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ebook History of Watertown, Wisconsin
William Buchheit, Sr
1827 – 1911
Buchheit Family
William Buchheit Malting Co
American Malting Co.
Fleishmann Malting Co.
Old Elm Mills
1852
William Buchheit, grain dealer; born in Bavaria, August 15, 1827;
came to America in 1851; landed at New York City April 8, 1851; came to
Milwaukee in May of the same year; came to Watertown and located in August 1852. “The
History of Jefferson County, Wisconsin”, Chicago: Western Historical
Company. 1879.
Engaged in the liquor business for a number of
years; carried on a rectifying establishment and did a large wholesale business
after doing a retail business for some years.
1852c
William Buchheit, tenant
in Werner bldg on Main St Bridge, “bier halle.”
Plank Road Brewery
He also built and carried on a brewery for awhile. Corner of Dayton and W Main St. In 1852 William Buchheit and Charles
Reidinger opened a small brewery on this site, called the Plank Road Brewery,
near the Mud Tavern. In 1865 it was acquired by Friedrich Schwartz
of Milwaukee who brewed “weiss beer” or wheat been in this plant and in 1867 it
closed. Afterwards the buildings were
used as a glue factory, before burning to the ground in 1871.
1857
On July 30, 1857, he was married in Watertown to Helena Weis, [link to file on Albert Weis]
a native of Prussia; they have ten children living - Anna, Helena, Mena, Amelia, Josephina
(Mrs. William Sproesser), William Jr., Alexander,
Henry, Gustav and Albert.
1860 In 1860, he commenced business as a commission and produce
merchant.
1865 In 1865, he commenced buying grain and is now one of the
largest and most prosperous grain dealers in the West.
1871 CASHBOOK,
William Buchheit
< Cashbook, Buchheit, commission business,
1871.
1888 William
Buchheit Malting Co. began in 1888.
Later
known as the American Malting Co., the Fleishmann Malting Co. and eventually
simply as Old Elm Mills.
1889
BUCHHEIT,
WILLIAM & SON, MALT HOUSE
< Weltburger,
12 07 1889, drawing
1890
01 15 ACCIDENT
DURING NEW MALT HOUSE CONSTRUCTION
Friday morning, E. Oestreich, of Juneau, and Arthur Goeldner, both
employed with Wm. Weber & Co., tinning the Buchheit malt house, slipped
down the roof of the building caused by the slat their feet were braced against
giving way. Oestreich in his descent
landed on the netting of the telegraph wire running along the side of the building, and falling through landed on a pile of soft dirt,
sustaining no injury beyond being bruised on the shoulders and one arm being
hurt, preventing him from going to work for a day or two. Goeldner caught on by the gutter and at the
edge of the roof and with remarkable coolness lifted himself back onto the roof
and went along with his work. From the point
where they slipped to the ground it is a distance of about
80 feet and their escape under the circumstances is the greatest of wonders.
04 16 NEW MALT HOUSE OPENED
Lengthy article about new malt house
opened. The one delayed until the bond
issue was decided. WR
1893
07 26 PRIVATE FORTUNE PLEDGED in case of
bank bankruptcy
1895
01 18 950,000 BUSHELS OF MALT
Over
950,000 bushels of malt were made here last year, of which the Wm. Buchheit
Malting Co.made about 700,000 bushels , and Hartig
& Manz and the A. Feurmann Brewing Co. made about 250, 000 bushels. This would indicate that Watertown is an
excellent barley market. WG
10 02 TO BUILD A PRIVATE SEWER
The
William Buchheit Malting company has been granted permission by the common
council to build a private sewer on Ninth Street, leading from his malt-house
to the Clyman Street sewer, for the purpose of disposing of the steeped water
which accumulates from malting. This
water now flows over ground through the Seventh ward, and as it becomes
stagnant is of course offensive and is injurious to health. Seventh ward residents complained of this
state of things and the board of health ordered a remedy. The private sewer is a result. It will be laid under the direction of the
city engineer and is to be of 8-inch pipe.
