A Bit of Cedarburg Mill’s History

The Cedarburg Mill, in which Rebellion Brewing Company is housed, was built by Cedarburg founders Frederick Hilgen and William Schroeder in 1855 at a cost of $22,000, on land at $1 per acre, and was considered one of the finest mills in the Midwest.  The architect and builder was Burchard Weber.  The design is Greek revival, with the lower walls being 32 inches thick.  This building replaced an earlier one built by Hilgen and Schroeder in 1844.  Note that the main part of the building is 5 stories high.

Cranes had not yet been invented in 1855, so an incline several blocks long was built to carry material to the upper levels.  A donkey was used to pull the heavy stone blocks up this incline.  Hilgen and Schroeder built a dam on the creek north the mill, and put a water wheel near the dam to power the mill.  The mill could produce 120 barrels of flour a day, which was sold in a shop owned by Hilgen and Schroeder.  Because the Cedarburg Mill prospered, four other mills were later built along Cedar Creek.

The Cedarburg Mill is now listed on the U.S.    National Register of Historic Places.