The Old Feed Mill
by nate on 05/10/10 at 10:43 am
As featured in the November 2007 Issue of Madison Originals Magazine.
Just one look at the historic 140-year-old Mazomanie mill, and Dan and Nancy Viste were hooked. Their hearts and imaginations captured, the couple committed to restoring the old stone mill and ensuring their venture would reflect a slice of Mazomanie history. Transformed into The Old Feed Mill, the locally popular restaurant, bakery, and gift shop has become a tourist destination as well.
During the late 1800s, the water-powered flouring mill produced 125 barrels of flour a day as well as electricity to light Mazomanie’s downtown business district. Water from the Black Earth Creek, by way of the mill pond, spilled over two sunken generators providing power for the mill and, reportedly, Dane County’s first electric lights which went into operation on December 29, 1885.
In 1900, an arsonist’s fire destroyed a large portion of the mill. Henry Kirch purchased the damaged building, rebuilt it, and operated the “Mazomanie Mill” for the next 68 years. In 1992, the Vistes purchased the recently abandoned crumbling old building.
The Vistes were very familiar with the continuously operating mill which ground feed for farmers to purchase. “Our first home, purchased in 1976, was a little farm outside town where we kept chickens and sheep as a hobby,” says Nancy. “Dan would go into town to buy feed at the old mill.”
“We recognized the village as such a jewel,” says Nancy who discovered the farm Dan and she have called home since moving there in the 70s. “We developed an attachment to the town and felt a strong connection,” adds Dan, an Algoma native.
“In 1991, the entire downtown was placed on the national registry as a Historic District,” says Dan. “This included the mill and 34 other buildings.” Nancy adds that she had long thought about renovating the landmark building and opening a restaurant.
A lab technologist, Nancy was working at a local hospital when she made the bold move that changed their lives and the vitality of the community as well. “I knew I loved the old mill, but I didn’t know a thing about running a restaurant,” she recalls. However, she created a business plan, wrote grants, and resourcefully discovered ways to create the ambience and cuisine that make The Old Feed Mill a successful restaurant. After a four-year renovation, their dream came true when The Old Feed Mill, now in its 12th year, opened its doors to the public.
With a love for history and the environment, along with a passion for renovation, Dan, a hydrogeologist, advanced from an entry-level position to president and part owner of Warzyn Engineering. “I worked in the field of environmental restoration for 25 years,” says Dan, who engineered ways to convert contaminated soil into something useful. Improving the method for converting methane into useful energy earned him a patent. Transferring his passion for environmental renovation to building restorations represented a natural progression.
“Our philosophy centers on being who we are. We did not want The Old Feed Mill to be a pretentious place. We emphasized the quality of the old building,” explains Nancy. “We believe the original experience of a historic building cannot be manufactured. You can replicate it, but you can’t duplicate it Following the Historic District’s guidelines, the Viste’s renovation maintained the integrity of historic ambience. For transforming the building, built in 1857, into a magnificent restoration, Nancy and Dan received the prestigious Certification of Commendation from the Wisconsin State Historical Society.
“Of the four-year renovation, it took three years to clean, and find funding, tax credits, and restoration grants,” Nancy recalls. Then the construction began. “Much of the work was done by family and friends. At the end, when we opened in 1995, it was mostly just family.” That included daughter Halle, and sons Nate and Patrick. The mill’s hand-hewn stone, sturdy timbers, and original wood floors were retained. The interior features original pieces Nancy found at garage sales and auctions, which were hauled, repaired, and refinished by Dan. “Everything is recycled,” says Dan, a master of making old items useful again.
Restored eclectic dinner tables fill the dining room, and an operating mill produces custom flour used in the bread baked on-site. Visitors can see a Stone-Buhr mill grind the flour. “We also have an original mill which is much larger. In fact, it is so powerful, the building shakes when it runs, so we purchased a smaller mill as well,” says Dan.
Other antique treasures, reminiscent of the mill’s heyday, include a crank cash register from an Ashland department store, a massive pay desk from a San Francisco hotel, and a huge ice chest with the first refrigeration by Frigidaire. Ice cream lovers will be tempted by an old-fashioned soda fountain complete with a vintage Hamilton Beach malted milk mixer.
Featuring classic Midwestern cuisine, The Old Feed Mill enjoys a reputation for country elegance and dining excellence. Wheat and rye, ground on-site into flour for breads and pasta, are organically grown in Wisconsin. Other seasonal organic ingredients are used including salad greens grown in the Viste’s own garden.
While the menu is extensive and totally tempting, some signature creations include home-baked breads made from grains milled on-site, Walleye, Cider Roast Chicken, Pot Roast, Meat Loaf, and Garlic Mashed Potatoes. Sweet treats include Homemade Pies, Apple Dumplings, and the restaurant’s famous Bread Pudding.
“Our Pot Roast just developed a life of its own,” says Nancy, who gladly shares the recipe. While the Pot Roast can be prepared at home, the total experience and unique ambience served at The Old Feed Mill cannot be duplicated.
The Old Feed Mill was featured in Midwest Living and on TV’s The Food Network where it was heralded as “The Best of Country Cuisine.” The restaurant also received high grades by Jerry Minnich, author of Eating Well in WisconsinLocated inside the Old Feed Mill, the Millstone Mercantile, a stunning gift shop, offers works of local artists, milled soaps and body products, and a good selection of special occasion cards and old-fashioned candy. Upstairs, in Miller’s Loft, there’s a gallery of beautiful quilts handmade and for sale. Other Viste enterprises include downtown’s Whistle Stop Café, and Halle’s Vintage Shoppe.
