Dells Mill History & Clark Family

The mill is 150 years old in 2014

Article One found HERE ...

The Colorful Dells Mill

The Dells Mill and Museum near Augusta Wisconsin

Tourist can expect an interesting visit to the Dells Mill and Museum in Augusta Wisconsin. The mill was built in 1864 and is on the American History Registry of Historic Places

From a magazine article by R.K. Martinson

The colorful Dells Mill, painted red, has now been in Clark family ownership through four generations. Gus Clark and his mother, Mrs. Bessie Clark, restored it 11 years ago and they now operate it as a museum. They still put it to its original use sometimes to grind whole wheat flour which they sell to tourists. In springtime they clean seed oats for local farmers.

They take pride in the fact that the mill has been entered in the National Register of Historic Places. In addition to the mill, the property once housed a small community with a school, boarding house and stables, although those structures are gone now.

”Years ago,” Gus told me, “the mill was a center of activity. Farmers came to have their grain ground. Travelers paused for food and lodging and immigrants stopped by to get information.”

For the farmer and his family the mill was more than a place of business. It also supplied a pleasant diversion from backbreaking labor. A trip to the mill was usually an all-day affair starting at dawn and ending well after dark. Some farmers from outlying communities stayed overnight at the boarding house.  A journey to the mill was also a recreational occasion. Often farmers fished in the mill pond and enjoyed a picnic lunch beside it. ”

In 1880 there were more than a thousand mills in Wisconsin,” Gus said. ”By 1900, due to the large wheat production in the state, milling had become Wisconsin’s second largest industry.” But those big wheat harvests depleted the soil and crops began to decline. It wasn’t long until many of the flour mills had been abandoned or were converted to grinding feed. The Dells Milling Company is one of the few of those old mills still standing.

Although there is a large water wheel at the side, the mill has long been powered by a turbine wheel. A larger one was installed in 1955. The main drive gear, equipped with wooden teeth, has lasted through more than a century of use. The teeth, made of hard maple, last from 8 to 10 years under normal usage. Over 3,000 feet of belting and 175 pulleys operate the milling apparatus. The mill also has a flour roller mill – a device which revolutionized the flour industry back in 1877.

Gus Clark has a keen interest in American history as well as in the history of his mill. All this is evident as he conducts his tours and demonstrates for visitors how the machinery works.

Tourists can expect to find him wearing a Civil War Union Army uniform. He has even trimmedDells Mill and Dells Mill Museum Augusta Wisconsin his dark beard in the style of that period. Some years ago he was featured on the front pages of Midwestern newspapers when he saddled up his horse, Clementine, and rode all the way from Augusta to Galena, Ill., to take part in a celebration honoring the memory of General Ulysses S. Grant.

Teachers like to bring school children to the mills for tours, especially in springtime. Gus gladly entertains them with such songs as ”Jimmy Crack Corn” and ”Listen to the Mocking Bird,” accompanying himself on his ” git-fiddle,” a home-made instrument which seems to be a cross between a mandolin and a guitar. He introduces the youngsters to Clementine and highlights his routine by demonstrating his marksmanship with a large, muzzle-loading rifle. Naturally, the kids enjoy every minute of their visit to the Dells Mill museum.

As a sideline, Gus operates, a gun shop on the mill property and his mother runs e’ antique shop there. Antiques aren’t confined to the shop, however. A number of antiques are exhibited inside the mill museum where guests can also see tools which were used in milling, farming and lumbering. Mrs. Clark points ~ collection of old-time barbed wire and says that 300 types were manufactured between 1865 and 1890.

Another section of the museum displays a prairie schooner, buggies, cutters and sleighs. Visitors pause to study a collection of pictures of the mill itself. The Dells Mill has been feature on TV commercials and is a favorite subject for calendar photographs.

Magazine and date of publication is unknown

The SECOND article can be found HERE .....

What is an Old Mill?

From a magazine article by Eliza Lucinda Cubberley

What is an old mill? A place that is hot in summer, frigid in winter? Or a place where the dust motes dance in the sunlight, the tranquilizing music of falling water comes through the open windows, and the good, earthy smell of grain fills the air? Whatever a mill means to you, and especially if you’ve never been in one, you’ll enjoy the one operating mill in Wisconsin that is being preserved as a tourist attraction.

The Dells Milling Company, or Clark’s Mill as it is locally known, is just off Highway 27 three miles north of Augusta in Eau Claire County. The mill was built in 1867 with massive, hand-hewn timbers that were meant to last. They have, and the mill appears as solid as the rock from which its basement is carved.

J. Frank Clark bought the mill in 1917 and today tours are conducted by a descendant. The mill remained in full operation until May of 1968. It was originally a flour mill but its services later included feed grinding.

