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Watertown Gas Company
Gas & Electric Company
1854
Derived from: The History of
Jefferson County, Wisconsin by C.
W. Butterfield, 1879
William
H. Clark, cashier of the Bank of Watertown;
came to Milwaukee in 1852, and to Watertown in 1854. He organized the bank that year and has been
connected with it ever since; Mr. Clark organized the gas company here, in connection
with A. L. Pritchard, and conducted the works for several years. He has been in the banking business
continuously since
1889
Joseph Terbrueggan, W. J. Toussaint and L. H. Cordes established the Watertown Electric
Light plant; disposed of in 1906 to the John I. Beggs interests.
In 1889 Joseph Terbrueggen was
one of a company of three who put in the electric lighting system in the city
and the company later disposed of the plant.
Mr. Cordes became greatly
interested in electric lighting, a subject which he studied with great
enthusiasm. Coming to the belief that
Watertown could support a plant, the partners secured a franchise from the city
of Watertown on
Business men and the public
generally know little about electric lighting systems and rather doubted its
success in a town of this size. However,
they did not allow themselves to become discouraged and went to work to secure
contracts from business men and others.
The city contracted for twenty street lights, and a number of business
men agreed to take a few lights, the late Joseph Salick, the jeweler, being the
first to commend the lights and signing a contract for a substantial number of
lights. Most of the business men were
indifferent but became convinced of its feasibility as soon as a few were put
in use.
1905
08 10
P. L. Utley and Charles Mackay of
the Gas and Electric Company were in Milwaukee Monday. The object of their
visit was to ascertain the cost necessary for the enlargement of the gas plant
and the time it would probably require. The demand on the company for gas has
increased to such an extent that the plant must be increased to meet the demand
which now nearly exceeds its capacity. Should the plant be increased in size,
the work will be begun at an early day.
1905
09 14
A special meeting of the
stockholders of the Gas and Electric Co. was held Tuesday evening to arrange
for the enlargement of the gas plant, the demand for gas for cooking purposes
as well as light having increased to such an extent as to make it absolutely
necessary in order to meet the demand.
1909
01 29 P. Riley scalded by the blowing out of
a steam pipe on the boiler WG
03 05 Superintendent Charles
MacKay dismissed; pushed for alderman
WG
05 21
Watertown Gas and Electric Co. builds new Rough
and Ready Dam WG
1920
1920c, 1002 S Second, employees
around large gas
tank WHS_005_205
1932
William
T Jones, retired as plant superintendent of Watertown Gas plant. Employed for over 30 years.
1956
07 03
When E. T. Hornickle, 211 College
Avenue, closed his desk in the Gas and Electric building at Main and North
Third Streets today he not only called it a day, he called it quits. For today
marked the end of his working days as Watertown district manager of the
Wisconsin Electric Power Co. and the Wisconsin Natural Gas Co. For Mr.
Hornickle it marks the end of a little over 38 years with the companies. He
chalked up 38 years on June 15. It was announced some time ago that his
retirement would become effective July 1.
2008
Site of new Public Works Facility
Cross-References:
Gas and Electric Co building, 216 E
Main. Earlier was site of Gahlmann’s
Deutsches Dorf
Terbrueggen, Joseph 1912, Obit
For about 30 years past he was a
member of the brick manufacturing firm of L. H. Cordes & Co. In 1889 he was one of a company of three who
put in the electric lighting system in our city and the company later disposed
of the plant.
J. H. Sleeper,
1939-1888, was president of Watertown Gas Co.
