Saratoga Mill Company

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.

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.

Atkin, Elizabeth Vincent. The Early Industries of Waukesha. Landmark. 16 - 23.

"Saratoga Mill Was First Industry in Prairieville; Begun in 1839." The Waukesha Freeman (Waukesha) May 29th, 1951.

"Sawmill and Flour Mill Were Among the First Industries in the Village of Prairieville." The Waukesha Freeman (Waukesha) 1959. Centennial ed. 17.

"To Destroy Saratoga Mill; Landmark." The Waukesha Freeman (Waukesha) February 18th, 1925.

Western Historical Company. The History of Waukesha County, Wisconsin. Waukesha, Wisconsin. Waukesha County Historical Society, 1880.