website watertownhistory.org
ebook History of Watertown,
Wisconsin
Elk’s Club
Old
Concordia Opera House
Established 1901
117 N First
1901
Watertown
Elks Lodge #666 was established by 38 charter members on
1902 In
1902 the local Elks Lodge occupied quarters on the third floor of the Daub Building, 10 E. Main St., and moved in 1907
to the third floor of the Masonic Temple,
which was inhabited by the Fischer's Department Store for many decades.
02 14 Second Annual Ball
1903 Elk’s Social Ball
08 11 Last week the
social ball given by the local lodge of Elks at Tivoli Island was attended by
almost 100 couples.
The
island presented a very charming appearance.
It was electric lighted, and here and there Japanese lanterns added to
the beauty of the illumination, the fountain was at full play, and the weather
was perfect for an evening of pleasure at this popular resort.
At
Dancing
began at about
Music
for the dance was also furnished by the Apollo orchestra, and the merry dancers
all proclaimed that no better music has ever been rendered here. This orchestra
has been popular with our people since its organization and is daily growing
more so.
At
1908
11 27 Memorial Day observed by local lodge on
December 6th, in Masonic Temple WG
1909
01 08 New
Year ball at Masonic Temple hall given by the Elks WG
02 19 Elk’s ball at Turner opera house,
Washington's birthday WG
04 02 Election of
officers WG
04 02 Elks Baseball Club WG
12 31 Elks Present Christmas Gifts: Last week the local lodge of Elks distributed
a large number of good things to eat, other necessities of life, toys for the
little ones, etc., to those of our citizens who were not blessed with full and
plenty at this season of the year. Their
work in this line is very commendable. WG
1911
03 09 Concordia Opera House Sold
Harry
Davis of this city, the moving picture film manufacturer, has purchased the
Concordia Opera House, consideration $5700.
Mr. Davis has secured a very cheap property and intends making many fine
improvements on the building. WG
1916 Concordia Opera House Sold
The
Elks Lodge purchased the old Concordia
Opera House on
The
Masonic Temple was damaged by a fire on
Over
the next few decades various alterations and remodeling projects were made to
the interior of the building.
1937
In
1937, the grill room was changed to a bar and the ladies room and lodge room
were redecorated.
1938
During
1938, the lodge purchased two pin setting machines for the bowling alleys and
authorized the installation of a golf driving net in the upper ante-room.
1939
Authorization
was approved in 1939 for the purchase of air conditioning units in the bar and
card room.
1950
The
current lounge bar was established in 1950.
1954
01 26 Post-prom party WDT
1958
03 19 Nine past exalted rulers of Elks Lodge No.
666 and a large number of “Old Timers” Elks honored.
1959
03 25 Officers elected WDT
1960
05 14 Dr. J. R. Casanova elected president of the WI Elks Association at Green Bay WDT
11 22 William J. Fitzgerald Jr. new exalted
ruler, named to succeed Glenn R. Ferry, acting city manager who had submitted
his resignation. Mr. Fitzgerald will
serve as head of the lodge until next March when the next election is held and
new officers are installed. Earl Maas is
the new esteemed leading knight of the lodge.
WDT
1961
05 16 Dr.
J. R. Casanova, former exalted ruler of Watertown Lodge No. 666, B.P.O.E.
next Sunday will become president of WI Elks Association at the annual
convention of the association to be held at Oshkosh. Dr. Casanova is now president-elect of the
association, having been named at the 1960 state convention. WDT
07 13 The Watertown Rotary Club is going to
meet at the Legion Green Bowl starting in August. Ever since the club was founded here the
membership has met every Monday noon at the Elks
Club, in the lower dining hall. WDT
1962
01 21 Arthur A. Ullrich, 134 Corner
Street, for many years a member of the Merchants
National Bank staff, will be honored by Watertown Lodge on exalted rulers’
night which will be observed at the Elks Club on Feb. 14. Mr. Ullrich has
been a member of the Elks for 50 years, and during that time has held different
offices in the lodge and has been active in the organization. WDT
01 23 Dr. J. R. Casanova,
president of the Wisconsin Elks Association, was the guest of honor of the
Milwaukee Elks Lodge, No. 46, last night.
The meeting was preceded by a dinner and social hour attended by a large
number of past exalted rulers of the club.
During the meeting, a large class was initiated in honor of the state
president. Several Watertown Elks
accompanied Dr. Casanova to the meeting.
They were William Fitzgerald, exalted ruler; Christie Coogan, secretary Frank Kellerman, a trustee; and John D. Clifford. WDT
1966
1982
07 17 Dr. J. R. Casanova elected Grand
Esteemed Lecturing Knight
WDT
1985
Tap
beer was installed in 1985.
