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History of Watertown,
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Miscellaneous
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Watertown Democrat 08 08 1872
Enlargement - Pretty extensive repairs on the
Congregational Church having become
necessary, and the pews being all occupied, it has been decided to improve and
enlarge the whole edifice. The ladies of
the congregation, having earnestly taken hold of this enterprise, and by their
efforts insured its accomplishment, it is no more than right to award to them a
large share of the credit for what has been and will be hereafter done. Two of their number, Mrs. J. A. Hall and Mrs.
C. H. Prior, have succeeded in procuring a subscription of nearly a thousand
dollars for this object, the balance of the estimated amount to be furnished by
the Mite Society, which is also conducted by the ladies. We understand the plan of enlargement drawn
by an architect has been accepted, and the work will be commenced
immediately. It is supposed that it will
be some five or six weeks before the contemplated addition and repairs will be
completed, and the church be again ready for use as a place of worship. Commendable liberality has been shown in this
matter - many not belonging to the congregation having cheerfully contributed
towards carrying out the plan. In this
was the structure can be made commodious for some time longer, when it may be
possible to replace it with a new and more beautiful one.
Improvements
at Monarch Tractor Co. Plant
Watertown
Gazette, 08 12
1920
On Thursday evening last the machine shops,
blacksmith shop and erecting shops of the Monarch Tractor
Co. closed down for about two weeks to make
necessary repairs and to install new machinery at the plant. The molding department however, is operating
as usual. When all new improvements have
been made, the company will start again in full blast manufacturing the new
model “B” Monarch Tractor, which will be entirely built of steel. On Friday last all the Tractor Co.’s
distributers of prominence in the United States were in the city at a special
meeting with the officers of the company, including R. H. Green of Los Angeles,
California, W. R. Karll of Kansas City, Mo., W. H.
Barnhart of Omaha, Neb., S. L. Menge of New Orleans,
A. S. Chafe of Memphis, Tenn., J. H. Osborn of Dallas, Texas, T. B. Bailey of
Spokane, Wash., and C. C. Marrilat of Monmouth, Ill.
W. H. Wilcox of the Crosby Engine Company of
Chicago, and E. B. Caldwell of New York, head of the Caldwell Banking Company,
one of the largest stockholders of the company also attended the meeting.
It is the intention of the company to greatly
increase the output, as the demand for this famous machine is very great.
Watertown
Gazette, 01 04
1889
C. A. Judd, the American Express agent in
this city, died of consumption at his home in the 5th ward,
Wednesday, Jan. 2d, 1889, aged 56 years.
Deceased had been ailing for several weeks past, and everything that
medical skill and kind nursing could was done to save his life, but all to no
purpose. Mr. Judd was born at Waterbury,
Conn., Dec. 16, 1832, and previous to coming to this city about five years ago
resided at North Greenfield, Milwaukee Co., in the state, being in their employ
some 30 years. Years ago he was engaged
in the newspaper business at Marquette, Mich., and has many newspaper friends
in the state.
His death here in universally regretted
everyone was his friend. He was kind and accommodating in his official
capacity, and pleasant in all social relations with his fellow man. His wife, two sons and four daughters survive
him, to whom the most sincere sympathies of our citizens are extended in their
great bereavement.
New Officer Is
Assigned
Ceithamer Will Begin Duties on Nighttime Force
Watertown
Daily Times, 02 29 1956
Watertown’s newest police officer, Kenneth Ceithamer, will begin his duties on March 1, going on the
night shift, it was announced today by Police
Chief Herbert F. Vehlow. The addition of this the 17th man
to the force, will make possible a shift in the police lineup. Under it, Sgt. Clarence Tessmann
will be assigned to the day shift starting March 1. He is taking a voluntary demotion to
patrolman to get the daytime assignment.
Officer Earl Ebert will be assigned to a late night shift as a result of
the change.
Watertown Plumber Sells
Business To R. W. Urban
Watertown
Daily Times, 02 29 1956
Harry Leschinger,
widely known plumber, today announced his retirement and has sold his business
to R. W. Urban of Clyman who will take over the
business in its present location at 204 West Main Street, tomorrow, March 1.
Mr. Urban has been operating the Urban
Plumbing and Heating Service in Clyman the past six
years and before that operated a plumbing and heating service and hardware
business in Brownsville for some three years.
Urban holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the
University of Wisconsin. He is married
and has three children, two girls and a boy.
The family will move here as soon as they locate and establish a
suitable home.
Mr. Leschinger has
been in the plumbing business for the past 42 years, learning the trade in 1908
at the D. and F. Kusel Co. He operated a shop in Columbus from 1914 to
1924 when he came here to establish his shop at 204 West Main Street.
