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Watertown in 1915
Many Fine Improvements in Watertown
Watertown Gazette, 10 28 1915
Building operations in Watertown have shown marked activity during
the last year. Many new residences have
been erected, as well as a number of business buildings. The chief pride of Watertown is the new
building of the Bank of Watertown,
which institution is the oldest of its kind in Jefferson county. Its new home, which will be ready for
occupancy about Nov. 1st, stands at the northwest corner of First and Main
streets. The ground floor is equipped
with the most modern of bank fixtures, while the upper floors will house
several commodious office suites which will be occupied by such firms as the
individuals as the Old Line Life Insurance Company, Attorney Wm. H. Woodard, F. J. Prentiss [T. & J.
Prentiss] and W. C. Stone; while the president of the bank, Mr. F. E. Woodard, will also have private
offices above the bank.
The city is soon to have a new high
school building, which will be as fine as any building of its kind in any
city the size of Watertown in the United States. An appropriation of approximately $100,000
for the erection of the new high school was recently approved by the city
council.
Announcements by the Wisconsin
Telephone Company of plans to expand in the neighborhood of $15,000 to
extend its facilities is an indication of the confidence the Bell Telephone
System has in the future of Watertown. And
the fact that this big system considers it worthwhile to increase its
investment here speaks well for the city’s past and present development, as
well as its future.
In the present instance, the commercial engineers for the
telephone company, who made an examination into local conditions, report that
the city’s prospects are excellent.
While there has been nothing of the spectacular in the progress of
Watertown, its industrial, commercial and social development has been steady
and consistent and there has been a corresponding development in the local
business of the telephone company.
In this connection, attention might be called to other local
activities. Street improvements, for
instance, have been quite an item during the last year. The city paved Eighth Street between Main and
Western Avenue with reinforced concrete, at a cost of more than $8,000; also
North Second Street, between Jones Street and the Rock river. The latter improvement cost more than $12,000;
and an additional $5,000 was expended in macadamizing Milford Road for three
quarters of a mile. Other municipal
improvements have included the construction of new storm sewers in the Sixth
ward, new sanitary sewers in the Seventh ward and the expenditures of $3,000
for water mains.
The Watertown Gas and Electric Co. has
made several improvements in their plant, including the remodeling of their
outside equipment and replacing old and worn-out poles and wires. The installation by this company of new and
modern street lamps has greatly improved the appearance of the streets.
Watertown has a right to be proud of her public and private
enterprise, for it is based on a solid foundation, and everything indicates
that the improvements made this year are but the forerunners of great things to
come.
History of Watertown, Wisconsin