Institution

Roy L. Kenyon was born in 1878 in Trempealeau, Wisconsin. By 1910 he lived in Waukesha, and that same year he established the R. L. Kenyon company. The company originally produced portable houses and boat tops, and marketed their portable houses as summer homes, property additions, and an easy way to get fresh air. The cost for these homes varied greatly, depending on whether it was a custom build and the size.During the first World War, the Kenyon company produced cots for soldiers, receiving orders of around 175,000 cots at a time. This led to an increase in employment, with the company employing between 250 and 300 people by 1917. Many of these workers were housed by the company, in company provided Kenyon take-down homes. The company is noted to have treated their workers well, and traditionally housed many of their employees, with one writer noting that the women employed by the company were housed in "a large roomy house where a matron sees that the girls have nice sleeping rooms, good board and a good time, and all at actual cost to the company."[1] By caring for their employees, the Kenyon company retained their workers and established a positive reputation.Near the end of the war, the company pivoted to create woven wooden furniture and began branding themselves as Luxfibre company. In 1917 the well known Waukesha photographer Warren S. O'Brien took photos for the company's furniture catalogue. Although the company produced high quality furniture, they struggled to convince consumers to spend their money. In 1932 the company went out of business, leaving behind a legacy of innovation and invention.

Advertisement for the Kenyon Take Down Houses

Established in 1910, the R. L. Kenyon company produced portable housing and woven furniture. During World War I the company also produced cots for soldiers. In 1932 the company, then named the Luxfibre company, went out of business and was liquidated. Although short lived, the Kenyon company ultimately had a profound impact on those who lived in their portable houses, as well as providing an example of a company that maintained high standards and quality.

R. L. Kenyon Company

The Fox River has been a major economic corridor for the City of Waukesha since it's founding. At the turn of the 20th century, it was home to several industrial sites that helped reshape the labor force and economic character of the city. 

Caspar Reichel founded Spring City Foundry in 1913, originally with 20 employees. In 1914 Reichel realized he required additional investment, and Henry E. Blair became one of the stakeholders, as well as president. Blair himself was a former Waukesha mayor, and well respected in the community. In 1927 William J. Grede bought the foundry, already owning the Liberty Foundry in Wauwatosa.In 1924 the Spring City Foundry began offering group insurance to employees, and in 1926 paid vacation was added. This was unusual for the time, as group insurance and time off didn't generally gain traction in the United States until the 1940's and the Great Depression. These offerings were not purely selfless, however. According to a 1970 Freeman article, Grede offered fair treatment in an attempt to keep workers from unionizing.[1] In addition, offering insurance and vacation time kept employees for longer. Some employees stayed at the company for more than 25 years, giving rise to the term "the Quarter Century Club."The Spring City Foundry primarily produced motor parts, originally established to produce parts for the Waukesha Motor Company. By the 1940's its products were in high demand. During WWII, the foundry produced parts for the B-29 planes, as well as military trucks, coast patrol boats, and navy equipment.In 1973 Grede retired, passing on the executive leadership to Burleigh E. Jacobs Jr. Soon afterwards, in 1981, the company announced that Grede foundries would be investing four million dollars into doubling their capacity. However, only a year later this plan fell through and leadership unexpectedly announced that the company would be closing due to recession. Many of the workers blamed poor leadership and the rising global economy for the plant's closing. In 1994 the foundry was finally demolished, making way for additional parking space.Throughout its lengthy history, the Spring City Foundry employed a great number of Waukesha workers, and led the way in their fair treatment. A number of workers became part of the Quarter Century Club, and the foundry remains a major part of Waukesha history.

Established in 1913, Spring City Foundry operated unti l 1982. Spring City Foundry produced gray-iron, primarily creating parts for the nearby Waukesha Motor Company. In 1927 William J. Grede purchased the foundry from its then president, Henry E. Blair. Grede instituted benefits for his employees, and many of them stayed long enough to be part of the Quarter Century Club.

