A stave mill is a place of business that converts raw lumber into barrels. Waterproof “tight” barrels, often used to transport liquids, are made from hardwood. “Slack” barrels, used to transport dry goods and foodstuffs, are made from softwood.

In 1882, J.T. Wright decided to move his stave mill located at Horseshoe Bay to Juddville. The Door County Advocate wrote, “It is currently reported that J. T. Wright, who is operating a stave mill at Horseshoe Bay, town of Egg Harbor, has determined to remove that establishment from there and locate it at Lundberg’s pier, Juddville. The cause of this contemplated change is said to have been brought about by the owners of basswood timber in the vicinity of Horseshoe Bay refusing to dispose of their stock at the prices stipulated when the mill was first established at that point. Should this report prove true and the mill be removed to this town, it is quite probable that a saw mill will also be added to enable the owner to cut all kinds of lumber, an article which is in great demand among the farmers of this town now. Juddville promises to be about as lively a point this winter as any on the bay shore. A large amount of wood and other products of the forest will be banked at this point, to be forwarded to market over the two piers next season. (Source: “Gibraltar”. Door County Advocate, December 21st, 1882, p. 3. https://archive.co.door.wi.us/jsp/RcWebImageViewer.jsp?doc_id=ea91eb62-96e3-4ad5-b0c2-0fc095b362be/wsbd0000/20120910/00001072)

Later that year, the Door County Advocate reported on the move of J.T. Wright’s stave mill to Juddville under somewhat colorful circumstances. “A right lively time threatened to come off at Horseshoe Bay one night last week, but matters took a different turn and trouble was happily avoided. On Friday Sheriff Scott was instructed by Henry Strong, a Green Bay banker, to visit Horseshoe Bay and prevent J.T. Wright from removing his stave mill, which was being transferred to Juddville, about seven miles further north. The officer dispatched under Sheriff Wagener to Horseshoe Bay, and he found that the machinery was nearly all removed when he arrived there. He stopped further operations, however, and remained there until the following morning, when he learned from Mr. Wright that he (Wright) had not been served with the proper Injunction. Upon learning this Mr. Wagener promptly relinquished his claim on the property as far as holding it on his own responsibility. Then the removal was resumed and the remainder of the mill promptly conveyed to Juddville before the required injunction was received here from Green Bay. According to Mr. Wright’s statement of the affair he was entirely justified in the summary manner or procedure. He learned that a former partner—a Mr. Warner—had purchased the land on which the mill was situated without his (Wright’s) knowledge, and mortgaged or sold the property to Henry Strong. He says this snap-game was attempted for the purpose of preventing him from moving the mill while the ice was in “good condition” for travel, and thus delay him for two or three months.”  (Source: “Around Home: Short Takes”. Door County Advocate, March 22, 1883, p. 3.  https://archive.co.door.wi.us/jsp/RcWebImageViewer.jsp?doc_id=ea91eb62-96e3-4ad5-b0c2-0fc095b362be/wsbd0000/20120910/00001072)

The last sentence in the quote above highlights that in the latter 1800s travel over the frozen surface of Green Bay could be preferable in the winter months to travel by road.

Later in 1883, it appears that J.T. Wright’s new stave mill in Juddville may have been in a precarious financial position even though the move of the mill had just occurred several months prior. “Wright’s stave mill at Juddville continues in operation. Mr. Wright is manufacturing the staves under contract for D. W. Britton of Green Bay, to which place they are shipped. It is said that the price of this commodity is way down just now and that Mr. Britton is inclined to kick against taking any more, but the matter is fixed so that he can’t get out of it. (Source: “Around the County. (continued)”. Door County Advocate, June 14, 1883, p. 2. https://archive.co.door.wi.us/jsp/RcWebImageViewer.jsp?doc_id=ea91eb62-96e3-4ad5-b0c2-0fc095b362be/wsbd0000/20120910/00001097)

Only two years later, in September of 1885, a print ad was placed to sell J.T. Wright’s stave mill in Juddville. “FOR SALE – The mill at Juddville contains machinery for making Basswocd Glucose Syrup Barrel stuff – by putting in a pony circular, a regular mill can be set in operation in three days. For price and terms apply on premises to Kysander or A. Lundberg or of G. W . Allen, Sturgeon Bay.  J.T. Wright”. (Source: “For Sale” print ad. Weekly Expositor Independent, September 18, 1885, p. 2. https://archive.co.door.wi.us/jsp/RcWebImageViewer.jsp?doc_id=cd3db20e-8a52-445f-9fc5-8f2ec98b5f16/wsbd0000/20120522/00000488)

The sale took place the next year. It is not known if J.T. Wright had erected a stone mill when he moved his stave mill to Juddville, or if the following article erroneously refered to a stone mill instead of a stave mill. “Some transfers of property have occurred here lately. Mr. David Allan has purchased the stone mill which was erected at Juddville a few years ago by Mr. Wright, of Janesville. Messrs. Allan & Brown are now engaged in removing the machinery to Chamber’s Island, where the mill will be put up on the old Clow place, and the owner will engage in the manufacture of shingles at the opening of navigation. The three-masted scow Heathen Chinee has been sold by Mr. Allan to the Sorenson boys, who will fit her on and put her in the Wood trade in the spring.” (Source: “Fish Creek”. The Independent, March 5, 1886, p. 3. https://archive.co.door.wi.us/jsp/RcWebImageViewer.jsp?doc_id=fae15343-a5c5-4172-8e8f-939ee2361de1/wsbd0000/20120522/00000511)