website
watertownhistory.org
ebook History of Watertown,
Wisconsin
American Legion
Pitterle-Beaudoin American Legion Post No. 189
206 S First
1919 Founding of
The Watertown American Legion
began in 1919 with Dr. A. F. Solliday as first commander. Later, the organization
was named the Sgt.
Frank Pitterle Post #189 in honor of Pitterle [1896-1918], who was the first Watertown man
killed in action during World War I. At the conclusion of World War II, Beaudoin was added to the post in honor of the last town
casualty in World War II.
The American Legion was founded in Paris at the
end of World War I.
The First Street location is the
Legions fourth headquarters since its inception. Up until World War II the Post was without a
main office and members met in various locations throughout the city. But near
the beginning of the war, the Legion started to gather at the old Armory and early high school building on
Firing squad started, since there was
no group to give veterans of World War I military honors WDT
1948
In 1948, the Legion purchased the
Green Bowl Tea Room, formerly the Wenzel
Prochazka House and converted it to the Legion
Green Bowl Supper Club. It was located
at
1949
The American
Legion Band was formed
1956
[03 24] The Pitterle-Beaudoin
Post No. 189, American Legion, is now far enough advanced with its plans to
enlarge its property, the Green Bowl to petition to the City Council to have
the area rezoned from residential to commercial in order to begin construction.
The plans have been underway for the past several months and have been checked
with state authorities. The Legion's petition will be presented to the City
Council this evening and following the customary procedure will be referred to
the City Plan Commission after which a hearing will be scheduled before any
action is taken.
1956
[07 17] New officers of the
American Legion Firing Squad announced today by officials of the Pitterle-Beaudoin Post No. 189, are: Ronald Millin, commander; Delbert Barner,
adjutant; Roger Wilkes, first vice commander; Leroy Draves,
second vice commander; Harvey Duehring, historian;
Donald Lenius, finance officer; Edward Kuenzi, drill sergeant; Laverne Wanke
and Lester Else, sergeants at arms.
1956
[05 03] Work on the Green Bowl addition is to start
next Monday, it was announced today by officials of the Pitterle-Beaudoin
Post No. 189, American Legion, owners of the property. Walter Otto, Watertown
contractor, has been awarded the contract, having submitted the bid which the
committee recommended for acceptance. The project has been approved by the
membership of the Legion. The plans for the addition call for a large new
structure for Legion purposes and there will also be new and enlarged rest room
facilities. There will also be some improvements in the present quarters.
1957
[01 17] The Pitterle-Beaudoin
Post No. 189, American Legion, which each summer sponsors the largest
celebration at Riverside Park, the Fourth of July festivities, today began to
assemble its forces to seek defeat of the April 2 referendum which will decide
whether the sale of beer is to be continued in Riverside Park and other public
parks in the city. The Legion has made
it clear that it wants to continue sponsoring the celebrations but cannot do so
if its largest revenue raising source at the park is halted.
1957
[06 19] Newly elected officers of the Pitterle-Beaudoin Post No. 189, American Legion were
announced today following ceremonies at which they took over their duties. Officers are: Harold Wilde, commander; Tom Darcey, first vice commander; Howard Klug, second vice
commander; Arnold T. Jorgenson, finance officer; Delbert Barner,
chaplain; Conrad Ott, historian; Lester Else and Bert
Sterwald, sergeants-at-arms; Harvey Duehring, trustee for three years; William Connor, service
officer.
1959
10 13 Riverside Park
popcorn hassle; sales on midway restricted to carnival company WDT
1961
07 13 The Watertown Rotary Club is going to
meet at the Legion Green Bowl starting in August. Ever since the club was founded here the
membership has met every Monday noon at the Elks
Club, in the lower dining hall. The
space in the lower dining hall is limited and the same table arrangements have
to be followed week after week, it was pointed out. WDT
12 03 Work is expected to start in a few weeks on the construction of a
$116,000 addition to the American Legion Green Bowl as the result of a meeting
Wednesday evening of the Pitterle-Beaudoin Post No.
