MENASHA, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – The historic Whiting Paper Mill in Menasha is coming down. A huge Sunday fire destroyed the abandoned building, deeming it unsafe.
Police say the walls are very unstable and can come crashing down any second. Before that could happen, authorities decided to get ahead of the game and are knocking them out themselves.
For one Whiting family member and former mill employee, the demolition stirs up mixed emotions.
“It’s kinda two-fold – heartbreak, but bittersweet, you know,” said Tina Whiting.
As flames roared through the Whiting Paper Mill, bystanders literally witnessed a piece of Menasha history up in flames.
Tina Whiting tells FOX 11 it was a big part of her family destroyed.
“Shock, I guess, and a little bit of heartbreak, because there is so much family history here.”
Whiting is the great-great-granddaughter of founder and original owner of the paper mill, George A. Whiting. She worked within the once-sturdy walls of the paper mill since 1983, until a little before it was sold in 2014.
“To be in the family business,” she said. “It was something I grew up with and always had an interest in.”
Coming to work for Tina was like being among family.
“It was very family-oriented,” said Whiting. “Many of our employees were related to each other, you know, it was small and close-knit people.”
While she says it is sad to see it go, Whiting says, it was time.
“It’s been sitting vacant for all these years, something was bound to happen. Personally, I’d like to see green spaces and open land.”
Tina’s father, Brock Whiting, was the last president the plant had. He also was the last Whiting to own the paper mill.
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