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Reeseville Nearly Wiped Out by Fire
Watertown Gazette, 02 05
1909
Reeseville, Wis.,
Jan. 29—With one of the worst blizzards in the history of the village raging
and the wind blowing a gale, almost the entire business section of Reeseville was destroyed by fire today. But for the prompt assistance rendered by the
cities called upon for aid it is certain that the entire town would be one mass
of ruins tonight. As it is, eight
business blocks and one dwelling are gone, the estimated loss being $25,000.
The
fire started this noon, following a gasoline explosion in the hardware store of
C. W. Steinacher.
The volunteer fire department was on the ground within a short time, but
the flames had made considerable headway and efforts to protect surrounding
property proved fruitless with the storm fanning the blaze. Surrounding towns were appealed to for aid by
telephone and telegraph and Milwaukee Road at once placed special trains in
readiness at Columbus and at Watertown to carry apparatus to the stricken
village. In the meantime the department
from Lowell, a village about three miles distant, had reached here
overland. Within a short time a hook and
ladder company with apparatus reached here from Columbus and an engine with a
full crew complement came from Watertown.
Thus
strengthened, the local department renewed its fight against the spreading
conflagration, but it was not until after 6 o'clock tonight that the fire was
under control. Among the buildings
destroyed or damaged practically beyond repair are a meat market, two saloons,
a blacksmith shop, and the State Bank of Reeseville. When danger of further spread of the
conflagration was passed the departments from Columbus and Watertown returned
home by special trains.
The fire
was caused by an explosion in the store of C. W. Steinacher;
Arthur Cohn, a clerk, was drawing gasoline from a tank, when the gases from the
gasoline were exploded by a nearby light.
His face and hands were seriously burned, and he has since been
receiving treatment at St. Mary's Hospital, this city.
The Silsby engine and the east side hose wagon on appeal for
help were sent from here with a sufficient number of firemen to man them. Fire Chief Carl Otto had one of his feet
badly cut at the ankle while assisting fighting the fire.
↓ More on Reeseville
Fire
↓
Rebuilding Reeseville
Watertown
Gazette, 05 07 1909
Among buildings to be
erected here during the
summer are a two story double building by the Kurth
Company on the site of the old opera house at a cost of $10,000; a single two
story building costing $5,000, by William Hartig
Company, a new home for the state bank and residences by O. A. Sell, Miss
Bertha Yauman, W. E. Wendt and Dr. Eickelberg. Thus is Reeseville rising like a phoenix from the ashes of the fire
which recently destroyed the greater part of the town.
↓ More on Reeseville ↓
Watertown Merchants Get Busy
Watertown Gazette, 01 20 1911
The Reeseville Review says that the business men of Reeseville
made an agreement to take all the available space in that paper for advertising
purposes. All of which shows that the Reeseville merchants are wide awake and up-to-date. They have sharp competition from the larger
cities, particularly Watertown and Milwaukee, both of which places are easily
reached by fast trains, running only a few hours apart. In order to meet this competition, the Reeseville merchants have stocked up with the best goods in
the market, which they freely advertise in the home paper and thereby increase
the local trade.—Juneau Telephone.
During the year 1911 we
hope to see Watertown business men do likewise with the local papers.—Watertown Gazette
Watertown Gazette, 02 12 1909
Watertown
City Mutual Fire Insurance Co. Elect Officers.
Last Saturday evening the directors of the Watertown City Mutual Fire
Insurance Co. elected the following officers for the ensuing year:
H. R. Moldenhauer, president; Michael Fitzgerald, vice-president;
Julius Strehlow, secretary;
William Trachte, treasurer.
Watertown Gazette, 06 15 1894
Two men
entered the store of D. W. Schwab & Co., on last Monday night, disrobed
themselves, and redressed in a new outfit, leaving their old garbs after them. Messrs. Schwab and Co's loss is about $20.
↓ More on Schwab & Co ↓
Watertown Gazette, 07 13 1894
"Dave" Schwab, the old stand-by clothing man of Watertown, was
in Juneau Monday. This was
"Dave’s" last business trip to that city, as he is soon to leave for
Cincinnati where he intends to locate permanently. For thirty-seven years the well-known
clothing firm of D. Schwab & Co., of Watertown, has been a household word
among lovers of fine clothing, and has always been synonymous with good
material, good work and good fit. For
thirteen years "Dave" has been the responsible head of the
establishment and there is no businessman of our acquaintance outside of our
own city, who will be more thoroughly missed than he. A regular solicitor for the best grades of
Gents' Furnishing Goods, his old time patrons as well as his new ones will
scarcely feel that perfect confidence in other firms that they have in
his. But successor Mr. Andrew Hertel has been a trusty and trusted employee of the firm
for years, and probably understands the tastes and demands of this section
nearly as well as Mr. Schwab himself, while the veteran cutter, A. W. Cavanath [John Cavanaugh], will still handle the shears,
and in the future, as in the past, will "give the people perfect fit. He was square in business, a genial good
fellow to associate with, could tell a rousing story, and was everybody's
friend. We join with hosts of others in
wishing him “God speed” wherever he may be.
Watertown Gazette, 06 15 1894
A prominent 4th
ward young lady had a lively encounter with a billy
goat on last Tuesday afternoon to the great amusement of the spectators. Said young lady was amusing herself by
mimicking the goat's bleat, when "Billy" retaliated by chasing and
bunting her. Not every Belle enjoys an
encounter with a billy goat, but "Billy"
enjoyed himself hugely on this occasion at the expense of the young lady. It is safe to say that billy
goats are not her pet animals.
Lectures and Bowling
Watertown Daily Times, 11 17 1903
A large audience assembled last
Thursday evening to hear the lecture on Charlemagne. The use of Concordia Opera House has been
generously donated, as the capacity of the assembly room was altogether
insufficient. The hall, however, was
poorly heated to the discomfort of many, and the bowling was also the source of
some annoyance. The next lecture takes
place Thursday, Nov. 19, the subject being Lorenzo di Medici.
Reconstruction of South Third Street
Watertown Daily Times, 12 03 08
The section of South Third Street
that had been closed since August reopened to traffic on December 3rd.
The $1.47 million reconstruction
project included South Third Street from East Main Street to Western Avenue and
five roadways in that area between Third and Fourth
streets. Those roads include Market
Street, Jefferson Street, Dodge Street, Spring Street and Wisconsin Street.
South Third Street from Main
Street to Dodge Street now includes two 11 -foot lanes and the parking area on
both sides of the road was widened from seven feet to 10 feet. South Third Street from Dodge Street to
Western Avenue has two 11 -foot lanes and the 8-foot parking area on the west
side of the road was expanded to 10 feet.
New sidewalks, stamped concrete
and decorative lighting was installed from Main Street to Dodge Street. The sidewalks on Third Street from Dodge
Street to Western Avenue, as well as the five side roads, were replaced where
necessary.
Watertown
Daily Times, 12 03 58
Watertown's
new deputy city clerk, Mrs. Ralph O. Ertl of 1311
River Drive, will begin her duties at the City Hall next Monday morning. She succeeds the late Mrs. Lester A. Kuckkahn whose sudden death took place on Nov. 8, just one
month to the date on which her successor will begin her duties.
Kuckkahn, Evelyn, b. Dec 26, 1903, d. Nov 8, 1958
Mrs.
Ertl has worked in the office of the Sears Roebuck
Co. store here for some years. She has
had some experience in City Hall office work, having worked there for a time
after the death of Arthur W. Duffy, who served as city clerk.
Watertown
Daily Times, 01 14 84
City
Clerk Bernice Ertl was honored by the members of the
Watertown Common Council Tuesday night for her service to the Watertown
community. Mrs. Ertl
will leave her post next Tuesday after serving 16 years [if newspaper date
is correct, this should be 26 years] as city clerk. Mayor Kenneth Thiel presents her with a
plaque inscribed, “In appreciation for your loyalty, honesty and excellence as
an employee for the City of Watertown. A
special commendation for never missing a council meeting as city clerk for 16
years.”
Memorial Hospital Auxiliary Tea
Watertown
Daily Times, 12 03 83
The
Volunteer of the Year award winner was announced and three new officers were
installed at the annual Watertown Memorial
Hospital Auxiliary tea held Sunday in the hospital cafeteria. Members of the auxiliary voted Diane Cochrane
as Volunteer of the Year. She has served
on the hospital auxiliary board for five years in several capacities including
publicity chairman, legislation chairman and vice president of fund
raising. A child safe volunteer at the
hospital, she was also chairman of the hospital Christmas bazaar held this
year. New officers installed for
two-year terms were Jo Bostrom, vice president of
programs; Marion Bauman, newsletter chairman and corresponding secretary; and
Peg Brandenstein, membership chairman and assistant
treasurer. They were installed by Sharyn
Abraham, a past president of the auxiliary.
Enjoys Lecture on Foreign Churches
Watertown Gazette, 04 25 1923
The Catholic Woman's Club
was given the opportunity Monday evening of listening to a very entertaining
illustrated lecture on "Foreign Cathedrals," given by Mr. and Mrs. E. J. Brandt. The paper read by Mr. Brandt was very
comprehensive in its scope, showed much care in its preparation, and contained
much interesting information about many of the wonderful cathedrals as well as
other places of interest visited by Mr. and Mrs. Brandt on their recent
European trip.
Beginning
with the churches of England, Mr. Brandt described the famous Westminster
Abbey, as being typical of England's finest attempt in church architecture,
going on from there with a description of the most beautiful and best known churches
in various countries visited—Norway, Belgium, Switzerland, France and
Germany—and concluding with many beautiful exterior and interior views of four
of Italy's greatest cathedrals— Santa Maria Novelle,
in Florence; the Cathedral of Milan St. Marks, in Venice; and St. Peters, in
Rome.
In speaking of St. Peter's,
Mr. Brandt said that some idea of its vastness could be obtained if we
considered it as being just twice as high as the spire of St. Bernard's Church.
In all, over two hundred views were thrown on the screen, giving the
audience an excellent idea not only of the general appearance of these famous
edifices of the old world, but also showing many fine details such as
artistically-carved pulpits, doors of exquisite design and altars of rare
beauty. The many rare and beautiful
churches erected in Europe many centuries ago will . . .
Watertown Daily Times, 12 01 1958
Members of the City Council and
the City Water Commission last night laid the groundwork for carrying out the
first in a series of steps to improve and expand the city's water facilities, based on a report filed
several months ago by the Jerry Donahue Engineering Co. of Sheboygan.
The initial step, as decided
tentatively last night, calls for repairing and reconditioning Well No. 1 of
the system.
It was decided to bring in a
report and resolution to this effect at the Dec. 16 meeting of the Council. Any work undertaken will be submitted on
bids.
Watertown Daily Times, 12 01 1983
Sally Flegner,
R.N., has been appointed department head of the Newbirth
Center at Watertown Memorial Hospital. Flegner, a native
of Appleton, has worked as a registered nurse at Watertown Memorial for eight
and one-half years, the last seven and one-half in obstetrics. She has served as a vice president of Webster
Elementary School's P.T.A., assisted with library and church functions, been a
substitute Sunday school teacher, and is currently room mother for second grade
and kindergarten at Webster.
Watertown Daily Times, 11 25 1983
Welcome Inn, 700 East Main
Street, has been sold to a local partnership and is under new ownership. Balloon Enterprises, a partnership consisting
of Charles Balistreri, William O'Brien, and David
Nielsen, has been formed, and has purchased the hotel and restaurant
facilities. Balistreri
and his wife, Betty, who formerly managed Balistreri's
Ristorante at 100 Madison Street, will manage the motel and restaurant
businesses. They are also planning to
move into the apartment which is part of the hotel.
Watertown Daily Times, 11 25 1998
A railroad engine spilled
more than 2,000 gallons of diesel fuel near a wetlands area in Watertown on
Tuesday morning, after it derailed while traveling on tracks south of West Main
Street, the Watertown fire chief said. Chief Richard Olson said the train, owned by
CP Rail, did not tip over but the track tilted enough to derail the engine and
puncture its fuel tank in two places.
“There were 2,100 gallons lost of diesel fuel, which is a very major
spill,” Olson said.
Harsh criticism upon the death of Carl
Schurz
Mother Earth, Vol. 1 No. 4, June 1906
Monthly Magazine Devoted to Social Science
and Literature
Carl Schurz, politician and career hunter by
profession, died May 14th. He was met at
the gate of Hell by the secretary of that institution with the following
question, "Were you not one of the enthusiasts for the battle of freedom,
in your young days? If the reports of my
men are correct—and I am confident my men are more reliable than the majority
of the newspaper men on your planet—you were even a Revolutionist?
Carl Schurz nodded.
"And why have you
thrown your ideals and convictions overboard?"
"There was no money in
them," Carl replied, sulkily.
The Satanic Secretary nodded
to one of his stokers, saying, "Add 5,000 tons of hard coal to our
fires. Here we have a man that sold his
soul for money. He deserves to roast a
thousand times more than the ordinary sinner."
Robert Lee
Grulke, age 79, of Menasha, passed away into the arms
of God during the early hours of Tuesday, November 11, 2008, at St. Elizabeth's
Hospital. He was born in Lebanon, WI, on
February 17, 1929, to Emil and Charlotte (Andrews) Grulke
and was one of 10 children. He graduated
from Watertown High School and later attended Northwest College and the University of WI,
Milwaukee, obtaining a Masters degree in Education. He went on to marry Elaine Wentland of Deerfield, WI at St. John's Lutheran Church in
Dubuque, IA on March 1, 1959. They then
moved to Lincoln, Nebraska where they had three children and then later moved
to Menasha, WI where they currently still reside.
At a young age, Bob showed
promise as one of Dodge Counties "Wiz Kids." He also went on to receive the Joe Davies
scholarship award for select high school students in and around Watertown. Upon completion of high school, Bob wrote the
highest biology college admissions scores of that time. After graduating from college, at the age of
18, Bob became a teacher and principal in Waukesha County, WI earning the
prestigious placement of one of the top three principals in the State of
WI. During his tenure as a principal he
also co-authored a book, "Guide to Superintendency
for School Administrators in Waukesha County."
Upon retirement from the
school system, he went on to work for the leading educational publisher,
Prentice Hall, becoming one of the top three sales people in the company.
Bob was an avid hunter and
fisherman and it was often said that he was most happy fishing for bluegills
with his fly rod. He also loved
gardening, photography, and all animals and birds in general. Hardly ever seen without his dogs, we know
that they will all be happy to greet him again.
Bob is survived by his
beloved wife of almost 50 years, Elaine Grulke and
dear father to their three children: Forrest (Rebecca) Grulke,
Plover, WI; Nancy Wissell, Vernon Hills, IL; and
Tracy (Dan) Curtin, Hortonville, WI; seven grandchildren: Krystyna,
Bryttany, Barrett, Hayden, Mackenzie, Alexis, and
Madison. Surviving siblings and in-laws:
Emil Jr. (Betty), Marvin, Cheryl (Harry) Haapala,
Stuart, Kathy (Ron) Schuman, William Jordan, and Margo Grulke.
He was preceded in death by
his parents and siblings: Emil and Charlotte Grulke;
Barbara Jordan, George Grulke, Phyllis McCuen, and Joanne Kreitzer.
A celebration of Bob's life
will we held on Thursday, November 13, from 4 p.m. - 8 p.m. at the Wichmann Funeral
Home Tri-County Chapel (3212 S Oneida Street, Menasha). Church services will take place on Friday,
November 14, 2008, at 11:30 a.m. at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Lebanon,
Wisconsin and a visitation will be available Friday morning from 10 a.m. until
the time of service at the church. Bob
will also be receiving graveside military rights for his work in the Naval
Reserves. Interment will take place in
the Kroughville Lutheran Moravian Cemetery in Lake
Mills, Wisconsin. In lieu of flowers, donations are appreciated to the Fox Valley Humane
Association.
The
Sheboygan Press, November 11, 2008
Albert W. Bruesehoff, of 708 North 15th Street, Sheboygan, passed
away on November 10th, at St. Nicholas Hospital, at the age of 89.
Albert was born on May 21,
1919, at Barre Mills, WI, the son of Richard and Blondina (Freitag) Bruesehoff.
He was baptized at the
Lutheran church in Barre Mills where his father
served as teacher and organist.
He attended Lutheran schools
in Racine and Juneau. He attended high school at Northwestern Preparatory School in
Watertown, WI. At that time, his parents
moved to Watertown where his father took the position of principal of the
school at Bethesda Lutheran Home. He
graduated from Dr. Martin Luther College, New Ulm, MN, in 1945. His graduate work was done at the University
of Wisconsin, Madison, as well as Marquette University, the University of
Minnesota, Mankato, and the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.
On June 23, 1946, he was
united in marriage to Valeria Thalmann at Emanuel
Lutheran Church, Hamburg, MN. Their marriage was blessed with 2 sons and 2
daughters.
The family lived in Winona,
MN, Elgin, MN, St. Paul, MN, Jacksonville, IL, and Oconomowoc, WI, where Albert
was teacher and principal of the Lutheran schools. His last position was as Director of
Education and Minister of Music at St. Mark Lutheran Church in Sheboygan,
retiring in 1978. In 2005 he was recognized by the Lutheran Church, Missouri
Synod, for 60 years of faithful service in the ministry of the church.
Albert was a member of
Trinity Lutheran Church, the Sheboygan Chapter of People to People, the Mayor's
International Committee, the Commission on Aging, the Historical Preservation
Committee, the Wisconsin Council on Human Concern, the
Northeast Area Health Board, the United Way Board and the Sheboygan Symphony
Orchestra. In 1995 his name was placed on the Sheboygan Musical Wall of Fame.
Survivors include his wife,
Valeria; two sons, the Rev. Richard (Naomi) Bruesehoff,
Park Ridge, IL; the Rev. Mark (Diane) Bruesehoff,
Ocean City, NJ; two daughters, Judith (Jon) Koenig, Michigan City, IN; and
Kristin (Robert) Sturgeon, Portage, IN; 10 grandchildren, Nathan Bruesehoff, Renton, WA; Dr. Peter Bruesehoff,
Madison, WI; the Rev. Christopher (Jamie) Bruesehoff,
Tom's River, NJ; Emily (Michael) Johnson, Kyle, TX;
Sara Bruesehoff, Ocean City, NJ; Gretchen Bruesehoff, Elon, NC; Joshua Koenig, Kalamazoo, MI; Jason
Koenig, Edwardsville, IL; Erik Sturgeon and Lauren Sturgeon, Portage, IN; two
great-grandsons; one sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Leila and Rudy Skoda,
Union City, TN; one niece; two nephews; and many cousins and friends.
