website watertownhistory.org
ebook History of Watertown, Wisconsin
Wisconsin National Bank
of Watertown
104
West Main Street
Successor
Bank of Wisconsin
It was back on July 1, 1853
that the Jefferson Bank of Watertown opened at 116 W. Main St.
Then, on April 8, 1858 it was
sold to the Bank of Wisconsin and on Feb. 27, 1865, during the closing days of the Civil War, the name was
changed to Wisconsin National Bank.
The 116 Main St. location continued to be used until it was moved to the
bridge at 104 W. Main St. Until the bank purchased the building, it was
the home of the old Wiggenhorn Bros. Cigar Factory. It was remodeled and expanded several
limes. One of the expansion programs
involved gutting of the old Savoy Theater and turning it into a drive-in from
Main Street north under the building.
Then, in 1980, the bank was sold to Valley Bank Corporation. A few years later the bank purchased the old
D&F Kusel Hardware Store from Frank and Sue Witt.
Ultimately the old bank building with its unique cupola design was
razed.
It was just a year after the old Jefferson Bank of Watertown was formed
that the Bank of Watertown opened for
business for the first time.
1865
05 04 NATIONAL BANK OF WATERTOWN ORGANIZED
A new National Bank has recently been organized in this city and is
about to go into operation. The place of
business will be at the rooms formerly occupied by the Jefferson County Bank,
in Jones’ Block, on the west side of the river.
The officers of this bank are as follows:
President – William M. Dennis
Vice President – Daniel Jones
Cashier-- P. V. Brown
Assistant Cashier – W. P. Brown
Directors – William M. Dennis, Daniel Jones, Charles Jacobi, Henry Mulberger, and P. V. Brown.
These names are an ample assurance for the safe and prudent management
of the affairs of this institution and as the securities are based on United
States stocks, their bills are as good as the resources and pledges of the
Government can make them. It is hardly
necessary to say that the National Bank of Watertown is fully worthy of the
confidence of the people and that its business affairs will be carefully and
successfully directed. Its officers are
citizens of high character and large experience and well qualified for the
positions they hold. WD
1866-69
Edward Racek, 19 years of age, served as teller, filling the
position three years
1876
08 24 "CAN YOU CHANGE THIS WILLIAM FOR ME
?"
"Can you change
this William for me ?" said a young man who presented a $50 bill at the
counter of the Wisconsin National Bank
in this city, recently. "Yes,"
said the cashier, "but why do you call it William?" "Oh, I'm not familiar enough with that
kind of thing to call it Bill," was the quick reply. WD
c.1885
click
to enlarge
The
first bank in Watertown was founded in 1852 by Daniel Jones
The Wisconsin
National Bank was the third bank to be started in the city.
1886
View of, along Main St
02 13 
Watertown
Weltburger, 02 13 1886
1891
1891 Weltburger
drawing
1892
1902
07 19 REMODELING
THE BUILDING
Workmen have been
engaged during the greater portion of the week remodeling the building occupied
by the Wisconsin National Bank. The
windows on Main Street have been taken out; the piers between them taken down,
the whole to be replaced by plate glass front.
The remodeling and refurnishing of the interior will be general, and
strictly up to date, in style and convenience. WR
c.1905
1909
01 15 DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS REELECTED
At the
annual mating of stockholders of the Wisconsin National Bank held Tuesday,
January 19, 1909, the old board of directors were reelected, vis: Fred Miller,
H. G. Grube, A. Solliday, Charles A. Feisst, M. Carroll, Henry Mulberger,
William F. Voss. The above named directors met on Thursday, January
14, 1909, and elected the following officers for the ensuing year:
William
F. Voss—President
A.
Solliday—Vice President
H.
Mulberger—Cashier.
A.
D. Platz—Asst. Cashier
R.
M. Hahn—Teller WG
1910
04 15 ADDITIONAL VAULT PLANNED
The Wisconsin
National Bank of this city has just entered into contract with the Diebold
Safe and Lock Co. of Canton, Ohio, for the erection of an additional steel
lined vault to be completed in about sixty days.
