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The Cities Blog
Jessica Mador

Shoddy Mill moves to Stillwater

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(MPR photo/Jennifer Simonson)

After a delay earlier this month, MnDOT finally moved the historic Shoddy Mill and warehouse buildings from Oak Park Heights to Stillwater on Wednesday.

The buildings were built in 1890 and owned by Moritz and Bertha Bergstein. The mill manufactured woolen yarn made from used clothing that was shipped to Minneapolis for use as a mattress stuffing. The Shoddy Mill and Warehouse are listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Here's a before picture:

(Photo courtesy 'Elkman,' via Creative Commons)

MnDOT is moving the structures from the banks of the St. Croix River in Oak Park Heights up the road to Stillwater to make way for the planned new St. Croix bridge between Oak Park Heights and St. Joseph in Wisconsin.

Before beginning the move, crews stabilized the small stone shoddy mill with plywood and steel beams to prevent damage during transport. The Minnesota State Patrol closed parts of Minnesota Highways 36 and 95 overnight from Wednesday into Thursday to make way for the buildings. On Friday, the buildings will be moved into their final positions across from the River Oasis Cafe on the St. Croix riverbank in Stillwater.

The new St. Croix River four-lane highway bridge will replace the 80-year-old Stillwater Lift Bridge and connect expressways on both sides of the river.