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History

The initial settlers of Cedarburg—made up of German and Irish immigrants—were enticed by the power-producing potential of Cedar Creek; a feature that ultimately led to the establishment of the village in the early 1840s.

Ludwig Groth was the first recorded settler of Cedarburg, making his home along the edge of the creek in 1842. Two years later, Frederick Hilgen and William Schroeder purchased a tract of land from Groth and established a grist mill, which remains a distinguished element of today’s Cedarburg skyline.

Four additional dams and mills were constructed in the following years, centralizing the life of the fledgling town along the banks of Cedar Creek. Built in 1864, the Wittenberg Mill stood as the sole woolen mill west of Philadelphia to produce worsted yarns. The mill’s buildings still stand today, forming the historic Cedar Creek Settlement, which features charming shops, dining establishments, artists’ studios, a working forge and a winery.

The coming of the railroad to Cedarburg in 1870 stimulated further growth and prosperity. The developing town continued to draw in crowds of visitors and business travelers, prompting local businessmen to open hotels in order to accommodate this influx of people. Many of the buildings that were erected during this time, including churches, homes, mills, taverns and businesses, were constructed utilizing Niagara limestone from two local quarries—a characteristic that is still viewed to this day, thanks to the dedication to preserving Cedarburg’s historical structures.

By 1885, the emerging town’s populace had swelled to 1,500, resulting in the incorporation of what is now Ozaukee County. As the community continued to progress, Cedar Creek was employed further in order to power lumber and flour mills, a nail factory and a brewery.

Exploring Cedarburg is like stepping back in time, as many of the limestone and cream city brick buildings mentioned above remain unaltered. The dedication to conserving these historic edifices was a catalyst in the enactment of a comprehensive landmarks ordinance and the establishment of a landmarks commission to protect the city’s architectural heritage.

Owing to the efforts of the landmarks commission and the Cedarburg Chamber of Commerce, Cedarburg’s downtown Washington Avenue area was designated as a historic district on the National Register of Historic Places in the mid-1980s. Adjacent to the downtown area is the Columbia Road Historic District, which was listed on the National and State Registers of Historic Places in 1992.

A self-guided tour of historic Cedarburg is a must while in the area. A detailed map, complete with building descriptions, is available at the Cedarburg Chamber of Commerce.