website watertownhistory.org
ebook History of Watertown, Wisconsin
Otto Biefeld Company
200-206
N Water
Watertown
Historical Society Collection
1862
Frederich Misegades built the
brick shop at 200-206 North Water Street for wagon making.
1893 PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN OTTO AND RICHARD
BIEFELD
1899
07 14 CEMENT TESTING MACHINE
A cement testing machine has recently been added to the outfits in the
civil engineer's office in the city hall.
It is "loaded" with very fine bird-shot, a fact the city
treasurer Began and Otto Biefeld
have found to their sorrow. In
investigating the mysterious-looking machine, they pressed the button, and the
machine did the rest – thousands of shot being scattered all over the office
floor. Both gentlemen have been
diligently at work for the last week gathering up the fragments, and if they
have good luck, expect to have the task completed in time to take part in the
carnival next September. WG
c.1900
On
or before 1903
View on or before 1903, before the plant addition across O’Connell was built,
an open lot at this time.
1906
05 18 FIRE ENGINE UNDER DIRECTION OF OTTO
BIEFELD
A trial of old fire engine No. 1 was made yesterday afternoon, the scene
being on the river bank back of the old brewery. The trial was under the direction of Otto Biefeld, former Watertown Fire
Department Chief, and was for the purpose of instructing the new engineer
of fire engines, August Schmidt with the duties of the position to which he was
recently elected by the council, which was formerly held by Mr. Biefeld. Despite the fact that the engine has been in
service in Watertown for a period of thirty years this summer, the former chief
declares that it does just as good work as ever and that during the trial
yesterday, it threw a stream across the river. It is said Mr. Schmidt takes
hold of the work with much credit to himself. The first engineer was Ferdinand
Bursinger and the first chief William Schuette.
1908
08 14 WELLS SHOE
CO. CONTRACT
Otto Biefeld secured 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. WG
1909
07 02 BETHESDA CONTRACT
Bethesda Lutheran Home, contract for plumbing WG
07 09 SILVER WEDDING ANNIVERSARY, Otto Biefeld
and wife
On Monday, July 5, 1909, Otto Biefeld and wife
celebrated their silver wedding on an elaborate scale. Over 800 invitations were issued for the
event.
Religious services took place at the German Reformed Church at 2 o’clock
p.m., Rev. A. C. Plappert officiating. These were followed by a social program at
Turner opera house, beginning at 8 o’clock p.m. and lasting until early next
morning. The program included reception
of guests by Mr. and Mrs. Biefeld in the upper hall,
followed by dancing and a banquet served in the lower hall, covers being laid
at each sitting for 128 guests.
The upper hall decorations were in red, white and blue. Over the dining room tables was suspended a
large silver wedding bell; the corps of 20 waitresses were dressed in white and
wore a silver regalia and each guest was presented with a silver paper
badge. The presents to Mr. and Mrs. Biefeld were many and some of them of a very valuable
character.
The Eagles gave an elegant silver tea set of seven pieces, the Turner
Society a number of costly gifts, the Plattdeutcher
Verein and Liederkranz Society a fine bedroom set and a number of upholstered
rocking chairs; there were about 60 silverware gifts and hundreds of other fine
articles from the 800 guests present.
The affair was the largest social event that has ever taken place in
Watertown and was thoroughly enjoyed by all present.
Sloan Orchestra furnished music for the occasion.
Mr. Biefeld was born in Joestadt,
Saxony, July 26, 1861, and his wife in Buchholz, Saxony, in 1864. The former came to Watertown June 13, 1883,
and in 1884 he sent for his wife, to whom he was engaged before leaving his
native country. July 5, 1884, they were
united in marriage in this city and have since resided here.
Shortly after arriving here Mr. Biefeld found
employment with the Kunert Manufacturing Co.,
remaining in their employ until 1893, when he and his brother Richard formed a
partnership and conducted for years a machine and repair shop at the corner of
Second and Market streets. They purchased
the present site of their fine business in 1898 from Fred. Misegades
and are now proprietors of one of the largest and best paying machine,
boiler-making, gas fitting and plumbing establishments in the state.
