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Pioneer Store
SW corner Main and Second streets
117 E Main Street
First business establishment built in Watertown,
erected in the summer of 1841 by Luther A. and John W. Cole
E. W. Hilke
1832 - 1865
1841
STORE ERECTED
1860
03 08 HILKE & MOORE / Pioneer Grocery & Dry Goods Store
Just received from New York the largest and most complete stock of dry goods, also groceries of all kinds, which we shall sell during the next 20 days cheaper than anyone else can sell them in this city. Call and examine our stock and we shall suit all who wish to purchase.
Hilke & Moore
Corner of Main and Second Streets WD
1861
06 20 PIONEER STORE /
REMOVAL
Hilke has
left the Pioneer Store and moved to the
store recently occupied by Mr. Millard, in Cole’s Block, but he has no desire
to leave his Pioneer customers, or have them leave him. He is as
ready and willing as ever to accommodate and please the public with dry goods
and groceries. He has a large and well assorted stock, and cordially
invites all to give him a call at his new place. WD
1865
01 19 PIONEER STORE DESTROYED BY FIRE
Sunday night, the 15th of January, at about midnight, a fire broke out in the wooden building, known as the Pioneer Store, on the southwest corner of Main and Second streets. The structure was totally destroyed by the winter blaze. The loss was total as there was no insurance on either building or contents.
At the
time of the fire the building was owned by Mrs. Cordelia Gilman and had been
occupied by Henry Vaudel as a saloon.
The
adjoining building [115 E Main], owned and occupied by Frederick & Henry Meyer as a shoe store, was considerably
damaged and would have been also lost if it were not for the strenuous efforts
of citizens.
Jesse
Moulton and M. Welsh [Welch] both removed the contents from their grocery
stores in the two buildings to the west [113 and 111 E Main?]
, as they were also threatened at the time.
As is
too often the case, the Water Witch proved to be of little value. After it had been pulled to the scene it once
again was found to be out of order. And
once again Brewmaster
Joseph Bursinger’s force pump was hurriedly
conveyed to the scene of the fire and performed well in arresting the
flames.
In fact,
had it not been for Bursinger’s pump, the loss of
business property and inventory on Main Street would have been much more
serious and extensive.
On
display, Pioneer Engine No. 1 is splendid, but when real service is required,
for some reason or other, it is never ready when most wanted and generally
proves to be a nuisance when around.
It is
high time this city had an efficient and reliable
Fire Department.
Some hour
this city may pay dearly for the continued neglect of so necessary a precaution
against the desolation and ruin of the devouring flames. It is far better to be wise, active and fully
prepared in season.
The
destruction of this building removed one of the landmarks of the city. The Pioneer Store, as it was called, was the
first business establishment built in Watertown. It had been erected in the summer of 1841 by
Luther A. and John W. Cole, who came here soon after Timothy Johnson, the first
settler of Watertown, took up his permanent residence here in 1836.
The two
Cole brothers cut the timber in the surrounding forests and sized the timber so
to construct their wood frame store. The
labor was strenuous and much was involved by these two pioneers to finish and
then furnish the first place of commerce in the settlement, situated in the
midst of the surrounding wilderness.
The
inventory of the Pioneer Store consisted of a stock of necessities, goods and
groceries. It was the place for citizens
and area farmers to patronize and at the same time exchange the latest news and
gossip.
To be
sure, at the time, it was also the only place for conducting such
exchanges. WD
11 02 DEATH OF E. W. HILKE
Mr. E. W. Hilke
died at his residence in this city the 26th of October, 1865. For several years Mr. Hilke has
been an active business man in this city and acquired considerable prominence
as a merchant. He was energetic and
industrious, cheerfully giving his aid to all enterprises having for their
object the improvement of the place. He
was liberal and benevolent and none gave more freely according to their
means. In his death the community has
lost a good citizen and his family a kind and watchful guardian and protector. WD
Buried in Oak Hill Cemetery: Hilke, E. W., b. May 27, 1832, d. Oct 26, 1865
Cross References:
Pioneer Store, 1861, Hilke moved out of
Pioneer Store, Watertown Anzeiger, 1853-1855, pg 8
Later photos of SW corner Main and Second
History of Watertown, Wisconsin