Millsite Tackle Company, 1455 North Michigan Avenue, Howell, Michigan

This is a collection of photographs of the Millsite Tackle Company was an innovator of stringers and lures.  They were in business manufacturing fishing tackle from about 1932 to 1977.  They were located at 1455 North Michigan Avenue, Howell, Michigan on the site of the an old mill that was owned by A. O. Hutchings & Sons.

In 1919, Henry J. Wickman started a factory, Millsite Steel & Wire Works at this address.  It was later sold to Ralph J. Hall, Robert Withey and Donald F. Hall, and the factory's slogan in 1954. was "Quality Tackle Since 1915".

The names of the persons in the photographs are unknown.

Further information on Henry Wickman is as follows (when he owned and operated Wickman Wireworks on West Grand River Avenue, Howell, Michigan): 
Wickman Wire Works was established about May 1909 in Howell, Michigan.  The manufactuer occupied a building that was formerly the Methodist Church; the 1855 building was moved to a site on 200 block of West Grand River Avenue to make way for the next building about 1890. 

That building on Grand River Avenue was used for a multitude of community purposes including a gymnasium and a manufacturing place.  It was last occupied by Wickman Wire Works.  (See item 10143, "200 Block of West Grand River").

Wickman Wire Works was owned by Henry J. Wickman who held a patent on wire eaves trough hangers.  Mr. Wickman also held patents on "Keep Em Alive" fish stringers, and several other items such as boat anchors.   He came to Howell in 1908 and opened his wire working machine shop in the old church building on West Grand River Avenue. 

In 1912, the officers of Wickman Wire Works were R. Bruce McPherson, Henry J. Wickman, Hugh A. McPherson, F.P. Schroeder, and E. C. Shields, and the wireworks employed nine men.

In 1910, Mr. Wickman purchased 30 acres on North Michigan Avenue where later Millsite Steel and Wire Works was established.  Mr. Wickman died in a cave-in November 20, 1930 as workmen were cutting down a hill with a steam shovel.  His widow, Leora M. Wickman dissolved the wireworks in 1945.  Robert Withey was her nephew who was later part owner of Millsite Tackle.

Fishing tackle industry

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