website watertownhistory.org
ebook History of Watertown, Wisconsin
Bittner and Tetzlaff
Drug Store
1914 SCHEMPF
DRUG SELLS OUT TO MAX TETZLAFF
04 23 The Schempf Drug
Co. has disposed of its business interests to Max Tetzlaff,
son of Ex-Alderman Herman Tetzlaff, and Erwin T.
Bittner, son of William Bittner. Both
young men have been engaged in the drug business in Racine a number of years
and are well qualified to conduct a drug business. Hosts of friends here wish them success. John W. Schempf,
the former proprietor of the business, may decide to locate in the west. WG
1915
Ad, Rexall Drug Store,
Ansco Films, 202 E Main
Postcard
published by Bittner & Tetzlaff [1915 is approx date]
1917
08 18 POSTCARD SENT TO Mrs. ED HOELTER NEE
EUGENIA BITTNER
Bittner
& Tetzlaff
Pharmacy postcard (WHS_002_PC_366_2 ) sent to Mrs. Ed Hoelter
nee Eugenia Bittner in Chicago
(1881-1932).
1930
06 10 OCCUPANCIES ON SECOND FLOOR (116 ½)
Dr. E. H. Cook, who for over 20 years had his office
in the Hoffman- Kelly Co. building, occupies a suite of rooms in the front of
the building. A. J. Tanck,
has the next suite and the rooms farther back are occupied by District Attorney
Harold W. Hartwig who was formerly in the Woolworth building, Dr. J. J.
O'Connell, who for 18 years had his office above the Hinzmann
Barber Shop, N. 2nd Street, and First Church of Christ, Scientists.
In the rooms that Dr. O'Connell now occupies
hundreds of old circus and theatrical programs dating from 25 to 30 years back
were posted over the walls.
1934
08 02 BITTNER & TETZLAFF DISPLAYS
QUINTUPLETS’ PHOTOGRAPH
Bittner & Tetzlaff’s
Drug Store has placed in its show window a picture of the quintuplets born here to Mr. and Mrs. E. M. Kanouse on February 12, 1875. The picture was taken by C. W. Rundlett, who had a studio above the present John E.
Heisman grocery store. It was secured
from Mrs. A. Cox of Green Bay, a granddaughter of the photographer, who has
presented it to the Watertown Historical society. WG
1943
THIRD WAR LOAN DRIVE / Erwin Bittner
1944 ERWIN
T. BITTNER, b. 1887, d. 1944
Erwin T. Bitttner, Druggist, is Dead / Heart
Attack Fatal
Erwin T. Bittner, a widely known Watertown
businessman, died last night at his home, 305 Milwaukee Street. His death was due to a heart ailment from
which he had been suffering for a long time.
Since December, 1943, he had not been active in his business and had
been at home, under the care of a physician.
He had improved sufficiently to be permitted to come to the business
section in recent weeks and he paid his last visit to his store about three or
four weeks ago. Since then his condition
had again taken a turn for the worse and he died last night.
His death breaks a 30 year partnership with Max
Tetzlaff in the Bittner and Tetzlaff drug store. The two men took over the
old John Schempf drug store in Main Street in
1914, just 30 years ago. They operated
on the same site until 1928 when they purchased the present building at North
Second and Main streets and since then, with the exception of ten years during
which he worked as a druggist in Milwaukee and Racine, Mr. Bittner had lived in
Watertown. He was married on Nov 25,
1915 to Miss Esther Nicolaus of Fort Atkinson.
His wife survives, as does one son, Erwin Bittner of Chicago. There are three sisters, Mrs. A. D. Miller,
Chicago; Miss Theodora Bittner, Rock Island, Ill., and Mrs. Eugenia Gotsch,
Fort Wayne, Ind.
Cross reference: Family Tree
1946 FIRE
December
18, 1946
The
Bittner and Tetzlaff Drug Store was located at 116 East Main, on the corner of
Second and Main. Known as “The Rexall
Store,” it was the location of one of the biggest fires in Watertown. The fire also damaged Kern’s Men’s Store,
next door at 114 East Main.