He was preceded in death by
his parents, his in-laws, one sister and brother-in-law.
Funeral services will be
held on November 13 at 12:00 noon at Trinity Lutheran Church, with the Rev.
Timothy Mech and the Rev. John Berg officiating.
Inurnment will be at Glenview Memorial Gardens, Ixonia, WI. Friends may call at
the church from 10:00 a.m.-12:00 noon.
In lieu of
flowers, memorials may be given to Sheboygan Area Lutheran High School,
Bethesda Lutheran Home, Sheboygan Symphony Orchestra or St. Nicholas Hospital
Hospice.
Watertown
Daily Times, 11 11 1983
Another
Watertown industry has undertaken an ambitious expansion program. Wis-Pak, Inc., 860
West Street, has announced it is constructing a 48,000 square foot addition to
the north end of its facilities. The
addition, which will be 200 by 240 feet in size, will be used primarily for
warehouse space, according to Arnold Fobes, vice
president and general manager. Work on
the $600,000 square foot addition got under way this week. Oliver Construction of Oconomowoc is general
contractor for the project. Initial
ground preparation work is now under way.
Watertown
Daily Times, 08 23 1983
Six
returning letter winners and an influx of talented freshmen promise to make it
an interesting season for the Watertown High School swim team. As is the case with the letter winners, the
new crop of AAU swimmers is very versatile, giving coach Dave Hanssen a lot of
flexibility in the lineup. Hanssen is
hoping the incoming group will complement returning letter winners Chris Opperud, Cara Himrich, Ellen
Schmitt, Patti Ebert, Cathie Miller and Lisa Drebenstedt.
Milwaukee Street Bridge Reopened
Watertown
Daily Times, 11 07 2008
The new Milwaukee Street
bridge over the Rock River reopened to traffic at about 2 p.m.
today. The roadway has been closed since
December 2007 when the old bridge was demolished.
In 2006
the Milwaukee Street bridge averaged about 7,200
vehicles per day and it was expected that number would be the same when it
reopens.
The new
Milwaukee Street bridge is an open arch structure with
a Texas concrete rail. Because the
Milwaukee Street bridge is listed on the National
Register of Historic Places, the designs for the new bridge had to be
aesthetically similar to the old structure.
The old
Milwaukee Street bridge was a three-span, open
spandrel, reinforced concrete, continuous-rib-arch bridge that had a structure
length of 240 feet. It was constructed
in 1930 by Eau Claire Engineering and designed by Daniel B. Luten.
The new
bridge has been expanded to three travel lanes, with two moving east and one
going west. The two eastbound lanes are
about 25 feet wide and the westbound lane is approximately 15 feet wide.
With the
sidewalks and the area for bicycles, the entire bridge is almost 60 feet
wide. The overall width of the old
bridge was 42 feet, which included a 30-foot-wide roadway.
The
designs also called for the river walk on the east side of the river to be
extended south under the bridge. The
stairs to access the river walk from Milwaukee Street have been replaced with a
ramp.
Along with
the replacement of the bridge, the project also included the reconstruction of
the Milwaukee Street intersections with South First and South Water streets.
A southbound
right-turn lane has been added to South Water Street, as well as a second
eastbound through lane where it intersects with Milwaukee Street. The intersection has also been extended to
the south to help smoothen out the three lanes of traffic on the bridge.
The
concrete islands at the intersection of Milwaukee and South First streets have
been removed and the intersection has also been widened.
The entire
project has a cost of $3.1 million and the city will be responsible for
covering 20 percent of the total, which is $620,000. The remaining amount will be covered by state
and federal funding.
City
officials and those involved with the project will hold a ribbon cutting
ceremony on the morning of Nov. 15 to officially celebrate the reopening of the
bridge.
Watertown
Gazette, 03 16 1894
R. Achtenhagen's opening at his place of business in Cole’s
block last Monday was a grand success in every respect. The place was crowded with anxious buyers
from morning until late in the evening, and all admired the elegant stock and
especially the low prices at which it was offered for sale. The fine display of floods in the show window
was very attractive, and was admired by everyone who saw it. Mr. Achtenhagen is
certainly a subject for congratulations on the success of his opening, and a
beginning so successful is a fine indication of a good business career to
follow.
Watertown
Republican, 04 04 1894
H. L.
Beckmann (Beckman), of this city, is the inventor of a handy device called the
"Little Wonder" door fastener, which is used as a bolt to secure
doors from opening. It is made so as to
apply to any door and is small enough to be carried on a key ring. It should become quite popular with
travelers.
Uncle Tom' s
Cabin Co
Watertown
Gazette, 03 30 1894
A
fair-sized audience was tortured by an "Uncle Tom' s
Cabin Co." at Concordia opera house on last Tuesday evening. It was the worst attempt ever made here in
that line.
Watertown
Republican, 03 28 1894
F. A.
Cooley is erecting a building for mercantile purposes, on the corner of Western
Avenue and Fifth Street [413 Western Ave].
Main Street must look to its laurels if it does not want to see trade
leave it and seek new channels. Business
is working south, evidently.
Cross
reference:
1909 mention of store with respect to
route of interurban
Former
First Congregational Church Parsonage
500 S. Fourth St
Watertown
Daily Times, 12 04 2008
Home of
Tim and Peg Theder at 500 S. Fourth St. featured in 2008 Holiday Parade of
Homes
The Theder
home was built in the early 1900s as a parsonage for the then adjacent First Congregational Church. Many parents and children will remember
fondly the home being used as the Gingerbread Preschool. The home was decorated with all of the
preschool decorations including a fire escape on the front of the home.
Using
Peg's talents as an interior designer, she saw the potential of returning the
home to a residence, and in 1989, they purchased the home. After extensive remodeling of the entire
home, it is home now to her interior design business as well as Tim's landscape
contracting business.
The home
was filled with many treasures and holiday decorations that the family has
enjoy throughout the years.
One
feature of the home is the sun room, which was decorated with a unique
Christmas tree used to display Peg's collection of Village Homes complete with
a train set. The living room tree is adorned
with wooden ornaments Peg painted the first year they were married. Tim and their son, Tyler, are passionate
about hunting and fishing. Their
favorite pastimes are showcased with whimsical ornaments and continued over
into a trophy bedroom.
Watertown
Gazette, 03 23 1894
The ladles
of Watertown and vicinity will be interested in the annual millinery opening of
Mrs. C. Weiss, 203 Main Street, which will be held on next Monday and
Tuesday. At the opening there will be an
elegant display of pattern hats, made up in the very latest style, besides hat
shades and fillings, and everything found is a first-class millinery
store. The display will be one of the
finest ever made in Watertown, and the prices will suit everybody, so low will
they be. A general invitation is
extended to the ladies to call on those days and inspect the goods. [Clara Weiss]
Watertown
Daily Times, 10 27 1998
Members of
St. Mark's Evangelical Lutheran Church, 215 N. Sixth
St., will say farewell to the Rev. Donald Sutton this week. Sutton, who has served the congregation for
the past 13 years as family/youth pastor, has accepted a call as pastoral
coordinator of the ministry team at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in New Ulm,
Minn.
Watertown
Daily Times, 12 05 1958
It's
goose-noodling time in Watertown again.
The once widespread practice of “stuffing
geese” for the holiday trade is now down to a trickle, but this year some
200 genuine Watertown stuffed geese will be readied here at the home of Mr. and
Mrs. Fred Rumler, 727 North Church Street.
And most of them will wind up on the plates of smart diners at Luchow's
Restaurant on 14th Street in New York City. Luchow's is now in its 76th year of
operation. In recent years the
restaurant, which is known the world over for its fine dishes, has been taking
the bulk of the stuffed geese from Watertown.
Shipments are made through Kerr's Poultry and Egg House in Watertown.
Squad Cars Carrying New Weapons
Watertown
Daily Times, 12 05 1998
Watertown police squad cars are carrying new automatic weapons this week, now
that most officers have completed the training process. Eight Colt AR-15 rifles were purchased, which
will provide shot accountability and increased standoff distance, said Capt.
Tim Roets. “The Watertown Police
Department had conducted an extensive study on determining what squad gun
should be placed in our cars,” Roets said.
“The study determined this would be the best weapon suited for our
needs.”
Watertown
Republican, 02 06 1895
The entire
hardware stock of E. A. Heck, with the exception of the tinkers' [tinners?]
tools, has been disposed of by the mortgatees, Frank Stercinski and Mrs.
Charles Noack, to D. & F.
Kusel and removed to their store.
The Abilene
Reflector-Chronicle, 12 08 2008
. . . After Martin and Dorthea Volkmann of
Statien, Germany, sailed to America in 1857, they settled near Watertown,
Wisconsin. The following year the
Volkmanns loaded a wagon and moved to Kansas Territory with their five
children, Frank, August, William Frederick and Wilhemina. The trip took eleven weeks, including two
weeks in Iowa waiting for a rain-swollen river to recede. The wagon was pulled
by a team of oxen from Watertown to the settlement at Lyons Creek. The Volkmanns settled in the Lyona area where
they began to farm the rich Kansas soil . . .
Watertown Republican, 01 23 1895
During the year 1894
there were 226 arrests made by officers in this city. The statistics as compiled by the chief-of-police
show the nature of complaint and number of arrests as follows: Assault,
29; abusive language,27; drunk and disorderly, 17; petit larceny, 11; carrying concealed weapons, 4; obtaining money by false pretenses, 3;
malicious mischief, 3; indecent
exposure,2; threats, 2; resisting officer, 2; bastardy, 1; grave larceny, 1; assault with intent to rob, 1; non-support, 1; jumping board bill, 1.
In addition there were
papers served on 121 tramp cases, making the total 226 arrests. Besides, 1,000 persons were accorded free
lodging at the jail.
[File on Police Department]
↓ More on Police, 1894 ↓
Julius Schoechert
Watertown
Gazette, 06 29 1894
Julius Schoechert
has been appointed special policeman for the
west side without pay. Mr. Schoechert
will make it interesting for evil doers in that section of the city.
Watertown
Daily Times, 12 06 1983
New
officers for 1984 were installed at the recent Christmas meeting of AARP
Chapter 2007 held at the Watertown Country Club. Mrs. Lucille Gronert, the first president of
AARP Chapter 2007, installed the following officers: Mrs. Adeline Lattimer,
president; H. Zimmermann, first vice president; C. Coogan, second vice
president; Mrs. Dorothy Draeger, recording secretary; Mrs. Peg Buckland,
corresponding secretary; and Mrs. Lillian Wilde, treasurer. Named as directors
for two-year terms were Leona Strohbusch, Ruth Funk, Russell Gallup and Ervin
Finder. Members of the nominating committee for two-year terms are Irene
Splinter, Milton Bender and Margaret Pfeifer.
First Republican Mayor
Watertown
Republican, 04 03 1895
For the
first time in the history of Watertown a Republican mayor will be at the head
of the city government the ensuing year, Justus T.
Moak having been chosen at the municipal election yesterday by a clean
majority of 134 over ex-Senator W. S. Voss, mayor for the past two years, and
who a year ago received a majority of 519.
The outcome of the mayoralty contest is quite generally a surprise, and
especially so to the "powers that be" in the Democratic Party
here. It cannot, however, be considered
a purely Republican victory, but rather one for reform and the practice of
stricter economy in the administration of the city's affairs. From the result it is quite evident that the
majority of our citizens is dissatisfied with the present regime and wanted a change,
and especially it is true of the common classes. Mr. Moak's election is due to the generous
support of his Democratic friends who had become dissatisfied with their own
party's representatives in office, for it is an undisputed fact that without the
aid of this faction the Republicans would not have been successful.
↓ More on Mayor Moak ↓
Watertown
Republican, 04 17 1895
The first
meeting of the Common Council and the inauguration of Mayor J. T. Moak occurred
last evening. Long before the time for
convening, the lobby of the council chamber and the corridor communicating were
crowded with citizens interested in the proceedings. The aldermen-elect entered the chamber in
single file and took their respective seats, closely followed by the incoming
and outgoing mayors. Mr. Moak was
formally introduced by Mr. Voss, the clerk called the roll and the oath of
office was administered to the body by City Clerk Bieber. The council was then ready for business.
Watertown
Republican, 03 13 1895
The family
of Thomas Darcey, 107 North Montgomery Street, was poisoned one day last week
from eating brick cheese. Timely medical
assistance avoided fatal results.
Watertown
Republican, 02 13 1895
A new post office has been established in the eastern part
of the town of Watertown, in the Wieman homestead, six miles from the
city. It is named Aliceton, and W.
MetcaIf, formerly of Farmington, is the postmaster. Mr. MetcaIf has built a store at the place
and keeps a general merchandise stock.
Cross Reference: Info
on D/JCGS website
Watertown
Daily Times, 12 09 1958
The seventh
dinner meeting of the G.B. Lewis 25 year club was
held Wednesday night at Otto's Inn. Two new members were welcomed into the club
who had served the company 25 years: Herbert Knoll and Ray Erdmann. Those in attendance who served the company
for 25 to 48 years were: Otto Wendt, Otto Erdmann, Loretta Irving, Edward
Wiese, Gordon Frater, Herman Gerth, Walter Kaercher, Herbert Riedemann, John
Erdmann, Karl Lange, Arthur Killian, Neil Follensbee, Carl Wollin, Carl Stark,
Raymond Erdmann and Herb Knoll.
Watertown
Daily Times, 12 09 1998
A
community program that has been well received in the past will again reach out
to residents. The Bread and Roses meal
program, which provides a free meal to anyone in Watertown, is being
reinstated, according to committee chairwomen Jean Kwapil and Judy
Hoffstetter. The dinners will be served
Thursday evenings at Immanuel Lutheran Church fellowship hall with the first
one served Jan. 14, 1999, from 5 to 7 p.m.
New Christmas Wreaths
Watertown
Daily Times, 12 06 1998
Eighty new
Christmas wreaths are on display on Main and South Church streets in
Watertown. The lighted wreaths are being
paid for by donations to the Watertown Chamber of Commerce. There will be an
annual expense of approximately $1,500 to provide the annual Christmas season
display. People who are interested in
contributing to the annual display can contact the Watertown Chamber of
Commerce. The city's park, recreation
and forestry department is responsible for installing, maintaining and removing
the decorations.
Highway 16 Bypass Project
Watertown
Daily Times, 11 04 1958
The Public
Service Commission of Wisconsin has scheduled a public hearing for Nov. 19 in
connection with the proposed construction of an overhead over the North Western
Railroad track one-half mile north of Watertown. An overhead will be constructed in connection
with the highway 16 bypass project. The
hearing was scheduled as a result of a petition which the State Highway
Department had filed with the commission on Oct. 21. The commission is now investigating the
petition. All expenses in connection
with the investigation, which include checking the books, accounts, practices
and activities of the railroad, will be assessed against the railroad.
Watertown
Daily Times, 12 11 1983
The Flower
Box, a floral shop on North Fourth Street, has been purchased by Tom Schwefel,
former designer at Draeger's Floral and Gift Shop. The new owner said the name of the floral
shop will be changed after Jan. 1. The
Flower Box was operated by Jeanne Robinson for the past two years and was
formerly Flowers by Alice. Schwefel said
he will continue the services offered by the previous owner including supplying
fresh cut flowers, blooming plants and green plants as well as floral
arrangements for funerals, weddings, birthdays, anniversaries and other
occasions.
Watertown
Daily Times, 12 11 1998
David W.
Hertel, 201 N. Church St., was appointed Tuesday night to represent Aldermanic
District No. 7 on the Watertown Common Council.
Hertel, who previously served on the council, said he stepped forward to
fill the position vacated by Tracy Terrill because of his continuing interest
in city government. He will fill
Terrill's term until the April election.
The council appointed Hertel with a 5-3 vote, the other votes being cast
for candidate Julaine K. Appling, 510 W. Main St. Hertel began his service on the board
immediately, after being sworn in by city Clerk Mike Hoppenrath, who was
dressed in a green shirt and red Santa hat.
New Layout for the Watertown Daily Times
Watertown
Daily Times, 12 15 1983
The new
design of the Watertown Daily Times has been received
favorably by our readers. Thursday was
the first day of the design changes and staff members have received positive
comments from many readers. The masthead
was changed back to a more traditional style with a banner across the entire
top of the front page. The Bodoni
typeface, used on the Daily Times
masthead for most of the 88 year history of the paper, has returned. In addition, the day of publication of each
paper is in a reversed typeface and placed as a ribbon on the right side of the
masthead, providing for quick identification of each issue. The second section was also redesigned to
follow a format similar to the front page.
Maranatha Baptist Bible College
Watertown
Daily Times, 12 15 1998
An
evangelist who graduated from Maranatha Baptist
Bible College has been selected as president of the college, officials have
announced. Dr. Dave Jaspers will take the helm of the Watertown institution on
Jan. 4, 1999, only the third president in the college's 30-year history. He was
selected for the post after a unanimous vote by the college's board of
trustees. After 13 years of pastoral and evangelistic ministry, Jaspers'
appointment marks a return to his alma mater.
Watertown Gazette, 02 05
1909
The
committee of the City Council and citizens having the Lincoln Day celebration in
charge for Friday evening of next week at Turner opera house met at the city
hall last Wednesday evening and perfected all arrangements. C. McGee, of Milwaukee, one of Wisconsin’s
most gifted orators, will deliver the address and the Apollo Club and the
Northwestern University Band will furnish the music. At 8 o’clock p.m. a procession will be formed
fronting the city hall, composed of the Mayor and the City Council, the
speaker, G.A.R. Post, the Kriegerverein, Northwestern University cadets and, headed
by the Northwestern University band, will march to Turner opera house, where an
appropriate program will be rendered.
↓ More on Lincoln Day Celebration ↓
Lincoln Day in Watertown
Watertown Gazette, 02 19 1909
The
100th anniversary of the birthday Abraham Lincoln, the United States’ famous
Civil War president, was appropriately celebrated all over the United States
last Friday, and Watertown was not behind in doing him honor. During the afternoon the Northwestern
University cadets and band paraded our streets in honor of the event and gave
several fine exhibitions of drill work.