Mr. Leschinger said
today that he has enjoyed doing business in Watertown and that he wishes to
take the occasion to thank the public for its generous patronage during the
many years he operated here. He said he
wishes the new owner the same success he enjoyed and declared that the public
can consider his service and work with full confidence.
Watertown Democrat, 08 08 1872
In the city of Watertown, Wis., on Sunday evening,
August 4th, 1872, Mrs. Adeline Cody, in the 42d year of her age, and wife of Dr. James Cody.
Mrs. Cody was a daughter of Capt. James Rogan, one of our oldest pioneers. She was born at Rodman, N.Y., 1880. With her parents she came, by the lakes, to
the territory of Wisconsin in 1835, landing at Green Bay, and attending school
in that then remote frontier town. After
staying at the new settlement of Milwaukee a short time, with the rest of her
family, she removed to this city, reaching here March 2d, 1837, which has since
been her place of abode.
Here she has lived, grown up into womanhood,
taken her marriage vows—with quiet dignity and gentle grace, dutifully
sustained all the varied relations of life, mingling in its activities, and
experiencing her allotment of its joys and trials—but, whether as daughter,
sister, wife or mother, ever winning the kindliest regards of all, being most
warmly cherished and tenderly beloved by those who knew her best in the more retired circle of home, which she
brightened and beautified with a sweetness and intelligence that wore an
unfailing charm.
She was a sincere Christian, but so wide were
her sympathies and so ready was she to be a dispenser of good to all, that no
one would ever learn from her ministrations of charity, to what denomination
she belonged or where she worshipped, though she was devout Catholic, and a
member of St. Bernard’s Church—animated by the
sublime hopes of her faith, and soothed by the consolations of her religion in
her dying hour. A touching testimony to
her worth was given in the constant inquiries by all classes during her short illness,
and the sadness felt and expressed, when it was known that she had created a
mournful vacancy in the society in which she had so long moved, and which she
had so beamingly adorned.
Many eyes began to overflow with tears when
her heart ceased to overflow with love.
Her funeral, which took place last Tuesday forenoon, was attended by a
large concourse of people.
Watertown
Gazette,
08 07 1908
Appointed Railway
Mail Clerk
W. F. Richards,
clerk in the Watertown post office, has been appointed
railway mail clerk. At present he will
do only substitute work, and will not resign his position in the post office
until his appointment is made a regular one.
Badly
Stung By Bees
Watertown
Gazette,
08 07 1908
Last Saturday morning
the three-year old son of N. E. Mulick and wife, who
live in the town of Watertown southwest of this city, was badly stung by
bees. He was playing on the lawn in
front of their home and noticing the beehives some distance away he playfully
strayed among them and was attacked by the bees and was stung all over his
face, head, neck and limbs. Mr. Mulick and his wife drove to the city to the home of E. H. Mulick and called in Dr. Habhegger,
who for a time thought the little fellow would die, but the treatment applied
brought him around all right, and he is now out of danger and almost fully
recovered.
Watertown
Gazette,
08 07 1908
A son was born to
John Chapman and wife last Saturday. He
is their first child and consequently the parents are very happy. Grandpa George W. Webb says if the fellow
grows up to be as good as his grandpa, he'll be all right.
Watertown
Gazette,
08 07 1908
Julius Engelmann, a
young man whose home is in Watertown, sustained a fracture of the arm while employed
on the farm of William Schultz east of this city Tuesday. The accident happened while Mr. Schultz and
Mr. Engelmann were unloading hay in the barn and were using a hay fork. One of the pulleys on the fork became caught
and to loosen it a horse was hitched to the rope. After the pulley was loosened the rope
attached to it broke and the pulley fell to the barn floor, striking the young
man on the arm and causing the fracture.
Dr. Schwalbach is attending him. [Juneau
Independent]
Watertown
Gazette,
08 07 1908
Tilman Bros., furniture
dealers of La Crosse, have presented St. Mary's
Hospital, this city, a fine gift, consisting of seven pieces of furniture
in birch, valued at $100. The wants of
the hospital in this line were made known by Miss Parsch,
a former nurse at St. Mary's.
Watertown
Gazette,
08 07 1908
Letter from an Old
Member of the Hook and Ladder Co.
Dear Friend:
I received the
reprints of Gazette articles you sent
me - mailed 14th inst., and read them with great interest and I thank you for
them. In reading them it brings me way
back to the good old times and friends like Ernst Wood, and all other
schoolmates who are now few and scattered.
In reacting of the pranks played upon one another in the F. D. [Fire Department] I played one on the No. 1
boys. After the Phoenix boys had a dance
in Turner hall Mrs. Wm. E. Jones who lived near the old engine house on First
Street asked me when we were going to have a dance and said that the ladies of
the east side intended to furnish the supper.
