website watertownhistory.org
ebook History of Watertown,
Wisconsin
Also part of History of Railroads
Chicago & Northwestern Railway
Chicago & Northwestern Depot
725 West Main
1908, WHS_005_433
1859
06 30 Work on the Chicago and Northwestern Railway is fairly commenced. Under the old regime—or what was known as the
Chicago, St. Paul and Fond du Lac Co.—we
were so often humbugged into the belief that the work was to be prosecuted with
renewed energy and “finished up this time without any mistake,” that we about
made up our minds that the next time we believed it, or announced it, would be
when we saw it done and heard the whistle of the locomotive. Gangs of men are scattered all along the line
of the road . . . Hon. Perry H. Smith is securing the right of way and pays
cash in hand for the damages when agreed upon . . . We understand the iron
necessary for laying the track the entire distance between Milton and La Crosse
Junctions is purchased. We see no obstacle
to its completion according to the terms of the contract. WD
07 21 Two large and efficient parties of men are now organized and actively
engaged in laying track on the Chicago and NorthWestern
Railroad; one starting from this city, and rapidly advancing toward the La
Crosse Junction, and the other as rapidly coming from the Junction towards this
city. Already, for the first time, the
Iron Horse passed through and beyond the northern limits of this city yesterday,
and it is interesting to witness the speed with which the rails are being put
down, how fast a way is being prepared for the flying locomotive. The days are few and numbered, when this
seventeen mile link will be supplied, which is to make perfect our railroad
connection with the north. The grading
on the southern section is progressing with equal and unabated vigor. WD
08 18 During the past two weeks track laying on the Chicago and North Western
Railroad has been suspended between this city and the La Crosse Junction in
consequence of the want of iron, but was resumed again last Thursday
morning. Vessels loaded with rails for
this road arrived at Milwaukee last Sunday and Monday evening a train of iron
was sent to this city and is now being put down. This removed the last obstacle to the speedy
and sure completion of this short fragment of road—there is not now over two
miles of track to be laid and all will be finished at least as soon as
Saturday, when an engine will be able to pass over the road from Watertown to
Juneau. In this connection we might as
well state that enough iron to lay the whole distance between this city and
Janesville is now on the way from New York.
It will soon be unshipped at Milwaukee and Chicago and the work of track
laying will be commenced and prosecuted from both
ends. The grading is so far advanced
that it will all be completed before the track layers can reach the ungraded
portions that yet remain to be done. As
we said a few weeks since, this year will not end before the cars will be
running from the north to the south, and also from the east to the west,
through this city. We shall then no
longer be an isolated, one side[d] place, but the center of travel of this
state . . . WD
09 01 Regular trains are now running over the
Chicago and North Western Railroad between this city and Oshkosh. Mr. E. J. Cuyler is
the station agent for this city and is prepared to furnish tickets to any point
along the line where the cars stop.
Until his office is fitted up in the new depot building, which is now
being built as rapidly as possible, he will be found at the Planter’s Hotel,
ready to give passengers any information they may desire as to the hours of
starting and arriving. In a day or two
the regular time table will be made out and announced to the public so that all
may know what to depend upon and be able to make their calculations
accordingly. A large number of men are
scattered along the track, making it as even and firm as possible. For a track just laid, it is in as good a
condition for now as could be expected.