The boys made a very fine appearance and are a credit to the University. In the evening at 7:30 o'clock a parade of
military and civic societies was formed fronting the City Hall in North First
Street and marched to Turner opera house, where patriotic exercises were
held. The parade was made up as follows:
Dr.
Fred C Werner, Marshal
Northwestern
University Band
Northwestern
Cadets
O. D.
Pease Post No. 94, G.A.R.
Krieger
Verein
Speaker
and Committee
Executive
Committee
Citizens
. . .
Turner opera house was packed to the doors.
It was nicely decorated in honor of the event; a large portrait of the
lamented president draped with flags was suspended over the stage. On the stage were seated the executive
committee of the celebration, the council committee, the citizens' committee,
the Grand Army committee and members of the Apollo Club. W. D. Sproesser presided and introduced the
speaker of the day, Attorney C. A. McGee of Milwaukee. Mr. McGee is certainly a gifted orator and
his subject was handled very eloquently and patriotically, all present being
delighted with his remarks. The singing
of the Apollo Club, directed by Edward L. Schempf, was particularly
appreciated. Mrs. William F. Whyte
accompanied the club's vocal numbers in her usual artistic style. W. D. Sproesser read Lincoln's Gettysburg
address in a very creditable manner and the Northwestern University band,
directed by Prof. H. A. Frank, played several patriotic selections. Following was the program in full . . .
↓ More on Lincoln Day Celebration,
Apollo Club ↓
Apollo Club in Rehearsal
Hayden's ''Creation” Will be Produced on
Elaborate Scale
Watertown Gazette, 02 05
1909
The Apollo Club of this city is contemplating to
produce on a large scale one of the grandest and most beautiful musical works,
Hayden's "Creation" at their next concert. In fact, the rehearsals of this masterpiece
have begun and there is sufficient artistic spirit among members of the club to
guarantee a perfect production. But it
takes a large chorus to make this composition effective, to bring out the
powerful and wonderfully harmonious choruses and to make the beauty of their
melodies impressive, especially in such choruses as “The Heavens Are
Telling." The management of the
Apollo Club therefore wishes to arouse the interest and enthusiasm of everyone
who is interested in music and chorus singing and asks them to join the club,
to help swell the numbers and the volume of the voices, to profit by studying
this grand work and to assist in the production of one of the finest
compositions ever written. Let everyone
who feels so inclined be present at the next rehearsal in the Masonic Temple on
Tuesday evening, February 2, at 8 o'clock sharp.
Part of
this rehearsal will be devoted to the study of the choruses for the Lincoln
memorial celebration, for which occasion a large chorus is also desirable. But besides a large chorus, the financial
support and backing of our public spirited citizens is necessary for the
undertaking of such a great work. An
orchestra of at least eighteen of Bach's best musicians is needed to make the production
worthy of the masterpiece, besides soloists for the different solo parts. In fact the expenses will be extremely high
and the management of the Apollo Club has therefore set a list in circulation
for a guarantee fund, each signer to guarantee a pro rata share of five dollars
of any possible deficit.
The
endeavors off this club to offer to the music-loving public only the best at
its concerts deserves a better support than has been given heretofore, and the
management feels that this is their last effort to secure this support. If sufficient interest and enthusiasm does
not exist among the citizens of Watertown to give the support and approve the
faithful work done by the Apollo Club, then the club has no cause for
existence. It would indeed be too bad if
a city like Watertown could not keep a musical organization above water.
Watertown Gazette, 02 05
1909
Otto
Gerbitz has returned from a business trip to Antigo, Nielsville and other towns
in the northern part of the state. Mr.
Gerbitz has built more houses in Watertown the last two years and done more to
improve the residence portion of the city than any other resident. John Hilgendorf, the boss contractor, built
all his residence buildings and has put them up in fine shape. Mr. Hilgendorf is a thorough mechanic in his
line of work and when he turns over a building to the man who employs him, you
can count on it being all right. We want
more men like Mr. Gerbitz to build up our city.
↓ More on Otto Gerbitz ↓
Enterprising Citizen
Watertown Gazette, 06 03 1910
Otto Gerbitz has built a fine cement walk fronting his
home at the corner of West Main and Warren streets. Aside from the walks on West Main and Warren
he has built a large cement walk all around his house, which sets it off in
fine shape. Mr. Gerbitz has built more
houses, and all of them large and up-to-date homes, than anyone of our citizens
the past year. He has built up the
section of the Third ward between Warren Street and the C.&N.W.
Ry., and his enterprise has added greatly to the value of property in that
section of the city. We hope that more
of our moneyed men will follow Mr. Gerbitz's example and do likewise. He is now building an automobile garage in
the rear of his home, and has purchased a fine automobile, which he intends to
use both for pleasure and business purposes.
Watertown
Daily Times, 12 13 1983
Fire broke
out at The Office tavern, 1217 River Drive, early today, causing damage to the
building and its contents estimated at $100,000. The fire was reported at 4:12 a.m. by a
street department employee plowing the streets.
When firemen arrived at the scene, the
building was already fully involved with flames. Twenty-six firemen battled the blaze which apparently
started in the basement and spread vertically into the bar area and then into
the attic area. The first floor caved
into the basement, making fighting the blaze difficult.
Hospital Association Directors
Watertown
Daily Times, 12 13 1998
Two new
directors were elected at the annual meeting of Watertown
Memorial Hospital Association Wednesday evening. Elected to their first terms were Cathy
Kwapil who will have a three-year term and Pat Caine who was elected to fill
the final two years of the term of Steve Foti who has resigned. In addition, Steve Zillmer and John Uttech
were re-elected for three-year terms on the board. In addition to Foti, Joy Soderstrom is
leaving the board after having served for 11 years.
Theodore Roosevelt
Watertown Gazette, 02 12 1909
In short, the fundamental facts of human
nature apply to men and women who live in the country just as they apply to men
and women who live in towns. Given a
sufficient foundation of material well being, the influence of the farmers'
wives on their children becomes the factor of first importance determining the
attitude of the next generation toward farm life. The farmer should realize that the person who
most needs consideration on the farm is his wife. I do not in the least mean that she should
purchase ease at the expense duty.
Neither man nor woman is really happy or really useful save on condition
of doing his or her duty. If the woman
shirks her duty as housewife, as home keeper, as the mother whose prime
function is to bear and rear a sufficient number of healthy children, then she
is not entitled to our regard. But if
she does her duty she is more entitled to our regard even than the man who does
his duty and the man should show special consideration for her needs. I warn my countrymen that the great recent
progress in city life is not a full measure of our civilization, for our
civilization rests on the wholesomeness, the attractiveness, and the completeness
as well as the prosperity of life in the country. The men and women on the farms stand for what
is fundamentally best and most needed in our American life.
– Theodore Roosevelt, The White
House, February 8, 1909.
Charles Wenck's Office Removed
Watertown Gazette, 02 12 1909
Chas. J. Wench has removed his fire insurance
office from over Raue's
store to the Bank of Watertown building. For over 30 years he occupied a joint office
with August Tanck on Main Street, but the increase in business of both
gentlemen now requires separate offices.
Watertown Gazette, 02 12 1909
Unveiling at First
Methodist Church. A most pleasing
and appropriate service was held at the close of the Sunday school hour at the
First Methodist Church in the assembly room last Sunday morning. It was the occasion of the unveiling of a
faithful likeness of the late Jonas Stahl [1836-1907], who, for thirty years by
fidelity in service and sweet voice in song was the inspiration of the
Methodist Church and Sunday school.
After singing by the school, the pastor delivered an address in memory
of the departed. The Sunday school flag,
the stars and stripes, was removed from the wall and as the audience looked
upon the likeness of this good man ("Old Faithful" we love to call
him), it seemed that his very presence was among mortals. The Sunday school was gladdened by the
presence of Mrs. Stahl, who is again able to be about, besides many
visitors. The picture is an enlarged
photograph done by the Watertown Photograph Co and is the gift of Mr. and Mrs.
Harry Forncrook, of 313 Warren Street, who with many others love to revere his
memory.
Jonas
Stahl is buried in Oak Hill Cemetery
Elk's Ball at Turner Opera House
Watertown Gazette, 02 19 1909
Bach's orchestra of Milwaukee will furnish the
music for the Elk's ball at Turner opera house next Monday evening, Washington's birthday. The
decorations are being prepared on a very elaborate scale, and it is said will
exceed in beauty anything in the decoration line ever attempted here.
Watertown Gazette, 02 19 1909
Last Friday evening the pupils of 4th grade No. 4 School enjoyed a sleigh ride to the home of
H. F. Scholz, town of Emmet, where they were right royally received by Mr.
Scholz and family. They were chaperoned
by their teacher, Miss Alina Kirchhoff.
On their return to this city they wound up at the home of G. A.
Stallmann, where Mrs. Stallmann, assisted by Mrs. M. F. Blumenfeld, served them
with refreshments. A spelling contest
was indulged in, Miss Ada Wegemann receiving the prize.
Monday evening the teachers of No. 2 School
gave a valentine party at the school building to a number of teachers of the
other schools. The school room was very
prettily and appropriately decorated.
Games and guessing contests were indulged in and refreshments were
served in three courses. The affair was
a decidedly pleasant one. Those present
were the Misses Edna Voss, Ida Barganz, Sophie Koehler, Josie Voss, Thekla
Krebs, Ida Kopp, Anna M. Holland, Mary Crangle, Ella Sipp, Leona Steinmann,
Katie Brasky, Emma Wittchow, Mamie Stacy, Margaret McGrath.
Watertown Gazette, 02 12 1909
By P. H. Swift
Respectfully dedicated
to my childhood friend, Charles E. Straw, Watertown, Wis.
The maple syrup
and the buckwheat cake,
The bread like mother
Used to make,
The chicken like
My mother fried,
That used to line
My small inside;
The pumpkin pie,
The doughnuts brown,
The candy dad
Brought up from town,
Don't very much
Appeal to me.
But buttermilk
Of those days! Gee!
I feel I wouldn't
Give a durn
If I could stand
Beside the churn
And drink again
The way I did
When I was just
A little kid.
If buttermilk
Intoxicated,
I'd always be
Inebriated.
Yum, Yum.
Watertown Gazette, 02 12 1909
H. J. Darton, for many years a resident of
Oshkosh and employed as a locomotive engineer in the railway passenger service
from Oshkosh to Antigo during that period, was in our city a few hours on
Friday last. He failed to meet one of
our old residents whom he desired to see.
He called on Schlueter
Bros. stating that 38 years ago he had fired a
locomotive for C. E. Straw, who was at that time acting in the capacity of
engineer for the Milwaukee Road. Failing to find his old comrade, Mr. Straw
hopes he will come this way again, and says that Henry is not very wide from
the mark, it being just 37 years past that he had charge of locomotive No. 147,
and named "John Bailie", after the head of the car department. This engine was built in Boston by Hinkley
& Williams, and was known as a "cold water Hinkley," like many
more of same brand owned by the C. M. & St. P. Ry. at that time. The "Bailie" and crew that followed
the No. 147 was in charge of Joseph Bilty, conductor, and served the stock
yards, also the packing houses out on “the marsh," as that district was
then known to all railroad residents in Milwaukee; same section of land is now
covered with a network of tracks. Our
friend Dudley Fitzgerald at that time, 1872, was in charge of the "south
yards" during the long hours of the night.
Watertown Gazette, 02 19 1909
A Ride on the Trolley
Have you ever been on a Watertown trolley
car? It is a fine craft, rocking along
in fine style. If the swaying motion
doesn't exactly lull one to a state of blissful unconsciousness, it will
assuredly make him at times feel like taking a good snooze. They have several little conveniences too for
the security and comfort of the sleepy or seasick passengers. The window sills particularly were devised
especially for convenience in resting the arms and elbows when it is impossible
to sit up without something to hold onto or lean against.
A young gentleman from the west side has it in
for the trolley cars. He says but little
about it himself, but a number of happy and joyous fellow passengers are
telling it. He got on one of the cars
the other night, and the only unoccupied space being by the side of a pretty,
well-dressed and refined-looking young girl, he took the seat, although with
apparent diffidence. The young woman's
elbow was on the window next to him. She
had found it necessary to brace against something, being evidently worn out
with a round of strenuous shopping and the car careening and plunging along
like a merry-go round. When the car
bumped passed one of the side streets the girl’s arm slipped from the window,
and in some inexplicable way onto the young man's shoulder. She was certainly sound asleep, he says, and
he is equally certain, in his modest way, that she did not open her eyelids
previous to this unfortunate accident. He being a young man of retiring
disposition and somewhat inclined to bashfulness in the presence of ladies,
found himself in a delicate position.
It was very evident to the other passengers that it was
a serious problem. The perspiration
starting from his forehead showed this, also the fixed and glassy way in which
he gazed at the "Uneeda Beer" advertisement on the opposite
side. Several acquaintances of his among
the passengers were making unseeming exhibitions of mirth over his unfortunate
predicament. One man was trying to place
a bet that he would stay to the end of the line and back again, unless the girl
woke up, and each and every villain agreed that he would stay on the car as
long as he did. He didn't know what to
do. If he got up, the girl would wake
and be embarrassed; if he stayed, those devils in the car would never let him
hear the last of it. Just when he had
given up all hope, the conductor shouted "tickets," and the girl
awoke with a start, shot one glance at the bashful young man, smiled happily,
and went to sleep again.
Watertown Gazette, 02 19 1909
The choir of St. Paul's Episcopal Church is actively engaged
in rehearsing Stainer's sacred cantata, "The Daughter of Jairus,"
under the direction of Edward L. Schempf, to be sung Friday evening, February
19, in St. Paul's Church. Some of the best
musical talent of Watertown are assisting in this work and it undoubtedly will
be one of the musical events of the season.
Mrs. William Sproesser
will sing the leading soprano parts; Edward L. Schempf,
tenor; William Sproesser, baritone. The
augmented choir will be accompanied by the organ, with Mrs. Elizabeth Green as
organist, and a small orchestra, including a cellist from Milwaukee who has
been specially engaged for this occasion.
The fact that the cantata is the work of the celebrated musical writer,
Stainer, is sufficient evidence as to its worth. It abounds with beautiful solos, duets and
choruses. A treat is in store for all
lovers of music who take advantage of this opportunity. The effect of the combined chorus, organ and
orchestra is truly grand and inspiring.
This cantata was sung by St. Paul's choir a number of years ago and the
concert proved a splendid musical event.
The price of admission has been fixed at thirty-five cents. Tickets may be obtained from members of the
choir and at Eberle's and Schempf's drug stores.
Fun in the Country
Watertown Gazette, 02 19 1909
A number of Watertown
business men and their ladies growing weary of city life and longing for one of
the “good old times" in the country that they so much enjoyed in years
gone by, arranged last Wednesday for a sleigh ride and in order to add life,
grace and beauty to the crowd, a few young ladies and gentlemen of this city
and the adjoining towns of Shields and Emmet were invited. Two bobsleighs were comfortably fitted out
and at 7:30 o'clock the party started for the home of Michael Casey and wife,
town of Emmet. The sleighing being good
and the weather moderate, of course the ride was a most enjoyable feature of
the evening's program, especially to one young gentleman who occupied the
hindmost corner of one of the sleighs.
He went through several stunts that left several of the young ladies in
good humor all evening and they remarked "oh, we are so glad we came, we
never experienced such joy before," and the young man said
"ditto," and began singing "Sweet Marie.” "That is well put," shouted
everybody, "we guess you heart is in the song.” There was no proposal, however.
At about 8:30 the
home of Mr. and Mrs. Casey was reached and here a wide-open hospitality was
extended and it only took a few moments for all to feel at home, and they
certainly had one of those "good old times." The fore part of the evening was passed in
social converse and at cards. The honors
at cards were won by a ten-year-old son of Mr. Casey, who showed the city folks
a thing or two about playing cinch. At
10:30 a delicious luncheon was served, at which two legal lights from the city
officiated as toastmasters. It is not
often that at a festive board two toastmasters are tolerated, but in this case
it was absolutely necessary to keep these gentlemen talking, else the rest of
the party might possibly run short on rations.
Supper being over, one of Watertown's substantial business men suggested
a quadrille, and as there were several violinists present and a number of good
pianists, his motion found numerous seconds, and on went the dance. The aforesaid business man was the first to
give vent to his feelings as he tripped the light fantastic and
enthusiastically remarked: “I’m just as
good as I was 20 years ago.” The
prompter winked at the other gentlemen in the set and kept said dancer so busy
with “right and left four,” “grand right and left,” “swing the one on the
corner,” etc., that it was not long till it was very apparent the merry swirl
was proving too much for the gentleman from Watertown and his partner remarked
this is no place to have “Fitz” and they scooted to a cozy corner and indulged
in a cheese lunch, a commodity that the gentleman is a better success in
manufacturing than in trying to outdance two lawyers and an editor.
We’ll let him down
easy—for he administered to our wants at the hour of parting and saved our life
in our journey home. At intervals during
the evening vocal and instrumental music enlivened the occasion and all present
joined in the choruses. It began to be
noised about the house that we had a celebrated warbler amongst us and after
great persuasion on the part of the ladies the warbler got to work—and the
ladies began to holler “Oh, Mabel, isn’t it terrible.” Several of them laughed
till they swooned away, but it was no use, the warbler kept on—the shingles on
the house began to drop off and all the sparrows for miles around were
attracted to the neighborhood—no use—his wife threatened divorce—nothing
doing—he kept on—finally a brother lawyer present got out an injunction against
him and he stopped short—but it was out of the frying pan into the fire—and
worse—we had a standard oil warbler present, he remarked the machinery needs
oiling, and he took up the key where his legal friend left off, and the only
way relief was found [was when] some one hollered, "all board for
Watertown." There was a sudden halt—some
one remarked its 1 o'clock—another "it's a shame to keep these people up
so late."
A vote of thanks was
given Mr. and Mrs. Casey and their interesting family for the excellent time
given them under their hospitable roof, and good night was said, all leaving
for their homes with fondest memories of a winter’s night in the country at one
of the finest homes in Dodge County and with one of its most esteemed families.
Watertown Daily Times, 11 26 1958
The supply of toys
which the Fire Department repairs and turns
over to the Family Welfare Association for distribution, has hit a new low this
year, firemen disclosed today. Fewer
toys than ever have been received this year, the men regretfully report. For a period of a great many years the
firemen have conducted a toy repair project.
