Wisconsin Pearl Button Factory - Located east of railroad in present Black Lumber Company yard. Courier Files/J.M. Oliver, Jr. This picture, of around 1910 vintage, was taken before button cutting reached peak production period. This shop was housed in a frame building on the East side of the railway and was shortly replaced by a concrete shop that had a score or more of cutters on the payroll. With no idea that the native supply would ever be exhausted, the streams were so denuded of mussells [sic] that shelling would not provide a living wage and the industry vanished as quickly as it had developed. “Operators in the photograph from left to right -- far row, Harry Grant, Tom Davenport, Bill Hettel and two unidentified. Near row, the Hughes brothers, John and Charlie, two unidentifed and Dick Brown.” (File Photo/Clay County Courier)
By PAM LOWE The history of Corning is steeped in the early industries of timber, blacksmithing and button manufacturing. At one time mussels from the…