Except for the sound of water cascading over the 23 foot dam outside, the mill is a quiet pla while visitors listen to the tour guide’s explanation of how it operates, but the moment he engages the water-powered turbine, the mill comes to life with a thunderous rumble. Three thousand feet of belting are instantly on the move, in and out, up and down, through the various levels of the mill. While the mill is running, 250 tons of water every minute power its turbine. (The water wheel on the outside of the building beside the dam, was put there in the 1960s to show how such a mill would have operated in New England. The overshot waterwheel had become old-fashioned by the time mills were being built in Wisconsin, but it has never lost its charm for mill visitors.)

Visitors who go to the mill on a hot day appreciate nature’s air conditioning on the cave-like lower level, part of which has been hewn out of solid rock. If you care to venture still lower, down a curving rock staircase, you can get down to cool water level. As you climb wooden stairs to the upper stories of the mill, the air gets warmer – in fact, hot in summer – but you get to see the interesting hewn beam and wooden peg construction of this century-old structure. The five-level mill is 75 feet high.

In addition to the mill itself and its machinery there are various displays of tools that were used in and around it in the old days. Especially interesting are the rare grain stencils that are hung on the walls.

But best of all is the pleasant scenery of the mill pond, bordered by water-worn sandstone bluffs which are reminiscent of the Dells of the Wisconsin.

Those dells are the reason why Clark’s Mill is also known as the Dells Mill.

Magazine and date of publication is unknown

The THIRD article in this series can be found HERE

Dells Mill Sixty-Five Years Old [1929]

from the Augusta Union Newspaper, November 29, 1929, author unknown, transcribed from the Wisconsin Historical Society archives

No doubt a great many of our older people can recollect with much happiness their cherished memories of the first ride to the old mill. It was way back in the early days when fall work and threshing was done, the your father, realizing the fast approach of the wintry days, would sack up a grist of wheat to be taken down to the mill and made into flour, and it was early the next morning, just as the sun had poked its cheerful face above the horizon, that you were making your first trip down to the mill behind a trudging team of oxen, while in all the glory of an Egyptian Pharaoh you sat perched high upon the sacks of wheat as the clattering high wheeled wagon made its way over the hill, down through the valley to the red mill by the creek.

You remember, of course, as your father drove his yoke of cattle up along the platform opposite the door, how the miller came out with his hearty “Good morning”, and what a friendly feeling you formed for this man, the fellow who was responsible for your bread, in your bread and butter, and perhaps it was after the last sack of wheat was pushed in with the little hand truck that you followed father in, and what a fascinating place you found yourself in.

There were great moving wheels, glimmering belts that raced over big wooden pulleys, and the worlds of hums and rumbles, and in your innocent childish way, you marveled at its greatness. To you it was all a mystery. In one place the miller placed the grain and in another he took off the fluffy white flour into bags that father had brought along for that purpose. To you, milling seemed a black magic. And so this was your first impression of the old mill, and it was perhaps until you grew up and lock the grist in place of your father that you discovered that the old wooden water wheel which creaked under the splashing water of the creek had a greater purpose than serving an inspiration for an artist and the machinery which rumbled inside was not make to make funny noises but to take its part in the task of feeding the hungry mouths of humanity.

It was back in these days of pioneering that the Dells Mill, a land mark in our community was built. It was the year of 1864, the mill was constructed by Wiebber. The millwrighting was carried on by Mr. Gordon, a brother-in-law of Ivory Livermoore.

The first miller was Dan Merriman. At that time, Wiebber, the owner, also ran a boarding house at the Dells, later occupied as a dwelling by J. Frank Clark, which was destroyed in recent years by a fire. Old timers say that at times there were as many as twenty-five men that stopped at this place as they came to and from the woods.

Later Wiebber sold to McCaffery and Marston. From these parties it was transferred to G. W. Paul, who later succeeded by Gessner and Clark. Mr. Clark some years later purchased the interest of Gessner and it was under his ownership that the present dam was build. J. Frank Clark was succeeded by the Dells Milling Company, which is its present owner.

The mill was first built primarily for the purpose of milling flour, but as the wheat belt was gradually pushed back into the west, other lines of grist business took its place. The mill today is considered on of the most up-to-date cereal mills in this part of the country.

It is expected that during this fall there will be milled over 200 thousand pounds of buckwheat flour. In addition to cereal milling, a large business of custom grinding and feed mixing is carried on.

It is a remarkable thing that after sixty-five years you would find a country mill that is still carrying on its work. Many mills built years later have either gone out of business or burned up, but the Dells still continues to be an old land mark and carry on its part in this community by handling the daily grist that is brought to its doors. 