Mr. Biefeld and wife are members of the German
Reformed Church; they are the parents of 12 children, eleven of whom are
living.
Mr. Biefeld is a member of the local lodge of
Eagles, the Turner, Plattdeutscher Verein and
Liederkranz societies and the Sons of Herman and is one of Watertown’s most
popular and public-spirited citizens, contributing liberally to every public
and business enterprise ever established here since he became a resident, and
his amiable wife cheerfully endorses him in all his good works.
The Gazette joins
their host of friends in extending most hearty congratulations and trust they
will live in the enjoyment of good health and prosperity long after the time
arrives to celebrate their golden wedding.
WG
1910
SANITARY
PLUMBING, STEAM & HOT WATER HEATING
02 18 LINCOLN
SCHOOL CONTRACT
New Lincoln School, heating and plumbing contract; Lincoln day design by Mrs. Otto Biefeld. WG
03 11 BIEFELD- SCHIEFELBEIN
WEDDING
Mr. Otto Biefeld, Jr. of this city and Miss
Emma Schiefelbein of Portage were united in wedlock
in the latter city this afternoon at 5 o’clock.
The ceremony took place at the home of the bride’s mother. Mr. E. F. Moldenhauer and Miss Martha Biefeld of this city were the attendants. After a brief wedding tour Mr. and Mrs. Biefeld will begin housekeeping at 207 North Water
Street. The groom is a son of Mr.
and Mrs. Otto Biefeld and is a young man who has a
host of friends in Watertown. His bride
is spoken of as a most estimable young lady who with her husband have the well
wishes of a large number of friends in Watertown and Portage. Mr. and Mrs. Otto Biefeld
attended the wedding. Watertown
News, 03 11 1910
c.1910
EMPLOYEES OUTSIDE PLANT AT N. WATER
& O’CONNELL
1911
1912
Contract for addition to the Lutheran Home for
Feeble-Minded
1914
05 07 OTTO
BIEFELD & CO. WILL BUILD NEW SHOP
On May 13th Otto Biefeld & Co. will break ground for a new $10,000
machine shop on North Water Street. It
will be 60 x 104 feet, 36 feet high, with a basement under part of it and will
front on O'Connell Street. It will be of
concrete and brick construction, and will be fitted out with everything
up-to-date, including shower baths for use by workmen, a complete medicine
chest for use in case of accidents, and up-to-date toilet rooms. New machines will be installed and the shop
will contain everything first-class for carrying on the extensive business of
this popular and enterprising firm. WG
05 21 BIEFELD
BIDS LET
The mason work for the new Biefeld machine shop has been let to
Guetzlaff and McLaughlin. August Strasburg
secured the carpenter work and Lehman Bros. will do the excavating. WG
07 23 FOOT
INJURED
Otto Biefeld had one of his feet badly injured last Thursday evening
while assisting at placing I-beams in the new Lutheran school building [must be
the new St. Mark’s Lutheran School]. The injury will lay him up for some
time. WG
10 15 HIP
AND ARM INJURED / William Martch
William Martch, while doing carpenter work, fell last Saturday from the
new Biefeld building on North Water Street and was severely injured in his hip
and arm. Dr. Joseph O’Connell attended
him and says he will be all right in a short time. WG
04 25 OTTO BIEFELD Jr. SAVED FROM DROWNING
But for the fact that Edward Leschinger was on the river bank between O’Connell and Cady
streets Thursday morning the little child of Otto Biefeid,
Jr. (*) would have been drowned in the river.