The
new vault will be used mainly for the storage and safe keeping of bonds,
mortgages and other valuables by the customers of the bank and others, the
demand for a place of absolute security, wherein to keep valuables and
securities, having become so great that the directors of the bank deemed it
necessary to provide such facility to the public.
The
vault will be fitted with safety deposit boxes, to which access can be had only
by the owner of the box, thus insuring privacy and secrecy as to its
contents. WG
-- -- ERECTION OF ADDITIONAL STEEL LINED VAULT
1913
01 16 NEW
VAULT DOOR
The Wisconsin National
Bank of this city last week installed a new door in the front vault of the
bank, which in the matter of workmanship and weight of metal, is not exceeded
by any other vault door in the city. The
customers of that institution may well be proud of the spirit shown by its
officers and directors in using all modern means to safeguard in every possible
way the funds and securities of the bank.
The outer door is constructed of solid armor plate and chrome steel
plates four inches in thickness and the entire structure, including the inner
door and vestibule, has a weight of 11,000 pounds. The door was built by the Herring-Hall-Marvin
Safe Co. of Hamilton, Ohio, and put in place by L. A. Meyer Co. of Milwaukee,
Wis. WG
1915
03 04 WISCONSIN
NATIONAL BANK FIFTY YEARS OLD
Last Saturday was an
eventful day in the history of the Wisconsin National Bank, that day being its
50th anniversary. All day long its many
friends and patrons called to congratulate its officers and wish the bank many
more years of usefulness and prosperity in the city. Over 500 ladies and men called, the former
being presented with pink and white carnations and the gentlemen with
Havanas. Hon. Wm. F. Voss, the president
of the bank, was especially in his element receiving the congratulations of the
ladies. The Wisconsin National Bank is
one of the oldest and most substantial banking houses of Wisconsin, and has
added greatly in building up Watertown and surrounding country, and all our
people take an interest in its continued prosperity.
The Wisconsin National
Bank succeeded the Bank of Wisconsin, which was organized in 1850, the
Wisconsin National receiving its charter from the national government on
February 27, 1865. It is at present a
member of the Federal Reserve Bank system.
The first board of
directors of the Wisconsin National was composed of W. M. Dennis, president;
Daniel Jones, vice-president; Peter V. Brown, cashier, Henry Mulberger and
Charles Jacobi.
Mr. Jones succeeded Mr.
Dennis as president, and was himself succeeded by Frederick Miller, who was the
predecessor of Wm. F. Voss, the fourth and present president.
The present directors
and officers are as follows:
Directors — Fred
Miller, A. Solliday, H. G. Grube, C. A. Feisst, M. Carroll, Emil Tanck, Wm. F.
Voss.
Officers:
President — Wm. F.
Voss.
Vice President — A.
Solliday.
Cashier — R. M. Hahn.
Assistant Cashier — H.
G. Grube. WG
09 23 MORGAN
LOAN OF BONDS TO THE ALLIES
Notice to the
Public. Having been asked by several customers
of this bank whether the banks in this city would participate in the so-called
Morgan loan of bonds to the Allies, the Wisconsin National Bank of this city
deems it proper to inform the public that this bank will not loan its funds or
its depositors’ money to Mr. J. P. Morgan or to any of the warring nations of
Europe.
This bank believes it
safer to loan its funds to our home people and industries.
William F. Voss,
President, Wisconsin National Bank. WG
1921
DEATH OF WILLIAM VOSS, bank
president
07 29 WIGGENHORN SITE
BOUGHT
To Be Remodeled
The board of directors, of the Wisconsin National Bank
of Watertown have purchased from the Wiggenhorn interests in
the building at 102 West Main Street and will in the near future remodel it into an
up-to-date banking institution.
Having outgrown its present quarters, the board of directors
of this well-known institution have for some time past been planning an
addition on the present building or the purchase of a site for a new
building. After considerable
deliberation it was decided to purchase this large building which can be remodeled
into one of the finest bank buildings, in the state.
The bank’s history is an interesting story of faith.
It covers a sixty-year period of development and progress. The growth of the institution runs parallel
to the growth of the community it serves.
