website watertownhistory.org
ebook History of Watertown, Wisconsin
Farmers’ Hotel
Watertown House
Commercial Hotel
Carlton Hotel
111-115
S First
|
Farmer’s Hotel 1867 |
Commercial Hotel 1885 |
Name
changes over time:
Farmers’ Hotel
Watertown House
Commercial House
Commercial Hotel
Carlton Hotel
Carlton House
Apartment Hotel
1843
Original
structure erected in 1846 by a man named Savage. It was originally occupied by a number of
small stores and offices.
1847
In
1847 Thomas Norris opened the original building as a hotel; Norris sold it to
J. C. Lewis
1847, Oct 12
Rock
River Pilot, 01 05 1848, dated announcement
C. D. Taylor would invite the attention of the travelling public to this
house and flatters himself that in all the different branches of his business
he can give satisfaction to those who may favor him with their patronage. The house is near the center of the business
portion of the village and is but a few rods from the general stage office,
which renders it a convenient stopping place for those wishing to transact
business in town, or for travelers passing through the village. His accommodations for teams are ample, his
hostlers faithful and attentive, and his charges reasonable.
1847
JOSEPH LINDON ACQUISITION
Came
into the possession of Joseph Lindon. A
Mr. [Alexander] Manegold succeeded Mr. Lindon.
1848
WATERTOWN: “SECOND CITY” IN WISCONSIN,
PLANK ROAD BONANZA FOR LOCAL
TAVERNS
“After the completion of the plank
road, Watertown, early a place of promise, became the second city in the
State and a bonanza for taverns; their story, however, has been well told in
local histories. People and produce from
the country to the west and north for many miles PASSED THROUGH WATERTOWN TO
MILWAUKEE, and land seekers made it their headquarters. J. B. Van Alstine, for years the popular
landlord of the Exchange, declared that he thought business dull in those palmy
days unless he had a hundred guests and as many horses to care for. Two of the old taverns are still running [in
1915], the Watertown House, now the
Commercial, and the Buena Vista, which was opened in February, 1848, by
Capt. Henry Bogel, a veteran of the Mexican War. During the regime of William Wiggenhorn and
his son, Eugene, the Buena Vista was the rendezvous of German revolutionist
refugees, among them Carl Schurz and Emil Rothe, while on Sundays German
services were held in its hall.”
Derived from “The Taverns and
Stages of Early Wisconsin” by J. H. A. Lacher, 1915. Contracts for construction of the road were
let in October of 1848.
1863
12 17 AN EXCHANGE
Mr. James Kilmer, formerly
of the Watertown House, has recently become clerk of the Robinson House of this city, one of the best
hotels in the state. Mr. Kilmer is one
of those intelligent and genial gentlemen that friends and guests always like
to meet. Attentive and accommodating,
treating all alike with courtesy and urbanity, he will be sure to win the
respect and good will of all who have business to transact with him.
A correspondent sends
us the following note, which we insert just as it came to us:
“Another change in the
Administration – In looking over the columns of the N. Y. Tribune this morning I was highly elated in noticing that the
Hon. Hiram Whitney, formerly head clerk of the Robinson House, has been
promoted to the clerkship of the far-famed Watertown House, where he will be
found in the good humor and graceful appearance which have won the affections
and confidence of the traveling public and is ever ready to wait on his old
friends and all others who see fit to favor him with a call. We say success to ‘Hi’ – as he is bound to
reach the height of fame.” WD
1865
05 18 WATERTOWN HOUSE ENLARGER AND REMODELED
The Watertown House on
First Street, formerly owned by J. Lindon, is being raised up, enlarged and
repaired by its new owner, who, we understand, is a gentleman from
Milwaukee. He designs to make it a first
rate hotel. WD
1866
Farmers’ Hotel, Alexander F. Mannegold, prop., N E c
1st and E Washington
Farmers’
Hotel
A.
F. Mannegold, Proprietor
North-East
Corner First and East Washington Sts.
(One
block South of Main)
Watertown
- - - - Wisconsin
A
pleasant stopping place for Farmers, with good stabling attached
[1866-67 City Dir, advertisement]
1872
Watertown
House, A. F. Mannegold, Prop, NE corner 1st and Washington [1872 City Dir].
