website watertownhistory.org
ebook History of Watertown, Wisconsin
Habhegger Home
The
John Gaston home is at 413 South Fifth Street.
For many years this was known as the John
Habhegger home, grandparents of the Gaston’s.
It was
built in 1880 by Dr. Augustus Dorsch and purchased by
Habhegger in 1889.
The early deed specified that the seller "resumed right to get
water from the well."
Habhegger,
general merchant and owner of the Habhegger Cold Storage Company, was born in Switzerland
in 1844 and came to Watertown with his parents in 1853. In 1862 he enlisted in the army and served
with distinction in the Civil War.
Mrs. Habhegger was one of Watertown's earliest native residents,
born 14 years after Timothy Johnson arrived in 1836.
The Habheggers played an important part in the development of
the community. They celebrated their
golden wedding anniversary in this home in 1918.
Habhegger did
extensive renovation in the house. He
added the third floor with its gambrel roof line, and unique window treatment,
designed the garage to match, put in hardwood floors throughout. Early interior pictures owned by the Gastons show the fretwork in arches between hall, living
and dining rooms.
The
exterior of the house has been altered considerably; fretwork has been removed,
as have some of the original porches.
Street
car tracks, forerunner of the daily interurban to Milwaukee, ran in front
of the home and were installed in 1907. The tracks were abandoned in 1927.
John Gaston's
mother was a Habhegger daughter, married to Omar
Gaston, architectural engineer, former organizer and
president of the Merchants National Bank.
Another
Habhegger daughter married Dr. A. F. Solliday with the wedding reception in this home on Fifth
Street. The Solliday home, one of Watertown's distinctive old
homes, was purchased by St. Bernard's as a convent.
1902
1951
ASSESSOR IMAGE
1966
THE JOHN GASTON HOME IN 1966
For
many years this was known as the John Habhegger home,
grandparents of the Gaston’s. Built in
1880 by Dr. Augustus Dorsch and purchased by Habhegger in 1889.
2007
RE-ROOFING
2022
Cross References:
John Habhegger Sr. and Jr. are buried in Oak Hill
Cemetery.
History of Watertown,
Wisconsin