Organized in 1865 at the office of the bank that
preceded it, the Bank of Wisconsin, by W. M. Dennis, Daniel Jones, Charles
Jacobi, Henry Mulberger Sr. and Peter V. Brown, it has been an influence for
good in this, community and its presence has made itself known through every
year that this country has passed through since the bank was: founded in
1865. The Wisconsin National bank was
preceded by the Bank of Wisconsin and the Bank of Wisconsin by the Jefferson County
Bank of Watertown.
Always alert to the commercial needs of the community
the Wisconsin National bank has given financial assistance to many deserving
enterprises. Through a sound,
conservative policy it has established a good name for fair business dealing.
The confidence in the great future of this beautiful city is manifested in the
purchase of this excellent building.
In purchasing this new building as a home for the
future, the directors of the Wisconsin National Bank are expressing in lasting
terms their appreciation of the community’s patronage and friendship in the
past. They wish it to stand as a symbol
of their faith in the growth and prosperity of Watertown as well as a pledge
that the bank will continue to serve those whose fathers and grandfathers it
served through the period hack as far as the Civil war.
As a national bank this institution is linked in a
great financial system which includes membership in the great Federal Reserve
bank and assures connections with the big banking centers of the country
including the national treasury. Thus
the patron of the Wisconsin National bank is assured of a financial capacity in
the handling of his banking business not surpassed by that of the leading
metropolitan institutions.
The aim of the directors of the Wisconsin National
Bank is to make an institution large enough for all the requirements of the
biggest business of Watertown, yet not so large , that. any individual man,
woman or child will feel out of touch with its personnel or policies. They have planned a service so diverse and
complete that in its various, departments it shall meet the needs of everyone,
realizing that in this city of opportunity the small depositor today may be the
big depositor tomorrow.
The bank is on the honor list of national banks,
having a surplus equal to its capital stock.
The present officers and directors are as follows: Colonel Albert Solliday, president; Emil
Tank, vice president; Frank P. McAdams, cashier; Herbert F. Schatz, assistant
cashier; Fred J. Kaercher, assistant cashier.
Directors, Colonel Albert Solliday, Emil Tanck, Frank P. McAdams,
Charles A. Skinner, Edwin H. Faber, Fred G. Keck and Carl Keppler.
c.1927
-- -- SKINNER & THAUER,
Lawyers & Notaries Public
Office over Wisconsin
National Bank, 102-104 West Main
C. A. Skinner, Otto Gerbitz, Nicholas Thauer, Wallace
Thauer, Miss Schlueter.
1929
08 25 DEATH
OF EMIL TANCK, vice-president
Vice-president
of the Wisconsin National Bank at the time of his death.
1946
Agnes Loukota
1951
05 15 WISCONSIN
NATIONAL ABOLISHES OLD BARRIER SYSTEM
The Wisconsin National
Bank [102 W. Main] has become the first bank here to abolish the old-type
bullet-proof glass barriers and fixtures and has replaced them with new, modern
banking fixtures. The work, underway for
several weeks, has been completed and the bank today extended an invitation to
the general public to drop in and see the new fixtures. Bank officials will be happy to welcome all
visitors and take them on a tour of the bank.
The fixtures were installed by the Taylor-Palmer Co., Milwaukee,
manufacturers of bank fixtures and equipment.
The new fixtures permit
freer contact with bank employees and eliminate the old barriers which the
other fixtures set up between banker and patron.
The fixtures have been
equipped with the latest in indirect lighting.
The old fixtures were
installed at the local bank in 1931 when many banks were converting to what was
then held to be a new and revolutionary system of bank protection.
The new fixtures
provide ample protection, since the bank is equipped with the "latest and
most complete alarm system.
The bank staff consists of the following: A. F. Solliday, chairman of the
board; F. J. Kaercher, president; Walter G. Thrams, cashier; Arthur Turke and
Inez Wahl, tellers; Kathleen Killian, Cynthia Engelke and Ruth Boelter,
bookkeepers.