WR
1898
-- DISTANT VIEW
09 21 TWO TRAMPS NAMED BRADLEY AND WOODFORD .
. .
.
. . were sentenced by Justice Henze Monday to the county jail for ten days on a
charge of vagrancy. They were arrested
Saturday night in a car loaded with grain near the Bucheit malthouse. They had broken the seal of the car and also admitted having removed three switch lights, both
of which offences were serious. The
railroad officials may take action against the tramps
for their misdemeanor. WR
1899
Lewis
Monument dedication participant, Gustav Buchheit.
04 26 A small
blaze in the rear of the residence of Wm. Buchheit called out the fire
department Friday evening, a section of the fence having taken fire from
burning refuse. The fire was easily
extinguished, and no damage of any account resulted. WR
05 30 Three
persons have agreed to back the baseball team this
year. They are Gustav Buchheit, Albert Fredrich and Reinhold
Schott. A lease has been granted for
Washington park and everything will be done in the proper way. The season will open about June 2 and it is hoped that only success awaits the
undertaking. WR
1902
WILLIAM
BUCHHEIT HOME, 605 S. Fourth Street
1919, William Buchheit
home purchased; site for
Trinity Lutheran Church
c.1905
1907
01 04
BRIDGE DELAY IS CAUSING
LACK OF ACCESS TO MILL
American Malting Company Losing
Much Barley
The closing of the Rough and Ready bridge (Oconomowoc Ave bridge)
is bringing to many of our citizens a realization of the fact that the city is
losing considerable business as a consequence.
The bridge was condemned
by the city council early in November and it was expected that the repair of
the bridge or the construction of a new one would receive the immediate
attention of the council. There was a
delay till many of the farmers began to complain and the council took action insofar that a resolution was adopted
instructing the public works and the committee on streets and bridges to
procure plans.
Since that time, no
action has been taken, as far as is known.
Many of the merchants
and businessmen are beginning to join the farmers in their complaint and are
desirous of urging upon the council the necessity of immediate action for the reason that quite a large volume of trade that
naturally comes to Watertown is now going to Oconomowoc.
Many farmers were
obliged to travel a roundabout way, crossing the Smith bridge, the road leading
to the same being in horrible condition.
Some of these farmers have quit coming to the city, while others have
marketed their produce at Oconomowoc ever since the bridge was condemned.
As a result of the
closing of the bridge the American Malting company (William Buchheit
Malting Co) has lost over 5, 000 bushels of barley, which has gone to
Oconomowoc,
What is true of this
concern, is true of many others. This is
an important matter that should be delayed no longer
and the city council should act quick.
1910 WIRELESS MESSAGE to the Times
08 26 
The first wireless
message ever received by a daily newspaper in Watertown was received by the Daily
Times on Saturday afternoon, but too late for publication. It was sent by Alex Buchheit, who with his father, William Buchheit, are returning home from a visit to Germany. The sending of the message was prearranged
and was given to the wireless operator when on board ship 1000 miles from New
York. It was transmitted to the Postal
Telegraph Company and sent by phone to the Times
from the postal station in Madison. The
message reads as follows:
"Steamer Grosse Kurfuest, 1000 miles from New
York. Arrive Tuesday. Are in rough sea and passing
Icebergs." Buchheit.
They are expected home
on Thursday – [Watertown Daily Times] WG
1911
05 25
DEATH OF WILLIAM
BUCHHEIT
One of Watertown's
Oldest, Best-Known and Most Progressive Business Men
His Death is Sincerely
Mourned by the Citizens of Watertown
Sunday morning, May 21, 1911, Wm. Buchheit died at
the family home, 605 Fourth Street [present location of Trinity Lutheran Church], this city, at the
close of an illness of about two weeks, which confined him to his home. His final ending was peaceful
and he passed from earth surrounded by the members of his family, whom he had
always so well and generously provided for.
Mr. Buchheit had
enjoyed unusually good health for a man of his advanced age and for many years
past took yearly trips to his old home in Europe, which seemed to put new life
and vigor into him. Two months ago he began to fail, suffering no particular ailment aside
from general debility.
