The canal and Locks with the Eagle Mill and Reuter Hub and Spoke on the right (Looking East)

The canal and the mills in 1875 looking north towards present day north side of Kaukauna.  House behind the canal on the right is the George Lawe home

Water Powered Mills in 1880

Mills located on the shipping canal and island in 1880.  The full 1880 "Birds Eye View" map is located on the maps page of this website.

1886 Paper Mills

Water powered Mills in 1886

The mills along the ship canal and the Mead - Edwards water power. The Brokaw mill (Not on this map) is to the left of the Badger Mill and was later known as the "Little Badger" Map is from 1886


The Mills along the canal From the 1897 Sanborn Fire Maps

1925 - Note the Power plant is built on the ruins of the Badger Paper mill which was built in 1885 and later burned


1925 Map of the Union Bag and Thilmany Mill

	THILWERTH PARK    Dedicated to the memory of OSCAR THILMANY and MONROE A. WERTHEIMER Pioneer manufacturers of pulp and paper in Kaukauna whose foresight and industry have contributed in such large measure to the growth and welfare of the community 1945  This plaque is on the north side of the ship canal across from the Thilmany paper company
	Pulp Grinding stone from a "Frambach Grinder" used to grind wood to make pulp. This grinding stone was used in a machine that was patented in 1879.  4 of the 7 patents are available for viewing  The images are high resolution images of the patents of Henry Frambach from the US Patent office.
	Early mills and use of water power in Kaukauna John Stoveken, Henry Hewitt, Joseph Vilas, Captain B. Doherty, James M. Barker, Captain J. Mead, N. M. Edwards, John, Hickey, C. E. Raught, Hopkins, Cates, King, The first Kaukauna Paper Mill in 1872 Matt Brill, Commercial Hotel
	The Eagle Paper mill is the First Paper mill constructed in Kaukauna.  It was established in 1872. Prior to 1872 a wood frame flour mill and saw mill were located on this site built by Henry Hewitt and John Stoveken. The portion of the building in the front was built as a flour mill and the paper mill is in the rear. It was partially destroyed by fire in 1880 and was rebuilt as the "Frambach Paper Company". It was sold in 1885 and operated as the Kaukauna Paper Company. The main walls of this building are still in use today, located on the ship canal in Kaukauna. Dr. H. B. Tanners recount of the 1881 Eagle mill fire
	The history of the Mill built on the Ship canal in Kaukauna.  This is the site of the oldest Paper Mill.  It began as a Flour mill, A paper mill was added and called the Eagle Mill. It then became the Frambach Paper Mill and later became the Kaukauna Paper Mill, Union Bag and Paper Company, International Paper Company and today the Thilmany Paper.
	This patent shows the mechanics of a machine used to convert wood into wood pulp suitable for making paper.  This machine was invented in Kaukauna and was first used in 1879 in the Eagle paper Mill. The inventor of this machine was Colonel Henry Frambach who was also the first Mayor of Kaukauna.   Prior to this patented design, paper was made from Cotton rags or Straw. Patents for pulp grinding that were invented and first used in the Eagle Mill in Kaukauna 1879
	Industrial accident in the Paper mill in Kaukauna in 1878.   A wood pulp grind stone exploded.  It is difficult to judge the speed that these grind stones were revolving.  However it is clear from this clipping that it was fast enough to cause the stone to explode and cause large chunks of the stone to fly.   It is estimated that these grind stones are in excess of 2,000 pounds.
	The Badger Mill was built in 1885 and operated until 1898 when it was destroyed by fire.  It was not rebuilt due to disagreements on who owned the water power rights from the Fox river. The mill made several types of paper including wall paper.  An area of the building was used to "Print" the colors on the wallpaper.  The facility was able to convert raw pulpwood logs into finished wallpaper. Newspaper clippings about The Badger Mill construction and Fire
	The Badger Mill was built in 1885 and was destroyed by fire in 1898. This Water turbine is a Kaukauna monument.  These turbines were used to drive the papermaking machinery in the early mills of Kaukauna.  It is believed that this Turbine was from the Badger Mill as it is located near the foundation of the demolished mill. The Badger Mill used 22 Turbines like this to power the Mill and electrical generators for lights.  The monument is near the "Old Badger" electric Power Plant which was built on the foundation of the Badger Papermill at the end of the water power canal when it was demolished.
	A portion of the letter of incorporation of the "Badger Paper Mill" Originals are on file in the Archives in Madison
Thilmany Mill in Kaukauna Post card	Pictures of the Thilmany Pulp and Paper Company from the book "A Little Ways Ahead".  A Limited number of Hard cover books are available for sale at the Online store  Image from the book "A Little Ways Ahead".  Read more about the Thilmany History
	Norman Brokaw came to Kaukauna in 1885 and became a partner in a paper mill that was built in 1881 called the Bradner, Smith & Company mill. This mill was purchased by the Badger Paper Company in 1889 and called the Little Badger Mill. This mill was the first mill in Kaukauna to use a Sulphide paper making process.   In 1889 Norman Brokaw built the Kaukauna Fibre Co Plant which was burned in 1893 and was rebuilt. Norman Brokaw died in 1900. The Mill was abandoned in the early 1920s and was demolished July 1, 1927.  More about Norman Brokaw
	Kaukauna Paper Company in 1885.  This was   the Eagle Mill (1872 - 1881) - Frambach Mill (1881- 1885) after it was rebuilt and enlarged. It was then sold in 1885 and renamed the Kaukauna Paper Company When the Badger mill was built.  It was under the control of the Van Nortwick group. This view is looking towards the north East. This would be the back of the mill.  The front of the mill faces the ship canal.
	Outagamie Paper Mill about 1890-1895
	History of The Kaukauna Paper Mills as remembered by Mel Raught who originally worked in the Stoveken Paper Mill and later owned and operated the Kaukauna Times newspaper

