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ebook History of Watertown, Wisconsin
William
Gorder
Watertown
Shoe Company
1885
WILLIAM GORDER RAN COAL BUSINESS NEAR THE NORTHWESTERN
DEPOT
In
Watertown, in 1886, three firms were vying for the privilege of supply
coal. Beeses and Knoll were handled coal
from their yard opposite the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul Railroad Depot,
William Gorder did business near the Northwestern Railroad Depot, and John
McGolrich dispensed coal from his yard on Washington Street. Each one claimed to be supplying coal which
provided more heat per ton than any other coal -- an unprovable claim. Source
1889
12 13 LARGE
ORDER POTENTIAL
J. M. Peeples, the boot and shoe man of Chicago, was
in the city last week the guest of Wm. Gorder, superintendent of the boot and
shoe factory. He was here for the
purpose of getting more intimately acquainted with the management of our boot
and shoe factory, with whom he has been dealing for some months past, taking
200 pairs of shoes each day from them. While
here he endeavored to make arrangements to be supplied daily with 500 pairs,
but the capacity of the factory is not sufficient to turn out so many each day
and a contract to that effect could not be made, whereupon Mr. Peeples informed
Mr. Gorder that unless he could get 500 pairs daily after January 1st he would
have to cease dealing with his factory altogether. An effort is now being made to increase the
capacity of the factory in order to secure Mr. Peebles’ immense trade by
increasing the capital stock from $25,000 to $50,000. The business of that enterprise has been
paying well the last six months, and it appears to us that the extra amount
needed could be readily raised here. Mr.
Gorder is at present endeavoring to interest our citizens in taking the extra
$25,000 in stocks, and it is hoped that he will succeed. WG
c.1890
1899-1900
Watertown City Directory
1894
11 07 COAL
WAR
There appears to be a coal war on among our dealers, and the old prices
seem to have been knocked into a cocked hat.
WR
1895
02 06 RECEIVED CONTRACT FOR CITY SEWER PROJECT
On motion the contract was awarded to William Gorder,
that being the lowest in all details, for the sum of $14,374.49. WR
05 08 CAVE IN WHILE LAYING SEWER DRAIN
Frank Peterson, employed as
foreman by William Gorder, unpleasant experience Sunday afternoon subsequent to
one of the heavy showers. He was engaged
with a gang of workmen laying a sewer drain at J. W. Wiggenhorn's residence, on
Clyman Street, when the sides of the ditch caved in, covering Mr. Peterson up to
his neck. Luckily, he was in an upright
position, and after a half hour's work by his comrades he was extricated
without any harm being done. Had he been
stooping, serious if not fatal injury would no doubt have resulted. Another workman was also caught by the cave
in, but only covered to his knees.
10 23 WATERWORKS CONTRACT AWARDED
Pipe line job for waterworks
system to William Gorder suggested. WR
1902
Oct SHOE FACTORY
OPENED AT 416-422 S. FIRST
Gorder shoe factory of the commenced business in Oct. 1902. The Wm. Gorder Cos., located at 416-422 S.
First Street.
c.1902
-- -- DELIVERY
WAGON
-- -- WILLIAM GORDER
1903
05 23 REVIEW ARTICLE, S. FIRST ST. PLANT
GORDER CO. PLANT.
An Industry Which Adds Greatly to
the Several Substantial Enterprises of Watertown
Employs Large Number of People on Good Pay.
According to the critics in the
sculptor’s art, perfection of outline and shape in the human foot is rarely
found nowadays. The writer, being no
critic in this line, would not attempt anything, not even mere opinion on this
question. One thing is certain -- we
have feet or need them, and consequently need shoes to cover them. In securing this footwear all are anxious to
get something, not only durable, but artistic as well. Fortunately for those not blessed with the
perfect trilbys, shoe manufacturers have attained such a degree of perfection
in their work, that shoes of all description are now turned out in such shapes
as to offset any deficiency of nature.
Watertown numbers among her many
industries, a concern which, though young, has attained a high reputation for
its high-grade footwear, and consequently is building an enormous and rapidly
growing business. It is needless to
state that the concern referred to is the shoe factory of the commenced
business in Oct. 1902. The Wm. Gorder
Cos., located at 416-422 S. First Street.
The plant occupies a brick
building four stories high, 81 by 85 feet and company employs constantly 45
hands who turn out 150 pairs of boots and shoes per day, the material in which
is valued at from $35 to $40. The
payroll each week aggregates from $250 to $300, thus placing a good sum of
money in circulation among our people.
