The vast Wisconsin River paper industry began here in 1887 when the Centralia Pulp and Water Power Company converted a saw mill into a pulp and paper mill. The pulp mill spanned the river to the island at the site of the present hydro-electric plant, while the paper mill and boiler house were located on the island. Paper finishing and shipping facilities stood just south of the site. Two paper machines were installed, and five water-driven pulpwood grinders reduced logs to pulp. The paper mill operated until 1912, when fire destroyed it. The pulp mill was removed in 1920 to make room for an addition to the hydro-electric plant. From this beginning, the Wisconsin River area became the largest producer of printing papers in the United States.