02/04/2026
This frame structure was a popular destination on Mill Street for decades. In 1887 William Fremy opened a bakery with William Brown following. In 1899 Michael Mueller bought the bakery with it remaining a family business for 70 years. Michael took bread & roils by horse & wagon to his customers around the countryside until 1915 and made city deliveries until the late 1930's. Baked goods were shipped by the railroad to Waldo, Adell, Random Lake, Elkhart Lake, Glenbulah, Crystal Lake, and Kohler. In the early days ovens were heated by wood, followed by coal, and in the 1930's a modern gas oven was installed. When freezers were installed baking techniques changed. Vegetable oil was substituted for animal fat because the latter would run when exposed to room temperatures after freezing. Michael passed away unexpectantly in 1946 doing what he loved best, baking. His son Ben (Bernard) took over the business which continued to grow. There are stories of many, who out in the dark of night, arriving to the back door in the early morning hours for a fresh doughnut. Friday was always the busiest day of the week. In the 1960's over 4,000 loaves of white bread were sold each week, 800 loaves of rye, 150 loaves cracked wheat and similar quantities of raisin, French and poppyseed. Before WWI it was 20 loaves of rye to 1 loaf of white. The Mueller's resided above the bakery where Michael shared his gardening skills. His showcase garden began in 1914 with a lattice fence ice cream parlor and popcorn wagon facing the sidewalk on Mill Street.
In 1968 Ben decided to retire from baking, The last day saw the sale of 1,500 loaves of white bread by 11 o'clock in the morning. The City of Plymouth purchased the property which was torn down to expand Division Street to Collins Street. That did not come to fruition with the site paved for a parking lot. Ben lived to the age of 77 passing away in 1983.
