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ebook History of Watertown, Wisconsin
Gamm Corner Drug Store
Charles A Gamm
103 E Main
Charles Gamm Home, 413 N
Washington, Queen Anne house, cream brick
Charles Gamm
Gamm Drug on corner, 103 E Main,
1907
c.1887
CHARLES
GAMM, WATERTOWN DRUGGIST
c.1896
WHS_005_981
Charles Gamm
with his only child, Irvin W. O. Gamm, and his wife; c 1896. Irvin was born in 1895
WHS_005_982
Charles Gamm and his wife
[Dora?]. Outside their home in
Watertown.
WHS_005_983
Herman Zimmermann family.
(standing) Hattie Kant, Amanda Krubsack, ?, Rosie Baganz, Laura
Schumacher and Edna Gamm.
(seated) Dr. Felix Zimmermann,
Mrs. Herman Zimmermann, Herman Zimmermann and (Pastor) Martin Zimmermann
1898
1906
05 10 When
the post office building has been remodeled, the
room now occupied by the post office will be occupied in part by C. A. Gamm as
a drug store, the room in the immediate rear, by Joseph Robinson as a
barbershop and the Western Union Telegraph office will remain where it is at
the present time. The location is one of
the best in the city, being in the business center, in close proximity to
Masonic Temple into which the post office is to be moved, two banks and on a
prominent corner by which passes many people during each day in the year . . .
The gentlemen, who are to occupy rooms in the building, were fortunate in
securing the same at a moderate rental.
1910
09 23 PHONE GIRLS NEAR DEATH IN BLAST
Many Lives Placed in Jeopardy by Explosion and Fire in
Watertown Building
An explosion in Gamm's
drug store in Main Street on Friday night at about 8 o'clock wrecked the
interior of the store and placed many people in jeopardy. The explosion blew out the plate glass front
and shattered nearly all the windows in the building. Above the store is located the Wisconsin
Telephone Exchange, and the flames and smoke that followed spread so rapidly
that the operators barely escaped with their lives. The floors of the building were torn up and
Dell Ruedig, a clerk, who was in the basement at the
time, barely escaped through a side entrance.
He was pulled out by citizens.
The proprietor, Charles A. Gamm, was in the rear of the store and
therefore was not hurt. A few minutes
before the explosion the store was filled with people.
Ruedig was badly burned about
his face and had two fingers broken. He
was able to leave the hospital on Sunday and will be all right in a few
days. Mr. Gamm was badly shocked and for
a time was bordering on nervous prostration.
The force of the explosion was heard all over the city and thousands of
people viewed the wreck until nearly 12 o'clock that night and all day the
following day.
Mr. Gamm had one of the
finest drug stores in the interior of the state, and the stock and fixtures are
a total loss. He also owns the building
in which the explosion occurred, and this too was greatly damaged. His loss is estimated at from $7,000 to
$10,000, covered by insurance. The cause
of the explosion is a mystery. There was
a gasoline tank under the sidewalk to the side of the building, but this was
found undisturbed next morning, but it is supposed the tank leaked and that the
gas created thereby entered the cellar and in some manner became ignited. Some are inclined to the belief that the soda
water fountain tanks caused the explosion and others think chemicals in the
store may have exploded. WG
12 09 BRAVERY OF MISS MARIE MENTINK
Wisconsin Telephone News: "Our Madison correspondent sends an
account of the prompt and efficient action of Miss Marie Mentink,
chief clerk at the Watertown Exchange, when the Exchange was damaged by fire a
short time ago.
The fire occurred at
night from an explosion in the [Gamm] drug store on the first floor of the
building and when Miss Mentink was not on duty. She, however, came to the building and
learning that the operating force had been compelled to leave the switchboard
without having time to report the fire to the district manager at Madison, she
procured from one of the firemen a rubber coat and helmet and climbed the
stairs to the operating room, through the fumes and smoke, where by the aid of
the lantern of a fireman who accompanied her, she succeeded in getting through
a call advising the district office of the fire.
“As mentioned in an
earlier issue of the News, the whole Watertown force did everything possible to
protect the property and interests of the company at the time of the fire,
which is thoroughly appreciated at the general office, and it is a pleasure to
make special mention of the efficient efforts of Miss Mentink,
who has been a trusted employee of the company for a number of years.