In fact it needs but little adjustment to make it as good as it can be
made. Even as it is now, it is much
better than many older roads. WD
09 01 New Depot. The Chicago and North Western
Company are now erecting a new depot building
a few rods south of the plank road, on the west side of the river [now Garden
Path Florist]. It will be built of wood,
one and a half stories high, and seventy-five feet
long, by thirty wide. It will be used as
both a passenger and freight depot for the present and until arrangements are
made with the Milwaukee, Watertown, and Baraboo Valley Company to put up a
union building large enough to meet the requirements of both roads. That such a structure will be built in this city
before long may be regarded as one of the things that will be. [sic] WD
09 15 All the grading between this city and Janesville on the Chicago and
North Western Railroad was finished last week and everything is ready for the
iron, which has already been laid over six miles south from this point. If there is no delay for the want of iron, it
will not be more than three weeks before a locomotive will pass over the entire
length of this splendid road, reaching from Chicago to Oshkosh. When this is done, all must acknowledge that
the directors of this company have accomplished a great work, considering the
embarrassments under which they labored when spring opened. Autumn will not pass away before they will
have finished the link that is to connect the north with the south, and thus
enable each section of country to supply the wants and contribute to the
prosperity of the other. A new and
valuable channel of trade and travel will be created for the benefit of the
chain of thriving cities and villages through which it runs, and the interest
of the public generally will be advanced by the final completion of this great
enterprise, which we are about to witness and chronicle. WD
09 22 As early as next Saturday
all the iron will probably be laid on the Chicago and North Western
Railroad. Two parties of track layers
are rapidly approaching each other from the north and south and it is
confidently expected, if the weather should be fair, that they will meet on the
last day of this week, and the locomotive be able to
pass over the entire length of the line.
But for the unexpected delay in receiving iron, the road might have been
in successful operation before now. Of
course it will take a short time to ballast the track in order to make it safe
for heavy rains, but this will be accomplished as rapidly as possible . .
. WD
09 22 A long train of forty-seven cars loaded with wheat left this city last
Monday morning and passed over the Chicago and North Western Railroad to the La
Crosse Junction. Heavy amounts of grain
are now finding their way to Milwaukee over this route. The difficulty is to get cars enough to take
the freight that is daily brought here from all directions to be sent to
market. The farmers are selling pretty
freely and this furnishes the railroads with all the business they can do. Every locomotive and freight car is put in
requisition and all is life and activity at every station where wheat can be
bought. . WD
09 22 Fencing. The Chicago and North Western
are now building a substantial board fence on both sides of their road between
this city and Oshkosh. This important
work is nearly completed and by the time the trains pass the entire length of
the line it will be finished. The promptness
with which the road has been enclosed will be a benefit to the farmers and they
will appreciate the favor. . WD
09 22 New Depot. The new depot of the Chicago and North
Western railroad in this city [now Garden Path Florist] is now completed and
ready for freight. It is a wood building
of fair dimensions and for the present will answer the purposes of the
company. A new turn table has also been
put in and is now in use. The business
of this road is large and on the increase.
It will fully meet the anticipations of those who have been the means of
putting it in operation. It must be
among the best paying roads in the West . . .
WD
Railroad completed at
point south of Jefferson
10 11 Railroad Completed—The connecting link between Lake Winnebago on the north and Lake Michigan on the south—or in other words, the last bar of iron which binds Oshkosh and Chicago together with metallic bands—was laid with appropriate exercises on Thursday last. The union was completed under the auspices of delegations from the various cities and towns on the line of the road, by whom the ceremonies of the occasion will long be remembered with emotions of pleasure and satisfaction. No notice had been given that anything out of the usual routine of track-laying was to take place, but it having been understood that the two gangs of men, having that work in charge, were to meet upon the day above mentioned at a point not far from Jefferson, it was determined to make it an occasion of congratulations and rejoicing on the part of a few friends of the work representing the various localities through which it passes.
About noon
an engine from the north, with banners flying, came whizzing along and brought
with it a train of passengers—or perhaps we ought to say, passengers on a
train—to which sundry additions were made at this place and at one o’clock we
were all off for the point where were to be celebrated the nuptials between the
north and the south, Wisconsin and Illinois, Oshkosh and Chicago. Arriving at Jefferson in due time, our
numbers were still further increased and we pushed on about one mile south of
the village where the wedding observances were to be performed. A train from Janesville arrived soon after,
bring a number of gentlemen from that city and intermediate points, when
everything being in readiness, no delay occurred in completing the union
between the two contracting parties.
