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ebook History of Watertown, Wisconsin
City Concludes Greatest Fete in its History
1936
Centennial Celebration Ends
Amid
a Blaze of Civic Glory
1935
09 04 SCHURZ
MONUMENT PROPOSED FOR WATERTOWN
History Society Discusses Plans for Centennial
Plans for Watertown’s centennial were
discussed last evening at a meeting of the directors of the Watertown Historical
Society held at the library.
Historical exhibits in windows of
downtown business places are contemplated by the organization. An art exhibit
also is being considered. Other projects which would adequately depict the
early history of Watertown also were discussed. Harry Smith, Chairman of
the centennial, was present at the meeting, attending at the invitation of the
directors.
The directors last night
decided to make a determined effort to have the Schurz monument, which is to be
purchased by the Federation of German Societies in Wisconsin, erected in
Watertown. The society [Federation of
German Societies in Wisconsin] has asked the state for permission to erect the
monument on either the state capitol grounds or the University of Wisconsin
campus.
1936
Watertown
Daily Times, 07 06 1936
Watertown
today began its second century after winding up a four day
celebration last night which commemorated the closing of the first 100 years of
the community, founded in 1836 by Timothy Johnson. The celebration has already gone down as the
greatest and most successful community undertaking in the history of Watertown,
an event that will be talked about for years to come. Never before has there
been such an outpouring of people and community spirit as was manifested here
during the four days starting last Thursday.
Never has Watertown put on a celebration quite like this one and never before has there been such a display of public
interest and appreciation.
All
attendance records for community events were broken Saturday night when the
climax of the Fourth of July celebration was reached at Riverside Park. A crowd estimated at 30,000 persons filled
the park to its capacity. Automobiles in
some directions were parked beyond the city limits.
The
centennial parade, the old settlers' picnic, a civic homecoming banquet,
athletic contests, band concerts and programs of free acts plus the most
gorgeous and elaborate fireworks display ever seen here, and the first field
mass of the Catholic church ever celebrated in Watertown, were important
factors in attracting crowds. There
wasn't a failure among the events.
Historic Displays Pleases
No
small part in making the centennial a success was the large number of displays
which filled local store windows.
Containing relics and heirlooms, antiques, old historic documents, pictures and objects of all kinds, all associated with a
past era, the windows were one of the biggest attractions with visitors. Never before has
there been on display here such an array of pioneer objects and
collections. It proved the old saying
that Watertown is a city with an historic background and one that has
contributed much in the way of pioneer data.
The
kindergarten display, on the site of the original kindergarten in America, at
North Second and Jones streets, where Mrs. Carl Schurz began the movement in
1856, proved another mecca for visitors.
The art display at St. Henry's hall also attracted many people.
Gayly
decorated streets and store buildings, plus flags on many of the city's
residences, made an impressive picture and provided a proper setting for the
celebration.
Kiddies Share Limelight
The
doll buggy parade, which was a feature of the first day's program, proved
another successful and enjoyable venture.
It was witnessed by several thousands of people and was the most
beautiful and largest doll parade ever held in the city.
The
entries far exceeded expectations and the judges reported a difficult time in
selecting the winners. A total of $15 in
cash was awarded to prize winners. A
list of the winners, however, was not available today from the judges. Each child entering the parade also received
an ice cream cone, 200 of them being distributed.
The
free attractions and the gayly illuminated midway entertained and thrilled vast
audiences and the band concerts by the Watertown City band and the 105th
Cavalry band drew enormous crowds and were an integral part of the
festival. The appearance of the
Watertown male chorus, directed by William Sproesser,
a feature of Saturday night program, was loudly acclaimed.
People
everywhere have been loud in their praise for the manner in
which the centennial was conceived and worked out. Aided by the most favorable kind of weather,
the community celebrated as it never has celebrated before.
Much
of the comment heard over the success of the celebration includes praise for
the men who directed it, especially the president of the Watertown Centennial
association, Henry P. Amann, whose intense
work in connection with the plans was the guiding spirit in forging together
the programs and arrangements. J. E.
McAdams, former mayor, who was appointed general chairman of the celebration at
a time when the organization had been disrupted by the resignation of Harry N.
Smith, who was forced to relinquish his chairmanship because of ill health
which sent him to a sanatorium, also shares in the praise of the community for
his interest and work in putting on the celebration.