Spring City Foundry

Born in Darlington, Wisconsin in 1893, Livingston A. Thompson moved to Milwaukee in 1896. He established Thompson's Malted Food Company in 1906, and then moved with his company to Waukesha in 1910. Located across the street from the Bethesda Spring, the factory amazed people with its modern construction and visitor-friendly design. A gallery in the building allowed visitors to view the workings of the factory and the process of creating malted food. One newspaper article claimed that the factory would be a location where locals would want to bring their out of town visitors to see.[1]Although now used in candy and milkshakes, producers originally advertised malt as a health food. Thompson's Malted Food Company emphasized this, marketing their products as nutritious for children. This emphasis on health benefitted from the oft-cited health benefits of the Waukesha water that was used to produce the malt. In addition, however, the company also capitalized on the fashionable aspect of malt, producing candy bars and chocolate milk. One of the products that they produced, called Hemo, consisted of milk, cocoa, and beef blood. One woman, Estelle Susan North Snider, remembered working the Hemo Chocolate Bar department, and recalled that the workers had to wear wooden shoes so that the Hemo wouldn't stick to the soles of their shoes.Thompson's Malted Food Company employed a great number of people in the Waukesha area. The creation of the factory corresponded with the expansion of Waukesha industry, and the movement of a large number of people to the area to live and work. One man, Dan Soder, arrived in Waukesha from Greece and found work with Thompson's. He became a candy dipper, and eventually opened his own candy shop on Madison street. Another notable worker is Russell Oakes, who worked for Thompson's for a short period after moving to Waukesha. Advertisements in the Freeman also highlight the opportunity for employment given to women at the time. One ad reads "WANTED - Girl for general factory work. Apply Thompson's Malted Food Co."[2]Thompson's Malted Food Company thrived in the area until its merge with the Borden Company in 1928. Today, Thompson's is fondly remembered and remains a sweet part of Waukesha's history.

Livingston A Thompson established Thompson's Malted Food Company in Waukesha in 1910. The company produced malted food and candy, including a product called Hemo, made of milk, cocoa, and beef blood. These products were advertised as health foods, although also made into candy and chocolate.Thompson's Malted Milk Company ultimately went out of business, but remains a fondly remembered staple of Waukesha.

Thompson Malted Food Company 

A 15 ft. tall sundial, made of concrete, limestone and metal, dominates this small site on the western end of Waukesha's Main Street. Created and installed by Ken Saiki Design in 1998, the functioning sundial overlooks the Fox River. In addition to honoring Waukesha's veterans, the park marks the western end of the city's riverwalk, a mulit-use leisure trail that connects several recreation areas in downtown Waukesha.

Veterans' Park

John Gale Jr. established the Saratoga Mill Company in 1839 when he obtained the land rights from Alonzo R. Cutler. Soon after, the mill construction fell to William A. Barstow, who called the mill Barstow Mill. The mill took over a year to build, due to the scarcity of labor in the area and the difficulty in transporting materials to Waukesha from the east. Once the mill began operation, however, its flour proved to be popular due to its high quality. The mill utilized a smutting machine, the only one in Wisconsin, which separated the grain from the smut, or dirt. This led to a brighter, white flour, preferred over the grey flour more commonly found in the area. The smutting machine provides an example of the growing importance of industrial technology in the area and the growing need for workers who understood the new machinery.The Saratoga Mill's creation gave the area an economic boost, and created the basis for the industrialization of this section of the Fox River. Waukesha, or Prairieville as it was called at that time, began to experience a period of rapid growth after the mill's construction as the mill soon gained a reputation as the biggest and best in the area.In 1850 the mill was sold to Thomas Williams, and again in 1855 to R. N. Kimball. Kimball called the mill the Forest City Mill, and about seven men worked there. Kimball owned the mill until 1876, when Benjamin Boorman bought it. By the time that Boorman obtained the mill, the Springs Era had begun in Waukesha. People came from around the country to partake in the healing powers of the Waukesha springs, giving Waukesha the nickname the "Saratoga of the West." Boorman took inspiration from that nickname and renamed it Saratoga Mill. The Gutheil family then bought the mill, and owned it from 1905 to 1920. In 1925 the Northwestern Wrecking Company purchased the mill and demolished it, making way for new industries in the area.

