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103 South Second - 107 South Second (east side)
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103 South Second (Mt. Horeb Co-op Cheese Factory)
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103 South Second Street
This brick veneered NeoClassical Revival building was constructed in 1933 to house the Mount Horeb Co-operative Cheese Factory, a part of the Mount Horeb Co-operative Creamery Company (Village of Mount Horeb Tax Rolls, Mount Horeb Presettlement to 1986, p. 23). The building is a good and intact example of 1930s NeoClassical Revival and features a three-part front facade with brick quoining and decorative belt courses, a stone parapet, and a round-arched entrance. In 1879 the Mount Horeb Creamery Association was formed, and located in a building (demolished) on the west side of what is now the 300-block of North Eighth Street. The creamery moved into the basement of the Dahle Building at 201-203 East Main Street in the late 1880s (Wisconsin State Gazetteer and Business Directory). The old creamery building was remodeled in 1897, and the creamery moved back in. In 1901, the business incorporated as the Mount Horeb Co-operative Creamery and Cheese Company (Mount Horeb Presettlement to 1986, p. 37). At that time, James Reilly was president of the company, and Lewis Eggum was secretary and treasurer. Otto Olson was the company's buttermaker from 1903 until 1911, when he opened a restaurant at 128 East Main Street (extant, which see). The building at 105 South Second Street was built for the company in 1916. Milk, butter and ice cream were all produced in the building at 105 South Second Street. The building at 103 South Second Street was erected for the manufacture of Swiss cheese in 1933. Ryser Brothers, a larger company based in Chicago but with roots in Blue Mounds, bought the Mount Horeb Co-operative Creamery and Cheese Company in 1945. They used both former Mount Horeb Co-operative buildings in their production of Swiss cheese (Mount Horeb Presettlement to 1986, pp. 37-38). This property was owned Mount Horeb Co-operative Creamery and Cheese Company from 1915 until 1945, by Ryser Brothers from 1945 until at least 1989, and by Propsom in 1996 (Village of Mount Horeb Tax Rolls). The two Mount Horeb Co-operative Creamery and Cheese Company buildings are eligible together for designation as a Mount Horeb Historic Site, and for listing on the National Register for their association with the locally-important dairy industry. They are also contributing elements in the potential National Register Main Street Historic District and in the potential locally-designated Main Street Historic District.


More information on our cheese factories- link.

105 South Second(Mt. Horeb Co-op Creamery)
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105 South Second Street
This brick Craftsman Building was erected for the Mount Horeb Co-operative Creamery Company in 1916 (datestone). The building retains good integrity, and displays decorative brickwork including pilasters with implied capitals. In 1879, the Mount Horeb Creamery Association was formed, and located in a building (demolished) on the west side of what is now the 300-block of North Eighth Street. The creamery relocated to the basement of the Dahle and Son General Store at 201-03 East Main Street circa 1887, and the O.B. Pickard broom factory was located in the old creamery building from 1894 until about 1896 (Wisconsin State Gazetteer and Business Directory). The Creamery building was remodeled circa 1897, and the creamery moved back into the old building. The Mount Horeb Co-operative Creamery and Cheese Company was incorporated in 1901 (Mount Horeb Presettlement to 1986, p. 37). At that time, James Reilly was president of the company, and Lewis Eggum was secretary and treasurer. Otto Olson was the company's buttermaker from 1903 until 1911, when he opened a restaurant at 128 East Main Street (extant, which see). The building at 105 South Second Street was built for the company in 1916. Milk, butter, and ice cream were all produced in this building. Previously on the site, Herman B. Dahle, one of the principals in the Dahle General Store, has erected an ice house, where he stored butter and eggs that he bought from farms surrounding Mount Horeb. The ice house burned in 1912 (Mount Horeb Presettlement to 1986, p. 23), and was replaced with the existing building in 1916. Ryser Brothers, a larger company based in Chicago but with roots in Blue Mounds, bought the Mount Horeb Co-operative Creamery and Cheese Company in 1945. They used both former Mount Horeb Co-operative buildings in their production of Swiss cheese (Mount Horeb Presettlement to 1986, pp. 37-38). This property was owned by the Mount Horeb Co-operative Creamery and Cheese Company from 1915 until 1945, by Ryser Brothers from 1945 until 1993, and by Propsom in 1996 (Village of Mount Horeb Tax Rolls). The two Mount Horeb Co-operative Creamery and Cheese Company building are eligible together for designation as a Mount Horeb Historic Site, and for listing on the National Register for their association with the locally-important dairy industry. They are also contributing elements in the Potential National Register Main Street Historic District and in the potential locally-designated Main Street Historic District.


More information on our cheese factories- link.

107 South Second (Mt. Horeb Lumber Company)
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107 South Second Street
There are three buildings on this site, all of them probably built for the Mount Horeb Lumber Company. Two of the buildings, the concrete block structure at the south end of the property, and the large frame building just north of it, were probably built when the Mount Horeb Lumber Company bought the property from the Kleven Brothers, circa 1912 (Wisconsin State Gazetteer and Business Directory). Both are astylistic utilitarian buildings and have been changed over time. The eastern one-third of the concrete block building was originally enclosed; while the western two-thirds was covered but not enclosed until some time after 1928 (Sanborn-Perris Map of Mount Horeb). The frame building had a tall, enclosed central section, with a covered section on either side. The side sections were enclosed some time after 1928 (Sanborn-Perris Map of Mount Horeb). Both buildings were used for lumber storage. The office building, which is located on the northwest corner of the site, was erected in 1945 (Village of Mount Horeb Tax Rolls). The steeply-pitched multi-gabled roofs suggest the influence of the Tudor Revival style. The integrity of the building is only fair; it has been re-sided with various materials, and some window openings have been changed. Thomas K. Syverud was the manager of the Mount Horeb Lumber Company from its inception, circa 1912, until retiring circa 1925. In 1928, Casper Haag was the manager (Wisconsin State Gazetteer and Business Directory). The Mount Horeb Lumber Company was owned by C.C. Collins Lumber Company of Madison owned the property from at least 1930 until 1934. In 1934, two Mount Horeb men, Ben Mavis and Carl Link, bought it. In 1947, Eric Skinrud bought out Carl Link. In 1969, a group from Madison bought the company. The Mount Horeb Lumber Company closed in 1981(Mount Horeb Presettlement to 1986, p. 24). The Kleven Brothers (Knut and Gilbert) lumber yard was previously located on this site. They also had a saw mill just south of this property at 119 South First Street (demolished). The Kleven Brothers operated the lumber yard from at least 1894 until circa 1912. Around 1910, the Klevens began manufacturing wooden silos and tanks on the saw mill property. The Wisconsin Silo and Tank Company was in business from 1910 until at least 1928 (Wisconsin State Gazetteer and Business Directory). The Kleven Brothers also worked as contractors. The Mount Horeb Lumber Company is not individually eligible for historic designation.

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For permission to use these images please call 608.437.6486 or email mthorebmuseum@mhtc.net