MRS. SHELDON E. HOLMES, CENTENNIAL QUEEN
Mrs. Sheldon
E. Holmes, 519 West Street, granddaughter of Watertown's first settler, Timothy
Johnson, reigned as the centennial queen and occupied one of the floats in the
parade. Mrs. Holmes' mother was Jane
Johnson, daughter of Timothy Johnson and her father was John A. Chadwick.
FIRST KINDERGARTEN FLOAT
The enormous crowds which the city
entertained during the festivities could not have been handled as they were
without an efficiently organized and directed police force and
special police assistants. It is to the
credit of the department that the traffic was handled to ably and that the
enormous throngs of people were taken care of without mishap and in so orderly
a manner. Chief of Police Albert N.
Quest today acknowledged the help and cooperation of the departments of Sheriff
Joseph T. Lange and Walter Buschkopf and the fireman
and other special officers, including American Legion members who assisted in
police duty. He also took occasion to
thank the public for its cooperation in reducing traffic hazards and traffic
tie-ups and for the general cooperation which the department received.
A
setting down of the main facts of the centennial would not be complete without
recognizing the good work of the various committee heads and committee members,
together with the many local organizations which joined in helping along the
plans and obtaining the splendid cooperation which made this centennial
celebration, first a fact and then a success such as the city in all its 100
years has never seen before on just such a vast scale.
Setting for Mass
The
setting for the field mass was one of great beauty and solemnity. The altar used was the first one erected in St. Bernard's church and was taken to
the field for the occasion. The baldacchino was designed by Baldwin S. Raue
who spent more than a week in working it out, and this was a beautiful piece of
work which, when carried out for the setting of the altar, proved to be a work
of art.
FIELD
MASS PART OF CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION
Altar
used was first one erected in St. Bernard's
The
mass was graced by the presence of the Rt. Rev. William R. Griffin, D. D.,
auxiliary bishop of La Crosse. There
were also a large number of other Catholic clergymen
here for the event.
The
mass was celebrated by the Very Rev. Dean F. X. Schwinn, pastor of St. Henry's
Church. He was assisted by the Rev.
Joseph Brasky, Grafton, as deacon and the Rev. Edward Hertel, Waterford, as
sub-deacon. The master of ceremonies was
the Rev. Leo Heger, West Allis.
The
sermon was delivered by the Rev. Thomas Irving, C. S. C., assistant superior
general of the Holy Cross order, Notre Dame University.
The
arrangements for the field mass were in charge of the
Rev. Patrick Haggerty, C. S. C., pastor of St. Bernard's church.
The
choir of Sacred Heart postulate, directed by Brother Arnold, C. S. C., sang
during the mass and the 105th Cavalry band also participated at the service.
The complete text of Father Irving's sermon.
Grady Talks
Attorney
Daniel H. Grady of Portage, member of the University of Wisconsin board of
regents, delivered the address at the banquet at the high school gymnasium last
night. It was a stirring talk and
contained a message that those who attended the banquet will not soon forget. The freedom, equality
and liberty we enjoy - in America are some of the greatest assets we have,
Attorney Grady stated. To make his
audience more greatly appreciate the things we enjoy, comparisons were made
with foreign nations, many of which are today headed by dictators.
He
asserted that the isms, about which so much is now heard, never will replace
our present form of government because "there is nothing in the 'isms' to
take the place of the liberty and equality we enjoy under our present government." Because of the high type of government we have maintained, we hold so high a place among
nations, he said.
The
invocation was delivered by the Rev. C. W. Pinkney, pastor of the
Congregational church; Mayor R. W. Lueck delivered
the address of welcome; William Sproesser, with Mrs.
Frank Bramer, accompanist, sang several solo numbers
and also led the community singing; Rita Kramp and
Carol Anderson presented a tap dance with Mrs. Herbert Weis accompanying; Frank
Bramer played a violin solo, with Mrs. Bramer accompanying; a military dance was presented by the
pupils enrolled in the Kehl School of Dancing with
Mrs. Weis accompanying; musical selections were rendered by the Gorder trio, consisting of Mr. and Mrs. Glenn Gorder and Mrs. Frank Bramer and
several short talks were given by Miss Ella Ruebhausen
of Chicago, Prof. Witte of Madison, and Attorney Charles A. Kading
of Watertown.
