Owner calls closure of 144-year-old Appleton wool mill ‘bittersweet’
APPLETON — There’s a lot that Tom Courtney is going to miss about his family’s longtime wool mill. He’ll miss the views along the bank of the Fox River, seeing eagles and other wildlife scurry by, and the sunsets glow above the water.
“Where are you going to get that in downtown Appleton?” Courtney asked, gesturing to the window next to his desk.
Courtney has worked at the Courtney Woolen Mill, at 301 E. Water St., for decades, but “every day is different when you walk in,” he said. Courtney appreciates that, and it’s probably why it “doesn’t feel like I worked 52 years down here,” he said.
Now, though, “it’s starting to feel that way,” the 66-year-old told The PostCrescent, “so I guess it’s time to retire.”
After 144 years in operation, the mill will soon close. Courtney put the property up for sale this month and announced the end of an era to his customers on Facebook.
Business is slower lately — until he broke the news.
Courtney said there’s been “overwhelming” response from the community, congratulating him on his retirement, and lamenting how “it’s going to be a sad day when it does close.” Courtney credits the mill’s “loyal customers” for its long success. A 91-year-old man came to the shop in December, he said, who’s a third-generation customer.
“I have a number of customers that are first, second and third generations, even fourth generations,” Courtney said.
Courtney, meanwhile, is the fourthgeneration family owner. He bought the property, located down the hill from College Avenue, tucked along the river, in 1986.
Mill still runs on equipment from 1800s
Built by the Kelley family, the business opened Jan. 4, 1880, as North Side Woolen Mill. Courtney’s family took over the business in 1904. Back then, there were more sheep than cows in Wisconsin, according to Courtney. Even in 1993, when the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places, Courtney estimates there were still 25 or 30 textile mills in the state.
“Now you’re down to probably a handful,” he said.
The roughly 8,000-square-foot building feels like a time portal, transporting visitors back in history. Courtney describes it as a “working museum.”
He still uses the two original Davis and Furber carding machines from the 19th century to run wool and polyester today. There are fluffy clumps of material scattered all over the floor. Some pieces stuck to the bristles of a broom, while another clung to Courtney’s sleeve.
The building has a basement and second floor, and Courtney uses a pulley to hoist materials to the upper level to dry. He also used to make yarn up there. Even before he started working at the mill, Courtney said he fished out the back windows.
Courtney’s grandfather, Giles Courtney, carved his name into one of the wooden walls, along with the year, 1914. Courtney’s son’s middle name is Giles, so he plans to keep that panel, he said. Courtney also saved some pulleys and pictures as mementos for himself.
“If the walls could only talk,” Courtney said, looking around the space.
Owner looking forward to retirement
In the office area, where he greets customers who come in to buy polyester for quilts, Courtney keeps wedding and family photos on his desk. A ceramic sheep — the mill’s mascot — sits on the glass counter, which Courtney dresses up for different holidays. He also has a box of bobbins for sale, at $4.99 a piece.
Courtney works in the mill alone, aside from his dog, Bella, who greets visitors, seeking treats and pets. Bella took a break to rest on the floor as interested people toured the space with a realtor.
Since putting the building up for sale, Courtney said there’s been a lot of interest in the property. The “sky’s the limit” for what it could become, but Courtney said he hopes whoever buys it will preserve the building, as much as possible.
Courtney can’t share details yet, but at least one historic machine from the mill is staying in Appleton. “That’s very exciting,” he said.
Courtney is looking forward to “more freedom” to “enjoy life” in retirement, he said. He has some projects he wants to get done around his home, and he’ll go camping and biking. He also plans to spend time with his 9-month-old granddaughter, who he proudly shows pictures of on his phone.
The mill will stay open until it’s sold, according to Courtney. As that day approaches, it’s “definitely bittersweet,” he said.
The hardest part, Courtney said, will be walking out the door one last time.