The little tot tumbled off the bank into the water and Mr. Leschinger, who was watching the test of the new motor
truck (**), saw the accident and went into the river and brought the little one
to shore in safety. Watertown Weekly Leader, April 25, 1917
Webmaster’s notes:
(*) g-grandfather of Watertown’s current (2018)
Fire Chief, Kraig Biefeld. There were 3 Ottos, the above-mentioned SON
of Otto Jr. (therefore Otto III). The
Otto Jr. family resided on the lot where Johnson Arms is currently standing on
N. Water St. The Otto Sr. house was on
O’Connell St., right behind the old Otto Biefeld
factory on N. Water.
(**) This incident aligns with the April 1917
arrival of the city's new triple combination pumping engine, cited on page 198
of the book on the 150-year history of the Watertown Fire Department.
09 12 THIEVES STEAL OATS FROM BIEFELD BARN
One hundred bushels of oats belonging to the Otto Biefeld
Cos. disappeared from the bin in the company barn in O’Connell Street during
Monday evening. The oats had been
purchased a few days before the occurrence.
It has been the habit of not locking the barn as the Biefeld
residence is just across the street, but on this night the family was not at
home, a fact probably known to the thieves.
Partly burnt matches were strewed about the barn floor and a wagon or
truck would be necessary to carry the grain away. They made a clean sweep, leaving not enough
in the bins to feed the team next morning. The Watertown
News, 09 12 1917
10 04 MAX BIEFELD BECOMES SECRETARY-TREASURER
Max E. Biefeld, Watertown, Wis., has resigned as assistant manager of the
American Malting Co. to become
secretary-treasurer of the Otto Biefeld Co., Watertown, boiler and structural
works, succeeding the late Richard Biefeld.
The Iron Age, 10
04, 1917.
1918
-- -- SUGAR CANE HARVESTERS
BUILT BY MONACH TRACTOR AND BY OTTO
BIEFELD CO.
CROSS REFERENCE NOTE
OF 1921: The Luce Sugar Cane Harvester
Co., which has been located in Watertown, Wis., has established offices in New
York and later will acquire a plant either in that state or in New Jersey. A number of machines have been built for the
company at the plant of the Monarch Tractor Co. in
Watertown and additional machines by the Otto Biefeld
Co. of that city. It is reported that
the machines have been thoroughly tested in the cane fields of Cuba and the results
have been sufficient to encourage the company in extensive production. Farm Implement News, Volume
42, 1921
02 08 WILL BUILD FOUNDRY WHEN WEATHER PERMITS
The Otto Biefeld Company will begin the
erection of a foundry as soon as the weather permits in the spring. It will be located on the east side of North Water Street, just
north of O’Connell Street, and will occupy the old Ruesch
property and the Zimmermann property for that purpose.
The building will be of brick, 66x214 feet, and the foundry will have a
capacity of six tons daily. The building
will also house the grinding machinery now in
the old factory across the street, and this will give added room in that
building, which is greatly needed. The Watertown News, 02
08 1918
11 06 APOLOGY FOR DEROGATORY COMMENTS
To Whom It May Concern.
Having made certain statements derogatory to the reputation of Otto Biefeld, Sr., and the firm of Otto Biefeld
Company, regarding the quality of the material used by the firm in connection
with its plumbing and heating contracts, I hereby withdraw all such statements,
acknowledging that they were false and without basis.
The attention of all who have heard these statements, either directly
from me or through other parties, is called to this notice, which is a
retraction of all statements I have made regarding the firm or its members.
`
Signed, Walter Heil.
Watertown, Wisconsin, November 5, 1918. The
Watertown News, 11 06 1918
1920
04 10 BETHESDA ADDITION, HEATING CONTRACTOR
Home
for feeble minded add $170,000, 2 story, 60x106.