At the next meeting it was decided that we, the H. & L. Co. [Hook
& Ladder], [would] have a dance, and we did have one. Such as you know we always had. A few days later Mrs. Jones told me the
supper they furnished was to have been for the No. 1 boys. I wear that smile yet when I think of it.
I was up to
Culbertson about 2 weeks ago and met Nic Simon, he is awful pleased with this
country and has great faith in it, looks well and feels good.
Respectfully,
Nic Bruegger.
t Another Bruegger
letter t
Nice Bruegger
Watertown Gazette, 03
05 1909
Letter from Bainville, Montana
Nice Bruegger, formerly of this
city, writes from Bainville, Montana: “There is a saying that history repeats
itself and it seems that it is true. It
corresponds to what occurred, if I remember rightly, in 1871, when the fire
bell in Watertown called out the fire department
and by the time the boys assembled it was found that the moon rising was the
cause of the alarm. On Feb. 10th inst.
there were two liquor[ed] drummers at this place and
it was getting towards spook time here when the editor of our weekly paper
adjourned by himself and after he got outside the saloon where the drummers had
been “setting ‘em up,” and took a survey of the
planets he discovered something—he rushed back to the saloon and said “Boys, Mondak is on fire” (15 miles away). Mr. Doyle, the saloon keeper, with the rest
of the boys, ran out. Mr. Doyle said it
is Mr. Lundquist’s barn, 2 1/2 miles from town, and went to the next saloon and
ordered someone to go and call Mr. Lundquist, who is running a general store
here. And, lo and behold, it was the
moon rising, as in the case in good old Watertown way back in 1871. Am well and doing well. Best wishes to all old friends.”
Watertown
Gazette,
08 07 1908
On Sunday the Blue
Ribbon Gums of Milwaukee were defeated by the Watertown baseball club at Washington
Park. Score 8 to 2. At Washington Park on Saturday the Hartig Brewers defeated the Bittners. Score 10 to 0.
The members of the
police force are wearing new stars.
Prof. C. F. Viebahn it conducting
examinations for teachers' state certificates at Madison this week.
The famous Beals & Torey fire
alarm box 36 was false again last Tuesday evening and was the means of calling
out the fire department.
04 22 1908
The No. 1 fire engine was taken out of its storage place
yesterday and spotted on the Cady
Street bridge with the intention of giving the old fire fighter a
test. After kindling a fire, however, it
was found that the coils leaked to the extent of smothering the fire in the
furnace and that repairs will be necessary.
The engine has recently been painted and made a very good appearance.
04 22 1958
Another successful high school prom was held last night at
the high school gym. Ninety-seven
couples were in attendance. The prom was
followed by a post-prom party, held in the upper hall of the Elks Club.
The same number attended the party at the Elks Club. Tom Justmann and Miss Helen Fendt
reigned. Members of the court of honor were: Ralph Krueger and Susan Kressin, Charles Harberg and
Barbara Poellet, Junior Class President John Kressin and Joanne Gmeinder,
Class Vice President Larry Kapheim and Chris Klecker, Gene Tesch and Class
Secretary Phyllis Hertel, John Ponath
and Class Treasurer Susan Kehl. Representing the
senior class in the court were Mary Ann Nimm, vice
president, and Mike Podolske.
04 18 1958
Eugene Tornow, a native of
Milwaukee and at present supervising principal of the Reeseville-Lowell
High School, is the new principal of Watertown High
School where, starting July 1, he replaces Edward Hinterberg,
who is retiring at the end of June. Mr. Tornow was named at last night's meeting of the Board of
Education and has accepted the appointment.
The board's vote was unanimous after the committee on teachers had
recommended him for the position.
↓ More on Eugene Tornow ↓
Eugene Tornow
begins duties
07 01 1958
Eugene Tornow,
the new principal of the Watertown High School, began his duties yesterday in
accordance with his contract which the Board of Education voted him some time
ago. He succeeds Edward Hinterberg whose retirement went into effect yesterday. Mr. Hinterberg is
now a member of the City Council and has stepped completely out of the school
picture in Watertown after serving 35 years as high school principal. Mr. Tornow and his
family will make their home in a residence in Willow Street. There are two sons in the Tornow
family. Mr. Tornow,
who is 39, is a native of Milwaukee and until he accepted the Watertown
position was supervising principal of the Reeseville-Lowell
High School. WDT
↓ More on Eugene Tornow ↓
Eugene
Tornow
New Superintendent of
schools
Watertown
Daily Times, 03 26 1959
Eugene Tornow, principal of the Watertown
High School, last night was selected as the city's new superintendent of schools
at a meeting of the board of education and will be offered a contract effective
April 1. Mr. Tornow
was one of seven men who were screened by the board last night and given an
opportunity to appear before a selection was made. In all there were 13
applications originally.
