This file portion of www.watertownhistory.org website
Bethesda
Lutheran Home
1904
On
1905
(Feb
23) After considerable discussion the
assembly (Madison) today ordered two engrossments of the Racek bill exempting
forty acres of land belonging to the Evangelical Lutheran home for Feeble
Minded at Watertown from taxation. The authorities of the home, which has been
conducted in rented premises for several years, have purchased a tract of land
near the outskirts of Watertown and are now engaged in raising money with which
to erect the necessary buildings for the institution. The bill was opposed on
the grounds that it might open the door to abuses by enabling asylums and sanitariums
conducted for private gain to escape taxation.
(June
4) W. K. Weissvrodt, superintendent of
the Lutheran Home for Feeble-Minded and Epileptics, left Monday for Vineland,
New Jersey, where he will attend a meeting of the Association of Officers of
American Institutions for Idiotic and Feeble-Minded-Persons. On his return he
will stop at Elwayn, Pa., Polk, Pa., Columbus, Ohio, and Fort Wayne, Ind., to
inspect the homes there and secure ideas as to the best plans for the proposed
home to be built at Watertown. He will arrive here June 9.
1905
(July
14) We are informed, that the trees on
the beautiful grounds where the exercises of the Ev. Luth. Home for the Feeble
Minded were held Sunday, are to be cut down and the land platted into residence
lots. It is a shame. The land should be purchased by the city and converted
into a park. There are only two small parks in the city, which are all out of
proportion to its population and prospective growth. It is a matter that should
receive the attention of the mayor and common council at its regular meeting.
1905
Last
Friday the board of Lutheran Home for Feeble Minded and Epileptic met at St.
Mark's church . . . W. K. Weissbrogt, Supt. of the Home reported 40 inmates at
present and that 6 more were admitted. This is the capacity of the Home so at
present applicants for admission must wait until vacancies occur. The large
number of school classes makes it necessary to give Supt. Weissbrogt assistance
in the shape of a second assistant which will be engaged as soon as a suitable
person is found. The school is progressing nicely, and at present preparing a
program for a Christmas service which will take place in one of the Lutheran
churches on Second Christmas Day eve.
1905
12 22
CHRISTMAS AT THE LUTHERAN HOME
FOR FEEBLE MINDED AND EPILEPTICS
The children will have a Christmas tree
at the Home, and receive their presents early on the first Christmas Day. On account of lack of room this affair must be
of a private character.
But to give all friends of the
institution a chance to celebrate with us, arrangements have been made to
render a Xmas program at St. John's Lutheran Church. Corner N. Fifth and Cady streets. This children's service will be held December
26, 7:15 p.m.
1908
09 11 On Lutheran Feeble-Minded Home site purchased last year in this
city, it was decided to begin work on the building this fall. Cost of the home will be about $30,000. WG
10 02 F. J. Winker, who
purchased the "Faith Home" in the Fifth ward last
week at sheriff’s sale for $1675.50, has had an offer for it at a considerable
advantage. WG
10 16 Site for
new home visited; site for building staked out WG
1910
05 09 WDTimes
Lutheran Home Dedicated Sunday
Vast Assemblage Witness
the Ceremonies in the Morning and Afternoon
MUSICAL SOCIETIES TAKE
PART
New Home For
Feebleminded Children Formally
Dedicated With
Appropriate Exercises
Many Ministers Present
The new Lutheran Home
for Feebleminded Children recently constructed in the Third ward, was formally
dedicated with appropriate services Sunday. The program included services
in the morning and afternoon, as a vast assemblage was present on both
occasions, several hundred people coming from Milwaukee in the morning.
Excellent arrangements had been made to look after the comfort of the visitors
and the wants of the inner man were supplied on the grounds, dinner being served
for all who desired to partake.
The Northwestern
University band and the mixed choir of St. Mark's and St. John's churches,
together with a choir from Milwaukee, assisted in the program. The morning services were conducted by the Rev.