Architect:
B A Messmer & Bros, 1006 Majestic bldg., Milwaukee
Gen
contract let to Carl Block, 206 Division St, Watertown
Masonry
let to Mallow & Kadditz, 309 Warren St, Watertown
Heating
let to Otto Biefeld
& Co, Watertown
Plumbing
let to Mendenhall Co, Watertown
1925
06 18 GRANDSTAND FOR CITY OF WATERTOWN
06 18 1925
Drawn by Arthur Kuenzi, engineer (with Otto Biefeld
Co., later Biefeld president)
Most likely for
expanded grandstand at Inter-County fairgrounds
(fair grounds closed in 1927)
Not certain if built,
and if so, whether by Maas Bros., who had plans to bid on project
1926 DEATH OF OTTO BIEFELD, Sr. 1861-1926
03 25 Another of Watertown's esteemed and
popular businessmen has gone to his final reward in the person of Otto Biefeld,
Sr., who passed away last Sunday night at his home, 206 O'Connell Street. Six weeks previous to his death he went to
Hot Springs, Arkansas, in hopes of getting cured of his ailments, and had
returned only a few days previous to his death in a worse condition than when
he left for Hot Springs.
July
26, 1861, Mr. Biefeld was born in Saxony, Germany, where he learned the
heating, plumbing and locksmith trade and in 1888, he came to Watertown,
locating here on June 13. He secured
employment with the Kunert
Bros. Machine Co., and was employed by that firm till 1893, when he and his
brother Richard formed a partnership in the building now occupied by the Jansky
Printing Co., and conducted a machine, heating, locksmith and general repair
work business, and then business developed so fast that they finally located
and extended their business from time to time in the building now occupied by
the firm in North Water Street.
Mr.
Biefeld was one of Watertown’s most public-spirited citizens, his purse and
time always aiding generously every public enterprise. His death is a great loss to our city. He was a member of the Reformed church, of
the Plattdeutscher Verein, of the Watertown Business Men's Association, the
Watertown Council of United Commercial Travelers, of the National Heating and
Piping Contractors of New York City, and the Master Plumbers Association.
His
wife survives him. After being a year in
this country, he sent for her to [in] Saxony, her maiden name being Lydia
Schreiber, and they were married in this city July 5, 1884.
Twelve
children were born to them, one son George, dying in infancy. The surviving children are Martha, June,
Kermit, Carl and Lena at home, Otto
Biefeld, Jr., Ernest Biefeld, Mrs. L. R. Stoll, Mrs. Clarence Kunitz of
this city, Mrs. W. D. Marpell and Mrs. Harry Holmes, Milwaukee. There are also twenty grandchildren and five
sisters, Mrs. John Kneubuehler of this city, Mrs. C. E. Heyn, of Geneva, Ill.,
Mrs. Alvin Hunger of Milwaukee, Mrs. Ida Maschke and Mrs. Minnie Borchardt of
Saxony, Germany.
His
only brother Richard died several years ago.
His funeral was held today with services at the home at 1:30 o'clock
followed by services at the Reformed church at 1:30 o'clock, the Rev. F. W.
Lemke officiating. The interment was in
Oak Hill cemetery.
1931
10 16 HELP BUILD MAIN ST.
BRIDGE
The bridge was constructed by Cunningham Bros,
of Beloit. The Otto Biefeld Co.
provided the steel, George H. Lehmann did the concrete work and Ed. L. Bartlett
furnished the cement, while the Hutson-Braun Lumber Co., the West Side Lumber
Co., and the Gateway Lumber Co., provided other materials. Arthur Ruesch was in charge of the electrical
wiring.
1933 NOTE REGARDING JOHN DORNFELD
John Dornfeld became
associated with the Otto Biefeld Company. Since that association, which began in
October, 1933, he built a number of plants, one for the Fleischman Malting
Company at Chicago, one for the Hamm Brewing company at St. Paul, Minn., and
another for the National Malting Company at Paterson, N. J., and many other
smaller installations. Since his association
with the Biefeld Company, he spent part of his time in Watertown. He spent two months here last summer. His work in the malting field will now be
carried on by the Otto Biefeld Company here.
1936
UNIT IN WATERTOWN CENTENNIAL PARADE
1950
11 06 LAYOUT OF S. FIRST ST.
