Hermansville and the maple flooring stamped IXL
In 1888, Hermansville's lumber company opened a mill for kiln-dried rock-maple flooring and sent boards stamped IXL to builders across the growing West.
Hermansville began as a company town in the Menominee County woods. Charles J.L. Meyer, a German-born cabinetmaker with a sash-and-door business in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, established the town in 1878. His Wisconsin Land & Lumber Company eventually held about 50,000 acres here, and Meyer Township still carries his name.
The part that made Hermansville unusual came in 1888. The company opened a mill with precision machinery for turning kiln-dried rock maple into matched flooring. Boards carried the IXL stamp and went to builders and architects working across the growing West. The company kept operating in Hermansville until 1943.
The best part is what remains. The company office, built in 1882-83, now serves as the IXL Historical Museum. Its buildings and collections preserve the machinery, wood products, records, and everyday objects of a U.P. company town. It is a compact look at how one company shaped both Hermansville and the woodwork it shipped far beyond the U.P.
Where to see it
The former Wisconsin Land & Lumber Company office is now the IXL Historical Museum in Hermansville. Hours are seasonal, so confirm current opening times before making the drive.
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Sources
Last reviewed against the listed sources: July 15, 2026.