Mr. Buchheit was born in
Zweibruecken, Bavaria, August 15, 1827, and came to America in 1851, landing in
New York City April 8 of that year; the following May he came west as far as
Milwaukee, and for a time was traveling solicitor for The Wisconsin Banner, a German newspaper and from there came to
Watertown in August, 1852, and engaged in the liquor business and later did a
large business in rectifying and wholesaling liquor; he built one of the first
breweries in the state, but it was destroyed by fire before it was put in operation.
In 1860 he started a
commission and produce business, which developed into one of the largest in the
northwest, it being necessary to have warehouses in various places to
accommodate his trade. He added grain buying to his business in 1865
and interested the farmers in this section of the state to engage in the
growing of barley.
In 1866 he started the
Buchheit block in Third Street and as his business increased
he added to it in 1874 and again in 1878, making it one of the largest business
blocks in the city.
He incorporated the Wm.
Buchheit Malting Co. in 1888, and conducted a large
malting business in Watertown for many years, finally selling out to the
American Malting Co., and then identifying himself with other interests here.
In 1883 he was elected
president of the Bank of Watertown, a
position he held up to the time of his death.
From the time he first engaged in the commission business till the time
of his death every interest he identified himself with flourished and grew in
importance. He was a farseeing, conservative, yet very progressive business
man, and contributed generously of his means to every public enterprise,
and encouraged by both word and deed everything that tended to advance
the interests of Watertown.
In a business way his
judgment was always the best, and many a citizen profited by his good advice
and sound judgment. He also possessed a
genial, sunshiny disposition and never failed to greet his friends and
neighbors with a pleasant smile and a kind word, usually having some little
joke to relate when he stopped a moment for a pleasant chat. In his death our city loses a business man
who has done a great deal not only for Watertown but for the surrounding
country, and his family a husband and father who always provided well for their
wants and comforts.
Mr. Buchheit was
married July 30, 1857, to Helena Weis of this city, who survives him with ten
children, who are as follows: Mrs. Carl E. Emmerling, Watertown; Mrs. Fred
Vullmahn, Chicago; Mrs. M. F. Blumenfeld, Watertown; Mrs. John Mithen, Omaha;
Mrs. William Sproesser, Watertown; William Mithen, New York City; Henry
Buchheit, Buffalo, N. Y.; Alex Buchheit, Attorney Gustav Buchheit,
Watertown; Dr. Albert Buchheit, Park Ridge, Ill. Fourteen grandchildren also survive him.
This afternoon his
funeral took place from his late home to Oak Hill
Cemetery. In respect to Mr.
Buchheit's memory the Bank of Watertown was closed all day on Thursday and the
Merchants National and Wisconsin National Banks closed at 1 o'clock. WG
1917
10 04 MAX BIEFELD, ASST. MGR., RESIGNATION
Max E. Biefeld, Watertown, Wis., has resigned as assistant manager of
the American Malting Co. to become secretary-treasurer of the Otto Biefeld Co., Watertown, boiler
and structural works, succeeding the late Richard Biefeld. The
Iron Age, 10 04, 1917.
1920
09 15 FIRE DESTROYED ELEVATOR PORTION
09 15 FIRE IN BIG WIND DESTROYS ELEVATOR OF MALTING COMPANY
The
elevator of the American Grain and Malting Company,
near the Milwaukee depot, was almost entirely destroyed
by fire in a blaze that raged all forenoon.
Officials of the fire department say this was the worst fire since the
Masonic temple fire four years ago. A
high wind prevailed and the fire department had that
difficulty in combatting the flames.
The
call came in by telephone from the office of the Beals-Pratt
Shoe Company, which has an uninterrupted view of the building, shortly after 9
a.m. The auto truck made a quick “get
out” and was soon at the scene of action and the whole fire fighting force was
quickly marshaled and put in action under the command of Chief John Glaser.
Origin
of Fire
The
origin of the fire is not quite clear but the general
belief is that the fire started from sparks emitted from a railway engine.