02 26 Officers elected and new members WDT
03 11 The Casanova Room, redecorated dining
room; Dr. Casanova Champion Trophy
1993
A
lodge office was built in the lower level of the building in 1993.
1998
06 06 Members of the Watertown Elks Lodge are considering
the sale of their landmark building at First and Madison streets to a local
firm which would then remodel it for downtown office space. The Lodge has received a purchase offer from
American Express Financial Advisors, 111 S. Second St. The offer was submitted through ERA Egan
Realty which has been retained by the lodge to sell the building. Under the plan, the building would be
remodeled, an elevator installed, and professional office space made available
for various businesses. The financial
advisers would be the first tenants in the building. WDT
06 06 &
09 16 Sale
of Elks bldg considered; decision not to purchase made by local
financial business WDT
1999
06 24 John “Jack” C. Lemke honorary marshal, Fourth of July Parade WDT
2000
10 20 A longtime area business couple will be honored by the
Watertown Elks Lodge for their donation to the lodge which will help the citizens
of Watertown for many years to come. Ray
and Marie Dobbratz have donated all of their hospital
and rehabilitation equipment to the lodge.
While operating Hafemeister
Funeral Home and Furniture Store, the Dobbratzes
provided this equipment free of charge to people in need. That tradition will continue under the
leadership of the Elks Lodge. The lodge
will honor the Dobbratzes for this donation to the
lodge and other civic work they have done.
They will be the special guests of honor at the lodge’s Harvest Ball on
Oct. 28. The Harvest Ball will also be
the kickoff for the lodge’s third phase of remodeling. WDT
11 01 The Watertown
Elks Lodge No. 666's plan to build an elevator addition on its building received
approval by the Watertown Site Plan Review Committee. The elevator, at North First and Madison
streets, will be built on the east side of the Elks Lodge and will service all
three floors of the building. The
Watertown Common Council in January approved a vacation of alley adjacent to
the Elks Lodge, which allows for construction of the elevator. The alley extends south from East Madison
Street and west from North Second Street.
The elevator addition is part of a remodeling project to include the
addition of a new stairwell from the third floor to the street, rest rooms on
the third floor, expansion of the main lounge area on the second floor,
remodeling of the large banquet hall and lodge meeting room on the third floor. WDT
2001
05 10 Jim
Kraemer, past Exalted Ruler of Watertown Lodge #666, was recently named Exalted
Ruler of the Year at the Wisconsin Elks Association Convention held in Fond du
Lac. Jerry Crouse, outgoing state
president who presented the award, said Kraemer was given the honor for three
reasons: Having the largest membership
gains in the state; the largest per capita donations given to the Wisconsin
Benevolent Fund, the National Foundation and the Major Project; and the spirit
of excitement that has been generated in Watertown by the lodge’s recent
building renovation. Kraemer said, “This
honor really belongs to all members of the Watertown lodge who have given so
much of their time. They are a hard working and dedicated bunch.” WDT
2003
An
addition was built on the east side of the structure in 2003 that includes rest
rooms, a meeting room, an elevator and a stairwell. Cost of about $200,000.
2007
09 10 Watertown Elks Lodge #666 will host the
organization's annual state convention.
The annual event will be held in conjunction with a rededication
ceremony celebrating the recent restoration project on the exterior of the Elks
Lodge's building. Alvin Schloesser was
chairman of the restoration project; he was a member of the local Elks Lodge
for about 35 years. The restoration
project that was completed over the past few months includes new paint on the
exterior of the building, a new roof, a new sign and a new flag pole mount. The
entire project cost the local organization about $75,000. WDT
09 14 Elks celebrate
building restoration. WDT DOC WHS_005_554
2011
05 11 The Watertown Elks Lodge recognized its
old-time members with a dinner in their honor. Members were recognized as
old-timers after 20 years of membership. Back row from left were, Bill Connor,
44 years; Louis Hady, 22 years; Tom Lauer, 43 years;
Don Krueger, 57 years; Meredith Thomson, 20 years; and Mike Vandre,
31 years. Front row from left, Dick DeCono, 33 years;
Glenn Friedl, 37 years; Bill Clark, 29 years; Romy Tischler, 40 years; Jim Seibold, 26 years; George Prahl,
60 years; and William Kwapil Jr., 44 years.
Those
honored for 20 or more years of membership in the Watertown Elks were, back row
from left, John Bruno, 25 years; Alvin Schloesser, 37
years; Jack Lemke, 47 years; Dennis Daley, 22 years; and Chuck Corbett, 34
years. Front row from left, Wayne Simon, 58 years; Joe Darcey,
60 years; Jerry Dricken, 35 years; and Duane Mandel,
45 years.
