WBGT 11: Gadow's Mill Traditional Geocache

Twenty geocaches have been hidden throughout our historic city that highlight the best of West Bend in any season!

To earn a geocoin, teams must pick up a West Bend GeoTour Passport from the Chamber of Commerce (preferred method) or download a passport. Collect 25 points as detailed in the passport. See complete details at visitwestbend.com/geocaching.

The Gadow Mill was the last mill in Wisconsin to grind wheat flour and also one of the last to operate on water power.

Robert Price erected this structure in 1865 and named it Barton Roller Mills. For a number of years, Washington County farmers brought their wheat to Price's mill where it was ground, packed into wooden barrels, and shipped by wagon to Allenton from where it was then shipped by rail to larger markets.

Barton Roller Mills remained active into the 1890s. During this time, ownership of the building changed hands several times. In 1894, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Suckow of Milwaukee purchased the mill. In 1900, Mr. Suckow erected a new elevator (no longer standing) on the east side of the mill. William F. Gadow acquired interest in the mill in 1905. Nine years later fire destroyed most of the equipment and some of the structure itself. Gadow turned this misfortune into an opportunity to update his mill. That year he replaced the lost machinery with five new Allis-Chalmers rollers for wheat, five mills for rye, and a French Burr Stone which was used to produce coarsely ground flour. The mill remained in the Gadow family until 1964, at which time the owners discontinued operations.

In 1966, the city of West Bend purchased the mill, and in 1975, the city turned the building over to Leonard S. Dricken (son-in-law of Water A. Gadow) who would later restore the mill.

References: the Wisconsin Historical Society

The Geocache: You are looking for a small container. This cache is available any season. Permission was granted to hide this cache.