FACILITY
Note
regarding Shop No. 5: The railroad track
went into shop No. 5 at one time when there was only a canopy over that
area. A train car was on the spur and
the breaks let loose and the car rolled into the shop. Later the shop area was enclosed.
1952
BIEFELD HI-SPRAY CHEMICAL SPRAYER
1954 CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION,
CITY OF WATERTOWN
BROTHERS
OF THE BUSH
Biefeld sponsored group, 1954 Centennial Celebration
PARADE: Unit in centennial
parade
c.1955
SOUTH FIRST STREET FACILITY
1958
10 13 KUENZI NAMED TO WISCONSIN
MANUFACTURERS ASSN
Arthur Kuenzi,
president of the Otto Biefeld Co., has been named to
the legislative committee of the Wisconsin Manufacturers Association. His appointment is for the 1958-59
term. The appointment was made by C.F.
Van Pelt of the Fred Rueping Leather Co., Fond du
Lac, president of the association. WDT
1959
07 01 SALE OF OTTO BIEFELD COMPANY
Arthur
Kuenzi, president of the Otto Biefeld
Company and Roy O. Henszey, president of the Henszey Company, announced the sale of the respective
companies. Pieter W. Schipper, president
of the newly formed Henszey Company, Inc. and Otto Biefeld Corporation, confirmed the acquisitions. He stated that he had great confidence in the
future of both enterprises and that he anticipated their continued growth in
present and allied fields based on their past history, resulting in increased
opportunities for the employees. Both
concerns will continue their operations in Watertown and no major changes are
contemplated at this time. WDT
1960
03 03 Ralph
Ebert opens consulting engineering service; was engineer for Otto Biefeld Co.
10 12 KUENZI RETIREMENT
Arthur Kuenzi, for
many years president of the Otto Biefeld Co, makes
official announcement of his retirement.
He severed his connections with the firm on May 1. The middle of last year the firm was sold,
and is now known as the Otto Biefeld
Corporation. WDT
12 21 ADDITION TO PLANT BETWEEN
S. SECOND AND S. FIRST STREETS
The Otto Biefeld
Corporation has completed and is now occupying a 10,000 square foot addition at
its plant between South Second and South First streets. The new unit is most helpful in the expanding
operations of the business. Employment,
including production and office and executive help, now numbers 167 -
approximately double the figure of a year and a half ago. A partial second shift has been added. Sale of the Otto Biefeld
Company to the Otto Biefeld Corporation was announced
on July 1, 1959. At the same time sale
of the Henszey Company to Henszey
Company, Inc., was announced. Pieter W.
Schipper is president of both firms. WDT
12 28 KUENZI OPPOSES POLICE-FIRE STATION AT EIGHTH AND MADISON
Three members who served on a committee named
by Attorney Charles E. Kading,
while he was serving as acting city manager here, to study city hall expansion
needs today issued a statement opposing the proposed construction of a new police and fire
station at the corner of North
Eighth and Madison streets and suggested that maybe “it is time to hold
another referendum” on the matter. The
three are Arthur Kuenzi, a registered professional
engineer who was president of the old Otto Biefeld
Co., now the Otto Biefeld Corp.; Albert W. Maas,
general contractor and head of the Maas Bros.
Construction Company and a former city councilman; and O. E. Carlson, for
many years a building materials supplier here.
WDT
c.1960
-- -- 812 S. SECOND ST.
FACILITY
-- -- 
Sometimes listed as 812 S. First
Street
In 1938 Otto Biefeld Corp took over the plant
of what was formerly the Dornfeld-Kunert Co. and later
known as the Monarch Tractor plant. In
1960 the Otto Biefeld Corp completed a
10,000-square-foot addition at its plant between S. Second and S. First
streets.