Gleaning so much information in
regard to this, one of the city’s most valuable industries, one naturally has
his interest awakened regarding the processes of making this necessary adjunct
to the well-dressed man or woman.
On entering the factory the
reporter was taken in tow by Wm. Gorder, Jr., the obliging bookkeeper of the
concern, and led upstairs to a room 38x48 feet.
This is the cutting room where five hands are employed. At the east side of the room is a long bench where
the leather is cut into all shapes and sizes.
Going on to the northeast of the building is a room 35x80 feet, where 12
girls are kept busy stitching the uppers, the work being done on special
machines provided for the purpose. In
the east end of this room is the department where the eyelets are added to the
lace shoes.
Descending to the basement, the
sole leathering department and engine room was visited. In the latter place stands the 25 horse power
engine which furnishes the necessary energy for the machinery on the floors
above. Here also the channing and
trimming of the sole leather takes place, after which it is ready to attach to
the uppers. On the east side of the room
the heels are made ready, and together with the soles, are dyed and put through
the rounding machine to bring them to the required shape. Four men are employed in this
department. In the south part of the
basement comes the turn and velting department, where a Good-gear stitcher does
the work. Here, also, is found the sole-leather
stock room.
Returning to the second floor,
they are put on the laster. In this
department a McKey screwing machine, a Niggerhead laster, and Acme beveling
machine does the work. The boots or
shoes are then turned over to the Cable tacker which cuts its own nails from
wire and drives them into the foot-gear.
Next comes the heel set slugger.
There is also found in this room a screwing machine used in making a
special grade of heavy shoes for men.
After these processes the heeling
machine attaches the heel to the shoe; then comes the heel trimmer, sanding
machine and polisher and finally we have a completed shoe of the latest and
most improved pattern. The stock, which
comprises a full line of medium and fine shoes for misses, women and children,
and for boys, youths and men, is now taken to the packing department where it
is boxed and prepared for shipment to the numerous customers.
The employees of the
establishment are all union hands. As most
of them are well known in the city, it is of interest to know who does the work
in the different departments. In the
cutting room are Daniel Pfaffenbach, James Riley and Arthur Pfaffenbach and
lining cutters. In the stitching room,
Ida Eckner, forelady, Ella Daly Skiber and Della Gasser. On the beveling machine, Ida Grabow, Ida
Polzin, Minnie Schneider, Lizzie Christensen and table workers. Sole leather room Wm. Malwitz, head man, and
H. Kuckkahn. Volt turning department,
Frank Brouchle. McKay lusters, Edward
Poyer, Anton Sohrweide. The leveler is
Henry Gnewuche. The heelers are Wm.
Behling and Wm. Guetzlaff. Bottom
finishers, Wm. Dollase, Willie Bauman and George Guetzlaff. Packers, Albert Kaliebe, Malanie Loeser,
Clara Polzin.
The plant is managed by Thos.
Byron, superintendent. Wm. Gorder. Jr.,
is the bookkeeper and the entry work is attended to by Eupheraia Casey.
Wm.
Gorder, Sr., learned the shoe making trade when a boy and has been engaged in
business in this city for 17 years. The
company new conducts two retail shoe stores in this city, being the only
concerns here which sell strictly union made goods. The
store at 106 Main Street is known as the factory store.
Edward
Kaliebe, the repairer employed here, is also a union man. Mr. Gorder certainly demonstrates that he
understands his business and his large plant plays an important part in the
financial and commercial welfare of the city. Watertown Republican
416-422 S. FIRST STREET
Watertown
Republican
1906
Watertown
Daily Times, 07 06 1906
Another bold burglary was
committed some time Monday night or early Tuesday morning. This time the victims were Wm. Gorder and
company, whose Milwaukee Street shoe
store was entered and shoes to the number of fifteen pair taken by the
intruder. Entrance to the place was
affected by prying open a rear door from a shed.
The fact of the theft was
discovered yesterday morning upon the arrival of the shoemaker, who, upon his
arrival at the store observed that everything about the place was in
topsy-turvy order . . . A fortunate circumstance of the last robbery is the
fact that a check owned by Henry Gorder in the amount of $94, which was lying
on the office desk, was not molested and was evidently overlooked by the
burglar. The check was made payable to
bearer and could easily have been cashed.
The bold thief will evidently
regret his stupidity when he reads the account of the robbery - that is, if the
theory of the officers is correct that the robbery was committed by some
amateur residing in the city. It is the belief that the theft was the work of
some person residing in the city and there are suspicions as to whom the guilty
party is.