They welcome all sorts from small toys to larger items like bicycles and
sleds. All are placed in first class
condition and repair.
Watertown Gazette, 02 19 1909
Turner Opera House was packed to the doors last
Tuesday evening to witness the performance of the Watertown Imperial Minstrels, and the
excellence of the entertainment furnished, well deserved the magnificent
audience. From start to finish everybody
was amused, and it certainly was one round of pleasure. The hall decorations
were very artistic and added interest to the occasion. W. J. Bethke officiated as musical director
and the Weber-Stube orchestra furnished the music and accompanied the vocal
numbers. John F. Berigan made a most
excellent interlocutor. The minstrels
were made up as follows: Comedians—F. P.
McAdams, Lew W. Parks, Otto V. Knaak, bones ; Gordon E. Bacon, C. A. Kohn, John
J. Lietz, tambos. Vocalists—William L.
Schlueter, E. J. Hoermann, Joseph Glaus, William F. Richards, Joseph J. Raue,
Carl F. Otto, Edward C. Wolfram, J. C. Weber, Baldwin S. Raue, Frank G. Exner,
George A. Richards, Roman M. Hahn.
The jokes and funny
sayings of the above combination were all well taken and thoroughly enjoyed by
all present and the following vocal selections were heartily applauded:
True Blue Company
Dixie Dan John J. Lietz
Lazy Moon W. F. Richards
Your Minstrel Boy C. A. Kohn
Smiling Star Frank G. Exner
Common Sense Otto V. Knaak
When the Bell in
the Lighthouse
Rings W. L. Schlueter
I'm Glad I'm Married F. P. McAdams
My Mother's Kiss Was
Sweetest of Them All E. C. Wolfram
Mandy Lane L. W. Parks
What's the Use G. E. Bacon
In Watertown Company
↓ More on Turner Opera House ↓
“Paid in Full”
Watertown Gazette, 09 16 1910
To My Theatre
Patrons:
In making my bookings
for the coming season I have secured many excellent and meritorious
attractions. Among the number I am
pleased to announce that I have secured The United Players Company's big
production of Eugene Walter's great play, "Paid in Full." This is the play that ran for two years in
New York and six months in Chicago.
"Paid in Full" practically needs no introduction to the
theatre-going public. It has been known
ever since its initial performance as the greatest American play, and the
present production that I have secured has lost none of its strength and beauty
in its presentation by the United Players Company, as they have a complete and
adequate equipment of special scenery and a carefully selected company of
metropolitan players of actors and actresses, and I sincerely trust that my
patrons will show their appreciation of this opportunity to witness this
exceptional play and performance by extending their liberal patronage to my
theatre on Tuesday, September 20, the date of the company's appearance here.
Respectfully, Wm. Bethke, Manager
↓ More on Turner Opera House ↓
"Ishmael"
Watertown Gazette, 09 30 1910
Next Sunday evening
at Turner Opera House promises to be a notable event, the occasion being the
first presentation in this city of "Ishmael," the play that is
setting all the country talking, and is creating a furor in theatrical
circles. "Ishmael" is a
dramatization by Grace Hayward of Mrs. Southworth's widely read story
"Ishmael." Miss Hayward has
also drawn upon Mrs. Southworth's "Self Raised" for some of the
incidents and scenes of the play, and as a result of the combination of the
two, this clever dramatist has created a play that bids fair to surpass the
wonderful success of her “Graustark" and "St. Elmo."
"Ishmael"
is so different from the usual run of plays that it leaves a distinct
impression of its own upon the mind of the spectator. The story and theme are new. There is an abundance of bright dialogue,
droll humor and the pathos and sentiment of the play are not of the artificial
sort. The stage settings are remarkably
elaborate and many of the scenes art so well managed as to receive hearty
applause. The engagement of
“Ishmael" promises to be a record breaker.
Watertown Daily Times, 12 19 1958
New figurines almost life-size
enhance the scene at Bethesda Lutheran Home as the
grounds and buildings take on a Christmas atmosphere. The supervisor of manual arts training,
Martin F. Heinemeier of 120 South Washington Street, obtained the set from a
manufacturer in Milwaukee. The group is
enclosed in a green arbor setting against the east wall of the manual arts
school building. It can be viewed by
taking the “service road” and visitors are welcome to see it.
New Watertown Police Department
Watertown Daily Times, 12 19 1998
A new Watertown Police Department would be
constructed near the high school under a plan
unveiled by the Watertown Unified Board of Education Tuesday night. Under the proposal, the school district would
donate approximately 8.73 acres on the high school site to the city of
Watertown. The city, in return, would
build Elm Street through to Carriage Hill Drive and otherwise develop the
surrounding property. The plan would be
contingent on voter approval of a referendum to construct a new facility.
↓ More on Lincoln School ↓
Possible New City Police Station
Watertown
Daily Times, 01 26 1999
The Watertown Board of Education agreed
Thursday night to several land transfers that will allow for construction of a city police station near the high school if
voters agree to the project in a possible referendum. School and city officials expect the deal to
be finalized in the coming days by attorneys for the city and the school
district. The plan for the land swap was
developed to allow for the construction of the station on land owned by the
school district on the south end of the Watertown
High School property . The parcel would front on an extension of Elm
Street the city is planning. As part of
the land transfer plan, the district will deed to the city a right of way
needed to extend Elm Street from its westerly terminus at Fremont Street west
to Carriage Hill Drive. The school
district will also deed to the city a 4.98-acre parcel along the south side of
the Elm Street extension, and about .59 acres along Carriage Hill Drive. The district will also trade a 1.13-acre
parcel along Carriage Hill at West Main Street to Maranatha
Baptist Bible College in exchange for a 1.06-acre parcel south of the
4.98-acre parcel.
Specifications
for a New High School
Watertown Daily Times, 12 17 1983
The Watertown School
Board will be asked to give the go ahead for preparation of educational
specifications for a new high school when it
meets at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday in the board room of the Educational Service
Center, 111 Dodge Street. Preparing the
specifications will be done by Dr. John H. Fredrickson, the school facilities
consultant who has prepared a phase I study dealing in general with eventual
construction of a new high school. The phase I report will be presented
Wednesday for reactions from board members, who may take some action on it at a
later date. The report will be detailed
in Tuesday's Daily Times.
Watertown Daily Times, 12 18 2008
The Watertown Food
Pantry has received a donation of food and cash from a recent drive sponsored
by the Watertown Professional Firefighters
IAFF Local 877 and held at Breselow's Family Market. Hundreds of pounds of food and $321.53 were
generated from donations by area residents and local businesses including
Seneca Foods and Berres Brothers Coffee.
From left are Larry Crawford, Watertown Food Pantry board president;
Dennis Breselow, owner of Breselow's Family Market; and Greg Wellach, vice
president IAFF Firefighters Local 877. [picture not
available]
Watertown Daily Times, 10 23 1983
Construction of a two-bedroom senior citizen
apartment complex was approved unanimously at a joint meeting Monday night of
the Marquardt Memorial Manor and Moravian
Homes boards. Known as Hus Apartments,
the complex includes 22 apartments and provides the first two-bedroom
development for senior citizens in Watertown.
The non-subsidized apartments are restricted to persons 62 years of age
and older. The complex, to be built
north of Marquardt Manor, 1020 Hill Street, will cost about $1.15 million,
according to Boyd Flater, executive director.
Flater said that plans have been completed and that details of contracts
are being worked out. He expects
construction to begin in about two weeks, with occupancy on June 1, 1984.
Educational Foundation of Watertown
Watertown Daily Times, 10 23 1998
A new educational foundation dedicated to
promoting and strengthening public and private
schools in the Watertown area has been formed. Educational Foundation of Watertown, Inc., is
a nonprofit, tax deductible corporation.
It is accepting funds which can be donated to any individual school or
any educational purpose the donor wishes to support, according to Ray Kubly,
foundation president. Plans are now
under way for the development of a new logo for the foundation. A $100 savings bond will be awarded to the
winner of the logo contest.
Watertown Daily Times, 08 30 1998
What began as a nondescript bus turnaround on
a miniature model of Watertown High School more
than five years ago is now a blooming example of what students and a devoted
teacher can do when they set their minds to it.
That bus turnaround, once an island of grass surrounded by parking lots
and sidewalk, is today a sea of color in the form of a peace garden. Students envisioned it as a place for inward
reflection, a break from tile floors and concrete block walls inside the high
school, which was opened in 1994. Social
studies teacher Steve Jacobson has been a mentor for students involved in the
project, and his own ideas have meshed with theirs.
Watertown Republican, 01 30 1900
Taxpayers
of the city who desire to have street sprinkling done the coming season, and
whose premises are now not included in the sprinkling district, should notify
Alderman H.C. Mayer, chairman of the committee on streets and bridges, or any
of his fellow-members, before the next meeting of the common council, Tuesday,
February 6. It is necessary to have
these applications in as early as possible, so that the several districts can
be arranged as specified before the contract is let. According to the system now in vogue, the
cost of sprinkling is based on the assessed valuation of the property benefited
and inserted in the tax role. The season
for sprinkling begins April 15.
Watertown Gazette, 02 19 1909
Monday afternoon the Board of Public Works
opened the bids for furnishing two sprinkling wagons of 600 gallons capacity
for the city. Following were the bids:
Q. N. W. Sherman $335.00
J. D. Casey 250.50
Studebaker Mfg Co 296.60
Austin Western Co 291.00
Bitten by Dog
Watertown Gazette, 02 19 1909
Joseph, the
four-year-old son of Mrs. Lilian Brandenburg, proprietor of the New Commercial Hotel, was bitten in the face by
a dog in the lobby of the hotel last Sunday afternoon. Dr. Shinnick cauterized the bite and advised
the taking of the boy to the Pasteur Institute, Chicago, and he and his mother
have been there for several days.
Watertown Gazette, 02 26 1909
At about 1 o’clock
Friday morning fire at L. H. Cordes’ home in
Third Street destroyed it to the extent of about $400. Mrs. Cordes smelled rubber burning as she lay
awake in bed and aroused her husband. He
went downstairs and discovered fire in the pantry. The house phone was just over the blaze and
he went to a neighbor and sent in an alarm to the fire
department. In the pantry there is a
combination gas and electric fixture which was in an imperfect condition and
set fire to the woodwork in the wall and it spread rapidly to the bathroom
above. The fire department responded
promptly and the aid of chemicals put the fire out in short order. Defective electric covering and gas also was
the cause of a small fire at G. Fuermann’s in North Fourth Street on Friday.
Watertown Daily Times, 12 23 1958
Second Lt. Ronald
Kapheim, son of Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Kapheim, North Church Street, recently
was awarded his wings following a nine month period of primary training with
the Air Force. He received his training
at the Harlinger, Texas, Air Force Base. Ronald now is spending a leave at his home
here. Upon his return he will be
transferred to an Air Force base at Waco, Texas, where he will receive training
as a radar observer on an all weather jet interceptor plane.
Kapheim,
Ronald, Second Lt. 1958, Awarded
his wings
Watertown Daily Times, 12 23 1998
Firing up the burners
will have a whole new meaning Monday when Zwieg's restaurant begins another era
with a new grill. After turning out
burgers by the bagful for the past 52 years, the original grill had begun to
feel the heat. Thursday was its last
gasp. A new grill is being installed
today to replace the one that dates back to 1946. The old grill was a familiar sight in the
small family restaurant where patrons seated on counter stools can watch cooks
flip rows of sizzling burgers while the smell of frying onions wafts through
the air.
Watertown Unified Board of Education
Watertown Daily Times, 12 22 1998
There will be an open
seat on the Watertown Unified Board of Education next spring, as one of three
incumbents has declared he will not run again.
Terry Grinwald, board president, signed a statement of noncandidacy
Tuesday, the district office reported.
The two other incumbents whose terms expire in April, Barbara Phelps and
Mark Putra, submitted their statements of candidacy Tuesday.
Watertown Daily Times, 11 24 1983
Wisconsin-Michigan Trailways will
be serving the Watertown area Monday with six buses per day, according to Bob
Moore, Green Bay, home office of the bus service. The Watertown terminal will be located at
General Rental Center, 211 North Third Street.
Three of the buses will go west to Madison and three will go east to
Milwaukee. Moore said Trailways seeks to
serve residents of Watertown and the surrounding area on a permanent basis, and
not just for the duration of the Greyhound bus strike. Buses will carry passengers and packages
weighing up to 150 lbs.
Watertown Daily Times, 11 15 2008
Rock River Pizza Co.
and River City Distributing Co. are holding a fund-raiser for the Watertown Fire Department where someone can win a
mini chopper. Pictured standing next to
the chopper, from left, are firefighter/paramedic Ken Riggs;
firefighter/paramedic Greg Wellach; assistant fire Chief Ralph Wandersee; Lt.
Layne Fohr; Rock River Pizza Co. owner Randy Trella; Steve Zgonc of River City
Distributing Co.; Fire Chief Henry Butts; and firefighter/paramedic Christine
Butzine [Newspaper photo not available]
Rock River Pizza Co. and River
City Distributing Co. are sponsoring a fund-raiser that will benefit the
Watertown Fire Department. Every time a
customer at Rock River Pizza Co. purchases a Hook and Ladder product or makes a
donation, they will be entered into a drawing where they can win a mini chopper
motorcycle.
Proceeds raised during the event
will be donated to the Watertown Fire Department and local National Burn
Centers. The drawing will be held on
Dec. 17.
The mini chopper was donated
to the Watertown Fire Department by River City Distributing Co. The fire department then donated the chopper
to Rock River Pizza Co.
Watertown Daily Times, 12 20 1958
Carl
V. Kolata, head of radio station WTTN who is serving his first term as a
city councilman and whose term expires on next April 21 announced late
Wednesday afternoon that he will not be a candidate for re-election. His intention to retire at the end of his
term had been rumored for several weeks.
Of the other two councilmen whose terms expire on April 21 - Fred W.
Kehl and Charles E. Kading - only Mr. Kehl has indicated to date that he will
seek a second term.
In a statement which
he gave to the Times this morning,
Mr. Kolata said: “Because of the unusual interest in local government, and
because of the numerous inquiries of me, I am making this statement for
publication. After many weeks of
deliberation and many conferences with interested people, it is with deep
regret that I make this decision. I have
decided not to run for re-election to the office of Council for the city of
Watertown.”
Watertown Daily Times, 12 20 1983
Watertown businessman
Royce Rowedder was elected to a second term as president of the Health Planning
Council (HPC) at the agency's 15th annual meeting. Rowedder has represented the Jefferson County
Health Resource Committee on the HPC Board of Directors since 1981, and in
addition to holding the office of president, has served for three years on the
administrative committee. HPC is an independent,
nonprofit agency serving 11 counties in southern Wisconsin, and is one of many
such Health Systems Agencies located throughout the United States.
Watertown Gazette, 02 26 1909
The following reports
were submitted:
To the Honorable
Mayor and Common Council of the City of Watertown.
Gentlemen: The
undersigned, to whom was referred the matter of building a new school house [Lincoln School] in place of the
present No. 2 building in the Fourth ward, beg leave to report.
That upon careful
consideration of the matter we are satisfied that it is necessary to build a
new school house as aforesaid, and we therefore recommend that the Common
Council introduce at this meeting if possible an ordinance authorizing the
issue to bonds preparatory to the building of such school house, and as it will
be necessary to lay such ordinance over until the next meeting of the Common
Council, we further recommend that the chairman of the committee on public buildings
of the Common Council, and the chairman of the Committee on Buildings and
Grounds of the Board of Education, invite competition in the matter of
considering other plans for a new school building, besides the one thus far
procured, provided, that they can secure sketches of such other plans from
architects or contractors without a great expense to the city.
Respectfully
submitted,
Herman Tetzlaff,
of the Finance
Committee..
F. C. Werner;
Herman Tetzlaff,
Frank Kalina,
Committee on Public Buildings.
C. A. Kading,
City Attorney.
The report was
adopted.
↓ More on Lincoln School ↓
That New School House
Watertown Gazette, 03
05 1909
On February 2, 1909, the
Board of Education addressed the following communication to the Mayor and
Common Council of the city of Watertown, Wis.
To the Hon., the
Mayor, and Common Council of the city of Watertown, Wis.
Gentlemen: At a regular meeting of the Board of Education,
Dec. 2, 1908, a resolution that it is necessary to erect a new school building
[Lincoln School] in place of the present school building No. 2, in the Fourth
ward of this city, was unanimously adopted.
The probable cost of
such proposed building will be THIRTY THOUSAND DOLLARS ($30,000
). At a special meeting of said
Board of Education January 21, 1909, the plans herewith submitted for your
approval were duly adopted.
The material in said
old school building may be used in the erection of a new school building, and
it would be advisable to authorize and instruct said Board of Education to
offer the same for sale in the call of sealed proposals for a new building to
contractors, the proceeds which may be derived therefrom to be applied on the
contract price for such new building.
Watertown, Wis., Feb.
2, 1909.
By order of the
Board, Carl R. Feld, Clerk.
The matter was laid
over by the council for further consideration.
Since then the Board
of Education has not as an official body received any official notice from the
mayor or council to either sell the old building or go ahead with the
contemplated school. We believe the
mayor and council as well as the Board of Education are both of the opinion
that this work should be pushed from now on, and we understand that at the next
meeting of the council the Board of Education will be authorized to proceed in
the matter. At the Board of Education
meeting last Wednesday night, a resolution was passed, and the clerk was
instructed to present a copy of it to the mayor and city council, again setting
forth the amount of money needed for the erection of a new school in place of
No. 2 school, and requesting the council to authorize the Board to dispose of
the old one. The committee on buildings
and grounds of the Board of Education was also directed to advertise for
proposals for the erection of the new school, and the superintendent, and
chairmen of the buildings and grounds and teachers and instruction committees
were directed to look up temporary quarters to hold school in while the old
school is being torn down, and the new one is ready for occupancy.
Should the plans of
the school board in this matter meet with no further opposition, the intention
is at the close of the present term of school in April to tear down the old
school and begin the erection of a new one.
The school law of the state requires that school facilities shall be
furnished our people at least 9 months in the year, and it is out of the
question to grant a long vacation to the pupils of No. 2 School, else the
chances are we would receive no state school money.
