Wild Rose Restoring Old Mill

 

Wild Rose Mill.  Photo by Jerry Apps

Every old building has a story to tell.  The old mill at Wild Rose is one of them.  Francis Strong built

 the mill in 1873 and it served farmers in the Wild Rose area for many years.  In 1904 Ed Hoaglin re-

developed the mill, including expanding the size of the millpond and adding a steel flume and

 penstock. The mill was always water-powered.

            In 1908, a water-powered generator was added and the village of Wild Rose had electricity, decades before those living on the nearby farms had electric power.  For years, the mill was a social center for farmers who waited for their grist to be ground. As a kid, I often rode with my father to the mill, joining the farmers who sat in the little mill office, which was heated by a wood stove.  It was here where I learned how the crops, the corn and the oats and the alfalfa in the community were doing.  It was here where I heard stories—so many stories.  Stories of winters past, which were always more fierce than the current one. “You throw a pail of water out of the house and it freezes before it hits the ground.”  Summers so hot “You could fry an egg on a flat stone.”

            Today the old mill has closed, but the memories remain.  The village of Wild Rose now owns the building and they are raising money to restore it.  If you are interested in donating to “The Wild Rose Milling Company Restoration Project,” send your check to:

            Village Clerk, Village of Wild Rose, PO Box 292

            Wild Rose, Wisconsin 54984

            I’ve sent in my check.

THE OLD TIMER SAYS: When you tear down an old building, you lose a piece of history.

 

WHERE TO BUY MY BOOKS:

To purchase my books, go to your local bookstore, order online from bookshop.org, or purchase from the Friends of the Patterson Memorial Library in Wild Rose—a fundraiser for them. Phone: 920-622-3835 for prices and ordering.
Patterson Memorial Library
500 Division Street
Wild Rose, WI 54984
barnard@wildroselibrary.
www.wildroselibrary.org
If you live in the western part of the state, stop at Ruth’s home town, Westby and visit Dregne’s.  and look at their great selection of my books, including my new ones, or order a book by calling them at 1-877-634-4414. They will be happy to help you.