Batavia Paper Bag factory, Union bag and paper, S, T, Murchie, Captain D. J. Brothers, Wertheimer, Western bag and Paper Company, Oscar Thilmany	Kimberly Clark,  Colonel Frambach, W. H. Brokaw, Oscar Thilmany, John McNaughton, E. A. D. Reynolds, John Deverons, W. A. Fannon, Thomas Pierson, Peter Thom, J. W. Armstrong, T. W. Orbison, John A. Gittings, Will Gilbert, Theodore Gilbert, John Strange, E. D. Smith, Henry Smith, Will Davis, George Davis, J. A. Kimberly,	History of Henry Frambach Newspaper and history book clippings written about Colonel Henry Frambach (First Mayor of Kaukauna)	Results of "Paper Mill" search on Kaukauna Times	Paper Discovery Center Paper Discovery Center in Appleton - Preserving the history of the papermaking industry and the people that affected the industry	Paper History in Wisconsin History of Wisconsin Paper making including a mention of Kaukauna
Insurance claim for the fire at the Kaukauna Paper Company in 1891	D. Shartel and John Hickey start the "Hickey and Shartel Paper Company" in 1891 in the building that housed the Atlas Iron and Brass works that was moved to Duluth. They will manufacture Manilla Tissue Paper	This Post card is of the Union Bag and Paper Company. It was Postmarked in 1907	1929 The Union Bag and Paper company  - The oldest mill in Kaukauna shuts down. Gives a brief history of the mill. Mentions that the mill originally made straw paper by John Stovekin (SIC Stoveken).  This mill property is now owned by Thilmany.	Outagamie Paper and the lower Lock of the Kaukauna Canal system.   Picture estimated to be about 1940

From the collection of "The History of Outagamie County" * Ryan, Thomas Henry. History of Outagamie County, Wisconsin : being a general survey ... including a history of the cities, towns and villages ... Chicago : Goodspeed Historical Association, [1911?] 1391 p., : ill., ports. ; 27 cm.

John Stovekin's flour mill was burned in 1871 and the next year the Frambach and Stovekin paper mill was started. The Bank of Kaukauna was founded in 1878 by Henry Hewitt, Jr., William P. Hewitt and P. D. Norton. In 1881 they sold out to Peter and Alexander L. Reuter who did a private banking business under the name of Reuter Brothers. In 1883 they incorporated under the state with a capital of $30,000; Peter Reuter was the first president.

The paper mill was built at Kaukauna in 1873-4; the main building was 50x50 feet three stories high; machine room 26x80 feet: it was built under the supervision of John Stovekin; three water wheels were used, the steam boiler had about 70 horse power; four boiling tubs were kept employed all the time, in sections of two.

1875; Rademacher & Eiting conducted a meat market;  J. Stovekin & Co., hired several teams to haul straw to his paper mill; Konrad's Hall was a popular resort for dancing parties; Weinfeldt shipped car loads of sheep to market; Hilgenberg had a store there; Frambaugh & Co., conducted a dry goods store; Supple's boot and shoe store was burned.

