| Weed covered and truncated at the gate, a spur leads toward the former Lauson Engine Division of Tecumseh. The mill, as it is here, is the final step in the evolution of the Lauson Manfacturing Company, founded in 1892, in New Holstein, WI. The company changed hands a few times before finally being purchased by Tecumseh in 1956. In 2007 Tecumseh sold it's Gasiline Engine and Power Train lines to the Platinum Equity LLC. In 2009, the New Holstein facility was closed as components and certain small engines were being outsourced to low-cost countires, chiefly, Brazil, India and China. Platinum Equity announced that Tecumseh Power Company had sold off "certain" assets including all existing and unfinished engine parts inventory, tooling and intellectual properties to Certified Parts Corporation. This basically closed the door on Tecumseh. The 40 acre site is now being looked at by the community for redevelopment. Looking at what is being proposed, another factory providing good jobs is not being considered. Calumet Feeds is visible on the right side of the track, the last rail served location to the south of Hilbert on this former Milwaukee Road (origianally Milwaukee and Northern) line. The line is now part of the large Canadian National empire. |