The Saratoga Mill is considered one of the first industries in Waukesha, established in 1839 by John Gale Jr. and later associated with William A. Barstow. The mill no longer stands, it was demolished in 1925. None the less The Saratoga Mill ushered in a period of rapid growth in the area, and provides a glimpse into the importance of industry in Waukesha's history.

Saratoga Mill Company

According to newspaper records The Waukesha Grain and Produce Company came into existence around 1893. At this time the president of the Waukesha Grain and Produce Company was Samuel Albert Fox, born in England in 1840. Fox immigrated to the United States around 1860, and married Ann Eliza Smart, related to Isaac Smart, one of the first pioneers of Waukesha. In 1904 the company was passed to James Brimmer, who ran the company along with Frank Smart. It was while Smart and Brimmer were in charge of the company that a fire broke out. In the February of 1908, a fire consumed the grain elevator at the company. Firefighters struggled to put out the fire, as the hydrant was frozen, but were eventually able to extinguish it, saving the elevator and property at the Hoag Grain Company in the process. The summer of 1909, the Waukesha Grain and Produce Company rebuilt, raising a warehouse behind their offices and installing equipment to help with the sorting and cleaning of grains.As the popularity of dairy farming increased, both the Waukesha Grain and Produce Company and the Hoag Grain Company advertised their feed grains to local farmers. Wisconsin wheat farmers struggled to compete with outputs in Iowa and Minnesota, and grain feed soon became a more profitable industry. This development marks the decline of wheat mills in the area, such as the Saratoga Mill, demolished in 1925. By 1900 about 90% of agricultural acreage in Wisconsin contained feed crops.While there is little concrete information about the Waukesha Grain and Produce Company or the Hoag and Rankin Grain Company, they remain as prime examples of the industries of the time. In particular, the emphasis on producing feed grain reflects the growing importance of dairy in Wisconsin, as well as the diminishing popularity of wheat.

At one time Waukesha housed five different flour and feed mills. These included the Waukesha Grain and Produce Company, as well as the Hoag &amp; Rankin Grain Company. Although wheat was originally the grain of choice in Southern Wisconsin, it soon changed to feed grains as the dairy industry began to boom. The Waukesha Grain Company specialized in this ground feed, and advertised mainly to local farmers.

Waukesha Grain and Produce Company

George H. Wilbur was born in 1839, in New York. In 1861 he enlisted in the army and served in the Civil War, fighting in several battles including the battle of Shiloh. Wilbur then entered the lumber business as a bookkeeper, eventually becoming a partner and manager at T.H. Judd &amp; Co. The self-named Wilbur Lumber Company later incorporated that company. When Wilbur passed away in 1922 he left the company to his son, Ross H. Wilbur, who ran the company until his death in 1947. The company then passed on to Hawley W. Wilbur, one of George's sons and a former mayor of Waukesha.The Wilbur Lumber Company employed people from many backgrounds and skill sets. Stephen Bollogh, for example, immigrated from Austria settling first in St. Louis, Missouri before relocated to Waukesha. Bollogh lived on Hartwell Avenue with his wife and children, and worked at the Wilbur Lumber Company. Bollogh died in 1941 at the age of 82, and is buried in the St. Joseph cemetery. Little is recorded about Mr. Bollogh, but other individuals are highly documented. Martin F. White, for example, is known to have worked as a staff architect for the Wilbur Lumber company, and eventually became assistant treasurer. He was instrumental in the design and construction of Waukesha's fourth street water reservoir, as well as designing the home of Hawley W. Wilbur. White spent fifty years working for the Wilbur Lumber Company, and eventually passed away in 1975 at his home in Wauwatosa.The lumber company was prosperous but not without challenging times. In 1947 a three year old girl, Sandra Hannon, told her grandfather that she saw a fire. The grandfather called the fire department, and the firefighters soon arrived at the Wilbur Lumber Company. The lumber company's silo had caught fire, and while the concrete structure remained intact the fire did cause around $20,000 at the time in damages. As an interesting side note, the silo originally belonged to the Waukesha Canning Company and previously contained the peas for canning.In 1955 the Wilbur Lumber Company was knocked down to make room for the Waukesha State Bank, and in 1962 the lumber company closed their jobbing department. Morgan Sash and Door Company, based in Broadview, Illinois, purchased the company, and while some of the staff were transferred, other employees were laid off. Ultimately the Wilbur Lumber Company went out of business in 1970, leaving behind a decades-long legacy of industry in Waukesha.

