Mazomanie in Dane County, Wisconsin — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Lynch and Walker Flouring Mill
1857-1900
Photographed By Paul Fehrenbach, September 24, 2012
1. Lynch and Walker Flouring Mill Marker
Inscription.
Lynch and Walker Flouring Mill.
Has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places by the United States Department of the Interior , , , , , , , , , , . In 1857 George Lynch and George Walker, both of Milwaukee, constructed a flouring mill west of the millpond named Lake Marion. It was powered first by an iron waterwheel, sixteen feet in diameter, and later by smaller water turbines. The mill manufactured flour and offered custom milling.
In 1865 William Thompson bought the mill and expanded the operation into a three-story building with 'six-run-of-stone' employing twenty men. Edward Sanderson, a Milwaukee miller, made further improvements in 1876 and increased the capacity to 'eight-run-of-stone.' A group of local businessmen purchased the mill and, in 1885, installed a dynamo to generate electricity for lighting the downtown business district. Between 1888 and 1892 the mill also provided pressurized water to downtown mains for fire protection.
On January 1, 1900, the mill burned, possibly from incendiary origin. Henry Kirch purchased the ruins and rebuilt, using the remnant walls of the 1857 structure. His son, Nicholas, and later his son-in-law, Guy Dunlap, operated the mill until 1946. Then Harold Rochon, a son-in-law of Dunlap, took over. In all, the Kirch family ran the mill for sixty-six years.
After a flood destroyed the Lake Marion dam in March 1950, the use of water turbines was discontinued and the mill was converted to electric motor operation. In 1995 a restoration effort was completed and the mill's interior was remodeled for use as a restaurant, bakery, and gift shop.
, , , , , , , , , , [Photo captions, from top, read] Lynch and Walker Mill - about 1876
Lynch and Walker Mill - about 1905
Plat of Mazomanie - 1873.
Has been placed on the
National Register
of Historic Places
by the United States
Department of the Interior
——————————
In 1857 George Lynch and George Walker, both of Milwaukee, constructed a flouring mill west of the millpond named Lake Marion. It was powered first by an iron waterwheel, sixteen feet in diameter, and later by smaller water turbines. The mill manufactured flour and offered custom milling.
In 1865 William Thompson bought the mill and expanded the operation into a three-story building with 'six-run-of-stone' employing twenty men. Edward Sanderson, a Milwaukee miller, made further improvements in 1876 and increased the capacity to 'eight-run-of-stone.' A group of local businessmen purchased the mill and, in 1885, installed a dynamo to generate electricity for lighting the downtown business district. Between 1888 and 1892 the mill also provided pressurized water to downtown mains for fire protection.
On January 1, 1900, the mill burned, possibly from incendiary origin. Henry Kirch purchased the ruins and rebuilt, using the remnant walls of the 1857 structure. His son, Nicholas, and later his son-in-law, Guy Dunlap, operated the mill until 1946. Then Harold Rochon, a son-in-law of Dunlap, took over. In all, the
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Kirch family ran the mill for sixty-six years.
After a flood destroyed the Lake Marion dam in March 1950, the use of water turbines was discontinued and the mill was converted to electric motor operation. In 1995 a restoration effort was completed and the mill's interior was remodeled for use as a restaurant, bakery, and gift shop.
—————————— [Photo captions, from top, read]
Lynch and Walker Mill - about 1876
Lynch and Walker Mill - about 1905
Plat of Mazomanie - 1873
Erected by United States Department of the Interior.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Buildings. A significant historical year for this entry is 1857.
Location. 43° 10.49′ N, 89° 47.539′ W. Marker is in Mazomanie, Wisconsin, in Dane County. Marker can be reached from Cramer Street north of East High Street, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 114 Cramer Street, Mazomanie WI 53560, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Photographed By Paul Fehrenbach, September 24, 2012
3. Lynch and Walker Flouring Mill
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., October 8, 2015
4. Lynch and Walker Flouring Mill Marker
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., October 8, 2015
5. Lynch and Walker Flouring Mill Marker Photos
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., October 8, 2015
6. Lynch and Walker Flouring Mill and Marker Kiosk
Near the entrance to the mill grounds
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., October 8, 2015
7. Lynch and Walker Flouring Mill
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., October 8, 2015
8. Lynch and Walker Flouring Mill
View from the other side of the tracks
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., October 8, 2015
9. The Old Feed Mill Sign
Credits. This page was last revised on August 10, 2021. It was originally submitted on November 5, 2012, by Paul Fehrenbach of Germantown, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 670 times since then and 45 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on November 5, 2012, by Paul Fehrenbach of Germantown, Wisconsin. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. submitted on October 30, 2015, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
