website watertownhistory.org
ebook History of Watertown, Wisconsin
Doerr Drug Store
109 West Main
The drug store was
originally established by Dr. Edward
Johnson in 1844.
A soda fountain was
installed one year later [1845] and it was the first in Wisconsin
“The Cradle of the Soda Fountain in Wisconsin, 1845,
A
drug store four years before Wisconsin became a state” [Doerr
stationary}
1845
-- -- FIRST
SODA FOUNTAIN IN STATE WAS INSTALLED HERE
Watertown has a drug
store that was founded in 1844, four years before Wisconsin became a state. It is the Doerr
Pharmacy in W. Main Street. The June
issue of the Penslar News, a publication that
circulates among drug stores and the general drug store trade, tells about it
in a feature article. The store was
founded by Dr. Edward Johnson and the information about the store is taken from
a personal diary belonging to Dr. Johnson.
Wisconsin became a
state on 5/29/1848. Four years before
that the drug store was founded and in 1845 had a soda fountain, the first one
ever built in the state. The article
contains among other things the following quotations: “The present owner, E. Charles Doerr, prides himself with the fact that he is proprietor
of the first drug store of Watertown being conducted at the same location for
the entire span in a building that was erected in the year 1845. The store was founded four years before
Wisconsin became a state and in addition housed the first soda fountain in
Wisconsin, built in 1845.”
The following chapter
is from the diary:
"Being the first
druggist in Watertown and resolved to put in the first soda fountain but as
money was an unknown factor and quantity, he had to light up his genius to
design the construction of one to serve the purpose.
“It was made of tin,
a cylinder-like percolator being placed on the upper floor, crossing the floor
at right angles, up through the counter where it was crowned with a neat
faucet. Two tin goblets each holding
more than a half pint of solution of tartaric acid in simple syrup flavored
with lemon and a bottle of whiskey furnished the luxuries for the thirsty. The cylinder being filled with a solution of
bi-carbonate soda and the imposture passed as genuine and gave
satisfaction."
Mr. Doerr carries in the upper right-hand corner of his
stationery this statement: "The
Cradle Of The Soda Fountain In Wisconsin, 1845,”
At the bottom of the
page appears this sentence: A Drug Store
- Four Years Before Wisconsin Became A State.” WDTimes article of 07 08
1937
WDTimes TIMES
SQUARE article on the same, 02 22 1992
FIRST SODA FOUNTAIN IN STATE
"The
Cradle of the Soda Fountain in Wisconsin, 1845”
The other day we ran
across an article [WDT, 07 07 1937] which talked about Watertown being the site
of the FIRST SODA FOUNTAIN
IN WISCONSIN. [The June issue of The Penslar News,
a publication that circulates among drug stores and the general drug store
trade, tells about it in a feature article]
It was located just a
couple of doors east of where we’re writing this column, the present location
of Domino’s Pizza.
The drug store for
many years was operated by the late Charlie Doerr
and was known as Doerr’s Drugs.
The store was founded
by Dr. Edward Johnson back in 1844, four years before Wisconsin became a
state. A year later the soda fountain
was installed.
Johnson said in his diary
back in that period of time, “Being the FIRST
DRUGGIST IN WATERTOWN and resolved to put in the first soda fountain but as
money was an unknown factor and quantity, I had to light up my genius to design
the construction of one to serve the purpose.
It was made of tin, a cylinder-like percolator being placed on the upper
floor, crossing the floor at right angles, up through the counter where it was
crowned with a neat faucet. Two tin
goblets each holding more than half pint of solution of tartaric acid in simple
syrup flavored with lemon and a bottle of whiskey furnished the luxuries for the
thirsty. The cylinders being filled with
a solution of bicarbonate soda and the imposture passed as genuine and gave
satisfaction.”
Doerr was quite proud that
his business was the first soda fountain in the state. At the top of his stationery was the
following statement: “The Cradle of the
Soda Fountain in Wisconsin, 1845”, and at the bottom of the stationery is the
statement: “A drug store four years
before Wisconsin became a state”.
We remember Charlie
Doerr quite well.
His place of business was right around the corner from the Daily Times carrier room and often after
school or Saturday morning we’d stop by for one of his special sodas. Right up until the business closed, he would
individually mix the sodas with the syrup and carbonated water. Quality control was a bit lacking and as a
result, each soda was a bit different.
Ice was rationed. One or two
cubes at best and they would be cracked with a little mallet as Charlie held
them in his hand.
And, of course, what
would a soda be without the world-famous Pagel’s
potato chips that he always had on hand and which were made right across the
street.
POSTAL SUBSTATION
Doerr’s Drug Store was known for
something else. For many years it was a postal
substation. Back in the southeast
corner was a single “teller window” complete with iron bars from which you
could purchase stamps.
Charlie also had an
avocation. For years he was a baseball
coach for the park and recreation program.
He often turned out winning teams and worked hard with the kids. A victory often meant a treat at the drug
store.
It was quite a place,
the bantering of Charlie, his love of baseball, and the collection of items for
sale from almost every era. Today, it
would be quite a conversation piece.
Watertown at one time
had fountains all over the place. Mullen’s,
Tetzlaff’s, Dooley Meyers’, Woolworth’s and
Kresge’s, just to name a few.
Doerr Drug Store, 109 West Main
1960
12 11 The Watertown Post Office substation No. 1, located at
the Doerr Pharmacy in West Main Street is giving
special Christmas postal service. The
substation is open evenings and for the convenience of those who cannot do
their mailing of greetings and parcels during the regular or extra hours under
which the post office is operating, it is suggested that the facilities of the
substation be utilized. Stamps may be
secured and mailing of parcels, etc., may be done at the substation which is
open each evening including Sundays. WDT
1971
Doerr Drug Store, 109 W
Main
c.1976
Following the closing of Doerr's Drugs, the building was occupied by an antique shop, pizzeria and a beauty salon.
2017
Slated for demolition
Cross
References:
Dr. Edward Johnson, Watertown’s first druggist
History of Watertown, Wisconsin