Dells Mill

Water-powered grist mills ground the wheat that dominated Wisconsin’s Civil War-era economy. Built in 1864, this mill was one of several serving area farmers. After wheat production moved westward, owners adapted the building to mill flour and grind feed. <br><br> A trip to Dells Mill could be an all-day family affair. Farmers often fished the millpond to pass the time. The millpond also provided a source for the winter ice harvest. A store, hotel, and school grew up nearby to serve the growing community. <br><br> Creating a millpond required the building of a dam to flood upstream land. The Wisconsin Territorial Legislature enacted legislation enabling dam construction in 1840. <br><br> Built along the dells of Bridge Creek, the base of the mill was carved into the sandstone bedrock. Massive hand-hewn timbers secured with wooden pegs make up the structure of the mill. Water turbines powered the milling process. A concrete dam replaced the original log structure in 1919. Dells Mill, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, operated continuously until 1968.