Commercial Hotel

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ebook History of Watertown, Wisconsin

Farmers’ Hotel

Watertown House

Commercial Hotel

Carlton Hotel

111-115 S First

Farmer’s Hotel

1867

Commercial Hotel

1885

Name changes over time:

Farmers’ Hotel

Watertown House

Commercial House

Commercial Hotel

Carlton Hotel

Carlton House Apartment Hotel

1843

Original structure was erected and occupied by stores and offices

1847

In 1847 Thomas Norris opened the original building as a hotel; Norris sold it to J. C. Lewis

1847, Oct 12

Rock River Pilot, 01 05 1848, dated announcement

C. D. Taylor would invite the attention of the travelling public to this house and flatters himself that in all the different branches of his business he can give satisfaction to those who may favor him with their patronage. The house is near the center of the business portion of the village and is but a few rods from the general stage office, which renders it a convenient stopping place for those wishing to transact business in town, or for travelers passing through the village. His accommodations for teams are ample, his hostlers faithful and attentive, and his charges reasonable.

1847

Came into the possession of Joseph Lindon. A Mr. [Alexander] Manegold succeeded Mr. Lindon.

1866

Farmers’ Hotel, Alexander F. Mannegold, prop., N E c 1st and E Washington

Farmers’ Hotel

A. F. Mannegold, Proprietor

North-East Corner First and East Washington Sts.

(One block South of Main)

Watertown - - - - Wisconsin

A pleasant stopping place for Farmers, with good stabling attached [1866-67 City Dir, advertisement]

1872

Watertown House, A. F. Mannegold, Prop, NE corner 1st and Washington [1872 City Dir].

Washington Street of the time is now Market Street

“Washington St is the first south of and parallel with Main St, 1st Ward, and runs from First St east to Ninth St.”

1875

“. . My frau, and I went to Watertown; 12 miles. Visited Matilda Ransom in Mr. Hirscher Mammoth Store. We all dined at the Watertown House kept by Mr. Marrigould [Mannegold] where now (~1890) stands the Watertown Commercial Hotel and home again” [Nathaniel Carpenter Ranson bio, ~1890, transcribed by Kent Marsden from a copy found in the New Berlin, WI library.]

1875 Watertown House, A. F, Mannegold, next post office [1875-76 City Dir].

1879 (or 1877)

In July 1879, it was partially rebuilt and called the Commercial House

1888

10 12 Death of A. F. Mannegold, [b. 1817, d. 1888]

Sunday, October 7, 1888, Alexander F. Mannegold, died at his home, the Commercial Hotel, of general debility at the age of 71 years, leaving surviving him a wife, one son and four daughters. The deceased was a native of Prussian Saxony and came to the United States in 1847. From 1862 to 1865 he conducted the Niagara House in Chicago and in the latter year came to Watertown and was proprietor of the old Watertown House until he erected the Commercial Hotel, which he managed for years with good success. Mr. Mannegold was a public spirited man and in his younger years was one of our most energetic citizens. He was one of the organizers of the Sons of Herman of this city and had a great deal to do towards bringing that society to its present flourishing condition. His funeral took place Wednesday afternoon and his remains were followed to their final resting place in Oak Hill Cemetery by the large circle of friends. WG

1889 Commercial Hotel, Mannegold and Co., props., N E cor Washington and First [1888 City Dir].

1897 Commercial Hotel, Henrietta Mannegold (wid Alex), prop., 115 1st [1896-97 City Dir]

1902

01 31 Last Friday Landlord Smith, of the New Commercial Hotel, started the new steam-heating plant recently put into the hotel. A new full sized-horse-power boiler has been put into the basement of the new annex to the hotel by Otto Biefeld & Co. and steam connections made throughout the hotel, the sample rooms connected therewith, and also with the post office building, all of which are heated from the new plant. It has been given a full test during the cold weather of the past week and is working in a first class manner. WG

1903 (11 08) Under the present management the Commercial House has taken its place among the best hotels of interior Wisconsin, a fact that is as pleasing to the people of our city as it is complimentary to the present proprietors. The demand for such a hotel has been constant and as we have at least succeeded in securing a house that is a credit to the city, a little local encouragement would best show the public's appreciation.

1904 (12 27) On Christmas Jos. Brandenburg, of the New Commercial Hotel, presented his wife with a handsome Kranisch & Bach piano from the sales rooms of the W. D. Sproesser Co. and Mr. Brandenburg was nicely remembered by his wife presenting him with an elegant quarter sawed writing desk.

