Saukville Mill
extracted from the Ozaukee Press
March 18, 1948

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Sketch by Shirley Gruen
(from photograph submitted by Henry Grady)

Story by Bill Harrington

Saukville--Today it's just a hole in the ground and a heap of rubble, but aroundthe turn ofthe centruy it was one of Saukville's land marks, a thiriving sawmilland flour and grist mill, visited by farmers from miles around who brought theirwheat, rye, and buckwheat to be ground and logs to be sawed. During the day therewere always a wagon or two drawn up before the loading platform and their driverscould be found lolling about in front of the mill office, passing the time of dayand exchanging the latest bits gossip. On the south side of the mill, sprawled in the fragrant grass that grew there, you could see the village loafers snoozing in the sun and on the grassy, flower-strewn banks of the mill pond were perched theyoungsters of the surrounding countryside, with homemade hook and line, hopefullyfishing. A picture of bucolic peace that is vanishing all too fast from our Americanscene.

Built in 1878 by Harry Thien, after whom Thiensville was named, and George Guettler,the mill enjoyed great popularity during its relatively brief existence. For briefit was, spanning only two decades. The great "tornado" of July 3rd, 1898blew off the roof and carried it across the Milwaukee river and onto what is nowthe Schowalter property on highway 57 on the east side of the river. That was thebeginning of the end for the Saukville mill for the seasonal rains came and rottedthe floors and the interior. Several years passed, with the mill growing ever moreshaky on its foundations. Its only visitors were small boys who climbed about onthe structure like agile little monkeys, to the imminent peril of life and limb.Finally, in 1903 or '4 the town of Saukville ordered the building destroyed, andthus ended the short career of the Saukville mill.