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Kehr Bros.

est. 1906

 

111 S. 5th Street

 

A century ago, Frank and Emil Kehr opened the door of Kehr Bros., at 111 S. 5th Street in Watertown [currently located at W4631 Hwy 19].  They began taking orders for steamfitting, boiler and gas piping projects using a pad of paper and pencil. Customers at that time who had telephones could call in for service by dialing 168.

 

Following the death of Emil in 1936 his son Donald E. Kehr became a partner with Frank Kehr and they started selling and installing gravity furnaces and oil fired forced air furnaces.

 

Following the death of Frank Kehr in 1951 his son Robert T. Kehr became a partner with Donald E. Kehr.  At that time they began selling and installing refrigerated air conditioners.

 

Upon Donald E. Kehr's retirement in 1969, Robert T. Kehr then purchased his share of the business.

 

1906

May          KEHR BROTHER’S HEATING / 111 South Fifth St

  

Frank Kehr inside the shop, owned by brothers Frank & Emil Kehr

 

1910

-- --         CONTRACT FOR NEUMANN BLDG

Kehr Bros awarded the contract for installing a heating system in the building being erected on Second Street by Gustave [Gustav] Neumann.

Domestic engineering and the journal of mechanical contracting, Volume 51, 04 02 1910 issue

 

1915

11 04       NEW HIGH SCHOOL HEATING CONTRACT

On Monday evening the contract for putting in the Kewaunee smokeless heating plant in the new high school building was awarded to Kehr Bros. of this city. 

 

Following were the bids submitted:

 

Thomas Heating Co., Racine, $9392

H. Kelly & Co., Minneapolis, 9830

Otto Biefeld & Co., Watertown, 9786

Kehr Bros., Watertown, 9265

Gen. Heating & Ventilating Co., Milwaukee, 9560

Ind. Heating & Eng. Co., Milwaukee, 9640

Downey Heating Co., Milwaukee, 9575

Healey Plumbing and Heating Co., St. Paul, 11,670               WG

 

1916

DEC          PROFILE OF THE KEHR BROTHERS

Steam, Hot Water and Vapor Heating; All Work Promptly Attended to; First Class Work Guaranteed; No.112-114 North Fourth Street, Watertown, Wisconsin.

This firm has one of the principal exclusive heating establishments in the city at 112-114 North Fourth Street, occupying the Roegner building, comprising office and work rooms adjoining.

 

The firm handles a full line of steam and hot water heating apparatus, comprising steam and hot water boilers and radiators from the American Radiator Co., and other firms while a specialty is made of the "Trane Vapor Heating System" which is operated by only a few ounces of pressure from the boiler and is adapted for heating residences and all large buildings at the same expense as hot water heating.

 

The firm have installed many of these vapor heating plants, both in the city and country-all giving good satisfaction.

 

They have also installed the steam and hot water heating in a large number of buildings throughout the city, keeping several experienced hands employed and any kind of jobbing and repairing is given prompt attention.

 

The business was first established by this firm in 1906, while they have had much longer experience in all kinds of steam, vapor and hot water heating, being well acquainted with the trade in city and country and report a fair business this season.

 

From “Watertown and Jefferson County Trade Review,” Dec 1916

 

1971

05 18       REMOVED FOR NEW GOODYEAR STORE

A Goodyear tire and service store is to be constructed in Watertown in the near future, according to Harry Wendel of the Goodyear district office in Milwaukee.

 

The store will be located at the corner of North Fifth and Main streets.  The site includes three properties.  They are the former Christ United Methodist Church, former Kehr Brothers Heating, and the former Hilary Reichardt home on 109 North Fifth Street.

 

Construction is to begin soon and be completed within 90 to 120 days after work begins.

 

The land will include parking for approximately 25 vehicles and will offer a complete mechanical shop including brake work, wheel alignment, tire work, sale of tires and many other areas. A  truck bay and farm tire bay are included in the plan.

 

An appliance and television store will be included in the business.  The facility will employ about six persons

 

 

 

Cross References:

 

Kehr, Donald 1915, Sleigh ride, upper grades

Kehr, Donald 1941, Grades 1 and 2

Kehr, Donald 1943, Grades 3 and 4

 

Kehr, Frank, 1951, Obit

 

Kehr, Robert 1941, Grades 1 and 2

Kehr, Robert 1943, Grades 3 and 4

Kehr, Robert 1949, Graduation

 

 

 

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