Fox River Paper Company Historic District, complex of paper mill buildings in Appleton, Wisconsin, United States, built from 1883 to 1915
The Fox River Paper Company Historic District in Appleton is a five-acre area with factory buildings constructed between 1883 and 1915. The structures display Romanesque and Italianate architectural styles and include a hydroelectric system that has remained operational since the 1880s.
The mill complex emerged during the height of papermaking along the Fox River, when water was essential for powering machinery. This site represents one of the oldest locations in the United States with continuous hydroelectric power generation.
The district is named after the company that shaped the town for nearly a century through its manufacturing operations. Today the buildings serve as apartments, though the historical structures and waterways remain visible reminders of the industrial life that once defined this space.
The site can be explored on foot and offers views of the 19th-century architecture and machinery spaces. The historic water channels and power station remain visible, though some buildings now serve as residences.
The site still generates electricity using the original hydroelectric system installed in the 1880s, making it one of America's oldest continuously operating water power locations. This working connection between historic engineering and modern function makes it particularly noteworthy.
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