N.B. Washington Street
of the time is now Market Street
“Washington St is the first south of and
parallel with Main St, 1st Ward, and runs from First St east to Ninth St.”
“. . My frau, and I went to Watertown; 12
miles. Visited Matilda Ransom in Mr. Hirscher Mammoth Store. We all dined at the Watertown House
kept by Mr. Marrigould [Mannegold] where now (~1890) stands the Watertown Commercial
Hotel and home again” [Nathaniel
Carpenter Ranson bio, ~1890, transcribed by Kent Marsden from a copy found
in the New Berlin, WI library.]
1875 Watertown House, A. F, Mannegold,
next post office [1875-76 City Dir].
c.1875
DISTANT VIEW OF WATERTOWN HOUSE
1879 (or 1877)
In July 1879, it was partially
rebuilt and called the Commercial House
1880
07 21 ALEXANDER
BERTRAM TAKES A TUMBLE
Last Thursday morning at
about 1 o’clock, Alexander, son of Henry Bertram, Jr.,
aged 5 years, fell from a window in the 3d story of the Commercial Hotel to the
ground. His cries brought the night
porter to his assistance, and strange to say it was found that none of his
bones were broken and he was apparently uninjured, save considerably
frightened, although the distance he fell was nearly thirty feet. From the little fellow’s talk the theory of
his fall is that he imagined himself climbing into a hammock and under this
delusion fell. He is now as well as ever
and the hero of a remarkable escape from death.
1886
Commerical
Hotel, Mannegold & Co., Prop'rs, was rebuilt in 1877
1888
10 12 DEATH OF A. F. MANNEGOLD, [b. 1817, d. 1888]
Sunday,
October 7, 1888, Alexander F. Mannegold, died at his home, the Commercial
Hotel, of general debility at the age of 71 years, leaving surviving him a
wife, one son and four daughters. The
deceased was a native of Prussian Saxony and came to the United States in 1847. From 1862 to 1865 he conducted the Niagara
House in Chicago and in the latter year came to Watertown and was proprietor of
the old Watertown House until he erected the Commercial Hotel, which he managed
for years with good success. Mr.
Mannegold was a public spirited man and in his younger years was one of our
most energetic citizens. He was one of
the organizers of the Sons of Herman of this city and had a great deal to do
towards bringing that society to its present flourishing condition. His funeral took place Wednesday afternoon
and his remains were followed to their final resting place in Oak Hill
cemetery by the large circle of friends.
WG
1889 Commercial Hotel,
Mannegold and Co., props., N E cor Washington and First [1888 City Dir].
1890
08 27 ELECTRIC FIRE ALARM
There was an incident over at the Commercial Hotel in Watertown the
other night that was funny enough if you weren’t an interested party. A semi-inebriated chap came along in the
small morning hours and asked for a room.
The clerk stepped out of the office to look for a suitable spot to stow
the party away. Left alone, he
discovered a sort of crank machine behind the counter and the spirit of
mischief prompted him to turn it. It set
the electric fire alarm apparatus ringing, and in less than a minute about all
the guests in the house were down in the office in various stages of
dishabille, bare feet shrinking from the cold planks of the floor, and anxiety
and terror on every face. The stranger
arose equal to the occasion. He drew off
his coat, and gravely and with great politeness said; “It’s a cold morning,
ladies and gentlemen, but I’ll do the best I can for you. There, you can stand on that, throwing his
coat on the floor. There are pictures
which can be painted in words. There are
others which cannot. This is one.
-Oconomowoc Free Press
1894
12 12 FOWL PRIZES SERVED FOR DINNER
T. M. More,
of BeldIng, Mich., and F. A. Rose, F. C. Sheldon and E. D. Howell, of Chicago,
spent Sunday here, guests at the Hotel Commercial. Saturday evening they succeeded in winning
two turkeys and a duck at a "keno" game. Through the well-known good nature of the
jovial and accommodating landlord of the Commercial, arrangements were made by
which a special table was reserved and the fowls prepared for dinner. Landlord Mannegold sat at the head of the
table and Messers. Rose and Sheldon officiated as carvers of the turkey and
duck, respectively.