MEMORIAL DAY PARADE
Memorial Day 1951
1953
01 17 DIRECTORS RE-ELECTED
At the
annual meeting of stockholders, held last evening at the Wisconsin National
Bank, the following directors were re-elected:
Wm. Bailey, HJ. Burmaster, F. J. Kaercher, J. W. Keck, Paul Klink, J. M.
Meyer, A. F. Solliday. The officers for
the coming year are: A. F. Solliday, chairman of the board; F. J. Kaercher,
president; H. J. Burmaster, vice president; W. G. Thrams, cashier; A. L. Turke,
assistant cashier. All the officers were
re-elected, with the exception of Arthur L. Turke. Mr. Turke has been with the bank since June
1950, after graduating from the University of Wisconsin, Commerce Department,
in 1950. WDT
1957
09 06 TURKE
TO BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Arthur L. Turke, cashier of the
Wisconsin National Bank, yesterday afternoon was elected to the bank’s board of
directors to complete the term of John A. (Jack) Meehan of 906 Harvey Avenue,
who, with his wife, is moving to Florida.
Mr. Turke, who resides at 239 Spaulding Street, joined the bank’s staff
in 1950 shortly after completing his studies at the University of
Wisconsin. He was elected assistant
cashier in 1952 and moved up to the position of cashier when that office was
vacated by Walter Thrams who was elected president of the bank following the
death of Fred J. Kaercher in 1956. WDT
1964
01 11 DIRECTORS ELECTED
W. G.
Thrams last night was re-elected president of the Wisconsin National Bank
following the annual stockholders meeting at which all directors were
re-elected. Directors are H. J.
Burmaster, Karl Fischer, Theodore F. Guse, Paul Klink, W. G. Thrams, A. L.
Turke and Dr. F. H. Zimmermann. The
directors then met and elected officers.
In addition to Mr. Thrams, others elected are Mr. Burmaster, vice
president; Mr. Turke, cashier; Orval Vogt, assistant cashier. WDT
1965
09 17 PLANS FOR DRIVE-IN BANKING FACILITY
Plans
of the Wisconsin National Bank to create a drive-in banking facility for its
customers by utilizing the Savoy Theatre building, directly west of the bank
building in West Main Street, were further outlined to members of the common
council last night during the council’s committee meeting. Last night Walter G. Thrams, president of the
bank, told council members that the plan calls for a tunnel, or direct
passageway through the theatre, from the West Main Street to the rear
alleyway. WDT
12 18 UTILIZING FORMER SAVOY THEATRE BUILDING
Work
was started this morning on the Wisconsin National Bank project in West Main
Street whereby the bank will add to its services a drive-in banking facility,
utilizing the former Savoy Theatre building
directly west of the bank. First step in
the project is the removal of the theatre marquee. The Beaver Wrecking and Salvage Co. of Beaver
Dam had a crew of men on the job today.
WDT
1966
06 10 DRIVE-IN BANKING FACILITY
The
Wisconsin National Bank in Watertown is ready to open its new facility — TV Auto
Banking. The new department will be in
operation for the public starting Monday, but tomorrow, June 11 the bank will
hold a sort of “Open House” from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and invites the public to
drop in, inspect the drive-in facility and register for prizes which will be
presented. Saturday’s event is being
arranged to open the new facility and will be a forerunner to the regular TV
Auto Banking service which begins Monday morning. The new facility occupies the former Savoy
Theatre building directly west of the bank building which the bank acquired
last year. WDT
08 19 ARTHUR TURKE TO GRADUATE
Arthur
L. Turke, cashier of the Wisconsin National Bank in Watertown will graduate Friday,
Aug. 26, from the Graduate School of Banking at the University of
Wisconsin. The school requires two weeks
attendance each year for three years; in addition students are required to do
extension work involving problems in all phases of banking. The present high standards of banking service
in communities throughout the country are enhanced by the completion of the
required studies at this specialized banking school. Some 1,300 bankers are enrolled this year
from 40 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Central America and
Sweden. The faculty of 110 instructors
are among the most competent men in their professions. Mr. Turke began his banking career with the
Wisconsin National Bank in 1950 following his graduation from the University of
Wisconsin, in June of that year. WDT
1968
01 06 WALTER THRAMS RETIREMENT
Walter Thrams, who has been in the banking business in
Watertown for 48 years, and who has been president of the Wisconsin National
Bank for over 11 years, retires on January 15.