It was
reported that a lady crossing the tracks just before the 9:05 passenger,
observed sparks from the engine blowing in that direction. There was a strong wind from the southwest
and the fire was first discovered on what is known as the second highest part
of the southwest corner of the elevator.
Carl E. Emmerling, manager of the American
Malting Company, the owner, stated that about 9:15 he was in his office and
looked out the window. The fire alarm
sounded at about the same time and he looked about and
saw a blaze about three feet wide on the edge of shingles on the southwest roof
mentioned. The fire department reached
there soon after.
The
flames seemed to have made terrific headway, and in a few moments the whole
building was becoming enveloped. It was
discovered when the hose were attached that the city
pressure was very feeble, and the auto truck engine and the Ahrens were both
brought into service to increase the pressure.
There was no hitch in the work of the fire department, steady streams
being directed against the rapidly burning structure and the fire kept confined
thereto.
The
wind was so brisk that it was feared that buildings in a northeasterly
direction were in danger. Every
precaution was taken to prevent sparks from taking hold. Despite the vigilance, a large hole was
burned in the roof of the H. Uehling barn, 809 Clyman Street. It
was put out with chemicals in short order.
Residence
owners were quick to invoke the law of self defense and put their garden hoses
in operation. The roofs were manned and the wooden surfaces of the building kept drenched
until the danger period was passed.
The
elevator building was owned by the American Grain and Malt Company, which is
the successor through reorganization of the American Malting Company.
Early
History
The
building was erected over sixty years ago, according to the statements of old
residents of the city, but during its history changed hands but few times.
Its first
owners were Jonas and Silas Sleeper, who conducted it for many years, being
among the pioneer grain buyers of this vicinity. It was considered one of the biggest
elevators in the state, having a storage capacity of 24,000 bushels of
grain. The lumber used in its erection
is said to have been of the very best and it was considered yesterday as good
as new. The cost at the time was $7300,
according to a record kept and transmitted to the successors of the original
owners. The first building was built
south of the present depot and about thirty years ago, on becoming the property
of the late William Buchheit, was moved to its
present location. It passed from him to
the American Malting Company.
Large
Storage of Tobacco
For
the past six months the lower floor of the elevator has been stored with
stemming-tobacco from the plant of the Ligget-Mayer
Company of this city. We were unable to
ascertain the extent of this loss, but it is supposed to be quite large. The tobacco was almost entirely
destroyed or ruined.
Building
Complete Loss
The building and its equipment is a complete loss, but is partially covered by
insurance. For sometime the elevator has been out of use for grain
storage and the probability is that it will never be rebuilt. WDTimes, 9-15-1920
c.1920
M/M WILLIAM BUCHHEIT & M/M OSCAR E. MEYER
Buchheit car
1946 THE
MILL BURNED IN 1946 (AND AGAIN IN 1959)
uncertain date
1957
1957 City Dir ad
04 29 OLD ELM MILL FIRE
The old Elm Mills plant fire resulted in a loss of $250,000.
The sub-headline in the Watertown
Daily Times said it all:
“Holocaust Destroys Huge
Plant in City”
^ Click to link to portfolio of images
The heaviest concentration of the fire
fighting equipment used in the city since the 1946 Fleischmann Malting Company
fire was thrown into operation the morning of April 29, 1959, to battle a
quarter-million dollar blaze which again destroyed the
plant, this time operated under the name of Old Elm Mills.
The plant, which sprawled over an
entire block between South Eighth and South Ninth Streets, and Station Street
and the Milwaukee Road Railroad tracks, was doomed within an hour after the
fire was discovered. The Old Elm Mills
office across the street was untouched.
The Watertown
Fire Department sent all of
its equipment to the scene within moments after the alarm came in and was
joined later by departments from out of town, including Oconomowoc, Juneau,
Ixonia, Jefferson, Johnson Creek and Lebanon.
The fire produced intense heat. Cars jammed the area for blocks and thousands
of per-sons visited the scene and watched the fire, there being a steady coming
and going during the day. Many school
children who "skipped" classes were in the crowds that surged about
the place. Police kept the crowds at
safe distances.