At Kaukauna in 1875 were Reuter & Bros., Hub and Spoke factory; Stovekin's sawmill, Fred Mundinger's hotel; Colonel Kidder, U. S. engineer in charge of the public works; Hannah Deidrick an old settler of Kaukauna, died at this time: the new and fine drawbridge was going up.

In the summer and fall of 1875, Day & Call, contractors, had at work on the improvements at Kaukauna, from 150 to 400 men. The dam was built by Knapp & Gillan and was 14 feet wide and 580 feet long. John Stovekin was making in September three tons of straw paper per day. At his saw mill he was turning out large quantities of lumber for the dams at Little Chute and Cedars; he made large quantities of oak felloes. John P. Deitrich rebuilt the bridge from the island to the Buchanan shore. At this time the town was erecting a new schoolhouse with tower and bell, all to cost $2,000. George W. Lawe's park of about four acres was a popular resort.

Mr. Stovekin's new flouring mill at Kaukauna was almost ready in November, 1878.

In July, 1878, Ward Patterson was instantly killed by the bursting of a whirling stone in Frambach & Stovekin's paper mill.

The Meade-Edwards water power was well in hand by 1881. The big paper and pulp mill of Col. Frambach was in operation. So was the Phillips grist-mill; but both were burned in August entailing an estimated loss of $80,000.

The Badger Paper Company began operations about 1885; Klein's flour mill about 1883; Outagamie mill 1887; Ruse paper mill 1888; Kause fibre mill 1889; Thilmany's paper mill 1890, Shartle paper mill 1890-1; Kaukauna machine works about 1891.

The most important water power transfer ever effected in the Fox River valley was carried out in January, 1887, when the Kaukauna Water Power Company acquired Meade's interest in Islands 1, 2 and 3, except the platted part; Edward's Islands; Hunt's Island No. 2; including nearly all the famous Meade & Edwards power. This purchase was brought about by litigation against the Kaukauna Water Power Company by the Green Bay and Mississippi Canal Company, the Union Pulp Company and the Fox River Paper and Pulp Company, to restrain the former from using any water from Fox River for hydraulic purposes. By the above purchase the Kaukauna Company secured permanent and immensely valuable rights. The price was about $75,000.

The Thilmany Pulp and Paper Company was established in 1889 by Oscar Thilmany; it was first a ground wood pulp mill and later a paper mill with one machine. Additions were made until now the mill has five machines. It now uses both water and steam power and occupies 300 to 400 feet on the water power. The company now makes thirty tons of paper per day -- in specialties, and employs about 190 persons. Its goods are marketed in all parts of the United States. M. A. Wertheimer is president; J. E. Thomas vice-president; C. W. Stribley secretary and treasurer. In 1902, Mr. Thilmany sold out to the present company.

In 1891, the works of the Kaukauna Paper Company burned down, entailing a loss of $75,000; it was built as a flour mill and converted into a paper mill. It was burned in 1881.

WILLIAM M. HOYT, resident manager of The Union Bag and Paper Company, one of the largest business enterprises of its kind in Wisconsin, was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, March 16, 1879, and is a son of P. D. and Agnes O. Hoyt, who in 1880 located in Geneva, Illinois, where P. D. Hoyt, who was a glucose and starch manufacturer, died in 1903. William.M. Hoyt received his education in the schools of Geneva, and in 1899 came to Kaukauna as clerk for the company of which he is now manager, having been appointed to the latter position October 1, 1903. Mr. Hoyt is well known Kaukauna, and is a member of the Elks and Masonic fraternities. The mill property now occupied by The Union Bag and Paper Company was originally built in 1882 by Colonel H. A. Frambach and his half-brother, John Stovekin, and was burned twice, the last time in 1888, and it has passed through the hands of the Frambach Paper Company, the Kaukauna Paper Company, the Van Nortwick Paper Company, and the Western Paper Bag Company, which latter concern acquired it in 1892. In 1899 this firm sold out to The Union Bag and Paper Company, and during the following year the latter company moved from Batavia, Illinois, where it had been formerly located, to Kaukuana, and added another story to the structure, also building two warehouses, the factory now covering a floor space of 138,000 square feet in the main buildings, besides owning a large boiler house, barn and smaller buildings. The water power used amounts to 1660 horse-power, and they have auxiliary steam engines of 400 horse-power. The product of the company is shipped west of Ohio and the Great Lakes. One hundred and forty people are employed in manufacturing seven tons of ground wood pulp and the output of the factory, which manufactures twenty-five tons of paper daily and has a capacity of 4,000,000 bags per diem. All grades and sizes of paper bags are made.