↓ More on Russell Twesme ↓
New Senior High School
Principal
Watertown
Daily Times, 05 21 1959
A new principal for the senior
high school was announced today through the Watertown Board of Education's
committee on teachers and instructions.
He is Russell Twesme, who has been serving as
junior high school principal for five years and for one year as assistant high
school principal. Mr. Twesme will take over his duties officially next fall. Mr. Twesme will
succeed to the position formerly held by Eugene Tornow
who recently was advanced to the position of superintendent of schools to
succeed Roger B. Holtz who has accepted a position of superintendent of
Ashland.
04 18 1983
Mayor Kenneth Thiel today announced he is supporting a
proposal to have the library temporarily located in
the current Job Service offices, Third and Madison streets, when the expansion
project gets underway this summer. Two
possible locations have been discussed for a temporary library site. They are the current Job Service office and
the basement of the municipal building.
Job Service is scheduled to move this summer to the Royce Fabrics
building, Fourth and Main streets. The Job Service building is the former
location of First State Savings and is owned by that firm. Thiel, in a letter to the library board, said
he would be in favor of using the lower level of the municipal building only if
it was the only site available. He said,
“The lower level is undesirable for a number of reasons. They include accessibility which would
present a problem for the elderly and handicapped, a number of programs
currently held in the city hall would have to be discontinued, and the lower
rear level of the city hall building is needed for possible use during
disasters.”
04 17 1908
Everyone is now anxiously awaiting the appearance for the
first time in Watertown of a home talent lady minstrel performance, which is
billed to appear at the Turner opera house on
Wednesday evening next, the entertainment to be given under the auspices of the
Clover club. It goes without saying, that the hall will be packed to its utmost capacity,
as everyone is “on edge” anxiously waiting for the curtain to go up and expose
to the gaze of Watertown's lovers of amusement, the city's very best
talent. The public will not be
disappointed, for a program is fully assured that will captivate the audience.
The solo work will be one of the best features of the
evening's entertainment. The songs will
all be of the popular and catchy variety, and yet they will be of such a
character that the most critical who are to participate have been well drilled
in the choruses . . . Great preparations are being made for the stage setting
and they will be something novel and appropriate. The costumes are very original and
attractive. The jokes will be found good
and to the point and sprung in a manner that only the fair sex is capable of
doing.
Watertown
Institution Adds Two Teachers of Languages to Its Staff
Watertown
Gazette,
08 14 1908
Prof. Theodore Schlueter, of Concordia College Springfield, Ill., and the
Rev. Hans Mouffa, Burlington, Wis., were appointed at
a special meeting of the board of trustees of Northwestern
University in this city to professorships at the university. They will be teachers of languages. The Rev. Mr. Mouffa
is a graduate of Northwestern University and the theological seminary at
Wauwatosa. He also took a post graduate
course at Chicago University. Both are
well adapted to the new positions to which they have been appointed. [Milwaukee Sentinel]
↓ More on Northwestern ↓
Northwestern Day
Watertown Gazette, 06 04
1909
On Monday Northwestern Day was very appropriately
celebrated in this city. The Milwaukee
Northwestern Club came here on the interurban and joined
in the program. There were over 500 and
large crowds of people from this city and surrounding towns joined in the
celebration. The program included second
Pentecost services at 10:45 am, the sermon being delivered by Professor Th. Schlueter of this city.
At 1:30 pm memorial services were held.
Professor A. F. Ernst delivered the address of welcome, which was
responded to by E. A. Wurster, president of the
Northwestern University Club of Milwaukee.
Rev. A. Bendler of Milwaukee delivered the
memorial address. At 2:45 o’clock a
baseball game was played between the Alumni and Varsity teams and at 4:45
o’clock a sham battle took place between the military companies of the
university. The Northwestern military
band and choir rendered the music at the different exercises.
Watertown
Gazette,
08 14 1908
Seriously Injured
While driving in
Washington Street south of West Milwaukee Street last Monday evening, Albert
Will jumped from his rig and suffered a terrible fracture of the right leg at the
ankle. Mr. Will was driving a horse
owned by himself, but which was attached to a borrowed vehicle which was not
very sound. After crossing Milwaukee
Street bridge one of the thills
[one of two shafts extending from rig to either side of horse] fell down,
striking the horses heels and running the vehicle against the animal. The horse, being a spirited one, started to
run. Seeing that it was useless to try
to hold the horse after turning [the] Washington Street corner, Mr. Will
decided to jump and avoid a more serious injury. He landed so heavily on his feet as to cause
the injury. F. H. Lehmann who was in the
vicinity took the injured man to St. Mary's Hospital where his injuries were
dressed. Mr. Will also received other
injuries, and it was at first thought necessary to amputate his right
foot. Since then he has improved rapidly
and if no infection sets in he will be all right in a week or two.