Grandchildren Presented
Two
great grandchildren of Timothy Johnson, Watertown's first settler, were
presented to the gathering. They were Mrs. S. E. Holmes
of Watertown and Edward Johnson of Pewaukee.
Henry P. Amann, president of the Watertown
Centennial association, delivered a short talk in which he thanked all those
who assisted in arranging the celebration.
J. E.
McAdams, general chairman of the centennial celebration, was presented to the
audience. Mr. McAdams is an ex-mayor of
the city.
Frank
P. McAdams served as toastmaster and with his usual keen sense of humor filled
his post in a very capable manner.
The
program committee for the banquet consisted of Attorney Kading,
Mrs. E. J. Hoermann, Mrs. J. J. O'Connell, Mrs. John
Chapman, Nicholas Thauer, Edward F. Wieman, R. A. Buell and William Sproesser. The reception committee consisted of Miss
Wilder, Miss Mary Crangle, Mrs. E. J. Brandt, Miss Ella Rogan, W. R. Thomas,
James W. Moore, E. Schmutzler and G. A. Stallman.
Alfred
E. Bentzin served as committee chairman.
SATURDAY CLUB LADIES
Ladies
of the Saturday Club dressed in old fashioned gowns to celebrate the 1936
Centennial.
[standing
L-R] Mrs. Edgar Miller, Mrs. Charles E. Kading, Miss
Gladys Mollart, Mrs. W.S. Waite, Mrs. A.G. Kotchian, Mrs. A.P. Hinkes, and
Mrs. Elmer Kiessling.
[seated] Miss Ella
Wilder, Mrs. S.E. Holmes (Timothy Johnson's granddaughter), and Mrs. Elmer Buegler.
Picnic Success
The
program at the Octagon House on Friday afternoon was well attended.
An
outstanding program was presented, which contributed much to making the Old
Settler's picnic one of the highlights of the centennial celebration. The picnic was presented by the Watertown
Historical society, with Mrs. George Lewis, chairman. Will Thomas was host.
The
program included the following: Harp
music by Edward Aldrich of Oconomowoc; piano by Miss Josephine Sproesser; solos by William Sproesser;
"Reminiscences" by Miss Mary Crangle; Tin Soldier's dance by Gail
Hoffman, Ruth Andres and Barbara Arzbargez, all
pupils of Miss Mildred Olson of the Watertown High school; the balloon dance by
Betty Buell, Ruth Platz, Laverne Calhous, Lucille Newbouer, Jean Darcey, Dorothy Gehrke
and Marguerite Iwen, also pupils of Miss Olson; dance
numbers by pupils of Miss Hubbard, which included a toe dance, duet tap dance,
Gavotte, Irish tap dance by five girls and Spanish dance; toe dance and song by
Jean Mulhern of Chicago; several dance numbers by pupils of Paul Thom,
including a Dutch dance by Patricia Northrop, Nancy Lewis and Phyllis Goecke; a talk on the "Hopes and Aims of the Watertown
Historical society," by G. H. Lehrkind, in which
the speaker urged the preservation of the Octagon house; and the Virginia
reel. Mrs. Herbert Weis played the piano
accompaniment for several of the numbers.
Complete Sermon of the Rev. Thomas Irving, C.
S. C.
Following is the complete sermon
of the Rev. Thomas Irving, C. S. C., assistant superior general of Notre Dame
University, delivered at the centennial field Mass at Riverside Park on Sunday
morning:
"Unless the Lord build the
house, they labor in vain that build it.
Unless the Lord keep the city, he
watcheth in vain that keepeth
it."
Ps. 120.
We are gathered here today for
the religious part of the celebration of the centenary of this city. It is
proper that we should do this in order that we might give thanks to God for the
many blessings which He has granted to this community in the past, to ask for
the continuation of His bounty, and to offer a prayer that even greater gifts
and blessings may enrich the lives of the men and women of the future. Nor
should this celebration pass merely as a celebration.
