North American Database of Archaeological Geophysics
North American Database of Archaeological Geophysics
Abstract/Summary:
Project Name: Waraju Distillery, MN;
Reference: Kvamme, K.L. (2001). An Electrical Resistivity Study of Waraju Distillery, New Ulm, Minnesota. ArcheoImaging Lab, Department of Anthropology and Center for Advanced Spatial Technologies, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas. Prepared for the Brown County Historical Society, New Ulm, Minnesota.
One of the first pioneering industries of New Ulm was the Waraju steam distillery, built by Henry A. Subilia in 1860 for the production of whiskey ("waraju" is a Dakota word meaning "cottonwood"). It was built of nearly 200,000 hand-made bricks, measured 72 x 46 feet (21.9 x 14.0 m) in area, was 33 feet (10.1 m) high at the roof cornice, and cost about $10,000. Its most distinctive feature, all that remains above the surface today, is its tall red-brick chimney. New Ulm was attacked twice during the Dakota conflict of 1862 (on August 19 and 23), and the distillery was not defended. While the principal action occurred near the town center, the Dakota occupied the distillery and burned it. Its walls were still intact after the conflict, however, so with nearly 20 buildings destroyed, including the flour mill, the distillery was employed for that purpose until a new mill was built in 1864. The Waraju distillery then went out of business and was sold at a mortgage sale in 1866 for $800. The ruins were left open and fell into greater decay until the 1970s when the standing chimney was fenced and it was further leveled and landscaped.
An electrical resistance survey at Waraju distillery clearly revealed the presence of significant and massive buried features, most likely the building's brick and stone foundation and associated rubble, all indicated through large measurements. The data suggest that the 20 x 35 m area surveyed does not capture the full extent of the original structure, however. The data also are controversial because they suggest a structure significantly wider than indicated historically, although the larger apparent width may possibly be due to displacement of brick and stone rubble when the building was leveled and landscaped. At this time the apparent size discrepancy cannot be explained.