website watertownhistory.org
ebook History of Watertown, Wisconsin
Masonic Temple Building [later]
City's Community Church purchases
downtown building
1960
03 26 PROPERTY AT 106 MADISON St. ACQUIRED
The officers of the Bank of Watertown today announced that they had
acquired the property at 106 Madison Street, formerly occupied by Pike Egg
& Feed Company. This property will
be made available for parking to Bank of Watertown customers while transacting
business at the bank. It will be ready
for use soon. The property at number 8
Main Street, occupied by the New York Market, was purchased by the bank some
time ago and number 10 Main Street was acquired some years ago.
Pike Egg & Feed / 106 East Madison Street
In the early part of
the 20th century, the building at 106 East Madison Street had been occupied by
Ernst W. Hoeffner as a boarding house and saloon. In the 1940's, it was known as 'Heinie's
Tavern'. In the 1950's, the large plate
glass windows beneath a crank out canvas awning had 'Pike's Egg & Feed -
Eggs & Farm Supplies' signage. By
1960, the two old buildings that comprised the feed store were sold and to make
way for a parking lot of a new nearby bank building. Six years later, the parking lot was sold and a Masonic Temple was built and dedicated in
1967. In 2001, the building was
purchased and is now occupied by the Watertown Community Church.
1966
01 23 PLANS FOR NEW TEMPLE
Plans for a new Masonic Temple in Watertown were announced last evening
following the completion of transactions by which the Masons have purchased the
property at 106 Madison Street which
has been used as a parking lot by the Bank of Watertown for its customers. The property lies directly between Otto’s Inn and Powers’ Tavern. The Masons hope to break ground by May or
June and that an architect is being engaged in the next few days to prepare
plans for the building which will consist of a full basement and the main
floor. The basement will include
recreational and other facilities while the main floor will consist of the
lodge room proper and other related facilities.
02 02 PLANS FOR NEW TEMPLE
By a vote of 13 to 1, the common council last night adopted a resolution
expressing its desire to secure from the Watertown Masonic Lodge the property
in Madison Street which the lodge purchased last week as a site for a new
Masonic Temple. The plan was pushed by
Alderman Charles Yeomans who said at Monday night’s council committee meeting
that he was surprised when he read in the Daily Times, which first broke the
news, that the Bank of Watertown had sold the property to the Masons when its
officers were aware that the proposed site for the new temple lies within the
block square area which has been designated in the City Master Plan for a
future civic center.
09 26 NEW
TEMPLE UNDER CONSTRUCTION
Construction
of a new Masonic Temple, plans for which were announced months ago, is due to
get underway shortly. It will be
constructed on a site in Madison Street, just east of Otto’s Inn. The Masons purchased the site at the time the
Daily Times announced the plans for
the new building. It was disclosed today
that a building permit has been issued for the new temple. The estimated cost of construction, as listed
in the permit, is $77,790. Furnishings
and equipment will be extra. Sale of the
present Masonic Temple to the Chas. Fischer and Sons Co. department store,
which has for many years occupied the major portion of the building, was announced
earlier.
1967
08 17 DEDICATION PLANNED
The
new Masonic Temple located on Madison Street will be dedicated on Nov. 11. Work on the new building is nearing
completion, with some interior work, including painting and decorating, still
to be finished. The new structure
replaces the old Masonic Temple in Main Street which Watertown Lodge 49,
A.&F.M. and other Masonic groups have occupied for many years. The old building has been sold to the Chas.
Fischer & Son Co. department store which has occupied the major portion of
the building “at the bridge” for a great many years.
11 11 DEDICATION
New building dedicated November
11. Contractor was H. F. Mallow and Son
Co., Watertown.
Watertown
Lodge No. 49, F. & A. M. dedicated its new Masonic Temple in Madison Street
here Saturday afternoon. The
ceremonials, participated in by officers of the Grand Lodge of Wisconsin, were
meaningful and highly impressive by their very simplicity. A capacity crowd filled the lodge room and
there were 300 reservations for the dinner that was served in the evening in
the spacious dining room in the temple’s lower level. The new building is a handsome structure,
functional in design and multi-level.
The dedication ceremonies took place at 4 o’clock and when William J.
Dauer, worshipful master of the Watertown Lodge called the gathering to order
the place was filled.
2001
05 04 WATERTOWN COMMUNITY CHURCH PURCHASE
Watertown Community Church (WCC) has purchased a building located at 106
E. Madison St., the former Masonic Temple building. The building will be used to hold services
and special events in the large basement.
The plan is to offer as many opportunities for outreach in the community
as possible. WCC is a seeker-sensitive church with a goal of making newcomers
feel comfortable no matter where they are in their spiritual walk, whether they
are looking for a home church or come to simply check out a service.
2018
05 11 RETIREMENT OF PASTOR FRED SMITH
INSTALLATION OF PASTOR, KEITH YOUNG
Watertown Community Church recently celebrated the retirement of Pastor
Fred Smith and the installation of its new pastor, Keith Young.
Smith’s career path has been characterized by diversity. His journey
began as a Judge Advocate General attorney with the United States Marine Corps,
then as a history professor at Maranatha Baptist University in Watertown,
followed by a two-term tenure as Watertown’s mayor, culminating with a 17year
stretch serving as pastor of WCC.
Young was born and raised in New Jersey. He is married to Doloreza and they have a 1-year-old daughter, Sophie. Young is a graduate of Texas A& M
University and received his master of divinity degree
from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. For the
past three years, the Youngs have served overseas. Young’s installation service was held April
29 and he officially began his pastoral service on May 1.
Cross Reference:
Early
building designated as Masonic Temple
History of Watertown,
Wisconsin