“There is no doubt,
many individuals in the organization would act as promptly in cases of
emergency as did Miss Mentink, but here's hoping that
these individuals will not be located through the burning of any more
Exchanges." WG
12 30 Otto Hahlmann, formerly employed in C. A. Gamm’s drug store,
this city, died on Dec. 16 at his home in Marquette County. WG
1913
-- -- IRVIN GAMM
Northwestern
College Band in 1913. Irvin Gamm is
standing fourth from the right in the second row from back.
1914
Gamm's Drug Store 1914,
103 E Main, Interior, Cat, WHS_004_NT_056
Gamm's Drug Store 1914,
103 E Main, Interior, SE corner First and Main, WHS_004_NT_052
Gamm's Drug Store 1914, 103 E Main, Soda
Fountain, WHS_004_NT_053
1917
05
09 FIRST WEEK PROVES WONDERFUL SUCCESS FOR TONEAL
DALY PROVES STOMACH TROUBLE EPIDEMIC
HERE
THIS MAN IS CREATING A SENSATION
IN WATERTOWN
PEOPLE FLOCK TO HIS
QUARTERS
The first week of the Toneal man’s visit to Watertown indicates that he is enjoying
the same remarkable success here as elsewhere.
The crowds that gather daily at the Gamm Drug Store have been
steadily increasing since the day of his arrival.
When interviewed Mr.
Daly said “I claim 90 per cent of all ill health is due to stomach
trouble. It is the curse of the 20th
century. Practically all the chronic ill
health of this generation is due to abnormal stomach conditions. Therefore, I believe the human stomach of the
present highly civilized race had become degenerated in early days, when the
human race was close to nature, and men and women worked all day out of doors
digging a frugal existence from the soil, the tired, droopy, half-sick people
that are now so common did not exist.
To be sure, there was
sickness, but it was of a virulent character and only temporary. There was none of the “half sick all of the
time” condition with which so many are afflicted.
“In the horse, the cow,
the dog, when let alone and not turned into a parlor pet, in the wild animals
you see no chronic debility, no nerve exhaustion. It is because their stomachs are in sound
condition. They are not shut in all day
with little exercise, and they do not stuff themselves with food when their
body has not had enough work to justify it.
The civilized races
have been doing this for years, the human stomach has gradually become weaker
and look at the result —most of the people are half sick. I have talked with thousands during the last
year, and few, indeed, know what was the matter with them. One said nervousness, another kidney trouble;
another liver complaint; some said constipation, or heart trouble or lung
trouble.
Many had treated, as
they called it, for all these diseases.
At various times a very common complaint is all run down, or tired all the
time, or no appetite.
“I know all this
chronic ill health is caused primarily by stomach trouble and nothing
else. Also know that my new medical
discovery I came here to introduce will put the stomach in good condition in
four to six weeks’ time. I further know
that mighty few people can be sick with a digestive apparatus in perfect shape.
I will be glad to
explain my theory and treatments to all who call daily at the Gamm Drug
Store. Hours from 10 to 12 a. m.; 2 to 4
p. m.
Thursday and Friday night
will be free nights at the Daly show and an entire change of program will be
given. A splendid program is arranged
for Saturday and Sunday night.
The Toneal
remedy is for sale at Gamm’s Drug Store.
The Watertown News, 09 May 1917
1918
GAMM CORNER
DRUG STORE
01
11 C. A. GAMM
RESIGNS AS POLICE-FIRE COMMISSIONER
Charles A.
Gamm today tendered his resignation as a member of the
Police and Fire Commission. He gave as a
reason that he expects to be absent from the city considerably owing to poor
health. His term expires in 1922. His successor will be appointed by Mayor Mulberger and under the rule will be a republican in
politics. Confirmation by the council is
necessary. Mr. Gamm was appointed a
member of the commission when it was first organized, by Mayor H. G. Grube, and
has served continuously since.
1946
08 18 PAUL
BEHLKE, former Watertown druggist, died
He served his
apprenticeship in the Gamm drugstore and after working in several other cities
returned to Watertown and purchased the Gamm building where he operated a
widely known drug business for many years.
Cross References:
Gamm Drug Store postcard,
new St. John’s Church
Gamm, Charles, Home 413 N Washington, Queen Anne house, cream
brick
Gamm's Drug Store 1898, 103 E Main, signage, WHS_004_NT045
History of Watertown,
Wisconsin