C. Gausewitz of Milwaukee and were in German. In the afternoon the Rev.
W. Uffenbeck of Portage conducted the services and the English address was
delivered by the Rev. H. Fredrich of Hellenville. The ceremonies were
very impressive, the large audience at times joining in the hymns. The
following program was carried out:
|
Morning |
|
|
Music |
N. W. U. Band |
|
Hymn |
Choir |
|
Hymn |
Congregation |
|
Dedicatory services |
|
|
Sermon |
Rev. C. Gausewitz |
|
Hymn |
Choir |
|
Hymn |
The Children |
|
Hymn |
Congregation |
|
Benediction |
|
|
Hymn |
Congregation |
|
Afternoon |
|
|
Music |
N. W. U. Band |
|
Hymn |
Choir |
|
Hymn |
Congregation |
|
Sermon |
Rev. W. Uffenbeck |
|
Hymn |
Choir |
|
Sermon |
Rev E. Fredrich |
|
Hymn |
Choir |
|
Hymn |
Congregation |
|
Benediction |
|
|
Hymn |
Congregation |
The
cornerstone of the building was laid with impressive services on
1954 Constantly
increasing requests and applications for admission to the Bethesda Lutheran
Home here have resulted in more and more emergency entries of patients for whom
immediate care must be provided, with the result that the home is now
constructing additional facilities to meet the need, it was disclosed today in
a report by officials of the home. The institution has become more and more
overcrowded as a result of the new admissions and something had to be done to
reach a solution, the report pointed out. Early in the spring of 1954 the board
of directors of the home decided to build the most economical facilities
possible which would serve the largest number quickly. The building was planned
later to be used for other purposes when sufficient room became available in
permanent quarters. For this purpose a Quonset type construction was decided
upon. Construction has been started on the emergency dormitory to house 25
older boys and men. A couple to serve as
house parents are already at Bethesda in the persons of Mr. and Mrs. Otto
Hedricks. The building is to be of steel construction with adequate insulation
and all modern conveniences. A steam convector heating system is to be used in
the living quarters while the large bedroom is to be heated by Modine
radiators. 11 12
1955 An
announcement revealing recent activities and future plans at the Bethesda
Lutheran Home was issued here today following the annual meeting of the board
members of the institution. It is estimated the planned building program at
Bethesda Lutheran Home will amount to approximately $2,000,000 in the
construction of a four-story hospital type dormitory for aged patients, and to
include an infirmary and various types of therapy. A new school of ten rooms
and junior size gymnasium is also to be constructed. Finally, the remodeling
program will be completed as a part of the building program. 10 22
1955 The
Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, of which St. John's Church of Watertown is a
member, today announced plans for its $5,000,000 building campaign which is to
be held Sunday, March 20 in 4,000 churches of the synod throughout the United
States. The Bethesda Lutheran Home is one of five auxiliary organizations of
the church body which is to share in the funds of the campaign. The Bethesda
Lutheran Home's share is $1,700,000 which is to be used to complete a vast
remodeling program at the institution and to erect new dormitories and a school
for the mentally retarded persons for which it provides care and training. 02 25
1956 Plans
are well advanced for a two million dollar expansion program at the Bethesda
Lutheran Home, it was announced yesterday by the Rev. Clarence F. Golisch,
superintendent. “We are bursting at the seams,” the superintendent said. He
reported that the institution is caring for 466 patients, which is many more
than state regulations allow. After the expansion program is completed, the
institution will accommodate 750 patients. He prophesied, because of the great
demand for the type of care offering by Bethesda, that eventually there would
be a thousand patients with the expanded facilities designed for 750. 01 04
1956 In a
letter which Bethesda Lutheran Home officials have sent to the Water Commission
here, the needs for better fire protection at the institution, through added
water facilities being made available in the area, are being stressed. The
letter asks extension of a six-inch water line for a distance of 2,225 feet to
be part of the proposed project. This would enable more water hydrants in case
of need in fires and the installation would favorably affect the institution's
fire insurance rating. 05 11
1956 A
notable milestone in the history of the Bethesda Lutheran Home took place
yesterday afternoon when ground breaking ceremonies were held for two new
buildings - a hospital or adult building and a school. The cost of the two
units will be $2,000,000. The new facilities will enable the institution to handle
750 patients, which is almost 300 more than the current population. The first
shovel of dirt for the new adult or hospital building was turned by Louis
Pingel, who until his retirement has been superintendent of the institution for
nearly 30 years, whose long range planning has included the present building
program. The second shovel was turned by Dr. Otto F. Dierker, president of the
board; and the third by the Rev. Clarence F. Golisch, superintendent. The first
shovel of dirt for the school was turned by Chaplain Adolph M. Harstad. Other
shovels were turned by Arthur Mallow, member of the board, and Walter Manthey,
treasurer and member of the board. 06 17
1957 The
two newest buildings at the Bethesda Lutheran Home which are now nearing completion
are to be dedicated on Sunday, Oct. 20.