]
The
"tourists" are wishing that they could plan their trips to spend
their Sundays where they get such good accommodations and receive such kind
treatment that has made the Commercial popular with the boys. WR
1897 Commercial Hotel,
Henrietta Mannegold (wid Alex), prop., 115 1st [1896-97
City Dir]
c.1897
ROOM KEY FOB FROM COMMERCIAL HOTEL
1898
07 06 PROPRIETOR HOOKED A PICKEREL AT ROCK LAKE
W. J. Foy, proprietor
of the Commercial Hotel at Watertown, while angling on Rock lake Wednesday,
hooked a pickerel so large that in his efforts to land the monster his fine
steel pole was broken and the fish got away when within 12 to 15 feet from the
boat. Mr. Foy said he would not have
been more chagrined had he lost $10.
There are big ones in Rock lake sure.
1899
06 27 ONE OF FOUR STANDARD CLOCKS
The Western Union Telegraph company (107 S.
First St in 1899) has placed in this city four standard clocks and correct time
will be gotten once a day at the telegraph office, where the master clock will
be placed. The others are in
Wiggenhorn's jewelry store, Goeldner's department store and the New Commercial
hotel. The timepieces are of the most
modern kind, self-winding, and will be regulated from the master clock each
hour. They work by electricity.
08 15 "LITTLE WHALE" CAUGHT
AND SUBDUED AT ROCK LAKE
William J. Foy, proprietor of the New Commercial hotel at Watertown,
paid Lake Mills a visit last week for the purpose of trying his skill at luring
the finny tribe from the cool waters of Rock lake, and so complete was his
success that he has been voted the medal for taking the largest fish of the
season. . . Mr. Foy's success is doubly
praiseworthy because of the lightweight tackle by which he landed the little
whale. A common fishing rod with a light
line is not the kind of machinery with which to handle such big fellows, but by
some sort of witchery William J. enticed his prey to the side of the boat, and
then gently holding the deluded fish in his arms he tumbled him into the boat
and then there was a fight in which Mr. Foy came out victor by lying down with
his antagonist until he surrenders. Some
say he was very proud of his catch; of course he was, and who would not be
proud of such a prize? . . . Rock Lake has plenty of fish both great and small,
ready to be caught when the proper bait and proper skill are presented for
their consideration. We do not envy the
patrons of the Commercial, still we would much like to have helped them eat the
fish. WR
11 21 SOLD TO J. A. McCONNELL
After a
proprietorship of about two and one-half years, W. J. Foy last week sold the
New Commercial hotel to J. A. McConnell, of St. Peter, Minn., the change taking
place on Thursday. The consideration is
not given. The new proprietor has been
in the hotel business twenty-five years, and with this long experience is no
doubt well equipped to run a hostelry that shall be first-class in every
respect and eminently satisfactory to all who have occasion to favor it with
their patronage. Mr. McConnell will be
assisted in the conduct of the house by his son, John. It is generally hoped that they will meet
with much success in their venture. WR
1900
11 16 McCONNELL SELLS TO SMITH
J. A. McConnell, who
has been the proprietor of the New Commercial Hotel for the past year, has
disposed of it to J. A. Smith, of Winona, Minn., the consideration
being$18,000. Mr. McConnell bought the
property a year ago from W. J. Foy, and has been very successful in its
management. He quits the hotel business
with a time being on account of his wife's health. He has conducted hotels in several of the
larger cities of Minn., among them being the Windsor Hotel in Minneapolis. As proprietor of the New Commercial he was
very popular and conducted the house in an excellent manner. WG
c.1900
HOTEL AND WILLIAM JONES CARRIAGE PAINTING SHOP
1901
01 11 REDECORATING AND
REMODELING
Landlord Smith of the
New Commercial hotel has just completed redecorating and fitting out the dining
room of the hotel and small reading room in fine shape. This week he has a large number of mechanics
at work enlarging the office and refitting the toilet rooms. The office is being enlarged to occupy nearly
the entire north side of the hotel on the first floor. When completed it will be one of the finest
and most home-like hotel offices in the interior of the state. Mr. Smith evidently knows what the travelling
public wants, and he is going to make life happy for everyone who stops at this
hotel if there is any possible way to bring it about. WG
04 12 NEW TOILET ROOMS
J. H. Smith of the New
Commercial, has just completed adding several new toilet rooms to that popular
hotel, now being one on each floor. He
has also fitted out a ladies’ parlor on the first floor, a great convenience to
lady patrons and lady callers at the hotel.
