08/06/2026
Throwback Thursday!
Today we go back to March of 1967, the open house of King Manufacturing in Waupun as featured in the newspaper articles. Pictured on the far right giving a tour is Dave Baley, future owner of King Manufacturing.
The color photo is a few years later, showing the original layout. Our driveway was directly off of Highway 26 (S. Watertown St). Industrial Drive did not exist yet. In fact, we worked out a deal with the city later so they could put in that road and industrial park.
When King Manufacturing opened, many of the employees from Milwaukee commuted. Owner Charles Olsen would often fly his small airplane from Milwaukee to Waupun, sometimes landing in the nearby field if the airport was closed. Steel King in Milwaukee served as a warehouse until about 1968. Charles Olsen also owned another building on Burleigh street in Milwaukee, an old service station converted into an office building for another business of his.