Extra precautions are
being taken at No. 2 school by the Board—it is thoroughly cleansed every week
and the janitor has been instructed to put in all his time at the school during
school hours to see that everything is properly attended
to and the superintendent reports that he is faithfully carrying out the
Board's instructions.
↓ More on Lincoln School ↓
City Council Notes
Watertown Gazette, 03
19 1909
At the meeting of the
City Council held last Tuesday evening the Board of Education submitted the
following resolutions and communication, as directed at the meeting of the
Board of Education heId on Wednesday evening, March 10, 1909:
Resolved, That the committee on buildings and grounds be and the same
is hereby directed to advertise for sealed proposals for building a new school
house according to plans and specifications adopted by the Board of Education.
Resolved, That the clerk be and he is hereby directed to officially
notify the Mayor and Common Council that the cost of the new school building to
be erected in place of No. 2 school house will be $30,000.
That the Board of
Education has now on hand the sum of $4000 levied last year for repair of said
No. 2 school building and which sum is available for the new building.
Further, the Board of
Education requests your honorable body to authorize the said board to sell the
old No. 2 School building to the highest bidder.
To the Hon. the Mayor
and the Common Council of the city of Watertown.
Gentlemen: I hereby transmit to your honorable body the
above and foregoing resolutions approved and accepted by the Board of Education
March 3, 1909.
By order of the
board,
Carl R. Feld, Clerk.
To the Hon. the Mayor
and Common Council of the city of Watertown.
Gentlemen: It has been determined and is hereby
certified by the Board of Education that the sum necessary for the construction
of the No. 2 School house according to the plans and specifications approved and accepted by said board . . .
↓ More on Lincoln School ↓
Bids Opened for New School House
Watertown Gazette, 04 02
1909
At a
special meeting of the Board of Education held last Monday evening the bids for
the construction of the new school building in the
4th ward were opened. Wagner &
Baumann of Monroe were the lowest bidders; their compete bid being $30,105, on
which they allow a deduction of $1000 for the old school building and $5100 for
the heating and ventilating. The Board
deducted the $5100 and accepted the bid of Otto Biefeld & Co. of this city
for the heating and ventilating for $4952, making the complete bid for the school
of Wagner & Baumann combined with the Biefeld bid less $1000 for the old
school, $28,957.
Following
is the full list of complete bids submitted, there being a few other bids on
separate parts of the work.
H.
Schmidt, Milwaukee.........$32,926
Appleton
Construction Co.......... 30,910
G. R.
Kachie, Madison............... 31,988
Wagner
& Baumann, Monroe..... 29,957
A.
Sommers & Son, Janesville..... 34,550
John
Schatz, Watertown....... ... 32,042
Block
& Schlueter, Watertown... 32,725
Rohde
& Zickert, Watertown..... 32,183
[Zickert, Herman G]
↓ More on Lincoln School ↓
Contract For
New Public School Let
Watertown Gazette, 04 16
1909
At the
meeting of the city council held last week Thursday evening, the school bond
ordinance was passed, all members present voting for it, hence at a special
meeting of the Board of Education held last Wednesday evening the contract for
the new school was let to Wagner & Baumann, of Monroe, Wis., the contract
price being, $29,957. They pay $1000 for
the old school building, which will make the above amount $1000 less. About the 26th inst. the work of tearing down
the old building will begin, and it is expected to have the new school
completed on or before November 1st . . . The new school building will be a
credit to the city—the first story will be of vitrified brick and the second a
grayish pressed brick with a tiled roof.
It will have a perfect system of heating and ventilating and nothing has
been neglected in its planning to conduce to the health and comfort of both
teachers and pupils.
↓ More on Lincoln School ↓
Classrooms Relocate
Watertown Gazette, 04 23
1909
Next
week the old No. 2 public school building in the 4th ward will be torn down and
a new building will be erected in its stand.
Until the new building is finished, the pupils of this school will be
located as follows:
First
grade in Welsh church building in North Washington Street.
Second,
Third and Sixth grades in the basement of the public library building.
Fourth
and Seventh grades in the store building at 117 West Main Street.
Fifth
grade in the Fifth Ward hall.
These
quarters will be made as comfortable as possible for pupils and teachers and
the little inconvenience that will be experienced will cheerfully be overlooked
in anticipation of the fine new school building which they will shortly have.
↓ More on Lincoln School ↓
Men Wanted
to Wreck Old School
Watertown Gazette, 04 30
1909
Men Wanted to wreck old school
building at corner of Montgomery and O'Connell streets.
Report at 7 o’clock Friday morning.
Wagner & Baumaun. Contractors.
Ordinance
Watertown Gazette, 02 1909
Gentlemen: The undersigned special committee, to whom
was referred the matter of the complaint against the permission of wine rooms
in connection with saloons, etc., beg leave to report:
That due to the well
established custom of people coming to town and temporarily stabling their
horses in barns maintained in connection with the saloon business in the city
of Watertown, back rooms and waiting rooms have been established by saloon
keepers for the accommodation of such persons so unhitching for their families
while hitching and unhitching their horses, and for such purpose such rooms are
recommended and commended.
On Saturday, January
23, we visited and inspected saloons maintaining back rooms, making one trip of
inspection in the early part of the evening and one later; that we found such
back rooms occupied in several instances by minors of both sexes; that some
saloons maintained as high as four back rooms; that the same are small and not
connected with each other or with the main bar room; that they lead off from a
narrow hallway and are each equipped with a door; that in several instances we
found them occupied as aforesaid and not properly lighted.
We therefore
recommend that your honorable body cause the passage of an ordinance regulating
such back rooms by limiting the number to one or two such rooms with each
saloon to be connected by an open passage-way or partly glass door with the
main bar room.
And we further
recommend to your honorable body and particularly to the license committee that
in the future no application for retail liquor license should be acted upon favorably
or granted to any applying therefor, unless the premises at which such license
is asked for is constructed in accordance with the above suggestion.
Along this same
connection your committee recommends for your consideration the matter of
passing an ordinance fixing a time when all saloons should be closed at night.
And we further
recommend that when such ordinance is so passed that strict compliance with its
terms should be insisted upon by the city authorities and that any deviation
therefrom should be punished to be provided for is such ordinance.
On said tour of
inspection we also found evidence in existence in connection with the saloon
business in the city certain nickel machine gambling devices, but we have been
informed the state law amply provides for the abating of the same we make no
recommendations in the way of passing an ordinance pertaining thereto.
Watertown Republican, 10 24 1894
Wegemann &
Strauss, the enterprising young dry goods firm, has just finished
remodeling their store, whereby a commodious cloak room is added on the second
floor, with a convenient interior stairway leading to it. This firm keeps abreast of the times and is meeting
with well-deserved prosperity.
Watertown Republican, 12 12 1894
EmiI Luessow, of this
city, was arraigned in the circuit court of Oconomowoc Wednesday on the charge
of bigamy. His first wife resides in
Ixonia and the second would-be wife is a fair resident of Oconomowoc. The jury found him guilty of the charge and
sentence will be passed upon him by Judge Sloan as soon as a criminal calendar
is done with.
Watertown Republican, 10 17 1894
Charles Wendtland, of
this city, was accidentally shot in the left foot Sunday, while on an outing in
the country. The affair occurred on the
farm of August Marquart in the town of Emmet, and luckily was not attended by
more serious results. While a companion
was in the act of loading a shot gun, an untimely discharge took place and the
shot entered Mr. Wendtland's foot, quite badly shattering a portion of it. Dr. Spalding was called and dressed the
wound. Amputation was not necessary, but
Mr. Wendtland will be laid up a few months by the accident.
Watertown Daily Times, 12 27 1983
Luminaires will, for
the third consecutive year, be the center of attraction in the 300, 400 and 500
blocks of North Washington Street Christmas Eve. Luminaires, lighted candles in sand-filled
paper bags, will create a scene of great beauty in the three-block area. The sidewalk display will be ready for
viewing by the public beginning at approximately 6:45 p.m. The candles will burn until about 2 a.m.
Christmas Day.
True Meaning of Christmas, 2008
Watertown Daily Times, 12 23 2008
Forty-four area
students in first through fourth grades from St. Henry and St. Bernard Schools
entered the Knights of Columbus "True Meaning of Christmas'' poster
contest. Entries were judged on the
following criteria: 20 points for expression of the Christmas theme, 30 points
for originality and 50 points for artistic quality. The winning entries in Watertown were created
by Michael Kuckkan in grade one, Ali Hinchcliffe in grade two, Sara Lemminger
in grade three, and Erin Haeger in grade four.
Their posters have moved on to the Diocesan level where winners will be
selected to move on to the state competition.
Watertown Gazette, 02 26 1909
James P. Holland,
editor of The Daily Times, left here on Wednesday
for Hot Springs, Arkansas, where he will take baths for rheumatism till about
March 15. In the meantime the editorial
department of The Times will be
looked after by J. W. Cruger, one of the proprietors thereof. Mr. Holland’s many friends hope he will find
the relief he seeks at Hot Springs and that he will return home restored to
health.
Watertown Daily Times, 12 27 1958
The Oconomowoc
American Legion band, with 85 members, including players from Watertown, will
leave Christmas night to represent Wisconsin in the Tournament of Roses
parade. Watertown is represented in the
Oconomowoc band with a number of players. Included are Marilyn Eske, vocalist;
Armund Turke, baritone horn; Will Eske and Ellward Kuehl, trombones; Harold
Baumann and William Turke, clarinets; Donald Neitzel and William Kehl, drums;
Walter Samstad, trumpet; William Nass, bass horn; William Kehl Jr.,
clarinet. Donald Timmel, trombone, and
Richard Schliewe, bass horn, are from Ixonia.
Mrs. Donald Timmel and Marilyn Eske, who is Mrs. Will Eske, will be
among those carrying a “Wisconsin” banner and other signs in front of the band
during the parade.
Watertown Daily Times, 12 26 2008
TOWN OF WATERTOWN - A
garage at the W3200 block of Oak Hill Road and its contents were declared a
total loss following a fire that started Wednesday evening.
According to Watertown assistant fire Chief Ralph Wandersee,
the approximately 850-square-foot detached garage at W3256 Oak Hill Road was
fully involved in flames when firefighters arrived at the scene around 7:05
p.m. Wandersee said the fire was called
in by a motorists who was passing by the garage. The property owners were not home at the time
of the blaze, he added.
The contents of the
garage that were damaged included a skid steer, two lawn mowers, a car and a
large number of tools. Damages are
expected to exceed $100,000, Wandersee said.
Firefighters were on
the scene for about two and a half hours.
Mutual aid was provided by fire departments from Ixonia and Clyman.
C.&N.W.Ry. Warehouse Fire
Watertown Gazette, 02 26 1909
Watertown volunteer firemen on the day [in 1877]
mentioned above assembled in a body at the corner of Main and First streets at
1 p.m., engines and apparatus brightly shined, also decorated with red, white
and blue. It was the second appearance
of the Phoenix Co. clad in their new blue uniforms, trimmed with white, and in
each horse’s headgear of the team that hauled the Silsby there could be plainly
seen the regulation circus plumes, red, white and blue, which added much to the
appearance of the west side company’s turn out.
The men of the east side wore their regulation red shirts, except the
Sack Co., who always appeared in their neat-fitting sack coats of blue. There was little or no snow to be seen, muddy
roads, badly frozen and broken up, therefore the parade did not get very far
down Main Street. The two-wheeled hose
carts pulled by men on foot were very cumbersome and the ladies were pleased to
get back to quarters early in the afternoon, and the teams were cared for by
their owners in their own barns, S. M. Eaton having the contract for hauling
the “Phoenix steamer,” and Mr. Mannegold of the east side had a similar
arrangement with the city for hauling the “Pioneer” by the year to fires.
About 8 p.m. a fierce
fire broke out in a warehouse at the C.&N.W.Ry. depot and spread rapidly.
Eaton’s drivers and sons soon had four horses at the house of the
“Rotary” and it was not long after they were hooked up that they turned the
corner at Main Street, passing the Pioneer, with one team, at the next
corner. Charlie Kerr assisted by Bill
Ready drove the pole team, while Frank Eaton and Charles Haskell rode the
leaders. “Doc” Moore, stoker of the
Silsby, fell off at the next crossing and Barney Gardner and his hack cleared
the way at the Warren Street corner. He
was on his way from the depot and wound up on the sidewalk rather mixed up in
Thomas McCabe’s monument display and it has been said that willing hands
disconnected the “Bays” and hack and put Barney and his rig on the road
again. The fire was of short duration
after the Silsby connected to the tank house and the day wound up with a
rumpus. Charles Haskell and Charlie
Fuermann could not settle the question as to which company had exclusive rights
to the water in the tank house without coming to blows and Mr. Haskell got a good
one on the top of the head with a spanner, which settled matters until the
following day, when one of the east side engine crew called at No. 2 engine
house telling the man who was cleaning the Silsby what he would do and
proceeded to carry out his threat. The
Phoenix boy ran out and rang the bell—the rope then hung outside the north
wall; this alarm soon brought a number of firemen, who were employees of Woodard & Stone, on the scene and the
intruder was soon out of sight.
The officers and
engineers of our engine companies in 1877 were John Muth, foreman and chief, F.
Bursinger, engineer, E. Kunert, assistant engineer, Charles Fuermann, stoker,
Fred Spink, foreman No. 2, C. E. Straw, engineer No. 2, Edwin Moore, assistant
engineer, Frank Eaton, stoker. The
latter also served as secretary of the Phoenix
Company.
Watertown Democrat, 01 27 1859
During the two or
three days past the ice packers [harvesters] have been taking as fine, clear
and solid ice out of the river as we have ever seen.
Watertown Democrat, 01 27 1859
CONFECTIONARY. Mr. Thomas
Moore’s confectionary store is among the best in the State. Everything in the way of toys and candies,
nuts and fruit can always be found at his establishment, which has long been
the paradise of children. As he does a
wholesale as well as retail business, all who wish to buy confectionary by the
quantity should purchase from him as he can sell as cheap as anybody and all
his articles are the best quality.
↓ More on Thomas Moore’s Candy Store ↓
News Depot
Watertown Democrat, 09 22 1859
Mr. John Miller has removed his
News Depot from the Post Office to Thomas Moore’s Candy Store, where the latest
magazines and papers can be obtained by all who want to purchase them. Among the latest periodicals on his counter
are Godey’s Lady’s Book for October
and Harper’s Magazine—the last named
of which is a brilliant and attractive number, superbly
Watertown
Republican, 03 06 1895
Thieves
effected entrance to the smoke-house in the rear of Lindon's meat-market Monday
night and got away with about seventy-five pounds of hams, which were being
smoked for customers. [Joseph Lindon
Meat Mkt, 208 W Main, res. same, 1895]
↓ More on Lindon's Meat-Market ↓
Pork and Beef Packing
Establishment
Watertown
Democrat, 01 19 1860
Pork
and Beef Packing Establishment of Joseph Lindon, West Avenue, Watertown, Wis.
[today location of public library], has constantly in store and for sale, mess
pork, mess beef [barreled cured beef], leaf lard in bbls. and
half bbls. [leaf lard has little pork flavor, making
it ideal for use in baked goods], bacon (green and smoked), smoked sugar cured
hams, smoked sugar cured shoulders, etc., etc., etc., at wholesale and
retail. He also keeps a market where can
be had at any time at the lowest cash prices the choicest pieces of all kinds
of meats, as he takes particular pains to have the best variety constantly on
hand. Cash paid for all kinds of stock
and produce.
Watertown Democrat, 01 27 1859
C. A. Sprague,
Watertown, Wisconsin, wholesale & retail dealer in drugs, medicines,
chemicals, paints, oils, glass, varnishes, turpentine, dyestuffs, fancy
articles, perfumery, trusses and shoulder braces, pure wines and liquors for
medicinal purposes, books, stationary and wall paper.
Watertown Republican, 11 28 1894
The first matched
game of football between the Northwestern
University and Sacred Heart College eleven
was played yesterday afternoon on the former's campus. Although the weather was extremely cold and a
strong northwest wind prevailed, the teams put up a fairly good game and showed
numerous strong points in the individual work of the players. As the elevens came on the field it was seen
that the Sacred Hearts averaged heavier by several pounds than their opponents
. . . The features of the game were the sprinting of Farrell and Quinlen, the
tackling of Stuehm, and the work of Krafft and Brand back of the line, although
the latter was open to criticism for not better guarding his goal. The time of each half of the game was cut
from the customary thirty-five minutes to twenty minutes. The Northwesterns play the Milwaukee Athletic
Society eleven tomorrow at Milwaukee.
↓ More on Northwestern vs. Sacred Heart ↓
Watertown Gazette, 11 30 1894
An account of the
football game between Northwestern and Sacred Heart. Interesting statements like "it proves
that rugby is a manly sport and when played by gentlemen is not so utterly bad
after all."
Northwestern University Cornerstone
Watertown Republican, 10 24 1894
Appropriate exercises
marked the laying of the cornerstone at the Northwestern
University Monday afternoon. Seated
on the platform erected for the purpose, near the cornerstone, where the
participants in the ceremony, including the visiting clergymen, the trustees,
the faculty, the contractors and architects, and the college band. The latter opened the program with music,
followed by an oration in English by Rev. Julius Gamm, a professor in the
institution. The choir then sang, and
Prof. Notz delivered the dedicatory address on behalf of the university.
A choral service led
by Rev. J. H. Brockmann, of St.
Mark’s Church, followed and after that came the laying of the stone. There was a large audience present to witness
the ceremonies, and a collection for the benefit of the building fund was taken
up. Rev. P. Von Rohn, of Winona, Minn.,
president of the Wisconsin Lutheran Synod, was among the notables visiting
clergy.
The cornerstone is
placed in the southwest corner of the entirely new addition to the building and
is of brown sand stone. It is inscribed
with the name of the institution, the date, and the name of the architect, O.
C. Uehing. The building is being erected
by Duke, Schroeder & Co. of Milwaukee.
Watertown Republican, 11 28 1894
Work has begun on the
new factory of C. May & Sons, located at the foot of Western Avenue, on a
lot directly joining their cold storage on the west. The lot was recently purchased by them from
the Globe Milling Company and the purchase includes the latter’s old office
building. The new structure is to be of
stone and brick, one story high, and 36 x 45 feet in size. It will be fitted with the latest improved
machinery. Messrs. May & Sons expect
to occupy their new quarters by the first of January. C. [Carl?] Stiemke is the contractor.
