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Habhegger’s Sommergarten
Ulrich Habhegger
1027 N Fourth
1875-76 Ulrich Habhegger, grocer, cor Hustisford and Center, res. same [Watertown City Directory]
1880 Ulrich Habhegger, merchant, e.s. Hustisford Rd., 1 n. Rock River, res. same [Watertown City Directory]
ULRICH
HABHEGGER. To supply the community in
which he resided with the necessaries of life was the business to which Mr.
HABHEGGER devoted his time and attention, and it is no more than justice to say
that he made it a point to keep an extensive and pure line of goods and to sell
them at prices within the reach of all.
His emporium was popular and well patronized for obvious reasons, and to
his credit be it said that his patronage was constantly on the increase.
1853 He is a product of Canton Bern, Switzerland, the eldest of eleven children born to the marriage of John Habhegger and Barbara Luethy, with whom he came to the United States of America in boyhood and with them settled in the town of Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis., in 1853.
1856-1893 He continued to remain with his parents until 1856, when he decided to make a start in life for himself, and for this purpose went to Iowa and bought a farm in Polk Count, that State, which he tilled with reasonable success for five years. He then returned to the Badger State and turned his attention to the grocery and commission business, as a more congenial (to him) and profitable employment and was successfully engaged in this occupation until 1893, with the exception of two years, which were spent in farming in Emmet Township, Dodge County, Wis.
1857 On the 31st of January, 1857, he was united in marriage with Miss Lina GFELLER, and their union has resulted in the birth of six children, four daughters and two sons: Sophia, Eliza, Lina, Lillie, Emil, and Albert.
1893 In 1893 the infirmities of increasing years, and the fact that he had accumulated a comfortable competency, cause him to retire from the active duties of life, and he took up his residence in the city of Watertown where he had so successfully conducted his mercantile operations.
Mr. Habhegger and his family are members of the German Protestant Church, and socially he is a member of the I.O.O.F. at Watertown. He is of the material of which useful and honorable citizens are made, and it is to such men as he that Uncle Sam extends a cordial welcome to this country.
The prosperity of the section in which he has made his home for so long has always been of great interest to him and he has done all in his power to aid improvements and enterprises that had for their object the good of the county, and has been elected to various honorable official positions, such as alderman, supervisor and school commissioner, positions which he filled several terms each. He is president of the Watertown Shoe Company.
From Memorial and Genealogical Record of Dodge and Jefferson Counties, Wisconsin, publ. 1894, pgs 44-45.
1890
07
02 FIRE IN THE HOLE
Saturday
evening Albert Habhegger held a lighted match over the open bung of a whisky
barrel in the cellar of his father's store, at Hustisford
Street bridge, to see how much liquor was contained in the package.
The gas arising from the liquor took fire, forming quite a blaze and causing the barrel to be twisted around with considerable momentum.
In close proximity were kerosene, wool and other combustibles, rather ominous surroundings under the circumstances.
Albert rushed upstairs to give the
alarm.
Some pails of water were applied to the
blaze just in time to check and smother them, and no doubt saved the premises
from burning up. WR
1894
09 21 At the Democratic convention held September 21, 1894, he was nominated for county treasurer of Jefferson County, and was elected to that office November 6, 1894, by a large majority, a fact which spoke eloquently as to the popularity and esteem in which he was held. He was a faithful and capable official and won universal respect as an officeholder.
c.1907
-- -- HARTWIG
BOAT LANDING at former Habhegger’s Sommergarten
F C Hartwig, shipper of farm produce, WHS_011_250f
Today the location of Dew Drop Inn
1911
11 16 ULRICH HABHEGGER WILL RETIRE
An efficient public servant for forty years to spend a
year in California
While here on business last Monday, serving as a
trustee of the [Dodge County] asylum, Mr. Ulrich Habhegger of Watertown,
informed us that he would not be a candidate for re-election as trustee this
fall as he thought he had served long enough and believed that some younger man
should be selected to take his place.
Besides, he intends to spend the winter in southern California, where
one of his daughters resides.
He said that, while his health is pretty good
considering his age, he feels that it is time for him to retire from public
life, and he believes a winter in California will be quite a relaxation and a
change, not to say a pleasure.
Mr. Habhegger is a pioneer settler of Watertown and
one of its best citizens. He was engaged
in business here in the 6th ward for many years and enjoyed a big trade, his
store being close to the outskirts of the city near the northern limits.
Possessing a fine education, he was naturally looked
up to as a leader and was repeatedly elected to public office. Of the various offices held we remember a
few. He has served as School
Commissioner, as Alderman, and as Supervisor in the 6th ward for periods of
time aggregating a quarter of a century, if not more. As supervisor, he was a member of the County
Board of Dodge County, which position he resigned six years ago to accept an
election as trustee of the Dodge County Asylum.
