Wigley building in 1850 as Racine City Mill	Above: our founder, Dafyyd (David) Paynter Wigley 1856-1912	Wigley ca. 1910
14th St. Warehouse - Built 1908	712 Villa St. 1st Store & Residence	Residence - 908 Park Ave - 1910
3rd Store - 612 College Avenue	Warehouse -State & Forest St.	Current Bldg. at 3rd & Wisconsin (even this has now changed-the old abandoned elevator shaft on the roof was removed last year, soon to be followed by roof skylights and new shingles)

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Looking north from ?? Only a few of these buildings pictured remain.

 

Right: Riverside view, probably about 1890. The cone shaped dome was part of Dr. Shoop's Patent Medicine Company, before they raised the roof and added a few floors.

 

This view from the east shows the building before Wisconsin Avenue was raised. The main doors opened

 to the third floor. The main doors now are located on the fourth floor, while these doors remain

below grade under the loading dock. The original Case Works are just across the river.

Left: This is our warehouse where most bagged inventory is stored. The picture shows a funeral taking place. The livery was also the undertaker and funeral home.

Left: The reef lighthouse guided many a ship to safe port where linseed oil was loaded in huge cakes at the mill for export to

England. Linseed oil was one of Racine's biggest exports in the second half of the 1800's, until farmland became so depleted of resources that it was no longer profitable. Made from flax, the tiny seed has found its way into crevices all over the building, and is rediscovered continuously seeping through the beadboard planking lining some of the walls. Right: another popular floor finishing product was also born in Racine.

Below: some views of Downtown Racine over time.