The hotel has been completely remodeled throughout since he became the
proprietor of it, and as a consequence of the improvements and strict attention
to business, the hotel is crowded with guests every day. WG
06 21 SAMPLE ROOM REMODELED
On Tuesday J. H. Smith
at the New Commercial Hotel began to remodel the sample room to the north of
the hotel. He will raise the building
and add eight more rooms to the capacity of the hotel. Messrs. Chas. Huenefeld and J. M. Jornay have
charge of the work. Mr. Smith is
continually looking after the wants of the patrons of his house, and has
already succeeded in making the New Commercial one of the most popular hotels
in the country. WG
10 25 HOTEL ENLARGED
The New Commercial
Hotel is to be enlarged by the building of a two-story addition 26 x 34
feet. The lower part will be fitted out
as a buffet and wash-room, and the second story for sleeping rooms. J. H. Smith, the proprietor, is constantly
improving the hotel, and ever since he has taken hold of it, he has had a
deserved large patronage. Work on the
addition has already begun. WG
12 21 HORSE FOR HOTEL BUS
DIES SLIPPING ON ICE
Ice caused by water thrown on street
Lost a Most Serviceable
Horse
The beautiful dark grey
horse owned by Albert Fredrich, the liveryman, died Thursday morning.
The animal was driven
on the left-hand side of the New Commercial House [Hotel] bus.
The result of the
animal’s death was the cause of slipping while it was driven along Madison
Street, being in some places covered with ice caused by the carelessness of
some persons throwing water on the street.
Mr. Fredrich is grieved
over the loss of this most serviceable and also useful and valuable animal and
will try and find out who the guilty parties were throwing the water into the
street.
Mr. Fredrich lost
another valuable horse about a year ago, the mate to this one.
1902
01 31 Last Friday Landlord Smith, of the New Commercial Hotel,
started the new steam-heating plant recently put into the hotel. A new full sized-horse-power boiler has been
put into the basement of the new annex
to the hotel b. and steam connections made throughout the hotel, the sample
rooms connected therewith, and also with the post
office building, all of which are heated from the new plant. It has been given a full test during the cold
weather of the past week and is working in a first class manner. WG
1903
11 08 Under the present management the Commercial
House has taken its place among the best hotels of interior Wisconsin, a fact
that is as pleasing to the people of our city as it is complimentary to the
present proprietors. The demand for such a hotel has been constant and as we
have at least succeeded in securing a house that is a credit to the city, a
little local encouragement would best show the public's appreciation.
1904
12 20 A 23 pound turkey was raised by Charles
Gillis of the town of Watertown.
Landlord Brandenburg of the New Commercial purchased it and will serve
it on Christmas day to his guests.
12 27 On Christmas Jos. Brandenburg, of the New
Commercial Hotel, presented his wife with a handsome Kranisch & Bach piano
from the sales rooms of the W. D. Sproesser Co. and Mr. Brandenburg was nicely
remembered by his wife presenting him with an elegant quarter-sawed writing
desk.
1906
09 07 Improvements, involving the expenditure
of a large sum of money, are to be made on the New Commercial Hotel. In fact the preliminary work was commenced
yesterday under the supervision of Carl Huenefeld, who has the contract for the
work, which will be rushed to completion and by the time snow flies Watertown's
leading hostelry will present an entirely different aspect and be in keeping
with the development and improvement of the city.
The decision to remodel the hotel was recently reached by Mrs. Joseph
[Lilian] Brandenburg, who, it might be said is carrying out the plans outlined
about a year ago by her husband before his death. Mrs. Brandenburg who gives the management of
the hotel her personal attention, is a thorough business lady who believes in
the future of Watertown and therefore proposes to make her hostelry an ideal
one and thoroughly up-to-date . . . Mrs. Brandenburg also states that among the
improvements to be made is one that will add greatly to the beauty of the
place.