[In 1867 Fred Miller formed a partnership with Christian
May; the firm did a large cooperage business with sawmill and stave factory
which continued several years.]
Watertown Democrat, 01 27 1859
Sixth Lecture. Mr. E. A. Calkins, Editor of the Madison Democrat, has accepted an invitation to
deliver the next lecture before the Young
Men’s Association and will consequently fulfill his engagement next Monday
evening, the 31st inst. His subject is
“What we are made for!”—a truly great question, an answer to which has troubled
and puzzled mortals through all time.
Mr. Calkins is an impressive and pleasing speaker, an able and ready
writer, with rare and brilliant imaginative powers, which have enabled him to
win an enviable reputation as a poet. He
has been long and honorably connected with the press of Wisconsin and ranks
among the most talented and accomplished editors in the West. That his lecture will be more than ordinarily
attractive and interesting we hazard nothing in saying. We sincerely hope that he will have a large
audience, for we are sure that all who attend will be richly compensated for
their time.
Dedication of St. John’s Church,
Jefferson
Watertown Democrat, 01 27 1859
Dedication of St. John’s
Church [Jefferson]. On Sunday, the 9th
inst., this church was dedicated to the service of Almighty God, with all the
rites and pomp peculiar to the Catholic Church by Bishop Henni and Professor De
Berge of Milwaukee, assisted by the Rev. F. X. Minderer, the officiating
clergymen of the church in presence of a crowded congregation. The altar was tastefully ornamented with
several scriptural paintings—one figurative of our Savior’s agony in the
garden, beautifully executed. Professor
De Berge preached a sermon in the morning, in German, and Bishop Henni followed
in English, giving great satisfaction to those present. The services were concluded about two o’clock
p.m., when the congregation dispersed. –Jeffersonian [Henni was the bishop of the Milwaukee
archdiocese, Father De Berge was a professor at Milwaukee’s Ecclesiastical
Seminary and Father Minderer was the parish priest at Jefferson and was later
assigned to St. Henry’s, Watertown].
Mildness of the Passing Season
Watertown Democrat, 02 03 1859
The mildness of the
passing season may had led some to suppose that there has been little occasion
for the exercise of a discriminating charity in our minds this winter. Such is not entirely the case, for now as ever
“The poor we always have with us.” There
have been instances of uncomplaining suffering, where a little help kindly
extended would have done much to lighten the heavily pressing burden of poverty
. . . We have heard of some such cases in this city, and now simply allude to
the fact to remind those in whose bosoms the “heavenly flame” of charity yet
burns bright and pure, to bear in mind that “God’s Poor” are with us yet and
gratitude to Him who may have given us a competence if not an abundance,
requires [that] we should share our plenty with those who have nothing.
Watertown Democrat, 02 03 1859
The members of the Young Men’s Association are engaged in an
effort to procure the means of making some desirable additions to their
library. We are glad to be able to state
that so far they have succeeded very well, and in a short time will probably
purchase over a hundred dollars worth of new and valuable works, including some
of the best and most popular that have been published recently. As this is the only
public library in this city, all who can should contribute to this object,
and so do something towards placing within reach of the whole community books
that many would like to have the privilege of reading, but which would,
perhaps, be inaccessible otherwise. In
this way, without anyone’s making any great sacrifice, a useful and increasing
collection of standard books will gradually be brought together . . . We understand that those who help in raising
the fund it is proposed to devote to this purpose will be invited to aid in
making out a list of such works as it may be thought best to buy under the
circumstances, which course will give all the voice in the matter, and each
will be able to a certain extent to have his taste or preference
gratified. From beginnings far smaller
than this, many extensive libraries have been created. By doing a little every year in this respect,
it will not be long before we begin to reap the fruits of our liberality in
having conveniently at hand a library to which we can resort for the indulgence
of a habit of reading, which may be a source of more pleasure and improvement
than almost any other we may form.
↓ More on Books for Library ↓
Books for the Public Library
Watertown Democrat, 02 10 1859
We are requested to
state that next Thursday, the 17th inst., Messrs. F. E. Shandrew, C. A. Sprague
and Geo. L. Field, who have been appointed a committee for this purpose, will
call at the residences of citizens to ascertain what contributions they are
willing to make in books to the Young Men’s Library, a strenuous effort to
increase which is now being made. It is
thought many would be willing to add some interesting and useful volumes who
cannot conveniently, or in justice to themselves, give money. In this way many standard or popular and
instructive works may be made to the collection now being gathered together
without in the least causing the liberal to make any sacrifice. Let all look over their book shelves and see
what volumes they can spare without detriment to themselves and place them
where others can have the use of them.
By this means parties may accommodate each other and the public
generally and not feel any loss.
Watertown Democrat, 02 03 1859
The Planters’ Hotel has recently been overhauled from
top to bottom and is now ready for the reception of visitors. It is under the management of its former
popular and experienced landlord, Mr. A. F. Cady, who takes not only great
pains in giving his old friends and customers a cordial welcome, but will spare
no care to make an agreeable and comfortable home for all new ones. We hope “Mine Host” will always have a house
full upon whom to bestow his attentions, for he knows how to fill those who
place themselves under his care.
↓ More on Planter’s Hotel ↓
Common Council
Watertown Democrat, 02 10 1859
Resolved, That the
Marshal be and he is hereby directed to notify the occupant of the Planter’s
Hotel to remove the sign and post recently erected on the northwest corner of
said premises, to remove the same within 24 hours after notice shall be given
him, and in case of refusal so to do, the Marshal is hereby required to remove
the same immediately thereafter.
Watertown Democrat, 02 03 1859
The revival in the Methodist Church still continues with unabated zeal
and fervor. We do not like to apply the word
excitement to such an awakening of the mind on religious subjects, but the
present movement has been productive of much good and some who have not entered
the House of Worship for years have become members of a Christian church, and
there is no doubt that they will walk in the light which faith sheds on the
path way of life.
Watertown Democrat, 02 03 1859
O.
B. Sanford & Co. wants saw logs at their
establishment on the east side of Rock River.
They wish to purchase a large number and pay the highest cash
price. If we should have a run of
sleighing, all who have any of the timber for which they advertise in another
column, they cannot do better than bring it along and get their money for it.
↓ More on Sanford & Co ↓
Sanford & Co
New Manufacturing Establishment
Watertown Democrat, 03
17 1859
Ours is not a commercial city and we
have no ocean or lake coast to give us the trade of a continent or a
world. But we have unsurpassed
manufacturing facilities, by the improvement of which our place can become
populous, wealthy and prosperous.
Looking with peculiar favor upon every effort to build up our home
interest, we notice with pleasure the new establishment which Sanford & Co.
have just put in operation for the manufacture of lumber and flour
barrels. It consists of a mill with
circular saws, which cuts all kinds of logs into every variety of building
material in the shortest space of time, of a stave saw which makes 3,000 staves
a day, a heading machine which turns out, all fitted and ready for use, 1,500
barrel heads a day, of a planer of the stave as it is first roughly shaped, and
of a jointing machine—in short every necessity to make a good barrel as it
exists in the timber until it comes out ready to be packed with the staff of
life, to be used at home or sent a thousand miles off to a distant market. This establishment gives steady employment to
some fifteen men and consumes annually large quantities of raw material now
standing in our forests. It is well
organized and everything about it goes on with the regulation of clock
work. All the different pieces of
machinery are carried by a water power, which, since the completion of the new
dam, is reliable and unfailing. A few
more such establishments will do a great deal towards increasing the business
of our city, furnishing a permanent home, and bringing among us a large number
of industrious and intelligent artisans.
The enterprising proprietors have taken the right step to advance their
own interests and that of the community where they live.
↓ More on Sanford & Co ↓
Sanford Fire
Watertown
Democrat, 01 12 1860
Two
stave dry houses in the Sixth Ward belonging to Mr. O. B. Sanford, filled with
barrel staves, were entirely consumed by fire
last evening. There was no insurance on
them and their destruction will involve an entire loss of three or four hundred
dollars. The fire was accidental and is
the more to be regretted as Mr. Sanford was just getting in good working order
an establishment for manufacturing a first rate quality of flour barrel staves
that promised to be successful and extensive.
↓ More on Sanford & Co ↓
Lightning
Watertown
Democrat, 07 11 1861
During
the terrific rain and thunderstorm a few nights since a current of lightning
struck the chimney tower of O. B. Sanford’s Steam Stave Factory and, without
doing much damage, played a good many curious freaks with engine and iron works
near by.
Watertown Democrat, 02 03 1859
The price of oysters
having declined, Peter Brook & Co. would like to have the lovers of that bivalve understand the
fact, as he has a large lot of the best that can be obtained from either New
York or Baltimore, at the reduced price.
The game season having ended and the time past when a brace of
partridges or half dozen quails could be purchased any day in the street, we
feel considerable interest in the change.
Then again, we suppose, to make up for the loss of birds, every variety
of choice fruit, green and dried, can always be found at the well supplied
depot on the south side of the bridge, not to mention the confectionary and
nuts which Peter always keeps to please his numerous customers, whether old or
young. The fact that while everything
else is becoming dearer, fresh oysters are becoming cheaper, should largely
increase the demand for the latter, and the best and cheapest are always kept
at the favorite depot.
Fresh shell oysters
Watertown
Democrat, 09 15 1859
Fresh
shell oysters are already in town and F. P. Brook has them as a matter of
course and he is the only dealer in these delicious bivalves of whom they can
be had in this city, at the present date.
He is ready to serve them up in any way his customers may prefer and
that in the finest style which the pleasant art of seeking oysters has yet
reached. “Peter” is a careful observer
of the seasons and keeps a keen eye on the choice things that belong to
each. A splendid array of fruit, the
nicest of confectionary, new cider of the most agreeable flavor, and now to
crown all, fresh shell oysters to any extent that may be desired.
Watertown and Madison Railroad
Watertown Democrat, 02 03 1859
The iron on the Watertown and Madison railroad has been
laid to Waterloo and the work of extending it to Hanchetville is going rapidly
forward. Construction trains daily pass
over the track as far as it is ready, carrying along the line ties, rails and
other material necessary to put a road in running order. The completion of this road to the Capitol at
no distant day we now regard as certain.
From some point near Hanchettville [Marshall] a branch will probably be
built to Baraboo Valley, the agricultural resources of which will furnish it
with a good paying business. Should the
gaps in the Chicago and Fond du Lac road ever be built, it is evident that the
tide of travel from the north east portion of the state must be drawn from
Milwaukee and pass through our city to the west. This will be an important saving of time,
distance in money—points of advantage which no sharp and practical man will
ever overlook in estimating the cost of a journey either for pleasure or profit.
Rural Debating Clubs
Watertown Democrat, 02 03 1859
It will be remembered
that Gov. Randall, in his last annual message, suggested the propriety of the
citizens of every town in the state organizing societies for the purpose of
discussing the thousand questions relating to the best method of cultivating
the soil, in having occasional lectures from gentleman of intelligence and
experience on grain raising, fruit growing, stock improvement, and the many
other topics that might be usefully brought under consideration. The idea, though not new, is a good one and
has long been carried in many states with decided success. It is believed that a course of lectures
might be secured in almost every farming community, which would be in every way
profitable, not only to those whose living and pecuniary
prosperity depend upon agricultural knowledge, but to the people
generally. Most of these lectures could
probably be obtained at little expense, from competent men in the immediate
vicinity. But good lectures, even if at
considerable expense, would be a profitable investment. Our new ideas of practical importance in
regard to manures, or any other of the numerous subjects belonging to
agriculture, would pay, in the results of next summer’s labor, for the whole course.
Serenaders
Watertown Democrat, 02 03 1859
The serenaders go the
rounds now and then, when the stars are brightest and all the world is silently
reposing in the arms of “tired nature’s sweet restorer.” At such an hour, when we least expect it, to be
softly awakened out of “balmy sleep” by a “concord of sweet sounds” stealing
gently on the ear, is always pleasant and agreeable. We must return our thanks to those who paid
us that compliment of a visit the other evening and say to them that long did the
tones and words of the beautiful songs with which they came to greet us linger
in our ears, after expression had died from the lips that so tunefully warbled
them forth.
Watertown Democrat, 02 03 1859
The last month of
winter is with us, but as yet we have none of the severe cold both the eastern
and western papers talk about. Yesterday
and today there have been appearances and attempts at snowing and blowing and
freezing, but not much of the reality.
Instead of the clear ringing of the merry bells chiming in with the
musical voices of some lighthearted and pleasure-going company, we have to put
up with the heavy rumble of slowly moving wagons, the owners all wondering when
there will be sleighing and winter will begin.
The much talked about but rarely seen “six weeks sledding in March” will
have to do the thing for us this year.
↓ More on Winter of 1859 ↓
Watertown Democrat, 02 17 1859
The ice in the river
is rapidly dissolving and disappearing.
In many places it is gone and the water shimmers and sparkles with a
spring-like smile of freedom. There is
no snow on the ground. The fields look
bare and brown, bereft, as they are, of both the white mantle of winter and the
green verdure of summer. If the present
warm and sunny weather continues we may expect an early return of buds, leaves
and flowers.
Winter wheat, we are
told by the farmers, has suffered very little from the open and mild winter
that is just drawing to a close. There
have been better seasons for fall sown grain, but the past has by no means been
a bad one. Very little has been damaged
or killed and if the spring proves favorable the harvest will be large and
ample.
The wild ducks are
beginning to visit us from the South. In
the absence of other game they afford fine sport for the hunter and are now in
the best condition for the table. When
they first reach us in the spring they are generally plump and full, having
found plenty to eat in the bays and rivers which they frequent in the South.
↓ More on Winter of 1859 ↓
Watertown Democrat, 02 17 1859
If you would have a
sleigh ride you must go while the snow lasts.
Feeling the full force of this truth and observing that the little snow
on the ground was likely to go off as soon as it came, a universal
determination was formed by a large number of our citizens to make good use of
it while it remained. Accordingly, last
Monday afternoon there was a general sleigh ride. All went who could find, hire, borrow, hook
or steal a team. The first we knew of
the movement was to find a neat cutter and fine horse standing in front of our
door, from W. H. Humphrey’s extensive and well furnished livery establishment,
with an invitation to sport with the crowd.
So to the ride we went with the long procession of the gayest and best
turnouts the city affords and over the long, smooth, prairie-like road, which
was in the best condition, we dashed and played to our hearts content. There must have been sixty or seventy teams
flying and running in all directions over the level surface that furnished so
good a field for the display of horsemanship.
The music of the jingling bells, the excitement of the occasional race,
the ring of merry voices, the smiles on happy faces, all combined to make the
affair pleasant and delightful, and none the less so because in some respects
it was a surprise party. This was the
first chance for anything like an old fashioned sleigh ride that has presented
itself so far this winter and according to present appearances will be the last,
for the snow has nearly all disappeared in the April-like warmth and sunshine
which makes all seem and look so spring-like and bright.
Watertown Democrat, 02 10 1859
A gleam of
sunshine—the display of desire to do a good thing—now and then breaks through
the heavy mass of the dreary proceedings of Congress and seems to indicate that
the more popular branch of the national legislature does not consider itself
entirely above consulting the wishes of the people, whose voice is always
entitled to a respectable hearing.
On the 1st of the
present month, the House of Representatives passed a HOMESTEAD BILL by a vote
of 128 to 76, giving to the head of every family who is a citizen of the United
States or has declared his intentions to become such, one hundred and sixty
acres of unappropriated lands belonging to the general government. The favorable action of the Senate and the
signature of the President are all that is necessary to make the just and
beneficent principle, on which the proposed act is based, the settled policy of
the nation, so far as the future disposal of our vast public domains is
concerned.
[Areas] broad and
rich enough for the organization of many great flourishing states, within the
ample limits of some of which the first pioneer has yet to make his appearance
and build his hut, hundreds of miles, it may be, away from the nearest
settlement, and there in patience and solitude, await the approach of
civilization. If he is yet a young man,
it is more than probable that before he has passed much beyond mid-life, he
will have neighbors with whom to exchange the hospitalities of society, schools
in which to educate his children, churches in which to worship, journals from
which to read the latest news, railroads over which to travel, a government to
protect his life, name and property . . .
Watertown Democrat, 02 10 1859
Clothes stealing is a
business that is carried on to a considerable extent in this city just
now. Two or three instances have
recently occurred where families have been robbed of nearly a whole washing at
a time, the clothes having been left on the line through the evening. That this, like most other cities, is
infested with gangs who make it a business to engage in the meanest of all
kinds of plunder, is pretty certain, or there would not be so much complaint of
losses of this kind. We allude to these
incidents for the purpose of setting those on their guard who may not be aware
of the danger they run leaving their clothes exposed.
Henry Bertram, Campaign for City
Treasurer
Watertown Democrat, 02 10 1859
To the Electors of
the City of Watertown. The undersigned
would respectfully announce to the citizens of Watertown that, at the
solicitations of his friends, he will be a candidate for the office of City
Treasurer at the coming municipal election.
Should he be elected he will devote his time and attention to the discharge
of his duties as a public officer and endeavor to meet the approval of the
public by the promptness and punctuality with which he will meet every
obligation that will then devolve upon him.
Watertown, February
10, 1859
↓ More on Henry Bertram ↓
Watertown Democrat, 02 10 1859
Municipal
Offices. The time for holding spring
elections is rapidly approaching and will soon engage the minds of the
people. The selection of capable and
honest men to fill local offices is always a matter of importance and should be
the leading purpose of every elector in casting his vote. Among those who will be a candidate for the
office of Treasurer in this city will be found the name of Henry Bertram, the
present able and popular Mayor. Mr.
Bertram has served faithfully four years as Alderman and two as Mayor, and in
both capacities he has shown himself a prudent and judicious officer, always
seeking to serve the public well. He has
all the requisite qualifications to make a prompt and efficient Treasurer and
if elected would discharge his official duties with an intelligence and
punctuality that would be perfectly satisfactory to all classes. Mr. Bertram is a gentleman so well known to
this community that it is not necessary to say anything in his favor to
strengthen his claims on the confidence and good will of his fellow
citizens. All know if chosen he will
make an accommodating, popular, upright and reliable public servant, and none
other is wanted or should be honored with the suffrages of the majority. - Watertown Democrat
↓ More on Henry Bertram ↓
Watertown Democrat, 03
31 1859
The friends of Mayor Bertram—a
gentleman who has faithfully served the public in various capacities during the
last four years—should remember his claims to their active efforts [at the
election] next Tuesday and give him a practical demonstration of their regard
for him.
