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Milan, Village of

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Author:
Mary Moltzan

Location:
T. 29 N. - R. 3 E., Sec. 19, Township of Johnson

Background:

Built up around the lumber industry, Milan was named after the European city of Milan, Italy.

Post Office Established:
June 4, 1897

First Postmaster:
George H. Bushman

About The Post Office:

The name was changed to Milan on November 26, 1901.  The office is actually located in the NE 1/4 of Section 25 in the Township of Holton.

Churches:

1. St. Thomas Mission Church was built in 1914. The first mass was said on Christmas Day, 1914. Now called St. Thomas the Apostle

2. Bethlehem Lutheran Church was erected in 1911.

Schools:

The Milan school was started in 1905 with Louise Schmidt as the first teacher. Before this time, the children went to the Dixon School, south of Milan.

Business:

A grocery store started in 1900, a feed store in 1916, the bank in 1917, and a weekly newspaper in 1920.

Milan also once had an opera house and dance hall where silent movies were shown. Later another building was used as a movie house. Both buildings were destroyed by fire.

Industry:

Ellingson Sawmill began operations in 1900.

The cheese factory in 1909.

Stories:

Milan may have been the only small community to have three telephone exchanges,  Athens, Abbotsford and Medford, possibly making many calls "long distance."