The lives of the pioneers who a
century ago set foot upon this soil, and the lives of those who in the
following generations have deepened that foundation, preach lessons to us, and
it is our privilege and duty to listen and to learn from them. In those lives
there is to be found inspiration and an example of sturdy virtues which we can
ill afford to pass by. I know that there is an error abroad in the world today
which thinks that we cannot learn from the past, that because a thing is old it
is useless, that what is old does not apply to present conditions, that what
might have been very well for the eighteenth or nineteenth century does not
hold under present conditions. While this opinion may be true in certain minor
and non-essential aspects of life, it is certainly not true in
regard to the very foundation of life, or in regard to those elements
which are necessary for the development of true character and for right living.
God does not change, nor does human nature change, and the elements in us that
make for heroism do not change, nor do the weaknesses that will drag us down
change. Those qualities which made true and strong men in the first, the fifth,
or the fifteenth century will also make true men today. What made the pioneers
such valiant men will make men today great also.
Century Long Time
In the life of a man a century is
a long time. In fact in the life of our country a
century is a long time. In the history of the world or of the older countries
or civilizations, it is not a long time, and with God a thousand years are as a
day.
But there has never been a
century in the world's history in which such a great change has been wrought as
in the century that has passed since the founding of this city. Consider the
advancement in science, both theoretical and applied, particularly in its
application to the industries, how transportation and communication have been
changed, how the comforts of life have been increased. Today we span the ocean
as quickly as our forefathers crossed an inland lake. In their day they waited
for weeks and months for news which now is sent around the world in the
fraction of a second. Certainly the progress in a
material way has been without precedent. All this has made such a profound
change in life that we are separated by a great distance from the conditions of
the pioneer days.
To understand the men of another
century or another generation, and to understand their problems, it is
necessary to put ourselves into their surroundings and to live with them in
spirit. This is not easy, nor is everyone able to do it. That is the reason why
some historians have made such serious mistakes; they did not understand the
time of which they wrote.
Remove the railroads, the paved
roads, the auto, the telegraph and the telephone, and
the hundred other things which minister to the comforts of man, and you have a
part of the setting necessary to understand life here a hundred years ago.
Imagine them setting out from a foreign land or from what was then the far east
of the United States to travel the long, slow, dreary journey and to cast their
lot in a primitive, unknown, and uncharted land. They did not know what the
venture offered them, nor what the outcome might be.
Men of Courage
Place yourself, if you can, in
their position, and you will get some idea of the indomitable spirit which
inspired them. It cannot be denied that they were men of more than ordinary
courage. They were not blind, they saw the obstacles, the hardships, and the
difficulties ahead. But they were of the type for whom difficulties were the
stepping-stones to greater achievement. They overcame difficulties and were not
overcome by them; they were venturesome, bold, if you will, but they were not
imprudent nor reckless. For them life ruled by wisdom which took life as it was, and accepted what was at hand in order that in the
struggle victory would be the result. They were men who were not afraid of
sacrifice and hardship. They were too common sense, too wise to think that on
this earth they would find a paradise, or that nature would hand them a fortune
unless [only if] it was wrested from her by hard labor. They knew that "in
the sweat of his brow man must eat his bread."
They faced the facts, and they
took labor as a part of life. They were men with a high sense of justice and a
sincere regard for the rights of others; men who as some has said, "would
go across a country to pay a dollar which they owed – and would also go across
a country to collect which was due to them.” There was a rugged honesty about
them which knew no subterfuge, or double-dealing, or sharp practices.
They were God-fearing men who had
unbounded confidence in the Providence of God. They were religious men, men who
made religion something vital in life. For them it was an integral part of
life, not a something that might or might not be accepted.
They were men who lived by faith.
As evidence of that spirit they have left the monuments
to their religious belief and of their generosity to the cause of religion in
the beautiful churches and religious schools of this city. When we recall that
they were just building their own homes and getting together their possessions,
when each dollar came from the mint of toil, and was needed for what might be
considered other legitimate purposes; and when we recall that in a few short
years they had practically cleared away the most of the debt, a man must be a
dull and unappreciative soul if he is not stirred to admire the spirit of those
men who gave time, energy, labor, and money, and which in those days were bold
enough to raise such temples to the Living God.
Christ Ruled Lives
But a more important lesson still
which they have left to us is that Christ ruled their lives, and they made His
principles those by which they lived. They not only knew them, but they were
convictions with them and they lived them and that is
the reason that such beautiful virtues shone forth in their lives. "By their
fruits you shall know them and that was the good tree bringing forth good
fruit."
