Stop 14 (Downtown Trail) – Valecia Milk Company
About
Downtown Middleton Historic Walking Trail Stop 14:
While this utilitarian concrete block building , now renovated as 19 condominiums, is not a historical landmark, it represents a significant period in Middleton’s economic history. The building was completed in 1914 as a plant to process condensed milk. Attracting the plant was the first major success of Middleton’s Commercial Club. Perhaps expanding too rapidly, the Valecia Corporation went bankrupt. During the bankruptcy proceedings some fraudulent activity was revealed, and the owners were convicted in federal court. In 1915, the Valecia company was reorganized by W. R. Montague of LaCrosse. With headquarters in Madison, the company was operated by Montague’s son Theodore and Ernest Eckstedt. For many years, Victor Schwenn, who was also prominent in Middleton politics, was the plant manager on-site. The Valecia company prospered during World War I. It provided employment for many Middleton residents and helped the growth of the local dairy industry. In 1927, Theodore Montague, who went on to become an important chief executive of the Borden Company, facilitated the sale of Valecia to Pet Milk. Over the years, production at the factory changed from evaporated milk to milk powder that was used to make ice cream. The economic fortunes of the plant also fluctuated. In 1924, the producers’ troubled relations with the company over milk pricing led to the formation of the Middleton Milk Producers Association. During the 1940s, Pet employees were organized by the Teamsters’ Union and wages improved. For many years, shipments from the Pet factory constituted the largest commercial customer at the Middleton depot. In 1967, Pet closed its Middleton factory, then the largest employer in the city, which was a blow to the local economy. After the plant closed, the building served as a warehouse for the Ford Motor Company. In 2004, the building was transformed into the attractive Valencia Lofts as part of the city master plan for downtown redevelopment.
Status: Currently, this building is privately owned condos and is not open to the public.
Click here for Downtown Middleton Historic Trail stop 15: Mazo Egg Factory
Historical photo from the Middleton Historical Society.