I found this too - from Dennis' Occasional Pages located HERE

Remembering of the Dells Mill, The Dells School and the Dells Mill Pond when I was a child

Remembrances 

Going to the mill with a wagon and a horse with my Grand Father.  The biggest anticipation was getting the work done and having a Dreamsicle as the reward

Swimming in the pond

Floating on the Dells Mill pond, grasping a log as my float and letting the pond, the breeze and the day taking me

Fishing off the concrete walkway just outside the Dells Mill office window, watching the sunfish taking the bait and hoping the mill would wind up to draw the fish to the water intakes

The day I went  fishing with a high school friend, and reaching over to boat to bring in the fish as he reeled it in.  I startled that fish and gave it the energy to break the line. The fish seemed to be about a ten pound wide mouth bass.  I was almost knocked off the boat by my angry friend 

Skating on the pond without any snow to impede me.  There was no snow on the whole of the pond.  We skated for hours.  My friends were with me most of the way and most of the day.  They had to go, but I stayed and enjoy the solitude of the winter day.  I stayed and stayed and almost expired as I realized I was at the far end of the pond and struggled to get back to the house of my friends at the Dells Mill.

Hearing the ice crack and quake in the cold when I skated

Fishing in an ice shack and talking about girls and sex and mostly ignoring the fishing.

Pushing the snow out of the way when it made ice skating impossible

Lighting a wood log fire on the ice

Making a skating rink to the free the ice when the snow came

My parents anticipating the opening of Bass season

Fishing for Crappie's with my Grandmother

Fishing for perch on a midsummer's day

Wading  and then getting up over my waist in the warm water, then getting nude to feel the water flow over me.

Swimming and diving from a raft built by the Dells Mill Clark family

Hearing Moon River sung by Nancy Clark while swimming in the pond

Finding a blue bird for the last time just before they all but disappeared from the region because of DTD use

Wanting to dive off the rocks of the Dells into the pond

Challenging the damn as dangerous waters flowed over it

Finding solstice on a summers eve, floating in a boat on the pond

Shopping at the local hardware store with my grandfather to find the right bamboo cane pole to fish in the Dells Pond

Finding the right bait

Camping on the Dells Mill pond island with friend

Smoking for the first time

Losing my glasses in to the pond

From RoadsideAmerica(dot)com

Dells Mill and Museum

Well-preserved 1864 rural flour mill completely intact with original machinery, fabric belts, and lots of misc. artifacts including two cannon, a covered wagon along with other buggies, some period tools, and a shark(!). The proprietor, soft-spoken Gustave (Gus) Clark, has owned and operated the mill as a museum for over 45 years. He is the fourth generation of the Clark family to operate the mill. Gus is elderly and slow, and speaks very softly. You need to stand close to hear him over the waterfalls of the dam. He will greet you, take your admission, escort you into the first room to look around, then give you a brief monologue. Don't ask questions until he is done, as he will just keep talking. Then he will allow you to roam all the floors of the mill to take photos. Gus has a huge amount of knowledge about the place, plus the Civil War era as it relates to Wisconsin. He usually pops on a Civil War hat when you walk in. He is very friendly and can talk for hours about the mill, and about farm life from the 1860s forward. He is also a musician that likes to sing and play his home-made banjo for the ladies after the tour.

There is also a small, dusty gift shop (with unusual items), an antique store, and a blacksmith shop. Be sure to chat with Gus after the tour.

And I found this WONDERFUL information HERE .... 

Constructed during the Civil War Era along the dells of Bridge Creek, Dells Mill brought logging industry to the area.  This water powered gryst mill ground the wheat that dominated Wisconsin's civil war economy operating until 1968.  Fully functional, Dells Mill is one of a handful of national historic mills remaining operational ready.  According to a conversation with current owner Gus Clark, "The mill could be ready within 3 days."

Now over 140 years old Dells Mill, like many other mills nationally, served its community both economically and socially.  After the wheat production moved westward the mill was adapted to mill flour and grind feed for local farmers.  As industry continued to modernize and forestry maximized its resources, mills around the country became cherished historical landmarks.

     Dells Mill was entered into the National Registry in 1974.  Local school children from Augusta raised money in 2007 to fund a commemorative plaque officially marking Dells Mill as a national historic site.

Converting the historic mill into a museum extended the life of the mill.  In a conversation with Gus Clark, owner and operator of the museum, he retold the story of his ride to Galena Illinois in the 1972 for the sesquicentennial celebration of Grant's home.  Clark traveled from Augusta, WI to Galena, Illinois in a covered wagon camping along the way.  Clad in a civil war uniform at the age of 29, Gus rode into Galena on horseback honoring the memory of Ulysses S. Grant.  Gus Clark's trek to Galena, Illinois received television coverage and acclaim.  To this day Gus can be found tinkering in his shop from10 am to 5 pm -the mills hours of operation from May to October 31st.

