Frank McDonough founded a firm to make custom sawmill equipment along the banks of the Eau Claire River in 1888. Soon enough, McDonough was selling his quality equipment to sawmills throughout the Midwest.

When McDonough died in 1904, the directors were prepared to liquidate the company, but when they brought in John M. Kildahl to settle the books; he ended up buying the firm. Ownership passed to John’s son, Jack, and eventually to Jack’s daughter Sue Tietz, the current president and CEO.

Today, her son Matt Tietz is senior vice president and owner. In 1989, McDonough relocated from its original factory on Galloway Street to its current Melby Street home, where it manufactures hardwood milling equipment used in nearly every sawmill in Wisconsin and around the world.