Whiteside Co IL Town & City Histories

Dillon-Griswold Wire
Sterling, Whiteside Co IL

The largest factory on the sterling water power, and one of the youngest, as well, is the Dillon-Griswold Wire Mill. The plant covers three and one-half acres of land on the Rock River, south of the Chicago & Northwestern and Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Rail roads, with each of which it has switch connections. There are three main buildings, used as follows; a three story stone building, 180x80, wire drwing and woven fence; two story stone 220x60, galvanizing, barbed wire, baling wires and m achine shop; one story stone, 124x80, cleaning room, bakers, and nail machines. A two story and basement brick and stone warehouse, 50x100, is in process of construction. This building is located just north of the others.
As will be seen the wire is drawn to the required size, cut up into nails, galvanized, barbed or manufactured into bale wires under one roof.
This factory was projected slightly more than three years ago by W. M. Dillon, of this city, and J. Wool Griswold, of Troy, N. Y. Work on the erection of the buildings was begun at that time and has been pushed forward steadily, notwithstanding dull times and the stringent financial market. The main buildings of the institution were completed practically in July, the present year, though a force of men was employed prior to that time. At the present time, and in fact, since work at the mill was begun, business has been very good. Every department of the mill being fitted with the most modern machinery, the products manufactured are of the highest grade and are made ready for the market at low cost.
The capacity for drawing wire is sixty tons per day. All styles and sizes of nails are made, besides several kinds of bail ties, barbed wire and woven wire fence. The most recent addition is the galvanizing department which has been in operation but two months. This department is in the room west of the main building. The series of tanks and vats has been made according to the latest and most improved devices. An excellent quality of galvanized wire is turned out. Power is furnished by five enormous water wheels, which with our excellent facilities furnishes 500 horse power. The main line shaft is 172 feet long, nine inches in diameter.
The machine shop is fitted with lathes, planer, shaper, emery wheels, etc. All the repair work is done in this shop, the shafting is made here and parts of machines are turned out. The buildings are well ventilated, well the heated in winter and fitted with electric lights.
In short, the Dillon - Griswold Wire Mill is fitted with the best and most modern labor saving machinery and can turn out immense product at a low cost. It has already done much toward making Sterling known as a manufacturing center and it is bound to do more in the future. Its products already have a recognized reputation for superiority in the world of trade.
The Sterling Standard December 11, 1896

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