   "Nothing makes me feel richer than a woodshed full of wood..." Gus tends to his woodfired stove at the end of a tour.   A conversation with Gus reveals a man connected to a family legacy rich in history.  His bearded face and skin etched with lines speak of his witness to another era.  Gus is a living historian; a witness to Augusta Dells Mill and its surrounding area.  He grew up in the house residing at the shores of Dells Mill pond and attended the one room country schoolhouse.  Consumed by his stories of yesteryear his audience becomes transfixed by his yarns.  It in only after his story has been told that a shift can be felt like a veil lifting  -and awareness of the 21st century returns.

The above images were taken from one of the Mill's Pamphlets ...  (this is very large image)

Clark Brothers Brand

 Dells Mill was entered into the National Registry in 1974.  Local school children from Augusta raised money in 2007 to fund a commemorative plaque officially marking Dells Mill as a national historic site.
 By the time the Civil War broke out in 1861, the establishment of a community on the Dells Mill site was well under way.

   A deed dated 1869, transferred the property from William Weber to Stephen Marston lists the property as consisting of 16 acres and containing "the mill, boardinghouse, school house and other  buildings thereon."  Of these only the mill remains.  The Dells Mill operated as a flour and feed mill for over 100 years.  The water from Bridge Creek was the only source of power ever used.

   In 1894, the mill was purchased by the Clark Family and has remained in their possession to this day, having passed through four generations.  In 1968, Dells Mill was converted into a museum, although grinding is still done on special occasion.

   The mill building itself is a five story structure built of hand hewed timbers and held together by wooden pegs.  It contains 3,000 feet of belting and 175 pulleys all powered by water.

The growth of wheat production in Wisconsin was tremendous betweeen 1850 and 1880, and this was reflected in the rise of the milling business. In 1840, the area which is now Wisconsin supported a total of 33 flour and grist mills. By 1880, the number was just under 1,000. By 1900, milling was the second largest industry in the state second only to lumber. Shortly after the turn of the century however, the milling industry started its long decline and by 1920, abandoned flour mills could be found throughout the state. Due to the record yield of wheat harvests during the 1800's the soil depleted and could no longer support big crops. Wheat prodcution moved westward and cattle grazed where wheat once grew.  Abandoned flour mill became a relic of the past.

   By the time the Civil War broke out in 1861, the establishment of a community on the Dells Mill site was well under way. In the 1830's early pioneers found Wisconsin's rich soil ideal for growing wheat.  In addition, the state was blessed with hundreds of rivers and streams offering an abundant supply of water power attracting settlers into the area.

    A visit to the mill was usually an all day affair starting at 'can see to can't see'.  For the farmer and his family, the mill was more than a place of business.  Starting at dawn, this pleasuresome occasion was marked with a picnic lunch and a fishing event. The mill provided a day of rest from daily farm work.  Orginally named Dells City, the mill was a center of activity providing economic growth for the locals, food and shelter for visitors, work for blacksmiths and a coopery, milling for local farmers, and a school with Sundays services for the area locals.

This can be found on the Eau Claire Information Page located HERE

Dells Mill and Dells Mill Museum

Tour the historic Dell's Mill Historical Landmark & Museum from May through Oct. The building is a five story structure made of hand hewn timbers & held together by wooden pegs. It contains 3,000 feet of belting & 175 pulleys. The water from Bridge Creek powered the flour & feed mill, which operated for over 100 years.  Relish the sights, sounds and smells of the past, State & National Historic site. The Dells Mill was built in 1864 as a grist mill.  It is now over 140 years old. Farmers met and had their grinding done.

The colorful Dells Mill, painted red, has now been in Clark family ownership through four generations. Gus Clark and his mother, Mrs. Bessie Clark, restored it 11 years ago and they now operate it as a museum. They still put it to its original use sometimes to grind whole wheat flour which they sell to tourists. In springtime they clean seed oats for local farmers. They take pride in the fact that the mill has been entered in the National Register of Historic Places.

Teachers like to bring school children to the mills for tours, especially in springtime. As a sideline, Gus operates, a gun shop on the mill property and his mother runs e’ antique shop there. Antiques aren’t confined to the shop, however. A number of antiques are exhibited inside the mill museum where guests can also see tools which were used in milling, farming and lumbering.

Except for the sound of water cascading over the 23 foot dam outside, the mill is a quiet place while visitors listen to the tour guide’s explanation of how it operates, but the moment he engages the water-powered turbine, the mill comes to life with a thunderous rumble.

You will find the Dells Mill be featured in a lot of Calenders .....

And even puzzles... my Mom got one for herself one year ... because it reminds her of home.