What are these truths and these
principles?
Christ said, "I am the Way,
the Truth, and the Life." "I have come that you may have life and
have it more abundantly.” "I am the
light of the world."
Reason, history
and experience prove that unless God's truth guides man, the result is
confusion. Man cannot get along without God. The late Gilbert Chesterton, I
think, has said that “when man puts off the supernatural, he does not become
more natural, but he becomes unnatural."' Man needs Eternal truth in his
private life, in his social life, in his economic and political life. Without
it as his guide he must depend on human reason alone and the past has proved
that reason is a very, uncertain guide. Following it alone mankind has fallen
into serious errors, for passion has influenced it or swept it aside, and has lead man into ways that terminated in disaster.
The great fundamental questions
are always confronting man, what is man, what is his purpose, what is the
meaning of life, what is the end of it all. Upon the answer to these queries
will depend man's outlook upon life and his point of view about life. We do not
know a thing unless we know what it is for. We may understand its structure,
and the principles which are involved, but unless we know what its purpose is
we do not know it. Give a radio to a native of the jungles of India and because
he does not know its purpose it is useless to him. There precisely is the major
defect of this age. Too many men do not know man, for they do not know his
purpose or the purpose of life. How can they give him a map of life if they do
not know his destiny? How can they chart the way if they do not know whither it leads? How can they outline a program of life
unless they know what is to be ultimately accomplished?
Turn Away From Truth
Only Divine Truth can give a sure
and satisfying answer to these questions, and unfortunately too many of the
leaders of the world have turned away from that truth, and what is the result?
The unrest, the uncertainty, the confusion, the strife, the selfishness, and
the suspicion which exist in the world today, man wandering about aimlessly,
doubting, guessing and blundering along in the
darkness of his own blindness. They are like sailors who have thrown the
compass away, and have closed their eyes to the
unfailing stars of heaven. They have turned their backs upon God, and in effect
said to Him, "We do not want your guidance, we do not need "it."
They have refused to give God His due of adoration and praise,
and have transferred their allegiance to the false Gods of nationalism,
the state, wealth, progress, or any of the idols which they have set up in
place of the true God. This has brought about a condition in the world such
that serious men are wondering whether we are not at one of those turning
points of history, and whether our Western Civilization is going to pass away, and be buried with other civilizations in the oblivion
of the past. They are worried about the future, and they are wondering what
will happen. The question is what will happen when the residue of Christian
principle, which still underlies the life of many nations, shall have passed
away.
Men are deluded into thinking
that our difficulties are social, economic, or political. Fundamentally they
are moral and religious. Over a quarter of a century ago, an American writer
said that the world was dying for want of spiritual energy. Unless this
spiritual energy in the individual is renewed, and unless the principles taught
by Christ are at the basis of any reform, these reformers are chasing a
will-o-the-wisp. To save itself from itself the world must return to those
truths which mean full and complete living, a living that is in accord with the
destiny and dignity of man.
We hear much about the rights of
man, the rights of labor, the rights of capital, the rights of the child, and
so on, but we do not hear much about the rights of God. Let it be remembered that unless the rights
of God are made paramount and put at the head of the book, there is no basis
for nor hope for an enduring security for other lights.
Preached Peace
Let us look for a moment at the
teachings of Christ, and we shall see that the troubles, and abuses, and misery
that have come to mankind have been due to the fact that
men have substituted man-made ideals and plans for God's plan. Christ pointed
out the dignity of man. Each man was so precious in His sight that He died for
him; He made him His brother, and destined him to have
a share in the very life of God. Now in part of the world where the state has
been made supreme the dignity of man and the rights which depend upon that
dignity have not been respected and to say the least life there is not human. He preached peace, but there is no peace
unless the true order of things is respected and followed.
He is the God of love and He
taught us love from the beginning of His life until the supreme sacrifice of
His life on Calvary, when; He shed the last drop of His blood for love of us,
the most precious libation ever poured out upon earth.
He gave us this lesson of love that
we might make it the motive of our life in our relations with God and with our
fellowmen. Love is the most powerful force in the world. It is the motive
written into the annals of the world's heroism. Its effects are seen in the
mother who spends herself for the welfare of her child; in the father who would
give his life to protect and safeguard his home and family; in the soldiers who
on a thousand battlefields of the world have gone into the teeth of death for
their country; in the myriads of men and women who have given all – even life
itself – to bring solace, comfort and mercy to their fellow men. These have
followed in the footsteps of Him who said, "Greater love than this no man
hath than that a man give his life for his
friend." And again He said, "A new
commandment I give unto you that you love one another as I have loved
you."