Mr. Habhegger was twice elected County Treasurer of Dodge County, in which capacity he served the public faithfully and well. In all, his public service has covered a period of 35 to 40 years and he now retires with a highly creditable record and the good wishes of thousands of friends, which, after all, is the highest satisfaction to a man who has done his best to meet the many duties incumbent upon a public servant. -Juneau Telephone
1912
05
16 DEATH OF ULRICH
HABHEGGER
It is The Gazette's sad mission this week to publish the death of Ulrich
Habhegger, one of Watertown's best-known and most esteemed residents. Mr. Habhegger was taken ill shortly before
the holidays last winter with paralysis and since then he gradually failed
until death claimed him last Sunday night, May 12, 1912.
Mr. Habhegger was born in the Canton of Bern,
Switzerland, March 12, 1834, and with his parents came to America in 1853,
settling first in Milwaukee and then in the town of Watertown. In 1856 he removed to Iowa and bought a farm
in Polk county in that state, which he tilled for five years and then returned
to this state and engaged in the mercantile business, which he continued till
1867, and he once more engaged in farming until 1869, when he again engaged in
the mercantile business, in which he continued till 1893, since which time he
led rather a retired life, but was interested as a stockholder in various
Watertown enterprises, at our time being one of the principal stockholders in
the Watertown shoe factory.
He has held many public offices, including alderman,
supervisor, school commissioner, and held the office of city[?] treasurer of
Dodge County two years, and was for many years trustee of the county insane
asylum and poor house, in all of which offices his
administration passed an honor to himself and to the people he so faithfully
served.
January 31, 1857, he was united in marriage to Miss
Lina Gbeller, the result of the union being six
children, four daughters and two sons; four of whom[?] and his wife survive
him, his children being Emil of Oshkosh, Mrs. Herman Krueger
and Mrs. Ferdinand Hartwig of this city, Mrs. Louis Schmeidermann
of San Diego, California, Mrs. Samuel Boss, Oshkosh.
Mr. Habhegger's death is
universally regretted here, for all classes of citizens held him in the very
highest esteem. He was a man who always
had a kind word for everyone, and strictly honest in all his dealings, socially
as well as in a business way, and now that he has passed away, people in all
walks of life mourn his death as one of the best of men.
Wednesday afternoon his funeral was held from his late home to St. Luke's
Lutheran Church, the interment being
in Oak Hill Cemetery. WG
Boaters could dock at Habhegger’s Sommergarten. Today the location of Dew Drop Inn
Outdoor bowling alley was housed in an arbor along the river bank
c.1920
-- -- LILLIE HABHEGGER POSTCARD
addressed to Miss Anna Habhegger
“The Old Homestead”
Distant view of
former Habhegger’s Sommergarten
1933 FORMER HABHEGGER SALOON CONSUMED BY FIRE
An old landmark operated as a saloon and grocery store for many years by Ulrich Habhegger was lost to the ravages of fire in November. Subsequent owners/operators were F. C. Hartwig, Herman F. Dreibus, George Loeffler and John Huss. The location served as a signpost for many traveling out of or into the city from the north.
It was located on North Fourth Street, directly north of the bridge over the Rock river. WDTimes 11 17 1933
At the time of the fire the place was known at the Willow Inn. The establishment was popular with German-speaking residents of the community and with farmers who stopped there to exchange produce and sell and buy the commodities of the time.
Prelude to Bowling: Years ago crowds would gather on Sunday afternoons for congenial company and to drink beer, many sitting at tables which were spread on the lawn along the bank of the Rock River. Musical entertainment was a frequent attraction and many picnic gatherings were held there. There were the outdoor bowling alleys which were housed in an arbor along the river bank and where nine-pins were played on Sunday afternoons. It was the forerunner of the modern bowling alley. It was a fun place to be. [chapter on bowling]
2004
04 12 DEW DROP INN PATIO PLANS
Dew
Drop Inn will not be adding an outdoor patio area, the Watertown Plan
Commission decided unanimously Monday, pleasing neighbors who worried about
excessive noise emanating from drinkers on the proposed deck. Tavern owner Rad Buzdum
wanted permission to construct a deck behind his bar at 1027 N. Fourth St.,
which is located in the middle of a residential
neighborhood. Although Buzdum promised there would be no outdoor music, several
neighbors turned out to Monday’s public hearing to oppose the idea. They said bar patrons already make enough
noise without having a reason to stay outside for an extended period of time.
History of Watertown, Wisconsin