1961
03 18 NO PLANS TO LEAVE WATERTOWN
“The recession is a thing of
the past.” That was the statement of Pieter Schipper, president of the Otto Biefeld Corp. and the Henszey
Company, Inc. of Watertown, last night at the regular weekly meeting of the
Watertown Kiwanis Club. Mr. Schipper
said that the so-called recession had been very much over-rated and was a
normal par of the leveling out process which is
inevitable in our economy. He stated
that the two companies which he heads have no plans to leave Watertown, but
rather, plan to stay here and expand facilities and take on additional employees
as quickly and as fast as expansion permits, according to present plans. WDT
1965
02 23 PRESSURE VESSELS MANUFACTURE DISCONTINUED
The Atwater-General
Corporation, formerly the Otto Biefeld Corporation,
is discontinuing the manufacture of pressure vessels, it was announced today by
Pieter W. Schipper, president. When the manufacture of pressure vessels now in
production is completed, this phase of the Atwater-General operation will end.
Work is expected to be completed about April. Pressure vessels are the
principal product manufactured by Atwater-General, and accounts for most of the
firm’s production. After April the firm will be making only humidifiers,
Schipper said today. Approximately 25 persons are employed by the concern.
Atwater-General Corporation came into being on January 1, 1964. WDT
1969
09
13 HEVI-DUTY ELECTRIC MOVING to Wakoka
& William streets
Groundbreaking
ceremonies for the new building to be constructed by Hevi-Duty Electric, division of Sola Basic Industries
will be held Tuesday, Sept. 16 at 1 p.m.
The building will be built on property Hevi-Duty
owns at the intersection of Wakoka and William
streets. When the building is completed,
operations of this division now in the former Biefield
property on North Water Street will be moved to the new structure.
2004
09 04 BUILDING
RESTORATION
The
restoration of one of the city’s early examples of 19th century industrial development
continued this morning as paint was applied to the Italianate style
exterior. The historic landmark at 200
N. Water St. was built in 1850 and has housed a variety of businesses including
the Fredrick Misegades Wagon Works, the Otto Biefeld & Co. Machine Shop, the Kottwitz
Electric Motors Co. and most recently the Kriewaldt
Electric Motor Co. Present owner Chad Haase is in the process of completely renovating the
building and restoring the exterior to original appearance. New windows and electrical, plumbing, heating
systems are being installed to the structure which will eventually house three
commercial businesses on the lower level and three apartments on the
second. WDT
REVIEW ARTICLE
Biefeld Brothers, Otto and Richard,
Started Steel Fabricating Company, WDTimes, 06 26 1954
The
Otto Biefeld Co. passed its 60th anniversary in
1953. The company has a notable record
in the field of manufacturing and service in this community. It was in 1893 that the late Otto Biefeld, Sr., founded the business that still bears his
name.
In
June, 1883 two brothers, Otto and Richard Biefeld,
left their homeland and came to America to seek their fortune. On Oct. 24, 1893, they opened a machine and
repair shop on the corner of South Second and Market Streets. Their first customers were D. & F. Kusel. From its
humble beginning the firm of Otto Biefeld &
Company grew to what it is today. But it
was not luck alone which brought about this good fortune, rather untiring
efforts and hard work. As business increased,
the firm bought the old Misegades property on North
Water Street in May, 1899. New machinery
was purchased and a plumbing and heating department was added. This formed the nucleus of the present plant
of the Otto Biefeld Co.
Soon
the fame of the firm spread and it again became necessary to enlarge the
plant. In 1914 Arthur Kuenzi, formerly chief engineer of the Dornfeld-Kunert Company, joined the organization and a
large construction shop was erected in North Water Street across from the old
quarters. After that was completed other
key men from Dornfeld-Kunert Company, such as A. F.
Schumacher, accountant, William Kleineschay, engineer
and Herman Gerth, manager of production, joined the
firm, and the services rendered started to spread from local and neighborhood
business to state and neighboring states.
