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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

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

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 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.

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

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1886, Commerical Hotel, Mannegold & Co., Prop'rs, was rebuilt in 1877	Weltburger 08 10 1889, drawing			1910, Commerical Hotel
	Hotel bar token

/ Ken Riedl