If she can get a permit from the city council, she proposes a large
canopy in front, extending from the building to the curb and from the ladies'
entrance to the main entrance. It is
proposed to build the same of glass and steel . . . It is also proposed to
erect a veranda in front of the hotel . . . The hotel will be repainted from
top to bottom, inside and out. Paint and papering will not be spared in adding
to the appearance of the New Commercial.
1907
02
07 E. A. Welsh, the new manager at the
New Commercial Hotel, met with a rather peculiar and unfortunate accident
Wednesday evening while engaged in some work in one of the sample rooms in the
rear of the hotel. He tripped over a
grip laying on the floor and fell onto an iron bar in such a manner as to
receive a fracture of the nose and a rather ugly gash under his left eye. While the injury is not a very serious one it
was nevertheless painful and will disfigure Mr. Welsh for a few days. WG
1909
01 15 Banquet honoring John I. Beggs, president
of Milwaukee Heat, Light and Traction Co; Mrs. Brandenburg, the proprietor,
praised. WG
02
19 Joseph Jr, four-year-old son of Mrs. Lilian
Brandenburg, bitten in the face by a dog in the lobby of the hotel. WG
12
17 Mrs. Brandenburg's
Lucky Escape: While out cutter riding last Monday
afternoon, Mrs. Joseph Brandenburg, proprietor of the New Commercial Hotel,
narrowly escaped serious injury. When
reaching the corner of Main and North Second streets, at about two o'clock, she
turned north to avoid an interurban [trolley] car and while making the turn her
cutter tipped over in the deep snow, throwing her out, but she showed great
pluck and presence of mind and held on to the lines. After having been dragged three blocks, she
brought the horse to a stop. The snow
was quite deep all the way, and she fortunately escaped serious injury. She says she rather enjoyed the excitement,
but would not want the experience repeated. WG
1910
07 22 NEW
HOTEL MANAGEMENT
Mrs. Joseph Brandenburg, who for years past has
so successfully managed the New Commercial Hotel, has retired from active
management and C. E. Hunter has assumed charge at the hotel, assisted by Miss
E. C. Glaser, sister of Mrs. Brandenburg.
Mr. Hunter is well known to the travelling public, and is thoroughly
versed in what a hotel needs to make it popular, hence the popularity of the
New Commercial is sure to continue under his management. WG
09 30 C. E. HUNTER, MANAGER
C. E. Hunter, manager
of the New Commercial Hotel, who gave such fine satisfaction as starter for the Watertown fair races last week, will
leave the latter part of next month for Phoenix, Arizona, and El Paso, Texas,
to officiate as starter for two big races.
It is a foregone conclusion that he will give the best of satisfaction. WG
1910s
The
one-time bartender of the place was a former female impersonator. He toured in an act in vaudeville in the
early 1910s.
1911
07 28 FIRE AT THE NEW COMMERCIAL HOTEL
At 1
o’clock Friday morning an alarm of fire was turned in from box 17 and the fire department responded promptly, the cause of
the alarm being a small fire at the New Commercial Hotel. The hotel was filled throughout with smoke
and for a time it was difficult to locate the blaze, until holes were cut in
the kitchen floor near the range, then it was found the fire was underneath the
floor under the range and it was promptly extinguished. The fire damage was slight, but the smoke and
water did considerable damage. For a few
moments the guests at the hotel were somewhat alarmed, but on learning the fire
was an insignificant one, they returned to their rooms. WG
1913
01 16 MRS. BRANDENBURG SELLS COMMERCIAL HOTEL
E. J.
Carroll has purchased of Mrs. Lillian Brandenburg the New Commercial Hotel and
has already taken charge of it. The
Commercial under Mrs. Brandenburg's management was one of the most popular
hotels in the state. It was properly
managed by her in every manner — the rooms were all kept scrupulously neat and
tidy and the menu served at all meals was the very best. In retiring from the hotel business in
Watertown, Mrs. Brandenburg takes with her the good wishes of all our
people. About February 1st, she and her
young son Joseph and her sister, Miss E. C. Glaser, who has been with her in
the hotel for years, will leave for a three month visit in California. Mr. Carroll, the new landlord, comes to our
city well recommended. He is an
experienced hotel man and the public will find that the Commercial under his
management will lose none of its popularity.
