History 1900-1960
Waupaca Foundry: A legacy of getting the job done
The history of Wisconsin’s manufacturing sector is linked to the growth and development of one foundry originally located along the banks of the Waupaca River. What started as a regional foundry has expanded to a nationwide supplier to heavy industry with durable products designed to for the agriculture, transportation, and retail sectors.
Circa 1900-1950
After the turn of the century, the foundry was sold to Leo Niemuth; then again to Charlie Dombrowski who ran the foundry until his death in 1955.
1955
Company was sold to Clifford Schwenn who changed the name to Waupaca Foundry, Inc. At this time Donald Brunner left Brillion Iron Works and joined Waupaca Foundry, Inc. as Plant Manager of Operations. Immediately a pattern vault addition was added to the plant.
1957
Waupaca Foundry was casting truck brake drums, heavy truck axle parts, water and air-cooled industrial equipment parts, wood and metal working equipment castings, electric motor housings, and parts for electric door openers. A 4-ton cupola with a 45-foot stack was constructed, operations were transferred to a new plant (now
Plant 1), and the melting jumped to 30 tons per day.