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Farmers’ Hotel
Watertown House
Commercial Hotel
Carlton Hotel
111-115
S First
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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
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 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]
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
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
2003 Carlton House Apartment
Hotel, 115 S First, Current site of
Image Portfolio
Click to enlarge
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1886, Commerical Hotel, Mannegold & Co., Prop'rs, was rebuilt in 1877 |
Weltburger 08 10
1889, drawing |
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1910, Commerical Hotel |
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Hotel bar token |
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/ Ken Riedl
