Optenburg fabricated boilers, machine bases and even wheels for the Navy in World War II
SHEBOYGAN — Optenberg Iron Works began in 1893 when several businessmen of Sheboygan cited the need for a boiler repair and machine shop. They persuaded the city to offer $800 to Mr. J.H. Optenberg, a German immigrant, as an inducement to move his company from New Holstein to Sheboygan.
In 1893, owners J.H. Optenberg and Henry Pott began manufacturing tubular boilers in a small frame building at the northeast corner of Clara Avenue and South Seventh Street.
For many years, the company was well known for its ability to create anything from steel. For example, during World War II, the company made tank wheels and deckhouses for Navy boats.
Eclipse Manufacturing Company of Sheboygan bought Optenberg in 1979. At the time, it was Eclipse that saved the company. According to a 1980 Press article, retired president M.F. (Bud) Umbreit said in the article, "A couple of hotel chains wanted to buy it (Optenberg) because of the location and build a marina."
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In that 1980 Sheboygan Press article provided by the Sheboygan County Historical Research Center, retired Optenberg President M.F. (Bud) Umbreit said, "The idea that the firm could make anything from steel if a profit could be made on it has been very sound.
He added, "Basically, any design an engineer draws up for fabrication, Optenberg can build."
Nine years later, a group of plant managers, including Lawrence Kreutzer, purchased the company from Eclipse. It became known as Optenberg, Inc.
Financial problems began to plague the company as it went into receivership in the early 2000s.
In 2001, Optenberg, Inc., was no more — but Optenberg Enterprises, LLC, arose from the ashes. Lawrence Kreutzer was no longer part of the management team. The new company was led by Jay Hintze. That firm continued to operate until 2003, when the plant on South Seventh Street shut down. The buildings were torn down a short time later.
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The Sigma Group in 2004, according to their website, provided environmental and civil engineering services to develop the Optenberg brownfield site as a high-residential condominium complex.
Today, the parcel sits vacant, awaiting a role in Sheboygan with even more proposals on the table for the property.
Gary C. Klein can be reached at 920-453-5149 or gklein@gannett.com. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) at @leicaman99.
This article originally appeared on Sheboygan Press: Sheboygan industrial history: If it was metal Optenburg could fabricate it