Major Traeumer Injured
Last Friday
morning, while Major George P. Traeumer was driving
near Hartig's Brewery, his horse became scared by the
blowing of the brewery whistle, and startling the horse causing him to
lunge. Mr. Traeumer
was thrown to the ground and dragged quite a distance. He was rendered unconscious and taken to his
home. Dr. Shinnick
attended him. He recovered consciousness
in a short time, and will be all right again in a few days.
Baseball
Last Saturday at
Washington Park the Watertown baseball team defeated the National Indian team
by a score of 7 to 2. On Sunday the Indians
were victorious, score 7 to 6.
The Bittner
baseball team of this city defeated the Gifford team at that place last Sunday
by a score of 22 to 2. Fleming of the Bittners pitched a wonderful game, striking out 13 men
during a steady rain.
The baseball team
of the local Elks defeated the Fond du Lac Elks team at the latter place by a
score of 6 to 5.
Picnic at Hubbleton.
On Sunday, August
16, a grand picnic will be given at Bares' woods, Hubbleton.
In the afternoon a baseball game will be played and other amusements will be
indulged in. Platform dance will be
given in the afternoon and evening for which the Weber-Stube
orchestra will furnish the music.
Watertown
Gazette,
08 14 1908
Rate Too High for
Residents Near City Limits.
A petition to lower
the rate to the city limits will probably be presented to the officials of the electric line by residents in that vicinity. Much dissatisfaction is being expressed regarding
the extra charge of 10 cents from the railway company's east limits to the
actual limits of the city, making the total fare 15 cents to the city limits.
Interurban Line
Booming Real Estate.
Several new
residences are building on lots in the Richard's Hill addition in the 1st ward,
along the new interurban electric line.
Arthur Jaeger [801 Richards] is just completing a handsome residence,
while two more are under construction for Wm. Rhode and J. W. Dauffenbach.
The enthusiasm with
which Watertown last week welcomed the entrance of the first interurban
electric car into the city is but a repetition of the reception accorded the
officials of the line by nearly every place to which they have extended their
lines, and was in recognition of the value of such an undertaking to each of
these places. In Oconomowoc, however,
when the extension was completed, no cognizance was taken of the fact either
officially or by popular demonstration. There have been criticisms of the new
road and as a result of short sighted objections several of the plans for
making this city a point of more importance than others along the line, have
perforce been abandoned. It is a poor policy on the part of our people to let
permanent advantages such as were contemplated when the line was planned, pass
on to the upbuilding of Watertown or Waukesha or
other points. [Oconomowoc Enterprise]
Watertown
Gazette,
08 14 1908
Leak
Discovered in Water Main
Last Friday Arthur Bursinger, after some experimenting, found a leak in the
water main at the foot of Jones Street.
It had been apparent for some time that there was a waste of water, but
efforts to locate the spot had not been successful. The gate valve has been shut off at the foot
of O'Connell Street and also at the foot of Jones Street, stopping the flow
across the river. It is said by
interested parties that 150,000 gallons went to waste each day before the leak
was stopped.
Contract
Let for Heating Plant
Otto Biefeld & Co. have secured the contract for installing the steam heating
apparatus for the M. D. Wells Shoe Co., who
will occupy the old Woodard Stone factory. They were chosen from three bidders.
Watertown
Gazette,
08 14 1908
W. S. Williams has
sold his residence property at 212 North Washington Street to Dr. J. C. King of
Concord. Dr. King will remove his family
here and will soon commence a medical practice in the city. The deal was made through the agency of Skinner & Thauer.
Watertown Leader, 04 23 1908
A number of the young
people of the city are making preparations to observe Sunday, May 3, as “Young
Men's Sunday.” A committee of pastors
and lay members representing several of the churches of the city will meet
tomorrow evening to complete arrangements for the Young Men's Sunday under the
auspices of the Young Men's Christian
Watertown
Citizens Council for Better Schools
Watertown Daily Times, 04 23 1958
Plans for launching a
citizens study group to be known as the “Watertown Citizens Council for Better
Schools” which were announced in the Times
last Saturday have now progressed to the point where such an organization will
definitely be formed at a meeting to be held Thursday night at the Green Bowl,
it was announced this morning. The
meeting, which is open to all interested citizens, will begin at 7:30
o'clock. Claude M. Towne, who is
spearheading the drive for the organization, told the Times that between 50 and 100 representatives from local
organizations and groups which have been contacted will be at the meeting and
that the general public interested in the movement is also invited to
attend. Chief purpose of the
organization is to group together interested civic leaders and citizens to work
for better schools and promote the welfare of schools.
Watertown
Daily Times, 04 23 1983
A sure sign of spring
is the sight of beekeepers waiting to pick up their orders of honey bees from Dadant and Sons Inc., located
off highway 16 east of Watertown.