A. Hyatt
Smith, Esq.—“the original President of the original road”—being called out,
made a few remarks going somewhat into details as to history of the Rock River Valley Union Railroad—spoke
of the embarrassments that company encountered when it first agitated the
project of building a road running north and south through this state—of the
opposition it had to contend with and the difficulties it was compelled to
surmount at the hands of those who should have been its warmest and most
steadfast friends. He alluded to the
fact that when ground was broken at Fond du Lac, on the 14th day of July, 1851,
eight years ago, at the commencement of the work, he threw the first shovel
full of dirt upon that occasion and claimed that as such had been his position
and he had stood by the enterprise in adversity as well as prosperity, he should
beg the privilege of now driving the last spike in
the last rail, upon the completion of the road.
Isaac Woodle, Esq., of Janesville, the first attorney of the
first organization, followed in a few remarks, reviving interesting reminiscences
of the past connected with the road and spoke of the immense importance that
this thoroughfare is to have upon the future welfare of the state.
Charles A.
Eldridge, Esq., of Fond du Lac, being called for, responded in an able and
effective speech. He said the Rock River
Valley is the great backbone of Wisconsin, traversed by the Chicago and North
Western Railway and that all the other railroads in the state are but arteries
diverging from it. His remarks were
heartily applauded.
J. J. Enos, Esq., of this city, L. B. Caswell, Esq., of Fort
Atkinson, and D. F. Weymouth, Esq., of Jefferson, followed briefly and spoke of
the advantages that must necessarily accrue to their respective localities, in
common with all others on the line of the road.
Their
remarks were to the point and went right home to the hearts of their hearers as
facts which it is impossible to controvert.
Cheer upon cheer went up from the crowd as the speakers contrasted the
valley of Rock River as it is today with what it was ten years since and what
it will be ten years hence, and otherwise illustrated the benefits that are
sure to follow the completion of the Chicago and North Western enterprise. After a few happy and pointed remarks from
Hon. Perry H. Smith in which credit was awarded to Wm. B. Ogden, Esq., the
President of the road, who has periled his own immense fortune for the success
of the work; to T. F. Strong, the superintendent, has worked early and late
ever since the project first originated, to carry it forward to successful
completion; to Wells & French, the contractors who have done the work of
grading fifty-six miles so rapidly and well; to Robert Campbell, the ever-ready
and accomplished Chief Engineer, and his assistants; to Campbell & Page,
the contractors for laying the track; to Mr. Barrett, their energetic foreman;
and others whose names do not now occur to us, for the manner in which they
have all discharged their duties in the premises—ascribing to them, however, no
more than their just need of praise for the promptness and fidelity with which
those duties have been performed—the other member of “the Smith family”—A.
Hyatt Smith—then proceeded to the execution of the welcome part assigned to him
in the final act, which, being over, we presumed was a signal for our departure
home. But the Janesville delegation said
No. They
insisted that their friends from the north should accompany them home and
partake of their hospitality, which was readily assented to, though nothing of
that sort was in the first instance contemplated.
Arriving in
Janesville we were all domiciled at the Hyatt House, supper was ordered, which
in due time was announced, and to our certain knowledge it received the
respectful attention of a hungry crowd.
That being over, “a feast of reason and a flow of soul” followed, in
which speeches were made by A. Hyatt Smith, Gov. Barstow, Mr. Eldridge, Mr. Woodle and Hon. P. H. Smith, the party breaking up soon
after in good “spirits,”—no allusion is here made to champagne—and the best
possible humor with themselves, their hosts, the Hyatt House, Janesville and
“the rest of mankind.” The fact that the
whole arrangement was extemporaneous and as unexpected to our Janesville
friends as it was to their visitors, gave it additional éclat and convinced us
all that on occasions of this kind Janesville is “sound” every time. Now that we are placed in direct
communication with her by rail, we hope to see more of her people hereafter,
and in behalf of the Watertown delegation would say that our latch-string shall
always be out and that at some future time we hope to have it in our power to
entertain them as handsomely as they did us.