Those buildings are the $1,300,000 Ritter Memorial Dormitory, partial
use of which has been promised in September, and the new $200,000 Pingel
School, named in honor of Louis Pingel,
for many years superintendent of the home.
The new dormitory includes a geriatric area for older patients and a
completely equipped infirmary. There is
also special space for emotionally disturbed residents. The Pingel School building has nine
classrooms, with additional classrooms if needed, as well as recreational
space, teachers' offices and the like.
Orville Madsen and Son, Minneapolis, are the general contractors and the
architects are Edgar A. Stubenrauch and Associates of Sheboygan. 08 13
1958
01 29 Louis
Pingel, “The Grand Old Man of Bethesda,”
honored. Associated with the home for 50
years WDT
04 03 Plans announced for dual dedication services on
Sunday, April 13 and Sunday, April 20, for newly completed Louis Pingel School, the Linda Ritter Memorial Dormitory, and the
Manual Arts School. WDT
04 11 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. WDT
07 22 Plot
of ground deeded to the Watertown Historical Soc so to erect a log cabin on
the site, in addition to historical marker.
WDT
1980 Three
buildings at Bethesda Lutheran Home have been demolished to make room for a
badly needed parking lot. The oldest unit, the Eggers building, was erected in
1909 for a cost of $35,000. The second section of the Eggers building was
constructed in 1913. In 1922 the Tetzlaff building, part of a $175,000 building
project, was put up. It was connected to the Eggers building by a long corridor
which after remodeling to the front and rear became the Prange building. In
recent years it housed administrative offices which have been moved to the
remodeled Pingel School building. None of the demolished units met state fire
codes and residents hadn't lived there for three to four years. Besides tearing
down the three buildings, the back wall of the chapel, which was the front wall
of the Tetzlaff building, was also destroyed. A new wall and gift shop will be
constructed. In addition to the gift shop and parking area, Bethesda opened its
new lobby about two weeks ago. 10 22
1980 Bethesda
Lutheran Home will lay the cornerstone for its new chapel and spiritual life
center at 2:30 p.m. Sunday. An open house in the home's newly remodeled areas
and presentation of the 1980 Pool of Bethesda Award are also planned in
conjunction with the event. Following
the ceremony, the 1980 Pool of Bethesda Award will be presented to Dr. Clarence
Golisch, who headed Bethesda from 1950 to 1972. The award was created by the
home in 1979 to recognize outstanding contributions of service and leadership
in the field of mental retardation.
Previous recipients are Dale Evans Rogers and Chaplain Herbert Munderich
of California. 11 26
1982 A $717,000 project at Bethesda
Lutheran Home will result in the relocation of 46 residents to updated quarters
and the addition of two services. The
13,107-square-foot lower level of Dierker Building C will be partitioned into
10 four-bed and three two-bed rooms.
Each room will have bath and toilet facilities and built-in
wardrobes. The residents will be moved
into Dierker C from the third floor of the Ritter Building, which will be
converted into a resource and diagnostic center. 11 27
1997 Dr.
Alexander L. Napolitano, executive director at Bethesda Lutheran Homes and
Services Inc. for the past 23 years, will retire at the end of the year. Napolitano, chief executive officer of one of
the nation's largest providers to people with mental retardation, will retire
on Jan. 1, 1998. He has served as
executive director since
2007
11 15 Annual Country Fair at
the Dodge County Fairgrounds discontinued.
WDT
Cross References:
No 1: History of Bethesda Lutheran Home, Bethesda
website