WG
10 16 FINE ELECTRIC SIGN
E. J.
Carroll, proprietor of the Commercial Hotel, has just had placed a mammoth
electric sign at the southwest corner of his hotel. It is the largest electric sign in the city
and looms up in fine shape. WG
1914
01 22 SARAH BERGIN HELD UP
Miss
Sarah Bergin, who has been employed for some time at the Commercial Hotel,
received a check last Monday evening for her wages, and decided to visit her
old home in Richwood. She took the ‘bus
to the C. M. & St. P. depot, and then made up her mind to walk to the
Junction and visit over night with friends near there before going to
Richwood. She was carrying her satchel
and walking along the railway track, when suddenly a man came up behind her and
grabbed her satchel, and said "Wat you got in that suitcase? Money?"
He ran west on the tracks with the satchel and Miss Bergin followed to
the Junction and notified the police by phone.
Next morning her satchel and check therein was found by a brakeman near
the Junction. The contents therein were
rifled, but nothing was found missing. WG
01 22 Death
of Henry Bertram, was proprietor of
the Commercial Hotel for some time.
1920
1923
01 25 Death
of Joseph Brandenburg, Jr, son of former owner WG
1938
10 12 NAME CHANGED
The name of the Commercial Hotel has been changed to Carlton
Hotel.
1950 NEW
CARLTON HOTEL OWNERS
Good Meals, Clean Rooms
Policy to Predominate
The new owners
of the Carlton hotel took over the place yesterday and will continue to operate
it under the same, long standing policy which has made it one of the best known
hotels in this area. They are Leonard
Platt and his father, Harry Platt, both formerly of Lake Geneva, Wis. The son will be the active manager.
Good meals,
clean rooms and a home-like atmosphere will be the policy of the hotel. The hotel would continue to welcome
gatherings, dinner and luncheon parties, large or small, and that it would do
its utmost to provide the best possible catering service.
The new
owners met many of the city's younger men last evening during the monthly
luncheon meeting of the Watertown Junior Chamber of Commerce. The son will affiliate with that group and
will help promote the program and activities of the junior chamber organization
in the community.
Louis Silagy
and Don Mitchell, who have operated the hotel for many years, will continue to
make their homes in Watertown. They have built the hotel up to a position where
its meals and services were first rate for a city this size and the two joined
today in wishing the new owners well and in thanking the public for its
patronage during the years they operated the place. WDT
BUSINESSES AND OFFICES IN THE CARLTON
HOTEL IN 1950
Hotel
Carlton of Watertown, Inc.
Hotel
Carlton dining room
Carlton
Cocktail Bar
Robert
Mitchell
Watertown
Junior Chamber of Commerce.
Watertown
Industrial Safety Council
Jaycette’s
Northland
Greyhound Bus Lines
Cardinal
Lines, Inc.
1951
05 11 NEW
CARLTON HOTEL OWNER AND MANAGER
The new owner
of the Carlton hotel, Bernard B. Rekus, has arrived in Watertown from Chicago
and has taken possession of the property which he purchased from Harry Platt,
also of Chicago, who owned and operated the hotel for the past year, having
acquired it in May, 1950.
Mr. Rekus
has announced that he purchased the hotel outright and is the sole owner and
that Michael Joyce, Chicago, will be the manager of the hotel. Mr. Rekus was
born in Missouri. His father was a native of Germany who came to this country
as a young man and his mother was Scotch- Irish extraction. Mr. Rekus received
his elementary schooling in Missouri and later attended college and in 1928
went to Chicago and entered the insurance business.
Successful
Career He is a self-made man who has 1 met with considerable success in the
insurance field. He maintains an office in Chicago. He also owns farms in
Missouri and has other holdings. Having lived in Chicago for many years, he
still retains a love for small towns and community life and that is one reason
he decided to come to Watertown. He likes this community and after making a
survey of the city and its possibilities decided to locate here. He will
continue his; business in Chicago and will divide his time between Chicago and
Watertown.