1907
01 30 The William Gorder Company are making quite extensive
improvements to their Main Street place of business. A new steel ceiling is being placed in the
store and it will be otherwise improved by repairing and repainting.
c.1907
1908
10 02 Gorder factory
rented. Wm. Gorder has leased his
factory in First Street, just
vacated by the M. D. Wells Shoe Co., to the Van Camp Packing Co., receiving $600 a year rental. The Van Camp Co. intended enlarging their
factory in Milford Street, but for the present will not do so, but will use the
Gorder factory for storage purposes, there being no room in their factory for
that purpose. WG
1909
01 22 Brandt-Dent
Co. to manufacture gas fixtures and chandeliers in the William Gorder
building in [416-420 S.] First Street,
formerly occupied by the M. D. Wells Co.
WG
1910
02 25 COAL, COKE, WOOD.
WE HAVE ON HAND
Buckwheat Coal, Pea Coal,
Chestnut Coal, Stove Coal, Egg Coal, Hocking Valley Coal, Red Jacket Coal,
Pocahontas Nut Coal, Smithing Coal, Solway Nut Coke, Solway Stove Coke, Solway
Egg Coke, Watertown Gas Lump Coke, Watertown Gas Crushed Coke, Maple Wood, Oak
Wood, Mixed Wood, Hardwood Slabs, Mixed Slabs, Pine Bundled Edgings, Maple
Clippings, Sewer Pipe, Drain Tile.
William Gorder Co., Main Office 608-610 Main St, Yards West end
Milwaukee Street bridge. WG
1911
02 09 FORGED CHECKS
Last week Wednesday a
stranger called at the store of Wm. Gorder Co. and ordered a load of coal for
$6.00 delivered at 906 North Second street and also purchased a $2.00 pair of
shoes, as he said, for his son, and presented a check on the Merchants Bank for
$14.50 in favor of Henry Newman and signed George Nellins, receiving at the
Gorder store $6.50, the balance of what the check called for after paying for
the coal and shoes. When an attempt was
made to deliver the coal it was found that no such man lived on North Second
Street, and further investigation showed the check to be a forgery. The same afternoon the same fellow called at
John W. Burn’s coal yard and ordered a $6.00 load of coal and presented a check
similar to above for $14.50, receiving $8.50 in cash from Mrs. Burns. Both checks were forgeries and were written
on the old check forms of the Merchants Bank, now the Merchants National
Bank. WG
03 30 [advertisement] Spring
1911. Dorothy Dodd Shoes. The new Spring
Styles just received are bound to meet with an enthusiastic reception. They’re in a class by themselves, so far
ahead of past season’s successes as to eliminate comparison. Finished examples of the best shoemaking,
correct in every detail. Stylish and
comfortable to a degree. On sale
today. Your inspection is most cordially
invited. William Gorder Company, 606-608
Main Street, Watertown. WG
1914
03 12 HEAVY BUYING AT SALE OPENING
William Gorder Co. Shoe Stock Going
Rapidly at sale conducted by Max Wegemann.
What will quite evidently be one
of the most successful sales in the history of merchandising began Saturday
morning by the Aeroplane Sales Company, of which company Max Wegemann is
manager, and which proposes to dispose of the entire stock of shoes of the
William Gorder company within 15 days.
Mr. Wegemann has shown
considerable ingenuity in arranging and displaying a big stock of shoes in an
attractive and practical manner. Many
additional counters heaped with shoes have been placed on the floor of the
double-front store. The different
counters bear large placards stating the price of shoes displayed, and in
addition every pair of shoes is plainly marked, making impossible any
embarrassment on the part of a prospective customer which might be caused by a
misunderstanding of the price of a pair of shoes or other articles. Large crowds visit the store daily and many
exclamations of pleasure were heard as to the bargains offered. It has long been Mr. Wegemann’s boast that he
gives bigger values than he advertises, and it is apparent that this sale will
be no exception to the rule. Genuine
bargains are further guaranteed from the necessity of disposing of this stock
within a limited time, as this is a bona fide closing out sale, the Gorder’s
intending to retire permanently from the shoe business, intending to devote
their entire attention to their increasing coal and wood business,
consequently their entire stock of shoes and other foot furnishings suitable
for all seasons of the year must be closed out to the last dollar's worth. WG
c.1915
TINPLATE
1930
WILLIAM GORDER CO, WOOD AND COAL YARD, 101 W Milwaukee St, 1930
Uncertain date
History of Watertown,
Wisconsin