Firemen fought the blaze at many
points, concentrating their efforts to prevent damage or destruction to nearby
homes and buildings. At least two homes
were wetted down by owners to prevent fires destroying or damaging them. One of the businesses whose property was in
danger for a time from the raging fire is that of the Sinclair Refining, which
has a bulk plant at 1108 South Eighth Street.
Firemen maintained a steady watch on the progress of the fire and
prevented it from spreading to the oil installations.
One of the city's large industrial
plants, the Mid-States Shoe Company, had
some of its men on its roof with water and wet bags to prevent fire from
starting on their property.
Captain Paul Buchholz suffered a foot
injury when he was struck by a piece of metal when a cupola broke from its
moorings and tumbled to the ground.
Only the lower floor of the huge brick
building was used for storage. The big
metal build-ing part of the plant was used for storage of grain and the grain
bins, built of wood, and was quickly consumed by the flames.
Old Elm Mills came to Watertown in 1949
from Elm Grove. The Old Elm Mills plant,
formerly the Fleischmann Malting property, was the scene of a previous
disastrous fire. That was on March 1,
1946, when one half of the structure was destroyed. Before the Fleischmann Malting acquired and
operated the property it was known as the William Buchheit Malting Company.
CROSS REFERENCE: The mill was the site of a previous fire,
that of the Fleischmann Malt House, in 1946.
Mill
burned in 1946 and again in 1959. Only
part of the structure remains today and it is now the location of Y’s
Way Carpeting.
1960
11 27 CONSTRUCTION OF NEW OLD ELM MILLS PLANT
Construction of the new plant of
the Old Elm Mills is well along. With
the construction method employed, about seven full days of work is required to
erect the building, which will be 105 feet high by 36 feet by 52 feet. The plant will be of poured concrete, slip
form construction. It will replace the
building destroyed by fire on April 29 of last year. Construction work is in
charge of the Mid-States Construction of Omaha, Neb. The ready-mix concrete is being provided by
the Tri-County Redi-Mix of this city.
Cost of the plant and rebuilt warehouses will be approximately
$140,000. WDT
1961
06 11 CONSTRUCTION COMPLETED OF NEW OLD ELM MILLS
Officials of Old Elm Mills today
announced completion of their new and modern feed plant and said it is now in
full operation. The old plant was
destroyed by fire two years ago in what was one of the major fires in the
history of Watertown. The new plant is
more compact and its operation is modern in every
respect. It operates with push-button
controls. The new all concrete plant is
one of the most modern and well equipped feed plants
in the country and is designed for efficiency of operation and accuracy in the
production of modern feed rations.
WDT
1969
11 07 M/M
FLOWERS NEW OWNERS OF GREEN BOWL
As of Dec. 31 M/M Merlin Flowers are the new managers of the American Legion Green Bowl succeeding M/M Harold
Schultz. Flowers had been employed by
Midland Cooperative. For the past five
years he was manager of Old Elm Mills in Watertown, a subsidiary of
Midland.
1985
Y’s WAY CARPETING OCCUPIES FORMER OLD ELM MILL
Y’s Way Flooring founded in
1985. Everything from flooring to carpet
cleaning to installation and supplies. 809
Station St.
2007
06 11 FEED MILL RESTORATION
The restoration of a neglected
and weathered feed mill along Clyman Street continues Friday as workers perform
a variety of tasks intended to enhance the integrity and appearance of the high profile building.
Located on the site of several former granaries, the structure is now
adjacent to Y’s Way Flooring and Peirick’s Kitchen and Bath. Improvements to the half-century old building
will include cement patching, window replacement, roof sealing and painting. The property was also the site of spectacular
fires in 1946 and 1959 which destroyed buildings belonging to Fleischmann
Malting Co. and Old Elm Mills. WDT
2017
Y’s WAY MOVE TO 500 MILFORD ST.
WDTimes
article
Cross-References:
Ignatz
Mallachowitz, employee, barley buyer
Ellis Mendenhall
[1840-1920] “The 1st well I drilled in Watertown was for Mr. Buchheit — 406
feet with my light drill”
History of Watertown,
Wisconsin