However, Dick Kehl, manager of Dadant, said, “Not as many bees were ordered this year
because of the mild winter. Beekeepers
don't have to replace as many.” Usually Dadant averages seven truck loads every April but this year
only needed to order three. “All of our
bees are specially ordered because they are a live commodity,” Kehl explained. The
bees, which are shipped primarily from Georgia and Mississippi, need an
air-conditioned atmosphere. They arrive
around the time of the first fruit bloom and beekeepers have about four days to
get them settled in a hive.
Watertown
Republican, 09
18 1895
The Johnson Creek "unknown"
crack shot came up -last Wednesday afternoon and endeavored to show the
Watertown Gun club, at the grounds in the Fifth ward, how to shoot clay
pigeons. The biggest score in the
goose-egg line of the season was the result - 25 missed birds. It is said that it took the aforesaid
"unknown" so long to return home in the evening that his brother and
partner John was obliged to send out a searching party for him, finding him
practicing on a lot of eggs from a load he was conveying home. After he has practiced sufficiently, H. J.'s
Watertown friends hope he will again join them.
↓ More on Watertown Gun Club ↓
Watertown
Gazette, 08
21 1908
Diamond Medal Shoot
The thirteenth
diamond medal shoot and target tournament of the Watertown Gun Club was held at
Washington Park on Sunday. R. H. Keel of
this city won the diamond medal, until then held by John Reichart. Keel broke 23 clay pigeons out of a possible
25. The silver cup for high gun shooting
was also secured by Mr. Keel, who broke 160 clay pigeons out of a possible 175. The diamond medal must be won three
consecutive times before it can become the property of the winner, but the
silver cup is held permanently by the winner of each contest.
↓ More on Watertown Gun Club ↓
Watertown Gazette, 01 15 1909
Elect
Officers. At the annual meeting of the
Watertown Gun Club held last Friday evening, the following officers were
elected:
President—Ben H. Rieck
Vice President—Ben
A. Krueger
Secretary—Ary G. Keel
Corresponding
Secretary —Joseph Mirgler
Treasurer—Louis
Mueller
Field Captain—John Richart
Executive
Board—Joseph Mirgler, R. S. Keel, Joseph Glaus
↓ More on Watertown Gun Club ↓
Gun Club Elects
Officers
Watertown Gazette, 01 13 1911
At the annual
meeting of the Watertown Gun Club held Friday evening the following officers
were elected:
President—A. G.
Keel
Vice President—Ben
A. Krueger
Secretary—Ben H. Rieck
Treasurer—Louis
Mueller
Field Captain—John Richart
Executive Board—Joe Glaus, chairman, R. S. Keel, William Wolff
↓ More on Watertown Gun Club ↓
Watertown Wins Shoot
The Watertown Gun Club
won from the Spring City Club Sunday afternoon at the local club’s grounds,
east of the city, in a 250 bird shoot by thirty-tree birds. S. R. Keel of Watertown was high man with 40
out of 50 . . .
Drainage Ditch
Watertown Gazette, 05 05 1908
Johnson Creek, Wis.
- At the town hall in Farmington a meeting was held last week to discuss the
possibilities for dredging the creek. Those not deriving any direct benefit
voted against the proposition which was dropped for the time being. Those
however who would greatly benefit by the work held a meeting at the Park Hall
here and appointed a committee to look closer into the matter. Mr. Nichols of
Beaver Dam, civil engineer and dredging contractor, was present at both
meetings.
↓ More on drainage ditch ↓
Watertown
Gazette, 08
21 1908
The jury recently
appointed in Justice Henze’s court to determine
whether or not a drainage ditch shall be constructed from a certain point in
the town of Watertown through Farmington to empty into Johnson Creek took
testimony in the city hall. In the
morning and afternoon a number of witnesses from both towns were examined. The commissioners reversed the decision of
the board of supervisors of the towns of Watertown and Farmington. The board of supervisors must now proceed
with the construction of the ditch.
Concert
Watertown Gazette, 08 21 1908
The music loving
people of Watertown are to have a rare treat next Tuesday, August 25th at the
First Methodist Church. The program will
be one of delightful variety. The special
attraction will be the professional whistler, Miss Gladys Scofield,
a remarkable imitator of the bird creation, Miss Lulu Tryalt
of Oconomowoc the elocutionist, Miss Fanny Crout
soprano soloist, Miss Grace Osen pianist and Mr. Moldenhayer violinist.
These young people are all known in the city, and it is to be hoped a
good audience will greet them. Tickets
25 cents. Posters in the store windows
will announce their coming.
Big Good Roads Convention
Watertown
Gazette, 08
21 1908
State Good Roads
Association to hold its annual convention in Milwaukee on Tuesday, September
8th.