Actually, and technically, he retired at the end of the year. But he is continuing on until the middle of
the month. He was associated with the
old Farmers & Citizens Bank for 25 years as a teller. He joined this bank on January 15, 1920. On Feb. 1, 1945, he became a member of the
staff of the Wisconsin National Bank. He
was named assistant cashier. In 1952 he
became cashier and on October 17, 1956, following the death of October 12 of
Fred Kaercher, bank president, he became president of the bank. WDT
01 10 TURKE
PRESIDENT OF BANK
Arthur Turke, last night was elected
president of the Wisconsin National Bank, succeeding Walter Thrams, who has
retired from the bank. Turke continues
to hold the position of cashier. Turke
has been associated with the bank since 1950.
Turke is a native of Watertown, and is a graduate of the Watertown High
School and the University of Wisconsin, where, in June of 1950, he received a
Bachelor of Business Administration degree.
He also attended Northwestern College here. He is a Navy veteran, having been in the Navy
Air Corps. While in the Navy he attended
St. Ambrose College at Davenport, Iowa, and Colorado College at Colorado
Springs, Colorado. Following his
graduation from the university, he joined the staff of the Wisconsin National
Bank as teller and bookkeeper. WDT
1969
07 25 BANK TO EXPAND IN CITY
Arthur
Turke, president of the Wisconsin National Bank in Watertown, announced that
the board of directors of the bank have voted to expand its banking facilities
on West Main Street.
Included
in the expansion and remodeling are additional auto banking facilities which
are necessary due to the increased use of the TV auto-banking at the bank.
The
addition of a mezzanine level adjacent to the lobby will provide new
bookkeeping and office space, which is also needed to efficiently handle the
increased volume of business. New teller
stations including the most recent government recommendations on safety of
depositors' funds will be added. This
remodeling will give the entire interior of the bank a new look while providing
a more efficient banking area.
"While
it is anticipated that the whole Watertown area will grow rapidly in the next
decade, it is evident that Watertown's downtown area in particular will
continue the substantial progress it has recently made to better serve the
entire shopping area, Turke said. "This was an important factor in the
decision to remodel and expand at their present West Main Street
location."
Maas Bros., general contractors, will begin
construction immediately; and it is expected that construction will be
completed before 1970.
1970
05 12 WISCONSIN NATIONAL BANK OPEN HOUSE
Remodeled and expanded facilities
1978
09 21 WISCONSIN NATIONAL BANK EXPANSION
PLANNED
The Wisconsin
National Bank announced plans for the remodeling and expansion of the bank's
facilities at its 104 West Main Street location.
Plans
call for the relocation of the banks's present auto drive-in facilities as well
as expanded offices for loans and other banking business, according to Arthur
Turke, president.
Five
new LeFebure Tel-Air drive-in systems will be constructed with four units operating
initially, and the fifth added when needed.
The units will be side by side with an overhead canopy to protect from
the weather.
More
than 20 cars can be handled in the drive-in area at any one time thereby
relieving the customer of the inconvenience of waiting in line on a city
street.
Turke
stated the LeFebure units are the newest available in the industry. The customer will be in visual contact with
the teller and will talk with the teller by way of a private two-way sound
system. The transaction will be sent
back and forth in high speed pneumatic tube carrier units which will complete
the business quickly.
Access
to the units will be from North Water Street.
A new alley has been added next to the present exit alley allowing for
two-way traffic. The razing of the
former Brandt building has made way for a new parking lot which will accomodate
over 30 cars and will be used for customer and employee parking.
Work
is expected to get underway shortly after Oct. 1 and the bank has made
arrangements to obtain the use of a temporary drive-in facility which will be
located at the rear of the present parking lot.
Turke
said, "There will be some inconvenience during the installation of the new
drive-in units but we will do our best to serve the customers as efficiently as
possible."