If the love of Christ does not
possess the soul it will turn to other objects, and first of
all to self. "Two loves," says St. Augustine, "have built
two cities. The love of self, the city of Babylon to the contempt of God, and
the love of God the city of Jerusalem to the contempt of self."
In the economic and social orders the desire for gain and the desire for domination and
power have caused men to turn from the love of God to the love of power and
wealth. As a result in many instances injustices have
arisen, and a spirit far removed from a spirit of charity has existed. If men
on both sides of the argument were convinced of the necessity of justice and
charity, and made these the foundations of their negotiations, the rights of
both groups would be respected, and means would be at hand whereby a salutary
and peaceful agreement could be reached.
U.S. Blessed
In regard to our nation we should remember that few nations have been blessed
by a benign Providence as this nation has been. God has scattered broadcast
over this land the blessing of natural resources and productiveness. To this
people He has given a spirit of initiative, resourcefulness, energy
and optimistic endeavor, which has in a century and a half placed the United
States at the head of the nations of the world. Never in the history of mankind
has there been such a phenomenal rise to pre-eminence among the nations. It would seem that God has a special mission for us in this
storm-tossed world. The question is, shall we be worthy of this God-given
commission?
We must admit that as a people we
have our faults, both in the rulers and in the ruled. But after all this is
only a human institution, and if anyone expects perfection in such an
institution, he is a dreamer, a visionary, or a fanatic blinded by frenzy.
Let us beware of those men who
think to cure these ills by destroying the whole American system. They are like
a man who would cut down a tree just because one branch is diseased. Beware of
them; do not be deluded. They do not bring peace. Christ appeared to His
disciples after his resurrection and His first salutation was, "Peace be
to you," and He showed them His hands and His feet and His Sacred Side. There
were the marks of the wounds which proved his love for them. No reformer is a
true and safe reformer unless he bears in his being the marks of one who has
suffered on account of his love for his fellow-men,
even to the extent of forgetfulness of self.
Let us go back to the spirit of
the founders and preservers of this nation. Washington said that religion and
morality must be had as supports of political prosperity. A student of the
civilizations of the earth said at the conclusion of his research, "Thus a
true and stable civilization can never be more than the by-product of religion.
It is attained by those of whom it is not sought; and we see in the long run
that empire is to those to whom empire is nothing, and we remember with a sense
of awe the most astonishing of the Beatitudes, "Blessed are the meek, for
they shall possess the land."
The strength of our national life
in all of its aspects will depend on the strength and
the solidity of the life of the individual. Our duty is clear. Our best and
truest contribution as citizens, as neighbors, as private individuals, is to
live by those Christian principles which inspired our forefathers, ennobled
their lives, and made them a kindly generation. In this is there
peace and joy, for the true joy of living is in being something more today than
we were yesterday. Long ago it was said;
"Today well lived
Makes every yesterday a dream of happiness,
And every tomorrow a vision of hope."
________________________________________________
Cross
Reference:
Miniature Octagon House featured in
centennial parade
1954 A SECOND
CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION WITHIN 18 YEARS OF THE FIRST ONE
Not every city can have a second
Centennial celebration for the city within 18 years of the first one. Watertown did this in fine style; 1936 was for
the first settlement, 1954 for the 100th anniversary of the first city
charter. Actually
the city charter was signed in 1853, but planning and producing the celebration
took a long time. There were gala events
lasting from June 25 to July 1, with an attendance of between 50,000 to 60,000
persons. Charles Johannsen was general
chairman, Al Lunde, Seth Perry and Joseph Checkai
supervised the 175 unit parade, which included covered
wagons, oxen, horses, comedy groups, and historic floats. Alice in Dairyland was there and so was
Alexander Wiley, U.S. senator, speaker for the evening. A spectacular Centurama
was held at Riverside Athletic field.
The new bandshell in the park was dedicated. Many Watertown girls and boys, men and women, participated in this Centennial event. It was an event to be remembered.
History of Watertown,
Wisconsin