Finding Donaldson – the School, the Town & the Mill

This 3-year exhibit told about the lumber mill town of Donaldson which existed alongside State Line (Land O’ Lakes)  in the early 1900s. The first year featured the impressive two-room School which was the area’s District School through the year 1930.  Rare school records from inside the donated school safe were part of the display.  Local craftsman Wes Geib, with help from his wife Cindy, built a scale model of the Donaldson School, complete with doors and windows that open and roof sections that could be lifted off to see the detailed interior with desks & books, stoves, wood floors and more.

The second and third years of the exhibit expanded on the history of the mill and the town which took its name from owners Mason & Donaldson Lumber Co. of Rhinelander, Wis.  The Donaldson mill was located on the shore of Mill Lake, about 2 miles west of present-day Land O’ Lakes.  The town developed just to the south. The success of the saw mill operation brought more workers and families to the area.  From 1907 to 1913 the Post Office was located at Donaldson, and all area mail was addressed for Donaldson, Wis.