George H. Wilbur established The Wilbur Lumber Company in 1895, and ran it until his death in 1922. At one time the company supplied 500 dealers, and was a major feature of the industrialized Fox River corridor. In the 1950's some of the buildings on the site were knocked down to make way for other structures, and in 1970 the company officially went out of business. The Wilbur Lumber Company lives on in the memories and recollections of Waukesha residents.

Wilbur Lumber Company

Plans for opening a gas plant in Waukesha existed as early as 1881. However, due to delays, the plant didn't open until 1886. The original plant sat on land purchased from Carl and Emily Bergeler, and was established as the Waukesha American Gas company. Soon afterwards, however, it became obvious that electricity would be a threat to the gas industry. The Waukesha American Gas Company added language in their articles of incorporation to allow for the company to also deal in electricity.In 1882, the first electric plant in the United States opened in Appleton, Wisconsin, beating out a plant built in New York. This establishment of electricity paved the way for the Waukesha American Gas Company to build their own electric plant, which they did in 1890. In 1892 the electric company, called the Waukesha Electric Light Company, moved to be closer to the gas plant. This move laid the foundation for their combination, which happened when the American Gas Company of Philadelphia bought out the plants. Reorganized in 1903 as the Waukesha Gas and Electric company, the utility company began serving a wider audience. At their head was Judge F. H. Putney, who served as president of the company, and T. W. Haight as secretary. Both respected members of society, Putney and Haight ran the company until 1917 when it passed to George Boteler.1908 was an important milestone for Waukesha Gas and Electric, as the plant provided electricity for 24 hours for the first time ever. Previously, electricity would only be provided during specific times of day, such as when movies were showing at the movie theater. Electricity became a staple of society. In order to better serve Waukesha, the company began work on a new power plant in 1909.In 1922, due to railroad labor strikes, coal became almost impossible to find. On July 1st, 400,000 railroad shopmen went on strike, protesting cuts in their wages. This shut down several railroads and prevented the Waukesha Gas and Electric Company from acquiring any coal. A 1922 Freeman article outlines the desperation of Boteler in finding coal, and informs the public that the company only has enough fuel to provide electricity for 20 days. Despite the panic, however, the strike soon ended, and the company carried on.In 1923 the company again changed hands, with holdings being sold to the Wisconsin Gas and Electric Company. In 1928 the company stopped producing gas, as it began to be piped in from Racine. Although now absorbed into We Energies, the Waukesha Gas and Electric Company provides a snapshot into American history, giving us a view of the intersection of technology and labor history.

The Waukesha Gas and Electric company was originally organized in 1886 as a gas company. Soon, however, electricity won out and the company pivoted to serve the new demand. The company changed hands several times, ultimately being absorbed into what would become We Energies. Overall, the Waukesha Gas and Electric Company represents a turning point in both Wisconsin and American history.