1964
01 06 DEATH OF MAX TETZLAFF
Max H. Tetzlaff, 75, Dies of Heart Attack /
Pharmacist for 50 Years
Max H.
Tetzlaff, 324 Elizabeth Street, widely known Watertown business man, died of a
heart attack this morning. He would have been 76 years of age on Friday.
Mr. Tetzlaff
had left his home at the usual time this morning for the Tetzlaff Rexall
Pharmacy, of which he was head and which he operated with his son, Louis M.
Teztlaff. He apparently suffered the
heart attack soon after his arrival at the business place, 116 Main
Street. He was found by an employee who
arrived shortly before 8 o’clock. The
first aid squad of the fire department was summoned to administer oxygen after
which Mr. Tetzlaff was taken to St. Mary’s Hospital by the Meyer Ambulance
Service. He died enroute, being pronounced
dead f upon arrival at the hospital.
Mr. Tetzlaff had suffered a heart attack in 1955 but
recovered and was able to continue his daily work and activities.
He had been
in business in Watertown since 1914, except for two years when he worked at the
Red Cross Pharmacy in Racine. Plans were
underway here to observe his 76th birthday on Friday and also to commemorate
his half century as a pharmacist.
He was born
in Watertown on Jan. 10, 1888, a son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Herman
Tetzlaff. He was educated in St. John’s
Parochial School, Watertown High School and the College of Pharmacy, Marquette
University, Milwaukee.
He was
married in Racine on Sept. 23, 1914 to Miss Ella Schoenlieber. She preceded him in death, also from a heart
attack, on Feb. 11, 1960.
Mr. Tetzlaff
is survived by a daughter, Miss Doris Tetzlaff, who is presently teaching in
Dayton, Ohio, and a son, Louis M. Tetzlaff of Watertown who is associated in
the family business. There are two
granddaughters.
Mr. Tetzlaff
was the last member of his immediate family, three sisters and a brother having
preceded him in death.
He was a
member of St. John’s Lutheran Church, the Wethonkitha Club, the Watertown
Rotary Club and held memberships in the Jefferson County, the Wisconsin State
and the National Pharmaceutical Associations.
He had served
on the old Watertown Board of Park Commissioners and for many years was a
member of the Bethesda Lutheran Home Board.
Had
Many Interests
Mr. Tetzlaff
had many interests and they represented a variety of activities and
purposes. He was a broadminded man who
could and did readily grasp the other person’s viewpoint and his long
association with business and community affairs, aided by a retentive memory,
made him an excellent source for material on Watertown’s past.
He liked
people and was friendly and sociable. His likeable qualities were many and he
brought these into his daily dealings with his customers and the public.
It can truly
be said there is genuine regret throughout the community at his passing.
The funeral
services will be conducted at St. John’s Church at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday. Interment will be in the Lutheran Cemetery.
Friends may
pay their respects j at the Pederson Funeral Home on Wednesday from 3 to 9 p.m.
and until 11 a.m. Thursday and at the church beginning Thursday noon.
The Rev. Dr.
C. F. Golisch, executive director of Bethesda Lutheran Home, will conduct the
funeral services.
Note: At one
time there was a Tetzlaff building on the campus of Bethesda Lutheran Home.
1965
08 02 LEWIS AND CLARK APOTHECARY SOLD
The Lewis and Clark Apothecary at 116 Main Street, which
for many years was the Tetzlaff Pharmacy, will be taken over by one of the two
partners who are presently operating the business. Louis M. Tetzlaff, 324 Elizabeth Street, has
sold his share in the business to Clark Rhinesmith, 120 Kansas Street, who will
take over the business on Jan. 1. Mr.
Tetzlaff told the Times this morning that he plans to continue living in
Watertown and will continue to work at the pharmacy. WDT
Cross References:
Erwin T. Bittner
buried in Oak Hill Cemetery
Dr.
Edward Johnson, Watertown’s first druggist
History
of Watertown, Wisconsin