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ebook History of Watertown, Wisconsin
Kehr Bros.
est. 1906
111 S. 5th Street
A
century ago, Frank and Emil Kehr opened the door of Kehr Bros., at 111 S. 5th
Street in Watertown [currently located at W4631 Hwy 19]. They began taking orders for steamfitting, boiler and gas piping projects using a pad of
paper and pencil. Customers at that time who had telephones could call in for
service by dialing 168.
Following
the death of Emil in 1936 his son Donald E. Kehr became a partner with Frank
Kehr and they started selling and installing gravity furnaces and oil fired
forced air furnaces.
Following
the death of Frank Kehr in 1951 his son Robert T. Kehr became a partner with
Donald E. Kehr. At that time they began
selling and installing refrigerated air conditioners.
Upon
Donald E. Kehr's retirement in 1969, Robert T. Kehr then purchased his share of
the business.
1906
May KEHR BROTHER’S
HEATING / 111 South Fifth St
Frank
Kehr inside the shop, owned by brothers Frank & Emil Kehr
1910
-- -- CONTRACT
FOR NEUMANN
BLDG
Kehr Bros awarded the
contract for installing a heating system in the building being erected on
Second Street by Gustave [Gustav] Neumann.
Domestic
engineering and the journal of mechanical contracting, Volume 51, 04 02 1910
issue
1915
11 04 NEW HIGH SCHOOL HEATING
CONTRACT
On Monday
evening the contract for putting in the Kewaunee smokeless heating plant in the
new high school building was awarded to Kehr Bros. of this city.
Following
were the bids submitted:
Thomas
Heating Co., Racine, $9392
H.
Kelly & Co., Minneapolis, 9830
Otto
Biefeld & Co., Watertown, 9786
Kehr Bros., Watertown, 9265
Gen.
Heating & Ventilating Co., Milwaukee, 9560
Ind.
Heating & Eng. Co., Milwaukee, 9640
Downey Heating Co., Milwaukee, 9575
Healey Plumbing and Heating Co., St. Paul, 11,670 WG
1916
DEC PROFILE OF THE KEHR
BROTHERS
Steam,
Hot Water and Vapor Heating; All Work Promptly Attended to; First Class Work
Guaranteed; No.112-114 North Fourth Street, Watertown, Wisconsin.
This
firm has one of the principal exclusive heating establishments in the city at
112-114 North Fourth Street, occupying the Roegner building, comprising office
and work rooms adjoining.
The
firm handles a full line of steam and hot water heating apparatus, comprising
steam and hot water boilers and radiators from the American Radiator Co., and
other firms while a specialty is made of the "Trane Vapor Heating
System" which is operated by only a few ounces of pressure from the boiler
and is adapted for heating residences and all large buildings at the same
expense as hot water heating.
The
firm have installed many of these vapor heating plants, both in the city and
country-all giving good satisfaction.
They
have also installed the steam and hot water heating in a large number of
buildings throughout the city, keeping several experienced hands employed and
any kind of jobbing and repairing is given prompt attention.
The
business was first established by this firm in 1906, while they have had much
longer experience in all kinds of steam, vapor and hot water heating, being
well acquainted with the trade in city and country and report
a fair business this season.
From “Watertown and
Jefferson County Trade Review,” Dec 1916
1971
05 18 REMOVED FOR NEW GOODYEAR STORE
A Goodyear tire and
service store is to be constructed in Watertown in the near future, according
to Harry Wendel of the Goodyear district office in Milwaukee.
The store will be
located at the corner of North Fifth and Main streets. The site includes three properties. They are the former Christ United Methodist
Church, former Kehr Brothers Heating, and the former Hilary Reichardt
home on 109 North Fifth Street.
Construction is to begin soon and be completed within
90 to 120 days after work begins.
The land will include
parking for approximately 25 vehicles and will offer a complete mechanical shop
including brake work, wheel alignment, tire work, sale of tires and many other
areas. A truck bay and farm tire bay are
included in the plan.
An appliance and
television store will be included in the business. The facility will employ about six persons
Cross
References:
Kehr,
Donald 1915, Sleigh ride, upper grades
Kehr, Donald 1941, Grades 1 and 2
Kehr, Donald 1943, Grades 3 and 4
Kehr, Frank,
1951, Obit
Kehr, Robert 1941, Grades 1 and 2
Kehr, Robert 1943, Grades 3 and 4
Kehr, Robert 1949, Graduation
History of Watertown,
Wisconsin