‘‘I know it
is going to be a pleas- j sure for me to come to Watertown at every
opportunity,” Mr. Rekus told a reporter during an interview yesterday
afternoon. “I have already met so many people in this community and I have
found them to be most congenial and friendly. I know I am going to like it
here.” Plans Improvements He
contemplates several changes and improvements at the hotel. He also plans to introduce a business men’s
lunch at noon and will cater to clubs, societies and family parties as well as
social functions and banquets. e says it
will be his aim to serve good meals at all times and maintain the highest
quality of meals and service.
Mr. Joyce,
his manager, is an experienced man in the hotel field and can be relied
upon to carry out his wishes, he said. He hopes to make the hotel known far and
wide as a place that is friendly and hospitable and which will ac- quire a
reputation for its excellent meals.
ASSESSOR IMAGE
1951
1955
10 28 The Western Union Telegraph Company
started moving operations yesterday. It
is moving its Watertown office to new headquarters in the Carlton Hotel, across
the street from its old office in South First Street. The telegraph company is vacating the
building directly north of the Wethonkitha Club, the city recently having
purchased it along with a strip of land and plans to utilize the land as part
of the South First Street parking area, on which a car ramp is to be
constructed.
1958
09 15 The Carlton Hotel in South First
Street, which has been offered to the city of Watertown as a site for a future City Hall or municipal building, dates back to
1847 when it was opened as a hotel and was known as the Watertown House and
later the Commercial House and Commercial Hotel. The original structure was erected in 1843
and was occupied by stores and offices.
In 1847 Thomas Norris opened the original building as a hotel. Norris sold it to J. C. Lewis, and in 1848 it
came into the possession of Joseph Lindon.
A Mr. [Alexander] Manegold succeeded Mr. Lindon. In July 1879, it was partially rebuilt and
called the Commercial House. WDT
1959
04 23 An annex of the Hotel Carlton
taken over for new Firestone store.
WDT
1963
02 04 SALE OF CARLTON HOTEL TO HOWARD MARTIN
Announcement was made of the sale of the
Carlton Hotel to Howard Martin, Madison, who took possession as of yesterday,
Feb. 1. Negotiations for the purchase
had been underway for some time. The
sale was made by Mr. and Mrs. H. Fred Frehe who have owned and operated the
establishment for the past 10 years.
They came here from Minneapolis and now plan to retire. WDT
11 09 DUKE’S BAR CHANGES HANDS
Two old and well established taverns in
Watertown are due to change hands on Dec. 1.
Applications for change in licenses have been filed. One is Duke’s Bar in the Hotel Carlton
operated by Harry E. (Duke) Marthaler.
The change results from the recent sale of the hotel property to G. V.
Mathews, formerly of Fort Atkinson by Howard Martin, the former owner. The present bar license is held by Mr.
Marthaler. WDT
1964
- PERSONAL
RECOLLECTION
In 1964, the owner Loren Bixby hired me as
desk clerk. Wow, I not only took care of
the old cord type switch board, but answered dead animal pick up phone,
dispatched taxi cabs, helped drunks climb stairs to their rooms, sold
newspapers and candy, greeted greyhound bus travelers, watched restaurant
cashier, adjusted color TV in the bar, set table cloths in dining room, played
the 8 track tapes, made decorative signs, but filled in short periods for
Western Union guy . . . all for $1.00 an hour.
In the lobby before it was renovated into senior housing room, I spotted
the design in the fireplace bricks that was a Nazi swastika. (Barry Nelson
Facebook posting feedback)
11 07 WASHINGTON INN SOLD
The
Washington Inn, 516 Main Street, has been sold. The hotel has been sold to Archie Johnson and
his sons, Donald and David, of Milwaukee, present owners of the Carlton
House Apartment Hotel.
c.1975
< 1975 compared to 2014
2003 CARLTON HOUSE APARTMENT HOTEL, 115 S First, Current site of
2022
04 05 CARLTON HOUSE APARTMENT HOTEL FAÇADE
REPAIR
Holton
Brothers Inc.,
a building restoration service out of Grafton, at work after it had
been noted that the building’s upper portion of brick was beginning to
bow. Removing approximately 5,000 bricks
and then re-laying them.
Images
Click to enlarge
|
Weltburger 08 10
1889, drawing |
This
image not same as
PC_068 |
|||
|
|
c.1912 |
Hotel bar token |
|
|
History of Watertown,
Wisconsin