↓ More on run for City Treasurer ↓
Watertown Democrat, 02 17 1859
The office of City
Treasurer is really as important as any municipal position known to our
charter. We strongly approve of the plan
of volunteer candidates for most places filled by the people at their spring
elections. When this course in pursued
we are more likely to have a larger choice of capable men. Henry Graves will be one of those to propose
to run for this office next April. He is
well qualified to correctly discharge all its duties—being an experienced,
careful and prompt business man. He would
make a good officer and give no occasion for the people to regret his election.
↓ More on Henry Graves ↓
Watertown
Democrat, 03 14 1861
I see
Mr. Lincoln has made up his Cabinet and I am not there. I am now prepared to say I would take some
place in the gift of our citizens, at their next charter election, should they
think me worthy and qualified—say—City Treasurer. H. Graves, Watertown.
Watertown Democrat, 02 10 1859
Resolved, That a
committee be appointed to confer with Messrs. Bieber & Co. and ascertain
the amount of rent for “lock up” for the
ensuring year and also what repairs, if any, may be needed to the same.
Resolved, That the City Clerk is hereby authorized and required to
cancel the contract entered into by P. B. Basford with the City of Watertown
for the erection of two Public School Houses,
and deliver to him his bond on file as surety for the erection of the same.
Resolved, That the
Treasurer be authorized to call upon John Luber, Esq., late City Treasurer, to
pay into the Treasury the sum of seven dollars, not paid over by him to his
successor in office as required by law, which seven dollars was paid him as
Treasurer by Daniel Hall, Esq., and in case of the refusal of said Luber to pay
the same, the Treasurer is authorized to sue said Luber and his surety for the
amount, immediately after said refusal.
Watertown [German] Rifle Company
Watertown Democrat, 02 24 1859
The German Rifle
Company [assumed to be same as Watertown Rifle Co] came out on the 22d of
February in commemoration of Washington’s birthday. They, if nobody else, were mindful of the day
that gave birth to the noblest champion freedom ever had. “What are you going to parade today for?”
said a Yankee to a Dutchman, as the latter went along the street dressed in the
uniform of his company. “That is a
question no countryman of Washington ought to ask,” was the quick and slightly
sarcastic reply.
Watertown Democrat, 02 17 1859
Mr. D. Wing, who is
just bringing to a close a course of lessons in fancy dancing, is now giving a
series of cotillion parties on Friday evenings at the close of the regular
exercises, which are very pleasant and delightful. Though not intended to be public yet the
parents of scholars and those receiving cards are invited to be present and
join in the amusements of the occasion.
As all know who have been under his instruction, Mr. Wing is a
successful and accomplished teacher in the art of dancing and we hope his
parties will be fully attended. The cost
to those going will only be trifling, just enough to defray the expenses of
music, lights and room, while the real enjoyment may be much more than that
experienced at larger and more formal assemblages.
Watertown Democrat, 02 17 1859
The season that
reminds us of bright, clear, pleasant days intervening between cool frosty
mornings and evenings, must be nearby or is even now upon us, judging from the
mild weather we are having. Some farmers
have already tapped their trees and if the spring is favorable there will be a
pretty large amount manufactured. As an
article of commerce there is usually a ready sale for maple sugar at paying
prices. Those who have the groves and
the means will do well to make the most of them.
Watertown Democrat, 02 17 1859
A trip to Pike’s Peak
is now the general talk among a considerable number of our citizens. Our hearty wish is for their success, and if
a word from us could give it to them, they should all have it beyond their
fondest expectations—gold plenty, romance and contentment should be theirs in
the fullest measure. But after reading
all the accounts we could find relative to the auriferous [yielding or containing
gold] wealth of that region, we have not been able to resist the conclusion
that the element of humbug largely mingles in the excitement. Those out of employment—who have nothing else
to do and cannot lose anything in the event, whether they find gold dust or
sand, and are in want of a little variety, adventure and experience, if they
have got the fever—had better go. For
those who are doing well it will be at the very least a hazardous enterprise
and, in too many instances, a fatal undertaking. Some may go with nothing and return with
much—others will go with much and return with nothing. If an election should take place and the
parties are divided into these two classes, the latter would have an
overwhelming majority and sweep all before them.
↓ More on Pike’s Peak ↓
Emigration to Pike’s Peak
Watertown Democrat, 03
17 1859
Emigration to Pike’s Peak has commenced. Wet weather and bad roads do not seem to have
the least tendency to damp the ardor or confidence of the adventurers. Some five companies, with all the necessary
outfits, have left our city within the past few days and more are getting ready
to start. Every day more or less covered
wagons pass through our streets on the way to the region of gold, whose soil is
said to be profusely mingled with glittering dust. Men of all classes, conditions and
occupations—capitalists and laborers, gentlemen and loafers, lawyers and
scoundrels, mechanics and thieves, editors and liars, doctors and assassins,
ministers and hypocrites, merchants and swindlers, bankers and gamblers,
shavers and cut-throats, those who live by their labors and those who exist by
their wits—will be thrown together in the strangely mixed and confused
community which is about to assemble in the shadows, in the valleys and along
the streams of the Rocky Mountains . . . Our city is losing, for a time at
least, some of its highly respected and enterprising residents. We hope some of them find fortunes and
return. Others will depart whom, with
some misgivings, we commend the tender mercies of the grizzly bears and wolves
and hope the morals of the latter will not suffer by the contact.
↓ More on Pike’s Peak ↓
Watertown Democrat, 04
14 1859
To the Editor of the Watertown Democrat: [from Pike’s Peak] I promised my friends I wou’d write
them something reliable and as my acquaintances in your secshum (it is all
suction this way and the worst kind too) of the country are very numerous, I
must ask you to publish this letter . . . Jim (that’s my wife’s brother) has
got more gold than I have, but the chunks aint as big, the largest aint bigger
than your fist. You see I went in for
big lumps, cause they are easier to lode and if he hadn’t rigged his cart so it
wou’d dump I woul’d beat him. He always
was the darndest fellow on inventions; he invented a perpetual motion whiskey
fount . . . but to business: when we had bin tu work mor’n ten days or two
weeks we struck shot gold; the chunks vary in size from a pigeon shot to a
cannon ball; the heavy ones we put into the bin and we keep the small ones to
shoot rabbits with; the rabbits here have the darndest longest ears you ever
did see . . . Excuse haste and a bad pen.
Yours in the cause of freedom and philanthropy, A. Jackson Dolbeater.
↓ More on Pike’s Peak ↓
Watertown Democrat, 04
14 1859
Extract of letter to C. R. Cooley by
one of the members of a company who left this city for Pike’s Peak. “Finding we could ship ourselves and teams
around to St. Joseph about as cheap as we could drive across the country, we
concluded to change our course and save the wear and tear on ourselves and
cattle. We arrived at St. Louis at 4
o’clock in the morning and by 2 o’clock this afternoon our baggage was all
transferred to this boat . . . Just imagine to yourself a line of steamers as
far as the eye can reach, all fastened close together, and you can form
something of an idea of the commerce of St. Louis. Our overland journey was extremely
disagreeable, yet nothing would please me better than to travel if I could be
so situated as to be tolerably comfortable.
Our company are all well and feel quite lively.“
↓ More on Pike’s Peak ↓
Watertown Democrat, 03 31 1859
An Ex-Mayor of Nebraska City, who has been to Pike’s Peak
and “seen the Elephant”—he finds the animal one of huge proportions—writes in
language more plain than classic, as follows:
“My impression of the mines is that they are a d----d humbug. I wish I could write otherwise and
particularly on my own account.” Some of
the Watertown boys had better put that in their pipes and smoke it and see
whether it has the genuine flavor.
↓ More on Pike’s Peak ↓
Watertown Democrat, 04
07 1859
The tide of emigration to Pike’s
Peak has set in with full force. Every
day trains of wagons, loaded with every mentionable variety of utensils and
instruments of work, pass through our streets.
Today as fine a lot of fellows left our city as can be found on the
road to the land of promise and gold, viz:
Stephen Stimpson, Jesse Moulton, E. C. Tompkins, Dr. G. Shamberg, and
George Breckenridge. On the Tuesday
previous N. Nettleton, Charles Gilman, Edward Gilman, H. Moak, R. B. Bassford,
Thomas Spencer and some others, whose names we do not now remember, took their
departure. We sincerely hope they will
all return to wife, children and friends—those of them who possess these
transcendent blessings—with all their high expectations fully realized.
↓ More on the Gilmans and Pike’s Peak ↓
Watertown Republican, 11 16 1860
Messrs. Edward and Charles
Gilman of this city returned home last week from the Rocky Mountain gold
diggings. They bring favorable returns
as to the facilities that far off region offers for making money. The Watertown boys, of whom there is quite a
delegation at Denver City and in the mines, are reported as doing well, and
some of them as accumulating the “filthy lucre” faster than they can spend
it. We are glad to hear of their
prosperity and hope that fortune will continue to favor them until they shall
have made their “pile.” Messrs. Gillman
give rather a discouraging account of the enjoyments attending one’s life
there, but they are none the less agreeable than we have been led heretofore to
regard them by statements from others who have been there and seen the elephant
in all his different aspects. That
country after all is one where there undoubtedly is as much shade as sunshine,
and in which adversity quite as much as prosperity is the net result of months
and months of earnest and industrious toil.
We understand it is the intention of the Messrs. Gillman to return there
in February.
↓ More on Dr. Shamberg and Pike’s Peak ↓
Watertown Democrat, 04
07 1859
Dr. Shamberg, who has been a
resident of this city during the past year and within that time gained a wide
reputation as a skillful and practical operator of dentistry, left this city
this morning to be absent a few months, during which time Dr. William Potter of
Fond du Lac, who has justly gained as favorable a reputation in his profession
in that city, is prepared to attend to the wants of all who may require the
services of a practical dentist. Dr. S.
intends to return home early in the fall and resume his professional labors.
↓ More on Dr. Shamberg and Pike’s Peak ↓
Watertown Democrat,
07 28 1959
Got Back—Dr. G. Shamburg and Calvin Cheney—two Pike’s
Peak adventurers from this city—have returned to their homes. We believe neither of them have actually been
to the mountains, but both have seen gold that has been taken from them. They freely tell what they have heard and
observed—cheerfully give others the benefit of their experience—but when we get
down to elements of what they have really found out from actual examination in
the mines themselves, it amounts to just about as much as the observation of
hundreds of others who have been very near the auriferous ranges, but never
reached them quite—that is nothing very definite, nothing very certain, nothing
very encouraging—only they would advise others to keep away. Good, bad, indifferent, doubtful, and
slightly on the fence.
↓ More on Dr. Shamberg and Pike’s Peak ↓
Watertown Democrat, 08 25 1859
Dr. G. Shamberg, the accomplished
dentist of this city, has got over his Pike’s Peak and Rocky Mountain
wanderings for the present and resumed the practice of his profession in our
midst. He is a practical operator of
unerring skill, though he doesn’t like the way we welcomed him back from the
plains a few weeks since. He says we
told one story about his adventures, while he was all the time telling
another. We, if we misrepresented him,
we are sorry for it, but whether or not he knows how to dig gold out of the
leads in the rocks, he knows how to deposit it in the cavities of the teeth so
that it will stay there, and it is an admirable thing to be a perfect master of
at least one useful art.
↓ More on Pike’s Peak ↓
Watertown Gazette, 05
05 1859
Another party, consisting of Hon. L. A. Cole, Amos Steck, David
Montgomery, Calvin Cheney, Dr. Anthony Lee, Charles Fobes, Hopewell Fobes,
Benjamin Fobes and E. G. Cole, left this city for Pike’s Peak last Tuesday
morning. The names of some of this
company have long been familiar to this community and prominent among our
business firms. Of course they carry
with them, in their new and somewhat hazardous adventure, the best wishes of
all for their complete success. As we
should regret to learn that we are to lose them as residents of our city, we
certainly hope they will return at no distant day with all their expectations
fully realized. They are going to a new
or at least unsettled country, supposed to be rich in gold, if not fertile in
soil, where everything is yet to be done and the ragged features of nature
softened and beautified by the hand of civilization. If nothing else is done, the elements of
another State may be collected together on the eastern slopes of the great
mountain chain, and that will be something—enough to reward all for sacrifices
it will cost.
↓ More on Pike’s Peak ↓
Watertown Gazette, 05
26 1859
The German party, consisting of John Riedenger, John Luber,
Gottlieb Baumann and three others, whose names we do not now remember, which
left this city for Pike’s Peak about seven weeks ago, returned home last Saturday.
After getting six miles beyond Big Blue River, they came to the
conclusion that it would be folly to go on and abandoned the expedition, as
they had the most satisfactory evidence that the further they went the worse
off they would be. They continually met
companies who were returning from the mines, and at the point at which they
stopped, they encountered over fifty teams coming back. Those who reached the supposed gold regions
and made a fair trial were decided and unanimous in their condemnation of the
whole thing as a swindle, got up to dupe the country, and in this respect it
was a brilliant success. The most any
diggers have been known to make was from forty to fifty cents a day. The gold is there but so far as getting it is
concerned more can be obtained with the spade, the plow and the tool any where
else than out there, and with much less labor and far greater ease.
↓ More on Pike’s Peak ↓
Watertown Democrat, 06
23 1859
Another of the
adventurers who left here this spring for Pike’s Peak—R. B. Basford—returned a
few days since and in common with the rest of the boys who “marched up the hill
and then marched down again,” seems to be perfectly satisfied with the view he
had of the elephant. He says a trip with
an ox team as far as the Big Blue, which is the point he had reached when he
determined to turn back, give a person a pretty correct idea of the entire
animal. Some others who left here are
coming back, while three or four whose faith is strong in the richness of the
mines and the practicability of getting at it have gone on, though we believe
at one time they also faltered and had traveled some twenty five or thirty
miles on their return route.
↓ More on Pike’s Peak ↓
Watertown Democrat, 05 10 1860
The
city of Watertown is likely to have its full share of representatives in the
Rocky Mountain gold regions. Already
several parties have taken their departure, and others are preparing to follow. Last week a company comprised of T. M. Smith
and John Martin of this city, and E. C. Tompkins, Dr. and William Davis of Fond
du Lac, left for the extensive fields west.
Last Monday Edward Gilman, an old and well known citizen, also set out
on the same expedition. We hope they
will all have a pleasant journey, get what they travel so far to find, and
safely return richer, wiser and happier men.
↓ More on Pike’s Peak ↓
Watertown Democrat, 05 24 1860
A party
consisting of R. S. Little, Hanford Reed and family, Harris Gilman and Hiram S.
Hughs left this city last week for the Pike’s Peak gold regions. They took with them their own conveyances,
together with the necessary implements for working the mines. They are all well known and estimable
citizens. We hope they will have the
good fortune to strike rich and paying leads, make money as fast as they
desire, and eventually return with their expectations fully gratified.
The
emigration to the country beyond the Mississippi will be immense this
season. Many thousands are now wending
their way to the fair fields and valleys of the west—some to engage in
agricultural pursuits and make permanent homes, and others to try the more
doubtful but tempting business of mining for the gold that is now known to be
plentifully scattered throughout the rocky veins of the mountains and along the
channels of the streams.
Wisconsin
has contributed her share to the number of those who will win or lose by taking
their chances in these adventures. We
shall all wait with interest to learn how these numerous expeditions will turn
out and be glad to hear that they are well planned and successful.
Watertown Democrat, 02 17 1859
Donation visit. The friends—they are many—of Rev. L. W. Russ
[pastor of St. Paul’s Episcopal], will pay
him a Donation Visit at his residence next Tuesday evening, 22d. Let the attendance be large—the contributions
liberal—and the willing spirit in which all is done, lend additional grace and
give a higher value to every gift laid on the altar around which we all
reverently bow when the heart feels most deeply its debt of gratitude for the
promise of immortality that brightly beams through its loftiest hopes or
darkest sorrows. In this free and happy
land there is no union of Church and State.
The spread of the Gospel depends upon the voluntary bounty of the
people. Not only angel-minded charity
but even-handed justice to those who devote their lives to the service of not
only the Great but the Divine Teacher . . . We should ever extend to preachers
of the faith all the aid necessary to make their self-sacrificing labors
successful as it is [in]the interests of mankind
[that] their efforts should be . . . His wants are as numerous and urgent as
our own can be.
Watertown Democrat, 02 17 1859
The Jeffersonian calls for more direct mail service between this city and that village and
very justly too. We ought to have it and
there is no good reason why we should not.
We copy below its article on this subject and commend it to the
attention of our vigilant Post Master.
We would state for the information of our contemporary that the Democrat
is almost always mailed on Wednesday.
Though the Jeffersonian is
published on Thursday we never get it before Saturday and frequently not till
Monday following.
“There exists at
present a great necessity for direct mail communication with Watertown. With the present route and slow connection it
usually takes from two or three days for mail matter to reach Watertown. The Democrat
we suppose to be mailed on Thursday and it reaches this place on Monday
morning. A petition has been extensively
circulated, asking for the establishment of a direct route and was forwarded to
the Post Master General, but he replies that he has no power to entertain the
petition. The action of Congress will be
necessary before this great decision can be obtained.”
Watertown Daily Times, 12 30 1958
City Attorney Harold
W. Hartwig today announced his resignation effective Jan. 1. In a statement sent to City Manager C. C.
Congdon, a copy of which was given to the Times, Mr. Hartwig said, “Dear Mr.
Congdon: As my private practice of law
is making ever increasing demands on my time and as I deem it wise to devote my
entire time from now on to said practice, I do hereby tender to you my
resignation as city attorney of the City of Watertown, said resignation to be
effective as of January 1, 1959.”
Watertown Daily Times, 12 30 1983
Area residents will
have the opportunity to view the Milwaukee Regional Medical Center's new
emergency helicopter at 8 a.m. Tuesday at Watertown
Memorial Hospital. The “Flight for
Life” unit is the first based emergency helicopter service in Wisconsin and
will be ready to serve the Watertown area late next month or in early
February. The helicopter is equipped
similarly to a paramedic unit. The
equipment includes a ventilator, cardiac monitor and defibrillator, intubation
and airway supplies, MAST pants, splints, and other emergency equipment and
supplies.