Preparations are
being made for one of the biggest Good Roads Conventions ever held in the
country. The first state convention,
held last year, had nearly two thousand members, and a permanent organization
was formed with Ex-Governor Hoard as President.
This state
convention was considerably larger than any of the National Good Road
gatherings that have been held for many years, and-from the interest already
manifested it seems probable that there will be more delegates present this
year than last.
Every town chairman
in the state has been asked to suggest the names of prominent farmers in his
locality who will be appointed as delegates.
The State Good
Roads Association is very much interested in the amendment to the state
constitution which must be passed by the people in our November elections
before our state can give state money to aid the farmers to pay for building
good roads. The amendment will doubtless
be very thoroughly discussed.
The committee aims
to make this convention better than the one held last year. It is planned, in so far as time will permit,
to give each delegate who desires it an opportunity to discuss any-of the questions
under discussion.
The meeting will
not be held on the State Fair grounds as last year, but in some large hall down
town. The place will be announced later.
Catherine A. Malloy
nee Larkin
Watertown
Gazette, 08
21 1908
Letter from an Old Watertown Resident
Milwaukee, Wis.,
Aug. 7, 1908.
Dear Friend:—
A few days ago I
received the souvenir program of the sixth
annual homecoming. I return you many thanks and for all past favors
received, I appreciate them very much. I noticed in the brief sketch of our
dear old home "past and present," particularly the "past.”
I was a mere child
but I do remember the first fire department,
“The Volunteers," my father being one of them. Oh! what excitement
there was when the alarm of "Fire-Fire-Fire" was sounded. Charley Huber, Sr., would be one of the first
to give the alarm with a stick hammering on an old tin pan and he also
hollowing "fire-fire-fire."
Of course the fires
were always in the night time and it was frightful for the children. I remember
how frightened I used to get. I would
get up and go down stairs and get in my mother's bed and tremble like a leaf.
The "Volunteers" would haul the engine to the fire and then pump it by
hand.
I remember too,
shortly after they got the engine, the sham fire the Volunteer firemen
had. Father being one of the few who
knew about it, they built a fire on the bank of the river and then in the
middle of the night started the fire and then hollered "fire-fire-fire.”
(Charley of course out with his old tin pan and stick.) They wanted to see how many of the Volunteers
would show up, and it was a good showing.
Father and mother informed me about it so as I would not get frightened
when they sounded the alarm.
The next sketch
that I was greatly interested in was the first
frame house built on the West side at the southeast corner of West Main
and Water streets. It was on that corner
that my husband went into business with his brother John Malloy (*), shortly
after we were married; my son Charles was born in that house, so you see I was
somewhat interested in all I read.
(*) Today 121 W Main St (formerly West Ave)
Malloy Bros. (John and Peter
Malloy), gen. store, 28 West Ave. 1880 Watertown City Dir
Malloy, Catherine (wid.
Peter), res. e.s. Washington, 2 n. O’Connell 1885 Watertown City Dir
I often ponder on
the good old times we used to have in our dear old Watertown, like every one else who used to live in Watertown, my heart is
still there. I certainly congratulate all you old home people for all you have
accomplished for our town and for your success in making Watertown one of the
foremost, up-to-date little cities in the state of Wisconsin. Everybody has a
kind word for Watertown and its people.
I think the
interurban railway will be a great benefit to Watertown. I wish I were able
[to] run out and return on the car quite often.
Hoping you are well
and thanking you for your interest and thoughtfulness in sending me so many
reminders of our dear old home "past and present."
Wishing the good
town continued success and hoping to hear from you again in the near future
also with kind remembrances to all you home people I remain,
Respectfully your
friend
Mrs. Catherine A.
Malloy.
Mrs. [Catherine]
Malloy, when a girl, resided at the southeast corner of Third and Madison
streets. She was the happy possessor of
an accordion and often made the children living in that neighborhood very happy;
they flocked to the fence when "Katie Larkin" appeared early in the
evening on the "stoop" and began to make "musick"
as she did very often during the summer season, when our population was
numbered among the hundreds perhaps.
There are several
of our residents who remember how they ran and romped when they heard Mrs.
Malloy, nee Larkin, play the popular airs of their childhood days and a
reserved seat on Mr. Larkin's fence while "Katie" played, was as
comfortable, no doubt, as a reserved and cushioned seat in any play house in
the country.
Watertown Daily Times, 04 29 1998
Covered wagons will once again be rumbling down the old Watertown Plank Road on the way to
Watertown. The event is being held in
conjunction with the celebration of the state's
sesquicentennial. The Central Business
Association of Historic Downtown Watertown has invited owners of covered wagons
to participate in a sesquicentennial re-enactment of a wagon train on Friday
and Saturday. The wagon train will travel through Watertown on Saturday
afternoon and end at The Market. The
event is planned as an educational experience for school-age children as well
as adults.
