Historical Note

Segelke-Kohlhaus Manufacturing Company was founded in 1857 when S. Sack and C.F. Segelke formed a partnership. They opened a carpenter shop in an alley on the south side of King St., between Front and Second streets. Much of the architectural woodwork in homes and business in La Crosse was produced by this company.

The following year Sack drowned, and Segelke formed a co-partnership with Jacob Kohlhaus and John Kutzborsky. In 1870 a larger facility was constructed at So. 2nd and Cass streets. Business boomed and in 1886 two-story and three-story buildings were erected on 3rd Street between King and Cass streets. In 1892 the company was incorporated, and in 1897 fire consumed the entire factory. Within a year, the Segelke-Kohlhaus Company had rebuilt. In the 1950s demand for custom made woodwork declined and the company went out of business in 1960. The equipment was purchased by Peter Nelson & Son, Inc.