WD
10 11 Railroad Supper—Last Saturday evening Mr. E. C. French of the firm
of Wells & French, the well known and enterprising railroad builders, who
are always ahead of time, gave a supper at the Exchange
Hotel of this city to a number of gentlemen connected with him in the
construction of the Chicago and North Western Railroad, and a few others, among
whom we noticed Hon. Russell J. Sage, Judge S. L. Rose, D. C. Jackson, Esq.,
and Gen. Chappell. Everything went off
in the most agreeable and flowing style.
The supper was got up in the bountiful and unsurpassed way in which
Alderman Van Alstyne always does that kind of
business. The wines were sparkling and
pure; the conversation and interchange of sentiments interesting and
entertaining, and all went away grateful and pleased with the opportunity of
passing an evening so agreeable among friends and acquaintances. WD
10 20 The formal opening of the Chicago
and North Western Railroad took place last week. Along the entire length of the line, from
Chicago to Oshkosh, all was festivity and rejoicing, and well it might be, for
the people of the Valley of the Rock River and Lake Winnebago celebrated the
completion of an enterprise which had long excited their hopes, employed their
resources, and involved their prosperity.
On the 14th of July, 1851, the first blow was struck towards the construction
through the length of the state, and on the 11th day of October, 1859, the
thronged and crowded excursion train was ready to start from the city of
Chicago, the metropolis of the inland seas, and swiftly glide over the smooth
metallic pathway, nearly two hundred miles to Oshkosh, the rising city on the
shores of the beautiful Winnebago.
After
receiving additions at Janesville, Fort Atkinson and Jefferson, the cars, with
their loaded freight of human beings, came rushing into Watertown, the
locomotives covered with fluttering and flying flags and the cannon at the end
of the train answering to the cannon that thundered from the green a salute to
the long expected and welcome visitors from the south. A splendid brass band struck up a national
air, the Zouave Cadets of Chicago made a brief
display in their singular and attractive uniforms and shortly, with the car
assigned to this city, all were on their way north.
Arrived at
Fond du Lac, after a rapid passage, a torch light procession received the guests
of the day and escorted them amidst the strains of music and the roar of
artillery, to the Main Street, when all dispersed to prepare for the evening
entertainment. The gathering of people
was immense, far larger than was ever collected on that ground before, or is
likely to be soon again. The hotels
being filled to overflowing, private citizens kindly opened their tasteful and
commodious residences for the accommodation of strangers and made everyone who
had the good fortune to test their hospitality perfectly “at home.” In the evening, after a bountiful repast,
Amory Hall was brilliant with dazzling light and there the beauty, fashion and
manliness of a dozen iron-bound cities and villages assembled and until the
beams of the rising sun began to light up the Eastern sky, all was music,
dancing and pleasure.
In the
morning the excursionists, or such as chose, continued their journey to
Oshkosh—some going up the river on the steamers which lay at the wharf ready
for a pleasure trip, some visiting friends, and some passing a few hours in
sightseeing—admiring the activity and prosperity of a flourishing place and
wondering how quickly all the traces of a calamitous fire had been effaced by
the energy and enterprise of its business men.
In the
afternoon the train returned to Fond du Lac—part of it coming as far as
Watertown. Those who remained at the
former place were again entertained with unbounded liberality and invited to
join in the pleasures of another dance.
The next day was the conclusion of this lively and exciting scene. The extended train of thirty cars went back
to its starting point, and so ended one of the most memorable days in the
history of improvement and progress in the fertile and happy Valley of Rock
River.
We have not
attempted, now can we now, to sketch all the incidents of this excursion, the
most remarkable and enthusiastic that Wisconsin has yet witnessed. The rejoicing and enjoyments of the trip were
next to nothing—they were but the graceful flowers thrown around an occasion of
great significance and importance, which speaks of the finishing of a work that
is forever to bind together with iron bands the north and the south, and will
ultimately form an indissoluble and unbroken link in the chain of railways
which will yet unite Lake Superior with the Gulf of Mexico—Ontonagon and
Marquette to New Orleans and Mobile.
On this
unequalled line of travel and trade, Watertown forms an important point. Here four different railroads intersect each
other and there is no direction which may not be taken from this city. North, South, East or West, we can journey
with every facility that steam can give us.
