At the time, the world's largest whey plant. Also home to the world's first hydroelectric power station. Additions to the plant itself were added over time (which can be noticed while within), and numerous dairy products were produced over the years.

The John Street plant was the third industry to operate from this site, which previously housed a paper mill.

It was the Western Condensing Company's (who was later a subsidiary of Foremost Dairies, Inc.) largest operation under one roof and also the world's largest whey plant.

The site also once housed the world's first hydroelectric power station, to which even giant dams owe their existence.
Western was established at this location in 1939.

Because the building was larger than what was needed, the decision was made to share the space with another company sympathetic to Western. They welcomed the Golden State Company of California to begin their first operations in Wisconsin. Golden State began to operate a dry skim milk plant, while Western still focused on their feed whey operation.

In 1948, Golden State decided to close up their Wisconsin venture. At this time, Western was in the process of fitting production facilities with a new venture, edible whey. Western absorbed the Golden State employees and took over the spacious mill. The first ever edible whey was then produced here.

Interestingly enough, in the 1950s, Western and Golden State are again associated, as corporate members of Foremost Dairies, Inc.

The John Street Plant is then four plants under one roof. Feed whey and crude sugar are produced in the whey plant, and edible whey and U.S.P. sugar are produced in the milk plant.

Wisconsin Dairies Cooperative, Baraboo, Wis., acquired the Appleton plant in 1984 from Foremost-McKesson Corp., San Francisco. On Jan. 1, 1995, Wisconsin Dairies Cooperative and Golden Guernsey Dairy Cooperative, Milwaukee, consolidated and became Foremost Farms USA. The Appleton plant manufactured whey ingredients for the infant formula market and was part of Foremost Farms USA until it was closed in 2003.