Blueprints for the Renovation of the History Center Preliminary -- July 2009
EARLY HISTORY
Built in 1859
The Island Woolen Mill in Baraboo
An early historian declared the Island Woolen Mill "one of the heaviest manufacturing houses in the state."The original wool mill was built in 1859, near the "island" created by the water raceway cut across the upper oxbow peninsula.For most of its existence the McFettridge family, who nurtured the business until it grew to be one of the largest textile mills west of Philadelphia, owned it. By World War I, the mill was at its peak and had grown from a simple structure to a vast complex of buildings.
Operated for more than 80 years (1863-1949), the Island Woolen Mill was, at one time, the largest employer in the Baraboo area. It eventually occupied the county's largest building in the 1920's. A producer of diverse goods, the mill carded, spun, and loomed material for clothing, automobile upholstery, and during World War II, overcoat material for the army. After 1949, the mill stood vacant and eventually burned in 1963.
Click here to see a Slide Show of the Woolen Mill History
Production Line
Fire in 1963
A New Era Begins
Ruins ca. 1980
Historical Society Gets New Building Four-year struggle ends in success
On December 19th, 2006, the Sauk County Historical Society acquired the old Island Woolen Mill administration building, located on Second Avenue near the Baraboo River on the east end of Attridge Park, from the city of Baraboo for $1. This historic building is set to become the future home of the Sauk County History Center. Though extensive renovation is needed before this can happen, it is hoped that by the fall of 2008 the building will be open to the public. The lower level of the building will become museum space. The upper level will provide needed storage space for the Society. The main level will become a research library and reading room where individuals will be able to access information about their families, homesteads, and the county in general. Plans are for the current home of the Sauk County Historical Society, the Van Orden Mansion located on Fourth Avenue, to remain with the Society but be converted to a house museum highlighting life in Baraboo during the early 1900s.
The ambitious project to acquire the Old Woolen Mill Building began in the summer of 2002 when Carol Sorg, then a board member of the Sauk County Historical Society, called Tim O’Keefe, Director of the City of Baraboo Parks and Rec. Department, inquiring about the city’s future use of the building. As the last remaining building of what was once the largest woolen factory east of Philadelphia, and a prime example of the work of the notable Madison Architects Claude and Stark, Carol well understood its historic value. For years the city had used the lower level of the building as a maintenance shop. But with the completion of a new facility on the south side of town, the old building was deemed no longer necessary and was abandoned.
Discussions surrounding the old woolen mill building were placed on the side until the fall of 2004. With 60 years of archives under its roof, the Van Orden Mansion was filled with county history from the basement to the third floor. After careful consideration, SCHS Board of Directors at its January 2005 meeting decided to pursue the process of acquiring the old woolen mill building. Peter Shrake, Executive Director of the Society, was given permission to state formal interest in what was now informally called “The Attridge Building.” The building however, clearly needed extensive renovations: a new roof, all new windows, a new heating/air-conditioning system, new electrical wiring, resealing of the foundation, and brickwork tuck pointed—a daunting task, to say the least.
Woolen Mill Office ca. 1980
As it looked in 2004
Side View ca. 1980
A careful study revealed that, though aged, the building remained as solid as the day it was built, as well as environmentally safe. With that in mind, the Society pursued a very careful analysis of the financial obligations and fund raising needs required, should the building be purchased from the city. It also approached the county for a grant to help with the initial restoration of the building. The Sauk County Historical Society holds county documents that predate the Civil War, with more history being made every day. To have a place for these documents to be easily accessed by the public seemed like a project that would benefit the community and county government. With that in mind, a grant of $100,000 was placed in the county budget for the initial restoration phase of the “Attridge Building,” available only if the Society, in fact, purchased the building.
With many in agreement that the sale would be in the best interests of the city and the county, things progressed smoothly that spring. Everything was moving toward the grand finale in May 2006 when the Baraboo City Council would vote to approve the deal. Then the proverbial “other shoe” dropped. An old document was discovered in a forgotten file noting that Attridge Park was acquired and restored in part through funds from the federal Land Water and Conservation Act (LAWCON). Federal money was involved, and federal approval was now required to sell the building. With that understanding, the Baraboo City Council approved the sale of the Attridge Building to the Society for $1 pending the resolution of the requirements of LAWCON. Approval of the sale would now require the conversion of additional parkland on the part of the city of Baraboo to offset the land lost to the park by the sale of the building. This conversion would require the approval by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, as well as the National Park Service as part of the federal Department of Interior. Moreover, LAWCON required an in-kind conversion, not at the sale price of $1, but at the appraised value of the old woolen mill building. The bright lights of the project dimmed considerably with this news.