Waukesha Gas and Electric

Born in Illinois in 1871, Frank T. Stare went to school at the University of Illinois before leaving school to work in the canning business with his father. Eventually he opened his own canning plant in Mukwonago for a year, and then in Kewaunee for another year, before finally moving the canning operation to Waukesha. He remained as superintendent there until 1903, when he became president of the company.The Waukesha Canning Company processed thousands of can of peas daily a staple crop by the early 1900's. Other canned products included beans, corn, tomatoes, and pumpkins. The company employed approximately 100 individuals year round, but that number could swell to 600 during the buys season. In 1902, the plant needed additional workers, and recruited 85 African American laborers from Chicago to help in the factory and in the pea fields. However, only a month after they arrived, the company dismissed them, after George Parker- one of the laborers -was arrested in Waukesha on allegations of assault. The charges were dismissed a week later whe n the woman who alleged the assault could not identify him in court. Although an unfortunate example, this movement of workers demonstrates the fluidity of labor in the early 20th century.The Waukesha Canning Company proved successful, and Stare worked on expanding his operation to different cities. By 1907 he owned operations in Barron, Rice Lake, Sturgeon Bay, and Frankfort (Indiana). All of these locations primarily processed peas, and soon the Waukesha Canning Company was known as the number one producer of canned peas in the country. Peas were a relatively new crop for Wisconsin, but they found a captive consumer base, and soon existed as the second most important cash crop in the nation. The Waukesha Canning Company peas had the advertised added benefit of being made with Springs water, adding to their popularity and perceived quality.Unfortunately for Stare, by 1910 the company failed and fell into receivership on May 19, 1910. The company could not even purchase the cans needed to produce its processed peas, and by 1911 it was determined that the factory would not survive, as the creditors would not allow the plant to operate. In the summer of 1911 the factory stood idle, and in 1912 the Wilbur Lumber Company purchased a large part of the Waukesha Canning Company's land, including the massive silo designed to store the peas. Although the Waukesha Canning Company ultimately closed its doors, Wisconsin's production of processed vegetables continues stronger than ever and Wisconsin has led the nation in the production of processed vegetables since the early 20th century.

The Waukesha Canning Company was one of several canning plants owned and managed by Frank T. Stare, and at its height produced over 10,000 cans daily. It marked the development of processed vegetable production in Wisconsin, and reflected the growing industrialization of the area. Although the canning company fell into receivership in 1910, it had a profound impact on Waukesha industry and development.

Waukesha Canning Company

The Wisconsin Butter and Cheese company began sometime in the early to mid 1890's, appearing on an 1895 map of the area. There is little information about who exactly worked at or ran the company, although it is known that George D. Puffer functioned as the secretary-treasurer at one point.In 1908 the Wisconsin Butter and Cheese Company introduced pasteurization as a new process. This followed the trend of pasteurization, which first influenced dairy production in the late 1800's. Considered a revolutionary process, the Wisconsin Butter and Cheese Company heavily advertised it. The company purchased their pasteurization machine at a dairy show held at the Coliseum in Chicago, and it had the capacity to process 3000 LBs of milk per hour.Although little is known about the individuals involved with the company, one name does stand out. George B. Harris, born in 1893, worked as a milk expert and secretary. In 1915 he joined the board of control, and eventually became president of the board as well as president of the Wisconsin Butter and Cheese Company.In 1917 the Harris Dairy Products Company replaced the Wisconsin Butter and Cheese Company, building a brand new, state of the art facility on the location of the former Wisconsin Butter and Cheese Company storage building. It was a two story building, and produced ice cream as well as other dairy products. The Harris company advertised the sanitary conditions of the building, as well as the new technology used to produce their products. However, on June 22, 1917, almost six inches of rain fell, destroying the retaining walls built by the dairy company and the Wilbur Lumber Company. It is unknown if this contributed to the downfall of the company, but as of 1921 the company is not listed in any directories.During its existence, the Wisconsin Butter and Cheese Company, as well as the Harris Dairy Products Company, led the way in technological advances and sanitary production. Their stories reflect the changing practices surrounding dairy in the 1800's and early 1900's, as well as the growing importance of dairy in Wisconsin's economy.

Founded sometime between 1890 and 1895, the Wisconsin Butter and Cheese Company reflects the growing importance of dairy in Wisconsin, and provides an example of the new technology available to producers. The Wisconsin Butter and Cheese company went out of business around 1920, after being adopted by the Harris Dairy Product Company. Despite this, it remains a lasting legacy to the importance of dairy production in Waukesha and in Wisconsin in general.

Fox River Industrial Corridor

R. L. Kenyon Company

Introduction

Images

Backstory and Context

Sources