Editor's note: This article was originally published Sept. 22, 2020, after Verso idled its Wisconsin Rapids paper mill. It has been updated to include the most recent history and information.

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works. Paper is a ubiquitous part of everyday life, but how is it made, and where did it originate?

BRAINERD, Minn. — Working at the town's paper mill was more than a job for most Brainerd people. For more than a century, it became a way of life that gave birth to generations. It was an “extended ...