Yet, the Society went forward with great tenacity, knowing how valuable the building was to the history of Baraboo, as well as how beneficial it would be to the county in whole as a history center. Society board member Bev Vaillancourt sent emails to the offices of state representative Sheryl Albers and Congressman Ron Kind explaining the project and asking for help. Each responded immediately with further contacts at the state and federal level. While Sheryl Albers worked with the DNR for a resolution to the problem, Congressman Kind contacted the office of Tammy Baldwin to coordinate efforts at the federal level. Meanwhile Society President Paul Wolter and Executive Director Peter Shrake worked closely with city attorney Mark Reitz to facilitate the lengthy process required by the city to comply with LAWCON. While at a conference in Washington, D.C., Bev Vaillancourt took the opportunity to visit the federal offices of Representatives Ron Kind and Tammy Baldwin and Senators Russ Feingold and Herb Kohl, with pictures in hand of the project, to garner further support. Everyone agreed on the value of the project, everyone shook their heads in disbelief at how the project has been stalled by LAWCON, and all agreed to help see the project through. Back in Wisconsin, Sheryl Albers was garnering further support from other state legislators. Official letters and calls abounded. The ball was rolling and gathering speed. Four months of uncertainty followed.
Waterproofing Foundation 2007
The Original Steps are Revealed 2007
We get the Deed 2006
Then, miracles of miracles, on Friday December 8 the DNR reported that the National Park Service had given its approval for a conversion of land already owned by the city in return for the value of the old woolen mill building. Yet, joy was short lived when it further stated that before the sale could take place a determination was needed on the building’s historic value. This required the involvement of the Wisconsin Historical Society/Department of Historic Preservation to determine if the building would be eligible for the National Register of Historic Places and if so, protective convanances had to be placed on the property. Paul Wolter traveled the next day to Madison, with documents in hand, to meet with the Wisconsin Historic Society, pressing officials there on the need to move quickly on the project in order for the Society to secure the county grant. Once again, an immediate understanding of the worth of the project brought results. The Wisconsin Historical Society deemed the building should be placed on the National Register of Historic Places, the National Park Service was satisfied, and the sale was given final approval. From the hard work of every member of the Society’s Board of Directors, to the work of Executive Director Peter Shrake, to city and county officials, every participant had a key role in the success of the project. Special recognition must be extended to the support of our state and federal legislators who hastened the bureaucratic process that, without their intervention and coordination, certainly would have been in doubt. Unfortunately, Carol Sorg, who would have marveled at the process, never lived to see the conclusion of the project she started. Yet, the final step in this long process surely would have given her satisfaction. The week the Society acquired the deed the Board of Directors discarded the clumsy name “Attridge building,” for the new title “The Sauk County History Center”. The renaming of the building ended one project and began another. The Sauk County Historical Society now faces the exciting task of building a new museum and library. Raising an additional $200,000 to renovate the building properly will be quite the endeavor. Yet, with sufficient and continued community financial and volunteer support, the building will enter its second century showcasing the history of Sauk County. Any one interested in donating funds or time to this project, please call the Sauk County Historical Society at 356-1001, or use our PayPal account by clicking the "Donate" button below.
Work has begun, once again, to prepare the History Center building for reconstructing the interior. If you would like to contribute sweat equity or monetarily to help complete this project, please let us know. Call the museum at 608-356-1001.
Paul Wolter knocking down a wall - Sep. 2009
Bev Vaillancourt clearing debris - Sep. 2009
New Flag Pole Dedicated at History Center
About 30 people were in attendance on Veteran’s Day, November 11, 2009, to help the Sauk County Historical Society dedicate its new flagpole at the History Center. Society President, Paul Wolter welcomed those present, and thanked the anonymous persons who donated the flagpole, foundation, and erection of the pole. The Baraboo Veteran’s Honor Guard officiated during the flag-raising ceremony, after which President Wolter led the group in the Pledge Allegiance. The new flag and pole are a welcomed addition to the History Center site.
