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U.S. Sugar Co. begins operations at Madison factory
The United States Sugar Company begins sugar beet processing at the factory that is now known as Garver Feed Mill.
(photo courtesy Wisconsin Historical Society, ca. 1920; Image ID: 22946) -
U.S. Sugar Co. files for bankruptcy
The main building of the United States Sugar Company sugar beet factory and 3 acres were subsquenty sold to a group of Milwaukee businessmen at public auction.
(photo courtesy Wisconsin Historical Society, ca. 1924; Image ID: 11038) -
James Russell Garver buys U.S. Sugar building
James Russell Garver purchases the former United States Sugar Company for use as a general storage and animal feed distribution facility. Garver conrted the building to a feed mill called Wisconsin Sales and Storage Company. -
James Russell Garver dies
After Garver died in 1973, employees operated Garver's Supply Co. for nearly two years under a trust agreement. -
Garver's Supply Co. sold
Wayne Wendorf and James Hatch purchase Garver's Supply Co. to continue operations under the new name, the Garver Feed and Supply Company. -
Olbrich Botanical Gardens buys Garver Feed Mill site
Olbrich Botanical Gardens agreed to purchase a 5-acre parcel of the Garver Feed Mill site. The city of Madison purchased the other 17.8 acres along the Starkweather Creek that part of the site and donated them to Olbrich the previous year.
Olbrich Gardens To Buy 5 More Acres -
Garver Feed and Supply closes its doors
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Olbrich considers renovating Garver site
Olbrich Botanical Gardens administration discusses plans with the city to expand the park, including a possible restoration of the Garver Feed Mill building.
Olbrich Lays Out Expansion Plan -
Building suffers from fire, may not be salvageable
The Garver Feed Mill building suffers about $200,000 in damage from an early morning fire. Olbrich Park administration wasn't sure that the building, which was called a key part of the park's planned expansion, could be saved.Feed Mill Building Damaged -
Mayor Dave announces search for other uses besides gardens
Mayor Dave Cieslewicz announces in the middle of his first term that he would like to see the Garver Feed Mill redeveloped, prompting concerns from members of the Olbrich Botanical Society who had fundraised for the building%u2019s purchase and expected it to continue being used for the Olbrich Botanical Gardens.Mayor's Plan Jolts Olbrich -
Garver upkeep bill estimated $1.2M
A Chicago consulting firm determines that it would cost $1.2 million to halt deterioration of the Garver Feed Mill, including installing a temporary roof and patching other holes and weaknesses in the brick. Mayor Wants To Save Old Mill Near Olbrich -
Mayor Dave starts to initiate committee process for deciding use
Mayor Dave Cieslewicz allocates $20,000 in his 2007 capital budget to begin seeking plans for the Garver Feed Mill%u2019s redevelopment and sets up a committee to draft a request for proposals and select a final plan. Mayor Wants To Save Old Mill Near Olbrich -
Arts incubator concept debated by committee; Common Wealth steps up as a possible developer
Garver Mill Site A Home For Arts? Panel Gets Input On RestorationThe idea of turning the Garver Feed Mill into an arts incubator is first discussed at a meeting of the Garver Feed Mill Re-Use Committee. At the time, Common Wealth Development had a $150,000 grant to find a site for an arts incubator in the city, and Common Wealth staff said an arts incubator would be possible on the Garver site. -
Three ideas for Garver proposed to committee
The Garver Feed Mill Re-Use Committee receives three responses to its request for proposals: one from Common Wealth proposing an arts incubator to provide affordable working space for artists, one from the Barnsdale Land Co. proposing a center focused on studying and promoting sustainability, and architect Jan Sweet proposing a self-sustaining village. <a href='http://www.madison.com/archives/read.php?ref=/tct/2007/09/22/0709220314.php' >3 IDEAS FOR GARVER MILL SITE; CITY PANEL WILL MEET OCT. 1 -
Selection process hits funding snag
FEED MILL REVAMP ON HOLD
The Garver Feed Mill Re-Use Committee%u2019s selection process is put on hold after Mayor Dave Cieslewicz%u2019s 2008 capital budget includes nearly $2 million in funding over three years for Common Wealth to create an arts incubator somewhere in the city. Garver committee members say the funding does not meet the charge to find a project using no city funds to redevelop the site and gives Common Wealth an unfair advantage. The funds are taken out of the budget, and the committee continues its work. -
Panel Splits On Garver Mill's Use
The selection process is against stalled when ratings for two of the submitted proposals, Common Wealth%u2019s arts incubator and Panel splits on Garver Mill's usearnsdale%u2019s sustainability center, come out one-half of 1 percent apart when scored on 15 separate criteria. Committee members meet in closed session to further debate the projects and do not reveal which project held the %u201Crazor-thin lead.%u201D -
Arts incubator wins panel vote
After more than a year of work, the Garver Feed Mill Re-Use Committee votes to recommend the building become an arts incubator by a vote of 5-3.Panel Backs Arts Facility For Garver Mill -
Officials consider refendum in Garver status change
Voters may decide fate of Garver Feed MillCity officials first raise the possibility that the Garver Feed Mill project may fall under the Preservation of Shoreline Parks ordinance, which calls for a binding public referendum on changes in legal status or major construction in parks that border lakes or navigable waterways. While reconstructing buildings similar in size to existing ones is exempt from the referendum, the possible sale of the building to Common Wealth would be a change in status, according to the city attorney%u2019s office.. -
Olbrich Park referendum gains more steam
Olbrich Park referendum gains more steamThe city%u2019s parks commission votes to approve the language for a spring 2009 referendum on Common Wealth%u2019s proposed arts incubator. At the meeting, members of the Olbrich Botanical Society insist that the Olbrich Park master plan is completed before the referendum in order to ensure the gardens can expand and that the society%u2019s purchase of the Garver Feed Mill is honored. -
Council approves referendum
Softball fields lose in Olbrich Park plan The city council approves the referendum language at its Feb. 3 meeting, and the parks commission approves a master plan in March that allows the Olbrich Botanical Gardens to continue its expansion across Starkweather Creek into the space occupied by a boat landing and two softball fields currently. -
Olbrich Park master planning process begins; Decision to use Garver for arts incubator throws Olbrich Botanical Gardens for a loop
City begins master planning process for Olbrich Park in a public meeting with more than 100 attendees. Expanding the Olbrich Botanical Gardens is a primary concern of attendees. The arts incubator complicates earlier plans for the gardens' expansion. City officials are concerned with the gardens' expansion as the Olbrich Botanical Society has a deed restriction on the building that could prevent the city from selling the building to Commonwealth Development. -
Madison votes on arts incubator referendum
Common Wealth Development%u2019s arts incubator is put to the voters in a citywide referendum.