Watertown
police veteran
promoted to rank
of captain
Watertown Daily Times, 12 31 2008
Curtis J. Kleppin, a
14-year veteran of the Watertown Police
Department, has been promoted from sergeant to captain.
Kleppin began his
career with the Watertown Police Department on Oct. 5, 1994. During his tenure with the city department,
Kleppin has served as a field training officer, detective and in various
capacities as a sergeant.
He is currently a
certified instructor in defense and arrest tactics and electronic control
devices.
In June of 1999,
Kleppin was awarded the department's lifesaving award for assisting in saving
the life of a man who was intent on committing suicide. For his actions, he and three other officers
were chosen as Jefferson County Law Enforcement Officers of the Year.
Kleppin is a graduate
of Hartford Union High School and earned a bachelor's degree from the
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in Criminal Justice and Sociology in
1993. He obtained a master's degree in
the Science of Management from Cardinal Stritch College in 2006.
“Curt brings a wide
base of practical law enforcement knowledge and formal education to this
managerial position,” said Watertown police Chief Tim Roets. “Curt is well suited for this new
position. He has earned the
respect of department employees and is dedicated to the continued advancement
of our department for the benefit of those we serve.”
Watertown
Daily Times, 11 06 1983
Plant and
city officials broke ground Friday for a new warehouse at U.S. Chemical
Corporation, 316 Hart Street. The firm
will erect a 200 by 150 foot warehouse to the north and west of its present
plant. The new warehouse, President Noel
Schomburg said, will allow room for a new laboratory in the present
facility. The lab will be the principal
corporate lab for Hydrite Chemical Company, which owns U.S. Chemical and a half
dozen other chemical companies in Wisconsin and the Midwest. Schomburg said that the present expansion,
which will cost about $1 million, also paves the way for future expansion by
Hydrite at the Watertown facility.
↓ More on U.S. Chemical Corp ↓
Watertown Daily Times, 06 17 1998
U.S. Chemical Corp., a division of Hydrite
Chemical Co., has been sold to SC Johnson Professional of Racine. The companies announced the signing of a
letter of intent for the sale this week.
The legal closing is expected to take place June 26 following government
regulatory approvals and execution of a definitive agreement. U.S. Chemical, headquartered in Brookfield,
has manufacturing operations in Watertown and warehousing in Watertown and
Stockton, Calif.
Watertown
Daily Times, 11 06 1998
Nearly 55
years after his plane was shot down in World War II, Ray Kubly is still serving
his country and the U.S. Air Force. Last
week, Kubly agreed to share information about his escape from the German army
with Air Force's Joint Services Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape
Agency. The agency is conducting an oral
history research project for people who were able to escape captivity. Kubly, a Watertown native, was one of the
people called to provide insight. “I'm
happy to say that I'm still here and able to help the Air Force and our
country,” said the 74-year-old Kubly.
Fine Improvements of Fischer & Sons
Store
1936
Recently completed fine improvements have
been made at the Charles Fischer and Sons Dry Goods
store on Main Street, exterior as well as interior. It’s exterior has a wonderfully fine citified
front which cannot but invite people to the inside thereof, which is even more
gratifying that the outside, which is beautifully arranged with a fine stock of
clothing for both men and women, and all lines of dry goods and household
goods, the equal of any on sale in larger cities which cannot fail to attract a
large line of customers to the store to be waited on by the many experienced
and affable clerks therein. The Fischer
store with its fine three new fronts and newly remodeled interior together with
a complete line of merchandise certainly deserves the patronage of residents of
Watertown and surrounding county. “Boost
Fischers, who are boosting for Watertown.”
Early Watertown Amusement Places
The
Watertown Reporter, 09 26 1931
The German 48'ers
brought genial qualities which found expression in social gatherings.
Sunday afternoons at
the William Tell House, operated by the Banmann's, near what is now Maple Park,
were events where everybody met everybody else regularly, the whole family
appearing; the men passed the time in bowling, the ladies compared recipes, and
methods of housekeeping over coffee, the children were on merry-go-rounds,
swings, etc. Everybody walked, the whole family starting out soon after dinner;
on the way every garden en route was admired — exchanges of seeds were made or
arranged for; carefully labeled, they bore not only the name of the flower but
also of the donor, and after a bit of special advice or interest.
On the east side were
the Hermann's Garden (present Kresenski-Stabenfeld sites), and the Ulrich
Habheggar place just north of N. Fourth Street bridge. Mrs. Hermann was famous as a fine baker and
confectioner—coffee at Hermann's was the superlative degree of the ladies'
happiness—here was born the German club "Die olle Kamillen," by Fritz
Reuter admirers, a long time a most enjoyable affair of best things.
The Ulrich Habhegger
place had the advantage of beautiful scenery both up and down stream. Here was built a pavilion, one end extending
to an arbor, overrun by vines, and containing tables and benches where one
could be served; the eastern extension was a bowling alley patronized so
extensively that reservations had to be made, and clubs formed. Boats plied from landings, swimming was
enjoyed; in winter there was skating, the Habhegger, Hermann and Racek children
easily holding the championships to the envy of all others not so favorably
situated in the sites of their homes.
Washington
Park is a part of "Richard's Grove," the picnic place of early days,
where the first "school children's picnic" was held, a nice, clean
grove, within walking distance.
Prochazka's Place
(present Green Bowl Tea), home of Wenzel and Anton Prochazka, was generously
offered to any one capable of appreciation, by the owners, who for many years
furnished Watertown with the best radishes, onions, celery, etc. People, brought their baskets to stay all
day, Mrs. Prochazka offering her kitchen to prepare coffee, and, though a very
busy woman, never so happy as when she could add something "from the
house" to perfect matters. The
picturesque willows, with seats in them, the blue skies, the winding river, the
lovely flower-garden stretches, with birds and butterflies, made an ideal spot
to come to with a book, all was conducive to best things.
In the 7th Ward the
Boing Home (now Steinhorst's Place) was the mecca of visitors on Sunday — the
host and hostess always had the latch out, and a welcome awaited all who
visited here. Here, too, bowling might
be indulged in.
Everybody was a hiker—Luber's Hill, Luke's Hill, Indian Hill, Oak Hill, Sugar
Island, Mud Tavern, etc., etc., were landmarks.
Eggs and butter carried all the way from Old Lebanon, brought 8 cents
and 11 cents respectively.
Watertown
Daily Times, 01 06 2009
Officer Mike Kumbier, affectionately dubbed “The Elvis Cop,” will be
retiring. Kumbier’s
appearance, which includes black hair trained in an Elvis-style pompadour and
pork chop sideburns, has led more than one motorist to do a double take.
A 1977 graduate of
Watertown High School, Kumbier began his career with
the Watertown Police Department on June 14, 1982, after serving in the United
Stated Marine Corps.
During his almost three
decades with the department, Kumbier worked each of
the three shifts and served a four-year tour as a police school resource
officer. He also served the department
as a state certified emergency vehicle operation instructor.
On Oct. 14, 1997, he
was awarded the department’s Life Saving Award for saving the life of an
elderly man by using CPR. During the
course of his career, Kumbier received 10 letters of
commendation for meritorious service to the citizens of Watertown.
Offers Online Edition
Watertown
Daily Times, 01 06 2009
The Watertown Daily
Times is now offering a full electronic edition, in addition to the regular
print edition. A full copy of each
edition will be available on a subscription basis by going to the Times' Web site
at www.wdtimes.com. The pages will be
seen exactly as they appear in the print edition, and individual stories can be
clicked on to make the print larger or smaller as needed.
To introduce the full
electronic edition, the Web site will be free of charge from today through the
Jan. 24 edition. After that time, the
electronic edition will be available on a subscription basis.
As an added feature,
the electronic Web site will offer archive subscriptions which will allow the
subscriber to go back in past issues, dating back to 2005.
Watertown
Daily Times, 02 12 1915
Mr. Edward F. Behling a well known Watertown
traveling man died at his home in that city last Friday, Feb. 5, 1915, at the age of 37 years. He was one of Watertown’s most popular
citizens, and was employed as a salesman for the Hansen Glove Company,
Milwaukee. His funeral services were
held Wednesday at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Watertown.
Watertown
Daily Times, 02 26 1915
Mr. Reinhold Jaeger, a
Watertown boy, died at the home of his parents Mr. and Mrs. August Jaeger last
Wednesday morning, at the age of 20 years and 10 months. The young man was a printer by trade.
Watertown
Daily Times, 01 06 1984
Turner Hall held its
annual Christmas party for its members and wives recently in its renovated
Turners Pub Room on the second floor.
According to Henry Schaller, Turner publicity director, members of the
organization have been reconstructing the room for more than a year. “By summing it up,” said Schaller. “It was a vast transformation or face lift of
the entire upper wing of the second floor.” The men's meeting room and auxiliary
meeting room were renovated for the new facility. The meeting room has been entirely
redecorated, said Schaller.
Watertown
Daily Times, 01 06 1999
The H rate makeup stamp
is hard to find. Post offices in
Watertown and Ixonia were out of the 1-cent stamp issued by the U. S. Post
Office as of this morning. The stamp
became a hot item last week already as customers prepared for the increased
cost for first-class letters. The rate increase took effect Sunday.
Watertown
Daily Times, 10 21 1998
Who is in that
tree? Who are those faces looking at
me? “I really don't know, but that's how
they turned out,” said Kyran Clark, who carved the
figures in a tree stump outside Marquardt Memorial Manor on Hill Street. “In the back of my mind, they could represent
George Marquardt, patriarch of this place, and his daughter Anna. Or it could be his wife Marie,” he said,
referring to the man and woman's faces outlined on the outside of the
tree. The evolution of the ugly stump into
an objet d'art has garnered a number of toots and thumbs-up as motorists slow
down to gawk.
A Bigger Gift than the Carnegie
Watertown
Daily Times, 11 24 1916
A definite offer of
fifty cent for every dollar donated by the citizens of Dodge and Jefferson
Counties for St. Mary’s Hospital, is made by the Sisters of the charge of the
institution, i.e., if the citizens give $50,000, the Sisters will put in
$25,000 more; if the public contributes $75,000, the Sisters will add $37,500
to this sum, and so on.
Thus the additional sum
offered is a gift larger than that made by Mr. Carnegie to the Public Library
of Watertown.
To secure this
munificent donation NOW is the time to act, and every public spirited citizen
should step to the front and help build a hospital that will be big enough and
so completely equipped, that all who apply for admittance or treatment will
find a place.
You do not know when
you or yours may need the care only to be had in a hospital; be wise enough to
provide for this haven of refuge NOW when it is offered to you on such gift
terms.
Time is a relentless
master, and will demand an accounting for the many good things he has given
you. Can you show a credit big enough to
satisfy your idea of charity?
This is your
opportunity to put your money in a place where it will do much good; you cannot
take it with you when you die. Every day
you see legal and family squabbles over money left by men who knew better how
it should have been applied, than the use which is now being made of it by
their heirs.
If these men had only
administered a part of their estate, with the same good sense and wisdom they
used in accumulating their money, they would have done much good for their
fellowmen; instead of leaving a heritage of rancor, jealousy and ill-feeling to
their heirs.
A few thousand planted
in a public charity like the hospital would have prepared the way for many
grateful thoughts sent back to the benefactor by the sick who had a place in
the good will of the donor.
In years to come you
will be proud to point out to your children, possibly your grandchildren, your
name on a room, a war, or a bed, and say, “This is how I helped to build and
equip this hospital for the poor, sick and afflicted who will for all time have
a place to go when the direst need of sickness overtakes them” Come! Help us! Because in more ways than one, as you see,
“When you help St. Mary’s Hospital you are helping yourself.”
↓ More on Hospital Campaign
↓
The Hospital Campaign
in Watertown is now on
Watertown
Daily Times, 12 08 1916
Habit keeps us blind as
a bat: We go over a certain path every
day but do not see the many opportunities for pleasure, comfort, or even
money-making, when these are pointed out to the plodding man he is astonished at
the many things he has missed in his daily life.
For some weeks we have
been trying to tell you where there is a source of pleasure you have never
thought of before: It is the happiness
of GIVING and that to a most worthy object, the new St. Mary’s Hospital at Watertown.
In all probability
almost every person will at some time in the future need the services of a
hospital; particularly those who are growing old, and like life insurance it is
well to make provision for an emergency before it arises. When the time comes, the need will confront
you so quickly and suddenly: accident
and sickness do not give warning that you make preparation at the last minute.
For this reason bury
all objections of every sort and kind, and only consider the service a hospital
will render you when it is required.
This is no theory, this
is a FACT which everybody will do well to recognize. The necessity will arise suddenly and those
who live out of the city will need the services of a hospital more, or equally,
with those who live in the city: because
in the country the houses are far removed from a doctor, a drug store or even a
grocery store where the little luxuries can be quickly had.
Another feature: the
home offers meager facilities for taking care of the patient, but when he is in
the hospital he will have everything he ought to have, including the luxuries.
The mails have carried
a large number of invitations to many persons to contribute to this fund, some
of which have been answered.
If you live in the city
do not wait for the solicitor to call on you.
If you live in the country, send your donation by mail, or call in
person at the Headquarters, 11 Main Street, Watertown, Wisconsin, where it will
at once be announced to all the workers: thus stimulating them to renewed
efforts.
The intensive Campaign
is open, and will close December the 16th.
We bespeak a kindly reception for this movement and a liberal donation, because “When you are
helping St. Mary’s Hospital you are helping yourself.”
Watertown Gazette, 07 04 1894
There is considerably
talk in some quarters of having President A. F. Ernst of the Northwestern
University for the Democratic candidate for governor this fall. In a long list of preferences of Juneau
Democrats for governor published in last week’s Independent, Prof. Ernst is
favored by a goodly number. But we doubt
whether the reverend professor would consent to entering politics to such an
extent as these supporters desire.
Watertown Democrat, 03 03 1859
The annual meeting of
the Wisconsin State Temperance Society will be held in the city of Madison on
Wednesday, the 9th day of March, at 11 o’clock a.m.
The pressing
necessities of the Temperance cause in the State at this time calls for a
vigorous effort on the part of its friends to stay the progress of vice and to
awaken deeper and more earnest convictions among the people as to the true
character of intemperance and the necessity for the use of more efficient
remedies. It is to be hoped that the
friends to temperance from all parts of the State will attend this meeting and
contribute their counsels and sympathies anew to the cause.
Other States are moving
with renewed vigor in the right direction and the friends of reform in our
beautiful State should in no way be indifferent to the claims of humanity upon
us.
By order, T. W. Brown, President
↓ More on Temperance
↓
Temperance Lecturer
Watertown Democrat, 06 07 1860
S. M. Hewlett, the
distinguished and talented Temperance Lecturer, gave us a call last
Monday. He has just returned from an
extensive and successful southern tour, having visited Kentucky, Tennessee,
Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, and addressed many and crowded houses in
each of those states. Almost everywhere
he has met with the kindest reception among the friends of the great and
beneficent cause he so ably and sincerely advocates, and but for the wholly
unprovoked misrepresentations of some northern journals, would have had nothing
to mar the pleasure of his journey . . .
As a lecturer he glides from grave to gay, from lively to severe, with
wonderful ease and rapidity—one moment holding the rapt attention of thousands
by some thrilling appeal or touching narrative—the next convulsing all with
roars of laughter—now lighting up a deep argument with a bright flash of wit,
then illustrating an important truth with an admirably told anecdote that
contains a lesson as well as a joke. We
hope he may be induced to speak in this city during his stay in our midst.
Watertown Daily Times, 01 09 1999
The Watertown Women's
Center this week played host to one of its own, the Rev. Gwen Sayler, who helped found the center more than 10 years
ago. Sayler,
who now lives and teaches in Iowa, brought a dozen of her students to Watertown
to explore how such a center can be created and sustained in a community. Through a round table discussion and tour of
the center, current residents active at the center were happy to share its
successes.
McDonald's is total loss after fire
Watertown Daily Times, 10 29 2008
Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, 10 29 2008
McDonald's, 625 S.
Church St., was declared a total loss after a two-alarm fire burned through the
roof of the restaurant Tuesday night.
The Watertown Police
Department has determined from information provided by witnesses and fire
personnel that the fire was caused by a malfunctioning piece of heating,
ventilating and air conditioning equipment on the roof of the building.
According to Watertown
fire Chief Henry Butts, the Watertown Fire
Department received a call for the structure fire Tuesday at 6:11 p.m. and
when firefighters first arrived at the scene heavy smoke was pouring out of the
roof on the east side of the building near the drive-through.
A second alarm brought
firefighters from Ixonia, Johnson Creek, Jefferson and Lebanon. A total of 52 firefighters had the blaze
under control in 2 hours and 10 minutes and had it extinguished in 3 hours and
14 minutes. The last group of firefighters left the scene at 9:47 p.m. It took firefighters more than three hours
and 82,500 gallons of water to extinguish the blaze
The fire at McDonald's
was particularly difficult to fight because of the layout of the building. “This type of building creates a lot of
hidden spaces and voids and has a mansard-style roof on the side of it, which
creates even more voids,” Butts said. “It's very hard to get at the fire that
is burning unchecked up there.”
For the first time
since it was implemented on Sept. 1, the Watertown Fire Department used the
Mutual Aid Box Alarm System and Butts said he could not have been more pleased
with the results. The Mutual Aid Box
Alarm System is a coordinated effort that helps reduce the amount of time it
takes to get needed equipment to the scene of an emergency.
“Instead of having to
tell the dispatchers call this fire department and ask for this, call this fire
department and ask for that and call this fire department and ask for that, all
I had to do was say call Dodge and Jefferson County and strike the second alarm
for a fire at this address and it was done,” Butts said.
“I talked with the
dispatchers on duty after the fire and they said they were able to get the
extra equipment on the road quicker by using this system, so I am very pleased
with that,” he added.
A McDonald's employee
was injured and taken to Watertown Medical Regional Center, but the injury was
not directly related to the fire. The
person had a medical condition which was exasperated by the fire. No firefighters were injured.
City assessor Tom
Brandt said the McDonald's building was valued at approximately $630,000. The
equipment inside the structure was estimated at about $146,000, Brandt
added. According to the city's Building,
Safety and Zoning office, the first building permit issued to McDonald's was in
April of 1975. The owner of the building
was Franchise Realty Interstate Corp. of Waukesha.
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Set of 17 images of this fire: WHS_006_2008McDonaldsFire_001-017