Cedarburg

I have long wanted to visit Cedarburg's six blocks of specialty shops tucked in pretty cream-color limestone buildings along Cedar Creek.  With Christmas fast approaching, we decided to make a brief stop on our way to a college alumni event in Milwaukee.

The early German immigrants who settled along the banks of Cedar Creek used limestone from the creek bed and nearby quarries to build their homes, churches, stores and mills.  Most of these buildings are still standing today, many in use for similar purposes. Hilgen and Schroeder built a grist mill in 1844 and replaced it 11 years later with a three-story stone mill that still stands on the corner of Columbia and Portland Roads.  Soon after Hilgen partnered with Dietrich Wittenberg to build the first woolen mill west of Philadelphia to produce worsted yarns. The woolen mill buildings, still standing at the north end of town, are now home to Cedar Creek Settlement with dozens of retail shops, artists galleries, restaurants and the Cedar Creek Winery. For a century Cedarburg thrived as a business community and destination town.  Visitors came from miles around to visit the popular Hilgen Springs Park and bathe in the mineral spring waters. 

Shopping on Washington Avenue in Cedarburg

One of the shops I was anxious to visit was Weeds, profiled in Midwest Living, offering not only garden products, but also soft hats, fine wooden salad bowls, jewelry, brightly colored lanterns, fairy garden decor, tallandsia, bonsai trees, unique holiday ornaments, a large variety of loose teas and tea products and a large selection of bulk herbs and spices.  Owners Jim and Karen Lillie take care that these items are from local sources and organic/recycled/repurposed, when possible.

Outside Weeds
-note temperature reading in background
-it's finally warming up into the 20s

Yard art for sale in the Weeds garden.

Departing weeds through the garden

Cedar Creek Settlement Shops 

Cedar Creek Pottery

As we departed for Milwaukee kids children were lining up, anxiously awaiting visits with Santa at "Santa's Workshop" a Festive Friday Eve's event-one of an annual series of five, free family-oriented, evening events during the holiday season at Cedar Creek Settlement.