website
watertownhistory.org
ebook History of Watertown,
Wisconsin
Watertown Gas Company
Wisconsin 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 August 4, 1854, over a quarter of a century. Mr. Clark is a native of Chemung Co., N.Y.
1856
02 21 The Gas Company is laying the main pipe under the bridge in order to cross the river
and form a connection with Main Street and West Avenue. So severe and steady has been the cold of the
past few weeks, that is has been impossible to do anything towards completing
the Gas Works. All the iron is now here,
and a large number of skillful and experienced mechanics are waiting to improve
the first opportunity that occurs to resume operations and complete the works
as soon as it is practical to do so. WD
03 20 The Gas Holder is now being built at the Gas
Works. Mr. J. Bromfield, the
enterprising superintendent, informs us that the works will be in full
operation at farthest, by the 1st of May, if not before that date. Nothing but the weather, which for months
rendered it necessary to suspend all kinds of labor on them, has prevented
their completion weeks ago. Everything
about these works has a substantial appearance and bears the imprints of being
all done by those who are masters of their business -- looking as if made for
real service and to endure for a long time. WD
04 24 The Gas Works, if the weather
continues as it has been for a week past, will be ready to go into operation
the latter part of next week. The works are now nearly completed. They are said to be superior to any that have
heretofore been erected in this state. WD
1861 Discontinue Lighting Street Lamps
01 31 Proceedings of the Common Council: Resolved, That the Gas Company be directed to
discontinue lighting the street lamps in the Fourth Ward from and after this
date, as the said Ward has no means to pay such bills. WD
02 01 A Bone of Contention
If
there has been any one question more than another that has given rise to fierce
discussion in the Common Council, it is that as to what disposition should be
made to the bills in favor of the Gas Company for the gas burned in our street
lamps.
Some of
the aldermen take the ground that each ward should pay out of its own fund for
the gas consumed in its limits, and that the same should not be made a charge
upon the city general fund. We believe
this is the way the matter stands now and that the 1st, 2d,
3d and 4th wards, being the only ones in which there
are any lamps, now pay for the lighting of the streets.
We
consider this unfair and unequal. We do
not know why the 5th, 6th and 7th wards should be absolved from their part of
this expense, though there are no lamps located within their limits, any more
than they should be for any other outlay for the benefit of the city at
large. Why could they not, with the same
propriety, have been relieved from the payment of their just proportion of the
cost of building the Main Street bridge? Or why not exonerated from their share of the
expense of repairing the Plank Road bridge near the
Rough and Ready Mill?
. . .
It ought to be shared alike by all. We
regard it as an improvement which the city should sustain, as a whole, and can not see any propriety or sense in making four wards
maintain it for the benefit of the seven.
We furthermore believe that a tax levied in accordance with that
principle is illegal, and that the same if contested would not stand the test
of law. There certainly is no equality
in such taxation. WR
1870
10 26 Extension of Gas
The Watertown Gas company
will soon commence laying gas pipes along several streets not heretofore
supplied with this article of light.
Along Second Street, north of Main, as far as Bursinger's
Brewery, at which time arrangements will be made to supply Music Hall. On First Street, to the
Watertown House, supplying the Engine house and Lockup. On Water Street, on the west side, the pipes
will be laid as far up as Weber's store.
We are glad to learn that the increasing consumption makes these
extensions necessary. WR
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 May 27, 1889, and at once proceeded to install.
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
08 06
John Berrigan,
solicitor, resigned WG
1912
04 18 The Charge of the
"Light" Brigade [advertisement]
One Watertown home
after another is succumbing to the friendly attack of our wiring
contractors. They bring light and cheer
wherever they go. They are competent men
— do their work neatly and quickly without disturbing domestic routine. Let them wire your home this Spring. If it is
located on our distributing lines and you are now using some other illuminant,
we offer to wire the house complete and furnish fixtures, then allow you a
whole year to pay the bill in, at so much per month. Houses in course of construction not
included under this offer. For full information of this special
offer, telephone Watertown Gas & Electric.
WG
05 02 Gas and Electric
Demonstration
Mrs. Minnie Riebe will
conduct a gas and electric heating and cooking demonstration at the office of
the Watertown Gas and Electric Co. all next week. Cooking by gas, electricity and the paper bag
method will be fully explained, and there will be a fine display of electric
and gas appliances. Drop in and get a
cup of coffee, cake, toast or a biscuit, all made at the demonstration, to
which the public is cordially invited. WG
1920

1920c, 1002 S Second, employees
around large gas
tank WHS_005_205
1922
Profile of Frank J. Boehm of the
Wisconsin Gas & Electric Co, an associated company of The Milwaukee
Electric Railway and Light Co, owner of Watertown gas works.
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.
1957
Ad for, 1957 City Dir, Wisconsin
Natural Gas Co
Ad for, 1957 City Dir, Wisconsin
Electric Power Co
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.
