| A CN train approaches N. Lake St. as it heads northwest via former SOO rails at Neenah, WI, on 17 Feb. '24. A KK Integrated Logistics facility, historically Kimberly-Clark’s Lakeview mill, 249 N. Lake St., Neenah, WI (physically located in Fox Crossing, Winnebago Co., WI (formerly Town of Menasha, Winnebago Co., WI, from 1855 until 14 Apr. 2016), looms in the background. KK Integrated Logistics purchased this facility on 12 Jan. '22, after Clearwater Paper Corp. abruptly shut it down in '21. Originally incorporated as Lakeside Paper Co. on 9 Nov. 1910, construction of the mill began in ’11, and paper production commenced on 12 Jun. ‘12. At some point they started to sell a large share of their book paper production to Sears, Roebuck & Co. for their catalogues. The mill was sold and re-incorporated as Lakeview Paper Co. on 9 Aug. ’20. Sears, Roebuck & Co. bought the facility ca. the mid- to late-‘20s. The mill was shut down on 1 Feb. ’29 after a boiler failure and Sears promptly sold it to the Canadian firm of Fraser Paper, Ltd. (which also produced book paper for Sears). Fraser did not hold it long, they sold it to Kimberly-Clark Corp. ca. Mar. ’29. Kimberly-Clark sold the facility to American Tissue Mills ca. Aug. ’96. The mill abruptly shut down on 6 Sep. ’01 due to American Tissue’s significant financial problems. The briefly idled mill was purchased by Cellu Tissue Corp. in ’02 and was renamed Cellu Tissue Corp. - Neenah, commonly shortened to Cellu Tissue - Neenah. Cellu Tissue Corp. was acquired by Clearwater Paper Group in ’10. This huge industrial facility supplied hundreds of jobs for over a century. From now on it might supply a dozen, maybe a few more, if we're lucky. This facility received rail service for 109 years. It will probably never see a freight car again. |