 Grain lumber drawn steel hydroelectricityColumbia Mill 1843 Grain DemolishedCedarburg Mill 1844 Grain Rebuilt 1855 with current stone structureHilgen and Wittenberg Woolen Mill 1864 TextilesReferences Edit 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 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 Writer Richard Wronski Tribune Staff QUAINT TOWN S TAINTED CREEK TO GET CLEANUP chicagotribune com Retrieved 2021 04 21 a b CEDAR CREEK Site Profile cumulis epa gov Retrieved 2021 04 21 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 EditButterfield 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 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Columbia Mill amp oldid 1085299393, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