These added facilities soon increased employment from 8 in 1914 to about
50 in 1918. In 1918 a boiler shop was
added to the plant and in 1929 another addition was made.
Death in 1917
Following
the death of Richard Biefeld in 1917, the plant was
incorporated with Otto Biefeld as president; Otto Biefeld, Jr., vice-president; and Max Biefeld,
secretary treasurer.
Otto
Biefeld’s life came to a close in 1923, but his
ideals live on. He left behind a
thriving business as a monument to his industry and achievement. His had been a notable achievement and at the
time of his death, he was held in high regard for his civic interests,
leadership and business ability. His
ideals have been carried on through his sons and old and faithful employees.
Mr.
Biefeld was survived by his widow, who in spite of advancing
years maintained an active interest in the firm and its employees. She was familiarly referred to by young and
old as “Grandma Biefeld.”
The
plant management again changed following Mr. Biefeld’s
death. On Aug. 17, 1926, Ernest Biefeld became president; Otto Biefeld,
Jr., vice-president; Kermit Biefeld, secretary; and
A. F. Schumacher, treasurer.
Management Changed
Due
to transfers in ownership of stock, the management changed on March, 1930. Officers elected were: Arthur Kuenzi,
president; R. O. Henszey, vice-president; and A. F.
Schumacher, secretary-treasurer. These
officers remain the same today.
In
step with the ever changing and progressing times, the Otto Biefeld
Co. also widened its scope in products and markets. In 1938 it took over the plant of what was
formerly Dornfeld-Kunert Company and later known as
the Monarch Tractor Plant. New
departments were added to fill the needs of its growing list of customers. The firm became the manufacturers of a diversified
line of products fabricated from steel and iron, such as boilers, stacks, tanks
etc., structural steel for buildings and bridges, flag poles, coal conveyors,
special machinery and the “Wisconsin Special” snow plow, which is now used in
many parts of the United States. Through
its dairy equipment division which is fabricated from stainless steels, it has
become well known in all parts of the country.
Homogenizers, viscolizers, large stainless
steel tanks and milk evaporators have been shipped to all parts of the world,
including such places as Africa, South America, Mexico, Canada and Hawaii. Besides these production departments, the
firm also maintains a used equipment department.
Aided National
Defense
On
Dec. 7, 1941, great changes took place in the nation and the Otto Biefeld Co. No more
steel construction jobs were allowed without high priorities, no steel was
available for the manufacture of certain commodities, new plumbing and heating
installations were frozen. But the Otto Biefeld Co. did not admit defeat and close its doors. In peace they had helped to make America the
prosperous and leading country it was; now in war they were determined to do
their part to keep the American way of life.
Nor did they shirk their duties. The plant was almost 100 per cent on defense
work. They carried out sub-contract work
for the fabrication of the actual parts of ships for Walter Butler
Shipbuilders, Inc., Kewaunee Shipbuilding Co. and the Leathern D. Smith
Shipbuilding Company to whom these parts and sections were shipped and brought
into the large unit. During this period
they were also awarded the largest single contract in the history of the
business amounting to $369,810.99 which covered fabricated equipment for the 42
hemp mills that the government built.
Navy distilling units in connection with a contract acquired by the Henszey Company of this city, was another large
project. Employment rose to over 200 and
in between contracts and in any spare moments, the plant was indirectly on
defense work maintaining equipment for dairy industries, farms and canning
companies who were engaged in government work.
Not
only did the Biefeld Co. turn over its available
buildings equipment and crews to the war effort, but its honor roll boasted 24
names of employees, both office and shop, who were given to all branches of the
Armed Forces.
As
the war came to a close it meant that concerted effort must be made to get back
into fabrication of its regular products, which was quickly accomplished by its
officers, heads of departments and loyal employees, and production was
increased over former years with constant employment to a total of 150 to 160
employees.
Cross
References:
Manufactured arm machine in front of Biefeld Co., date unknown.
History of Watertown,
Wisconsin