The Milwaukee & Northern – Menasha Branch – High Cliff Spur
The M&N constructed a 2.13-mile spur from High Cliff Junction to the lime kilns at High Cliff, Wis., in 1891. High Cliff Junction was Milepost 7.3 on the Menasha Branch.
The M&N became the Superior Division of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul (CM&StP), or Milwaukee Road (MILW), on 1 July 1893. It reorganized as the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific (CMStP&P) in 1928.
The MILW abandoned this spur in 1957, about a year after lime production ceased.
Limestone quarrying, and later lime burning, was established at High Cliff circa 1855 by the J. A. Day & Co. It later became the Cook, Brown & Co., later Cook & Brown, later Union Lime, later Western Lime. The lime produced by these kilns was transported across Lake Winnebago by ships, and over land via the M&N, later MILW. Production ceased in 1956.
Looking northeast toward the Cook & Brown lime kilns at High Cliff, Wis., circa the 1890s. The building at the far right is the cooper shop, where barrels were made in which to ship the lime. These are the upper kilns, as opposed to the lower kilns depicted in the photograph below. At least two of the boxcars are stenciled for the CM&StP. This view is nearly identical to the perspective captured in the photograph to the right. Postcard from the MNRHS archives.
Looking northeast toward the lime kiln ruins at High Cliff, Wis., on 20 March 2021. The building at the far right was the cooper shop, where barrels were made in which to ship the lime. These were the upper kilns, as opposed to the lower kilns depicted in the photograph at lower left. This view is nearly identical to the perspective captured in the photograph to the left. Photograph by Tom Bruss.
Looking east toward the Cook & Brown lime kilns at High Cliff, Wis., from a boat on Lake Winnebago, circa the 1890s. A couple of boxcars can be seen near the upper kilns, partially visible in the background. Photograph courtesy of the Neenah Historical Society.