Along
with the new drive-in units, an additional walk-up window will be located at
the rear of the present drive-in for customer use from the bank's parking lot.
This walk-up window will contain a "deal drawer" which will allow
business customers to obtain their change without having to come into the
lobby.
Two
parking spaces for business customers immediately behind the present bank
building will allow for access to the walk-up window. A rear entrance to the bank lobby will be
located next to the walk-up window.
When
the drive-ins are relocated, the bank will begin expansion of its interior
facilities. The new addition will be
located west of the
present facility where the drive-ins presently operate.
Fronting
on Main Street will be two offices for loan officers. Next to the loan offices will be a loan
counter and work area where payments and other transactions will be
handled. The loan area will be connected
to the present lobby.
Vice
President Jon Hauser will be in charge of the loan area. Hauser said, "With the increased office
space and work areas, and more of our file information at our fingertips, we
will be able to serve our loan customers better than ever."
Public
rest rooms and an office for the bank's auditor will be positioned in the
middle section of the new area. Located
at the rear of the present drive- in area will be a large room for bookkeeping
including a large record storage vault.
The new bookkeeping area will be about twice as large as the present
room.
Removal
of the inside TV auto drive-in units will make for a quieter lobby well as
provide additional teller work areas.
With
the relocation of the loan windows from the present teller line, a total of six
teller windows can be utilized to maximize customer service. "We have had tremendous growth in recent
years, and as a result this doubling of our floor space has become.
necessary," Turke said.
Turke
reported that Tom Taylor of Taylor-Palmer and Associates of Milwaukee will
serve as architect for the project as he has for the last two remodeling
projects at the bank. The initial project was in 1966 when the bank purchased the Savoy Theatre
building and installed the first drive-in unit. In 1969, the bank added a second unit and
extensively remodeled the lobby.
Bids
have been let and accepted by all contractors involved in the project.
They
are: General contractor-H. F. Mallow and Sons Company. Electrical-Hady Electric. Heating and air conditioning-Ninmann Heating
and Cooling, Inc. Bank fixtures-Staab
Manufacturing. Carpeting Charles Fischer
and Sons. Drive-in equipment and
security system-LeFebure Company.
Work
on the lobby and the old drive-in areas is expected to start shortly after Oct.
1 with completion of the entire project scheduled in late spring of 1979.
Turke
said, "We are proud to announce the preservation and remodeling of one of
Watertown's historical buildings. We
look forward to serving Watertown and the surrounding area in our newly
remodeled facility for many years to come."
03 15 REMODELING COMING ALONG
c.1979
1982
WTTN-AM and
WTTN-FM
WTTN-AM and WTTN-FM moved its broadcasting studios and
offices to 100 Main Street in 1979 after 29 years on the third floor of the
former Wisconsin National Bank building [Main, W, 102-106], now known as the
Valley Bank building [?], 104 West Main Street. WDT
2009 DEATH OF ARTHUR TURKE
Death of
Arthur Turke, 1927-2009. Was employed for 29 years, as a teller,
bookkeeper, director, cashier and president.
Cross References:
In October, 1845, Daniel Jones came to Watertown and opened a store;
in 1852 he opened a banking and exchange office in connection with his store
and organized the Jefferson County Bank in 1853, which he continued until 1865, when the Wisconsin National Bank was
organized by Mr. Jones in company with the late Wm. M. Dennis, Peter V.
Brown, Henry Mulberger
and Charles Jacobi. Mr. Dennis was president of the bank for many
years, and after his death Mr. Jones was elected president of the bank and
remained its president until his advanced years caused him to retire from
active business
Dr. Edward Johnson, at the time of his
death he was a stockholder in the Wisconsin National Bank and for a number of
years was one of its directors.
Herman Grube served for a time as cashier and
director of the Wisconsin National Bank.
In
later years the Savoy Theater building (106 W
Main) was added to the offices of the Wisconsin National Bank
Edwin
Faber, Sr. was a member of the board of directors of the Wisconsin National Bank.
Herman Wertheimer, stockholder in the
Wisconsin National Bank
History of Watertown,
Wisconsin