189, at which members voted to proceed with the building plans which long have
been under study and discussion. The vote was 51 to 21 in favor of the project.
Plans call for the construction of a new dining room addition on the southeast
corner of the present building. Kitchen facilities will be enlarged. More
equipment will be added to the kitchen. The bar will be completely new and
relocated in the northeast corner of the old building. WDT
1963
11 25 Tribute
to memory of President John F. Kennedy WDT
1984
The Legion was again without a
main headquarters until December 28, 1984 when it purchased its present home,
formerly Waldoch's, at 206 South First Street. The
Legionnaires and Auxiliary have completely renovated the former tavern where
the Post holds meetings and store equipment such as wheel chairs, walkers and
hospital beds. The Legion holds a liquor license for the building but it is not
open to the public.
1996
In 1996, the City of Watertown
and the American Legion Pitterle-Beaudoin Post #189
hosted Watertown's 178th annual city celebration of the Fourth of July. The parade draws a throng of people
to the business section on Main Street as well as along the parade route to the
Riverside Park where the Legionnaires and Auxiliary offer food and drinks and
music. Fireworks are scheduled at night.
Veteran’s Day Observance
Post #189 is instrumental in
observing Veterans Day along with various other organizations. Local veterans groups
met at the Heritage Inn and march in a parade beginning at 10:30 a.m. and
continue down Main Street to the Main Street bridge
where a brief ceremony is held to honor all military people who did not return
from war. This replaces the Armistice Day celebration of years ago
commemorating the date and time of the end of World War I as silence fell over
"No Man's Land" in Europe at 11 a.m. on Nov. 11, 1948.
In 1954 President Dwight
Eisenhower signed a bill proclaiming Nov.11, Veterans Day instead of Armistice
Day and asked Americans everywhere to dedicate themselves
to the cause of peace on this national holiday. Since that time, World War II,
the Korean War and the Vietnam War have brought more veterans into existence.
About 1500 American Flags are placed
on area graves of military veterans before Memorial Day and are removed shortly
after Labor Day by a few Legionnaires under the direction of Wes Altwies.
The larger cemeteries include:
Watertown: Oak
Hill, Moravian, St. Bernards [177], St. Henrys [146],
Immanuel Lutheran[97]; Ixonia:
Glenview Gardens [192]. Three of the 21
cemeteries only have one flag each. The
flags are placed in special metal holders called “stakes”. Stakes in use
include World War I, World War II, Korea, Revolutionary War, War of 1812,
Mexican War, Vietnam, Cuba, the Civil War and two in Watertown from the Indian
War.
The Watertown American Legion
baseball team competes for the State AA tournament.
2007
Harold
and Nancy Schultz
Nancy A. Schultz, 83, of 18781
Hoover St., Salinas, CA, died March 6, 2007, at Salinas Valley Memorial
Hospital in Salinas. Nancy was born Dec.
14, 1923, in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, daughter of Terence and Myrtle Bruun.
She married Harold Schultz of
Watertown, Wis., in Melbourne in 1943.
Harold preceded her in death March 12, 2003, in Haines City, FL.
Nancy came to Watertown from
Australia in June 1945. Nancy and Harold were managers of the former American
Legion Green Bowl in Watertown and Nancy had worked for several local
restaurants.
Surviving are daughters, Karren (Charles) Wolfram of Watertown, Sandra (Tony) Ziganay of Salinas and Patricia Schultz of Sullivan, WI.
________________________________________
A committee from Post No. 189
consisting of Wesley Altwies, Jerry Peters and Howard
Hilgendorf placed 2,272 flags on the graves of
veterans in the area to honor their sacrifices [WDTimes,
03 30 2006]
Cross-References:
No 1: Pitterle-Beaudoin
website
No 2: Watertown’s
Company E Went to War, Frank Pitterle
