Mount Vernon Grist Mill
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Springdale Township
Google Maps- 2011
MHAHS 4x6.506
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County Highway G, Mt. Vernon WI
1852
1861
1890
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Operated: 1852 - <>2000
The 1852 plat map [top map] shows the Mt. Vernon mill and mill pond. The Mt. Vernon Mill is in section 33 of Springdale Township at the western edge of Mt. Vernon and is next to Mt. Vernon Creek (a tributary of the Sugar River).
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From "The Story of Primrose 1831-1895"
Description of Mt. Vernon Grist Mill:
"Farmers would come great distances in horse-drawn wagons to have their wheat ground into flour. This often took overnight so a hotel and livery stable were established to accommodate their needs."
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From "Centennial history, Township of Springdale, Dane County, Wisconsin : souvenir booklet, 1848-1948"
A grist mill was built by Philander Byam in 1852, and was operated by John Jones, Jr. Later it was sold to William Koch, a Civil War veteran. It was operated for many years by his sons, Fred and Ferdinand Koch. The mill is now owned by Herbert Hankle."
"On the night of October 24, 1859, local townspeople sick of the antics of the Byams, took the law into their own hands and drove the unsavory Byams from the area."
"At one time the mill was a political and social center where all exchanged their ideas while waiting for this grist. At times as many as twenty teams and wagons would be there waiting for their grist. In 1887 Mr. Hentgen, then the miller, called all the farmers together to clean out the mill race. In the evening a dance was held on the mill. Liquor flowed freely, this resulted in a fight. A husky fellow called Big Holvor Threw several of his contestants into the mill race.
Millers of the past: John Pones [Jones], Isaac Brader, C.W. Karn, Wm. Koch and sons bought the mill in 1897."
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From "The History of the Town of Mount Vernon : sesquicentennial celebration, 1846-1996"
"The current building was built by George Orr. Then Fred and Ferdinand Koch operated it until 1946 when it was bought by Herbert Hankel who also purchased 19 acres above the river bridge so he would have water rights to build a dam to power the mill. Eventually it was converted to electric power.
Fred Stuessy owner of the Stuessy Feed Co. of Belleville WI purchased the mill in 1948. Waldo (Duke) Disch became the manager along with Earl (Poker) Marty. By 1953 the flour milling equipment was replaced with equipment to process cattle feed. The water power which was used to shell corn and elevate the feed was replaced when new road construction destroyed the dam.
Waldo Disch and N.H. Thomsen bought the mill from Stuessy Feed Co. in 1953. Then in 1958 Waldo and Betty Disch bought out N.H. Thomsen to become the sole owners. In 1968 the corn cob bin caught on fire which was extinguished by the Verona and Mt. Horeb Fire departments."
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Description of Mt. Vernon Grist Mill:
"Farmers would come great distances in horse-drawn wagons to have their wheat ground into flour. This often took overnight so a hotel and livery stable were established to accommodate their needs."
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
From "Centennial history, Township of Springdale, Dane County, Wisconsin : souvenir booklet, 1848-1948"
A grist mill was built by Philander Byam in 1852, and was operated by John Jones, Jr. Later it was sold to William Koch, a Civil War veteran. It was operated for many years by his sons, Fred and Ferdinand Koch. The mill is now owned by Herbert Hankle."
"On the night of October 24, 1859, local townspeople sick of the antics of the Byams, took the law into their own hands and drove the unsavory Byams from the area."
"At one time the mill was a political and social center where all exchanged their ideas while waiting for this grist. At times as many as twenty teams and wagons would be there waiting for their grist. In 1887 Mr. Hentgen, then the miller, called all the farmers together to clean out the mill race. In the evening a dance was held on the mill. Liquor flowed freely, this resulted in a fight. A husky fellow called Big Holvor Threw several of his contestants into the mill race.
Millers of the past: John Pones [Jones], Isaac Brader, C.W. Karn, Wm. Koch and sons bought the mill in 1897."
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From "The History of the Town of Mount Vernon : sesquicentennial celebration, 1846-1996"
"The current building was built by George Orr. Then Fred and Ferdinand Koch operated it until 1946 when it was bought by Herbert Hankel who also purchased 19 acres above the river bridge so he would have water rights to build a dam to power the mill. Eventually it was converted to electric power.
Fred Stuessy owner of the Stuessy Feed Co. of Belleville WI purchased the mill in 1948. Waldo (Duke) Disch became the manager along with Earl (Poker) Marty. By 1953 the flour milling equipment was replaced with equipment to process cattle feed. The water power which was used to shell corn and elevate the feed was replaced when new road construction destroyed the dam.
Waldo Disch and N.H. Thomsen bought the mill from Stuessy Feed Co. in 1953. Then in 1958 Waldo and Betty Disch bought out N.H. Thomsen to become the sole owners. In 1968 the corn cob bin caught on fire which was extinguished by the Verona and Mt. Horeb Fire departments."
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Steve and Kris Sherven bought the mill in 1986 and operated by their sons Jeff and Brian. It continued the business as Sher- Feeds and Management Service until that too closed.
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