1906 (09 07) Improvements, involving the expenditure of a large sum of money, are to be made on the New Commercial Hotel. In fact the preliminary work was commenced yesterday under the supervision of Carl Huenefeld, who has the contract for the work, which will be rushed to completion and by the time snow flies Watertown's leading hostelry will present an entirely different aspect and be in keeping with the development and improvement of the city.

The decision to remodel the hotel was recently reached by Mrs. Joseph [Lilian] Brandenburg, who, it might be said is carrying out the plans outlined about a year ago by her husband before his death. Mrs. Brandenburg who gives the management of the hotel her personal attention, is a thorough business lady who believes in the future of Watertown and therefore proposes to make her hostelry an ideal one and thoroughly up-to-date . . . Mrs. Brandenburg also states that among the improvements to be made is one that will add greatly to the beauty of the place.

If she can get a permit from the city council, she proposes a large canopy in front, extending from the building to the curb and from the ladies' entrance to the main entrance. It is proposed to build the same of glass and steel . . . It is also proposed to erect a veranda in front of the hotel . . . The hotel will be repainted from top to bottom, inside and out. Paint and papering will not be spared in adding to the appearance of the New Commercial.

1909

01 15 Banquet honoring John I. Beggs, president of Milwaukee Heat, Light and Traction Co; Mrs. Brandenburg, the proprietor, praised WG

02 19 Joseph Jr, four-year-old son of Mrs. Lilian Brandenburg, bitten in the face by a dog in the lobby of the hotel WG

12 17 Mrs. Brandenburg's Lucky Escape: While out cutter riding last Monday afternoon, Mrs. Joseph Brandenburg, proprietor of the New Commercial Hotel, narrowly escaped serious injury. When reaching the corner of Main and North Second streets, at about two o'clock, she turned north to avoid an interurban [trolley] car and while making the turn her cutter tipped over in the deep snow, throwing her out, but she showed great pluck and presence of mind and held on to the lines. After having been dragged three blocks, she brought the horse to a stop. The snow was quite deep all the way, and she fortunately escaped serious injury. She says she rather enjoyed the excitement, but would not want the experience repeated. WG

1910 New Hotel Management

07 22 Mrs. Joseph Brandenburg, who for years past has so successfully managed the New Commercial Hotel, has retired from active management and C. E. Hunter has assumed charge at the hotel, assisted by Miss E. C. Glaser, sister of Mrs. Brandenburg. Mr. Hunter is well known to the travelling public, and is thoroughly versed in what a hotel needs to make it popular, hence the popularity of the New Commercial is sure to continue under his management. WG

09 30 C. E. Hunter, manager of the New Commercial Hotel, who gave such fine satisfaction as starter for the Watertown fair races last week, will leave the latter part of next month for Phoenix, Arizona, and El Paso, Texas, to officiate as starter for two big races. It is a foregone conclusion that he will give the best of satisfaction. WG

1911

07 28 Fire at the New Commercial Hotel. At 1 o’clock Friday morning an alarm of fire was turned in from box 17 and the fire department responded promptly, the cause of the alarm being a small fire at the New Commercial Hotel. The hotel was filled throughout with smoke and for a time it was difficult to locate the blaze, until holes were cut in the kitchen floor near the range, then it was found the fire was underneath the floor under the range and it was promptly extinguished. The fire damage was slight but the smoke and water did considerable damage. For a few moments the guests at the hotel were somewhat alarmed, but on learning the fire was an insignificant one, they returned to their rooms. WG

1915

01 22 Death of Henry Bertram, was proprietor of the Commercial Hotel for some time.

1923

01 25 Death of Joseph Brandenburg, Jr, son of former owner WG

1955

10 28 The Western Union Telegraph Company started moving operations yesterday. It is moving its Watertown office to new headquarters in the Carlton Hotel, across the street from its old office in South First Street. The telegraph company is vacating the building directly north of the Wethonkitha Club, the city recently having purchased it along with a strip of land and plans to utilize the land as part of the South First Street parking area, on which a car ramp is to be constructed.

1958

09 15 The Carlton Hotel in South First Street, which has been offered to the city of Watertown as a site for a future City Hall or municipal building, dates back to 1847 when it was opened as a hotel and was known as the Watertown House and later the Commercial House and Commercial Hotel. The original structure was erected in 1843 and was occupied by stores and offices. In 1847 Thomas Norris opened the original building as a hotel. Norris sold it to J. C. Lewis, and in 1848 it came into the possession of Joseph Lindon. A Mr. [Alexander] Manegold succeeded Mr. Lindon. In July 1879, it was partially rebuilt and called the Commercial House. WDT