website watertownhistory.org
ebook History of Watertown, Wisconsin
Guyer Music Store
109
North Third Street
William Guyer, 1916-1974
1950
01 07 William Guyer, instructor of choral
music in the Watertown public schools, announced that he is now conducting the
Guyer Music store at 109 North Third Street, in the same building which for
many years housed the Hawes Appliance Co.
Mr.
Guyer recently purchased the music department of the Hawes' concern and will
operate it from now on.
At
present he has a large stock of records and also has some radios and
television.
He
expects to enlarge his stock as soon as he can secure additional supplies and
plans a grand opening at a later date when his stock is complete. He will add
musical instruments, etc.
1957
1964
06 23 GUYER MUSIC STORE SOLD
Firm Acquired by Warren-Schey Music
The
Guyer Music Store, 109 North Third Street, has been acquired by Warren-Schey Music Company, 111 Main Street.
The
business will shortly be moved to the Warren-Schey
quarters, located above the Warren Jewelry Store. Mr. Guyer will join Warren-Schey,
as will Mrs. George Prahl, 
who is employed by Guyer Music Store. In addition to Mr. Guyer and Mrs. Prahl the following also are associated with Warren-Schey: Horst Dressier,
Russell Polensky, Clifford Groth,
and Glen Navis.
The
music company is occupying the second floor of the Warren Jewelry Store. The quarters have been extensively remodeled
and will house one of the largest assortments of phonograph records, record
players, radios, sheet music and musical instruments in this area of the state.
Mr.
Guyer opened his store on January 1, 1950. Before that he had been a member of the music department
of the Watertown school system. He is a
graduate of Lawrence College where he obtained a bachelor’s degree in music. He holds a master’s degree in music from
Northwestern University.
Warren-Schey Music Company was organized in September of 1961 by
Clifford Warren, proprietor of Warren’s Jewelry, and Clete
Schey of Madison.
Recently
Warren-Schey opened a branch store at Fond du Lac.
With
the absorption of Guyer Music Store, Warren-Schey
will be able to offer a complete line of musical instruments and supplies,
including band instruments, records, phonographs, stereo sets
and sheet music.
1974
WILLIAM GUYER, 1916-1974
William
Guyer, 1916-1974
William
J. Guyer, 57, 808 South Eighth Street, prominent resident and former teacher in
the Watertown School System, died Sunday afternoon at Watertown Memorial
Hospital following a long illness.
The
funeral will be held Wednesday at 2 p.m. at the First Congregational United
Church of Christ. The Rev. Robert Tully
will officiate. Interment will
be in Oak Hill Cemetery.
Friends
may pay their respects at the Schmutzler Funeral Home
from 3 to 9 p.m. Tuesday and on Wednesday up to 10 a.m., after which the body
will be taken to the church to lie in state.
If desired memorials may be sent to the organ fund of the First
Congregational United Church of Christ or the American Cancer Society.
Guyer
was born in Ironwood, Mich., Nov.29,1916, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Louis
Guyer. His marriage to the former
Virginia Dale Johnson took place Aug. 9, 1941, in Duluth, Minn.
He
attended Ironwood Public Schools and graduated from Lawrence University
Conservatory of Music in Appleton in 1939.
He received his master music degree from Northwestern University,
Evanston, Ill., in 1946.
He
taught public school music in Sturgeon Bay from 1939 to 1942. He came to Watertown in 1942 as director of
vocal music. He served in the Armed
Forces in the Pacific during World War II from 1943 to 1946. After his discharge, he returned to Watertown
and was a vocal supervisor in Watertown schools from 1946 to 1950.
In
1950 he established the Guyer Music Store in Watertown, owning and operating
the business for 13 years. He later
became associated with the Warren-Schey House of
Music, continuing his association until the present time.
He was
a member of the First Congregational United Church of Christ. He was a director of the senior choir of the
church for 20 years and served as moderator of the church for one year. He directed the combined choirs of all the
churches in Watertown for the city’s centennial
celebration 20 years ago.
He was
a member of Watertown Lodge No. 49, F. and A.M., American Legion Post 189 and
the Lions Club. He was a past president
of the Lions and was also a past president of Webster School P.T.A. He served nine years on the board of
Watertown Memorial Hospital. He was one
of the organizers of the Community Concert Association and a past
president. He had also served as
chairman of the Community Chest drive.
He is
survived by his wife; one son, William Guyer Jr. Sterling Heights, Mich.; one
daughter, Mrs. Scott (Joan Marie) Gregory, Chandler, Ariz.; one granddaughter
and one grandson. He was preceded in death by an infant son, his parents and
one brother.
In the
passing of Bill Guyer, Watertown has lost one of its solid and one of its
highly respected residents. In his quiet
and unassuming way he contributed much to the betterment of our community. He did a great deal for the music departments
of our public schools.
He was
highly talented. After he established a
music store here, he became involved more extensively in community affairs and
made substantial contributions in many areas.
His views always were respected and well received.
Watertown
is better because we were privileged to have Bill Guyer in our town.
Cross References:
1954, Director,
Watertown Centurama
History of Watertown,
Wisconsin