So situated and favored, it is our own fault if we do not here build a
place that in wealth, manufacturers, agriculture, trade, intelligence and
refinement shall be second to no interior place with the broad limits of
Wisconsin, its capital not excepted. WD
1860
05 17 Fence
Building; Chicago and Northwestern soon to be enclosed along its entire
length WD
05 24 Train wreck; derailed, south of city, cow
struck WD
07 26 150 more freight cars, to accommodate
increasing business WD
07 26 Kadish Lumber yard
opened near depot WD
1861
02 28 Tuesday
morning the hind car of a wood train on the Chicago and North Western Railroad,
while coming from the south, by some means got off the track and as it came to
the bridge crossing Johnson’s Creek, plunged some twenty feet below onto the
ice and into the water. There were five
persons in the car, all of whom were badly injured . . . After learning all the
facts of the case it is no more than right to state that this is one of those
accidents that will sometimes happen in spite of every precaution. The cars got off the track a considerable
distance from the bridge and in consequence of the mist and smoke it was
impossible to give a signal to the engineer.
As many as could left the car while in motion and saved themselves. Those who could not get out had to go down with it. WD
03 07 The iron on the track of the Chicago and North Western
Railroad is now laid to the city of Appleton.
In a few days arrangements will be made for making regular trips to
Appleton. This road is now doing a heavy
business and a large proportion of its freight comes from the growing and
energetic North. WD
03 14 GLAD
WELCOME TO THE ENGINE—A few days since, the Iron Horse entered within the
limits of the city of Appleton the first time.
Following is from the Appleton Cressent: Appleton -
the seat of learning of Wisconsin; Appleton - the center of trade of the best
agricultural region in Wisconsin; Appleton – the manufacturing city of the
West; Appleton – the railroad! the railroad! WD
1876
01 05 New
Departure of C. & N.W. Railway. Considerable feeling has been aroused
hereabouts over the order recently issued by the Chicago and Northwestern
Railway, and put in force on the 1st inst., refusing to carry passengers on
their freight trains as heretofore.
Enforcement of this order causes great inconvenience to the traveling
public along the entire line of the road, and strong disapproval of the new
departure by the company is evinced in every town through which the road
passes. Traveling by freight train on
the Northwestern has got to be an actual necessity and to be suddenly out off
from the privilege is seriously felt by the community. We can hardly believe
that the company will allow this order to remain long in force. The interest of
the public, and, we believe, those of the public alike, demand its
revocation. WR
1907
08 16 Robbery of box cars at the Northwestern
depot WL
1908
01 04 The Chicago & Northwestern is placing telephones in the depots on their line. The telephones will be used only in the running of trains or the block system. That is, in place of telegraphing the arrival and departure of trains from one station to another, the telephone will be used. According to a law passed by the last legislature that operators are only allowed to work eight hours and this will necessitate the services of another man after the first of January.
11 06 Paul Kohler appointed agent, replaced A.
F. Beirmann WG
1909
Nov Chicago and North-Western accident, 12
killed WD
Homecoming assumed (may be 1911)
1983
05 03
Workers installed a crossing diamond where
the Milwaukee Road and Chicago & North Western railroads will intersect in
Watertown north of West Street. C & NW
plans to abandon east-west track through Jefferson County this summer and to
restore north-south track from Jefferson Junction to Clyman,
abandoned several years ago. WDT
09 16 Track restoration project [from
Jefferson Junction to Clyman Junction] through
Watertown; status WDT
Cross
References:
“When the St Paul Railroad came here it was so
poor that Daniel Jones couldn’t pay for the wood it needed to run its
engines. “Alexander Mitchell was a great
friend of mine and he told me that if I would pay for the wood he would see
that I didn't lose by it. For two years
I bought the wood for it. When the Chicago & Northwestern got this far it
couldn’t get its iron, which was in bond. With several others I signed the bond
that released the rails and permitted the road to go on. These acts cost me dear.”
Garden Path Florist
