The Frankenmuth Woolen Mill
The Frankenmuth Woolen Mill is a historical staple here in the Great Lakes region. As the oldest continuously operated woolen mill in Michigan, they’ve spent 126 years producing quality eco-friendly wool comforters, mattress toppers, and more.
Established: 1894
Owners: Abby and Matt Curtis
Location: 570 S Main St, Frankenmuth, MI 48734
Distance: approximately 78 miles from Detroit
Website: wool-bedding.com
Tell us about your mill.
The Frankenmuth Woolen Mill was founded in 1894 to process wool from local farm flocks into warm, wool bedding. Local families needed this service to survive harsh Midwestern winters. What started as a quest to aid rural farm life in the nation's Heartland, has now turned into a 126-year tradition of making comfortable, healthy, and quality wool comforters, mattress toppers, pillows and dryer balls.
What is the mill’s history?
A Michigan Centennial Business, the Frankenmuth Woolen Mill is recognized as the oldest, continuously operated woolen mill in Michigan. The original mill structure is still in use and remains the same today as when first opened in October of 1894. A contract to produce sixty-six thousand pairs of socks, mitts and leg wraps for the American Troops during WWI was a boon for the company and made the Frankenmuth Woolen Mill the town’s largest employer. Today, using much of the original equipment the Frankenmuth Woolen Mill is now one of the largest producers of wool bedding in the United States.
Who started the mill and who runs it now?
The Frankenmuth Woolen Mill was originally established by Franz Ranke and George Grueber. The Mill is now owned by Abby and Matt Curtis who are just the 4th owners in the business’s 126 year history.
Why was the mill established?
The Frankenmuth Woolen Mill was founded to process wool from local farm flocks into warm, wool bedding. Local families needed this service to survive harsh Midwestern winters.
How has the mill evolved since its beginning?
The biggest difference in our business the past 10 years has been committing to marketing and producing, all natural wool bedding. “We saw an opportunity to make a mark in the healthy bedding segment of wool bedding and we ran with it,” says Co-Owner, Abby Curtis. “We have increased our sales well over 800 percent in the past 8 years and now sell our wool bedding across the country.”
Co-owner, Matt Curtis, adds, “The niche we have found has enabled us to open an online store, www.wool-bedding.com, that is breaking sales records monthly and also create a wholesale business that provides wool bedding to some of the premier bedding companies in the country. This increase has allowed us to double our staff and has us in the midst of an expansion project that will create an additional 5500 square feet of production space. This project will allow us to better serve our customers, big and small, all while preserving the original building from 1894.”.
What makes your mill unique?
We have become one of the leading manufacturers of wool bedding all while using equipment and processes from the 1800’s. The antique equipment is not only a part of our nation’s history; it also allows us to process our wool without using any chemicals.
https://wool-bedding.com/blogs/wool-blog/the-making-of-frankenmuth-woolen-mill-bedding
Although our bedding business is booming we are still catering to the farmers and fiber artists who trust our 126 years of experience to handle their processing needs.
Tell us about the fiber processed at your mill.
We process mostly wool but have seen a huge increase in alpaca and have some faithful customers who send us their angora and llama along with the occasional dog!
Where does the fiber sent to the mill come from?
The majority of our fiber comes from the Midwest but the East and West Coasts along with Texas and New Mexico make up a decent percentage of our business.
What is the most common type of fiber you receive?
Hands down it is wool. I mean, it is in our name!
Have you noticed any influxes in farms producing organic wool, using regenerative farming or other environmental practices?
Yes, we have. A number of years ago we made the decision to purchase Climate Beneficial Wool and it was a boon for our business. To be able to tell our customer’s the exact ranch our wool comes from as well as how the ranchers are truly stewards of the land has given us the transparency we were looking for.
What are the different products that you produce?
For over 126 years we have been making one thing - wool bedding. Not branching out into the latest sleep fad or bedding flavor of the month. Just comfortable and healthy wool filled pillows, comforters and mattress toppers. We have added wool dryer balls to our offerings and they have been very popular.
What is the most common end product?
Wool comforters followed by mattress toppers and pillows. We also do a great business in roving.
How do you envision the future of the mill?
We feel by establishing an online presence and maintaining our heritage we have set the stage for another 126 years of success. With our expansion and commitment to online sales the Frankenmuth Woolen Mill’s future is bright.
Tell us about your interest in Fibershed.
“We were looking for more transparency for our company and our customers in regards to our products and the materials used in them,” Abby stated. “With the help of Fibershed we know our wool is not only pure but the sheep are treated humanely all while benefiting the land. The wool we are buying now is all Climate-Beneficial. The sheep and ranchers are giving more to the earth than they take from it. We can source things back to their origins. People really want to know what they are sleeping under.”
What is your vision for the Great Lakes Fibershed?
We would love to be able to purchase wool directly from the Great Lakes Fibershed in the amounts we need.
How can our community help support you?
The story you tell about the benefits of Climate Beneficial Wool helps us immensely.
About the mill’s covid response: https://wool-bedding.com/blogs/wool-blog/a-whirlwind-week-for-our-mill-and-country