Watertown Leader, 05
01 1908
A meeting of several of the influential citizens of
Watertown was held at the council room in the city building last evening to
take the initiative toward raising money locally, fund to be applied toward the
Carl Schurz memorial.
The friends and admirers of the late statesman, whose early
home was Watertown, propose to honor his memory by the endowment of a chair in
the University of Wisconsin to be known as the Carl Schurz Memorial
Professorship. The chair is to be filled from year to year by distinguished
professors of the universities of Germany, It is understood that such
professors shall also deliver popular lectures in the various cities of the
state.
In many of the cities of Wisconsin steps have already been
taken to further this movement. The feeling of the local promoters is that
Watertown, where Mr. Schurz began his distinguished and honorable career in
America, should take the lead.
The object of the meeting last evening was to consider the
question and, if action was to be taken, to agree upon a plan of procedure.
Watertown Daily Times, 05 08 1983
Orders for the new four-cent postage stamp honoring Carl
Schurz are coming to the Watertown Post Office in large numbers, according to
Janet Bauer, Superintendent of Postal Operations. The first day of issue for these stamps is
June 3, with a public ceremony at 11 a.m. at Riverside Park. Long distance calls are also being received
by the Watertown Historical Society for data on Carl Schurz. Carl Schurz came
to Watertown in 1854 to visit relatives, the Jacob Juessen
family, early pioneers, and to consider making this city his home. He wrote: “I think there is an endless fresh
spirit surging through this land, charged with hopefulness.” The Schurz family
members were great letter writers and these letters, saved, have assisted
historians for many publications about Schurz, the great German American
statesman. Schurz spent his first two
years in America studying the English language, mostly with the help of
newspapers and the dictionary. In 1855
he purchased 89 acres of land north of Watertown,
with the plan of dividing it into lots.
Watertown
Gazette, 08
28 1908
The first electric
car crossed Main Street bridge
at 11:40 Saturday morning. It was the
construction car and it made several trips over the bridge to Montgomery Street
and back. At 1 o'clock Saturday
afternoon the first passenger car crossed the river. There was no shaking or jarring of the bridge
while the cars were crossing, due to the fact that the car rests upon an
independent structure. No more cars will
be allowed to cross the bridge until both sides are completed and the work is
approved by the board of public works. Interurban
Watertown Leader, 04
11 1908
Recitations at the seminary (Northwestern) came to a close on April 9 and
will be continued on April 22. Owing to
the fact that a number of congregations have been without pastors for many
months, the senior class at the seminary, instead of being obliged to complete
the entire year's work, will be graduated at the end of the second semester.
The examinations took place on April 9 and today the Mission
Commission meets with the purpose of assigning parishes to the different
candidates. As has been the case for
years past, the demand for ministers again greatly exceeds the supply. Eleven congregations have sent in
applications while only seven graduates are ready to enter the ministry
immediately. Mr. Koehler, the eighth,
intends to continue his studies, presumably at S. Louis.
Watertown
Daily Times, 04
11 1958
The first of two dedication services for the Louis Pingel School, the Linda Ritter Memorial Hospital and the
Manual Arts School at the Bethesda Lutheran Home was
held yesterday afternoon at the home. It
is estimated that at least 2,000 persons visited the home during the day. Dedication services were held in the chapel,
with the Rev. Oscar Naumann, St. Paul, Minn.,
president of the Evangelical Lutheran Joint Synod of Wisconsin and Other States
preaching the sermon. The additions at
the home were erected at a cost of $2,000,000, and will enable the institution
to accommodate 650 mentally retarded persons between the ages of 8 and 99
years.
Watertown
Gazette, 08
28 1908
The Cayo Benito Park Association, which owns fruit lands
adjoining the city of Santa Fe, Isle of Pines, was permanently organized in
this city Tuesday afternoon when the stockholders and directors of the company
met and elected the following officers:
President and
treasurer - E. W. Schultz, Watertown.
Vice President - W.
C. Schulz, Isle of Pines.
Secretary - L. P. Zinke, Chicago.
Watertown
Gazette, 08
28 1908
On Thursday of last
week Miss Wanda Krueger of this city, and Arthur W. Lueck,
of Juneau, were united in marriage at the home of the bride's parents, 504
North Washington Street. Rev. H. Kuezel, of Juneau, performed the ceremony. The bride is a daughter of Otto R. Krueger
and wife of this city, and is one of Watertown's best and accomplished young
ladies. The groom is a son of F. W. Lueck, of Juneau, and is a law partner of Attorney M. E.
Burke of Beaver Dam. The Gazette,
with their many Watertown friends extends hearty congratulations. They will make their future home at Beaver
Dam.
