A couple spent years restoring a 170-year-old Wisconsin grain mill into a 4,388-square-foot home; the historic property is reportedly sold for $750,000 |

Representative Image of a historic grain mill transformed into a cozy country home with vintage furnishings and preserved industrial features (AI-generated image)

A deteriorating grain mill in rural Wisconsin was given a second life as a country home after years of work by Ross and Theresa Halverson, who had backgrounds as antiques dealers. In December 2010, the mill’s then-owner told Ross Halverson that he planned to demolish the building. Halverson took it on the condition that he move it, and the structure was relocated roughly a mile in March 2011. The mill, which dates to the 1850s, needed extensive repairs, including work on floors that were unsafe to walk on. The couple adapted the former industrial building for residential use while retaining elements of its original materials and machinery. Its renovated interior combined an open layout, vintage furnishings and a farmhouse-style kitchen. The property at 33511 Old Mill Drive in Lone Rock, Wisconsin, was later marketed as a furnished historic mill conversion. Shorewest’s listing search reports a sale for $750,000 on October 9, 2026, but the transaction has not been independently confirmed.

How a historic mill was moved across Wisconsin farmland

According to The Capital Times, the building began its move at 4:30 a.m. on March 8, 2011. The report described plans to transport it across fields while the ground was still frozen. The mill’s construction date is uncertain. The real-estate listing dates it to 1856, while a local historian quoted by The Capital Times and a Wisconsin State Farmer columnist both identify 1858 as the construction year.After the move, the Halversons faced extensive work to make the building suitable for everyday living. Its floors were unsafe to walk on, and the restoration involved replacing the roof, improving insulation and rebuilding the flooring. The couple also removed old equipment and reused original materials wherever possible. In a Country Living feature, Theresa Halverson recalled that it took 4 years before they could sleep in the building. The couple moved in during late 2015, according to Wisconsin State Farmer, roughly 4½ years after the March 2011 relocation.

Inside the converted mill: salvaged materials and farmhouse details

According to Country Living, the restored mill has an open, atrium-like layout across its lower 2 floors, tall ceilings and white walls. The owners combined these features with vintage furnishings and repurposed components from the building’s industrial past. Ross Halverson used salvaged materials to make furniture and decorative pieces, including a dining table incorporating old porch posts and parts from a flour-making machine. Industrial remnants also became interior features, while an old storm door was repurposed as a coffee table.The kitchen features white cabinetry, an apron-front sink and butcher-block countertops. In the pantry, Theresa displayed her collection of jadeite dishes. In a bedroom sitting area, shelves hold collections of ironstone and pottery. The bedrooms use neutral fabrics and painted furniture. Ross painted a four-poster bed white, and Theresa dressed it with cream-coloured bedding. A whitewashed antique cupboard provides linen storage. Photographer Annie Schlechter photographed the property for Country Living.

Wisconsin grain mill reportedly sells for $750,000

The property at 33511 Old Mill Drive in Lone Rock was marketed as a historic mill conversion with 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and 4,388 square feet, according to the real-estate listing. The site covers 2.39 acres and includes a barn with heated workshop space and a separate blacksmith shop. Marketing material described the property as a furnished home with original mill gearing and industrial features retained. The listing also promoted potential uses including short-term accommodation, retreats and events, subject to applicable local requirements.The property has appeared in listings at different asking prices. Country Living reported in September 2025 that the Halversons had put the home on the market, and an earlier listing from another brokerage advertised it for $1.2 million. The earliest listing record located for the later price sequence dates to December 2025, when the asking price was $849,900. Subsequent prices included $799,900 and $784,900. Shorewest’s listing search reports that the property sold for $750,000 on October 9, 2026. However, a Weichert page continued to show it at $784,900. Because the transaction has not been confirmed through a primary property record or the listing agent, the reported sale price and date should be treated with caution.