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Reeseville Nearly Wiped Out by Fire
Watertown Gazette, 02 05
1909
Reeseville, Wis., Jan.
29—With one of the worst blizzards in the history of the village raging and the
wind blowing a gale, almost the entire business section of Reeseville
was destroyed by fire today. But for the
prompt assistance rendered by the cities called upon for aid it is certain that
the entire town would be one mass of ruins tonight. As it is, eight business blocks and one
dwelling are gone, the estimated loss being $25,000.
The
fire started this noon, following a gasoline explosion in the hardware store of
C. W. Steinacher.
The volunteer fire department was on the ground within a short time, but
the flames had made considerable headway and efforts to protect surrounding
property proved fruitless with the storm fanning the blaze. Surrounding towns were appealed to for aid by
telephone and telegraph and Milwaukee Road at once placed special trains in
readiness at Columbus and at Watertown to carry apparatus to the stricken
village. In the meantime the department
from Lowell, a village about three miles distant, had reached here
overland. Within a short time a hook and
ladder company with apparatus reached here from Columbus and an engine with a
full crew complement came from Watertown.
Thus
strengthened, the local department renewed its fight against the spreading
conflagration, but it was not until after 6 o'clock tonight that the fire was
under control. Among the buildings
destroyed or damaged practically beyond repair are a meat market, two saloons,
a blacksmith shop, and the State Bank of Reeseville. When danger of further spread of the
conflagration was passed the departments from Columbus and Watertown returned
home by special trains.
The fire
was caused by an explosion in the store of C. W. Steinacher;
Arthur Cohn, a clerk, was drawing gasoline from a tank, when the gases from the
gasoline were exploded by a nearby light.
His face and hands were seriously burned, and he has since been
receiving treatment at St. Mary's Hospital, this city.
The Silsby engine and the east side hose wagon on appeal for
help were sent from here with a sufficient number of firemen to man them. Fire Chief Carl Otto had one of his feet
badly cut at the ankle while assisting fighting the fire.
↓ More on Reeseville
Fire
↓
Rebuilding Reeseville
Watertown
Gazette, 05 07 1909
Among buildings to be
erected here during the
summer are a two story double building by the Kurth Company
on the site of the old opera house at a cost of $10,000; a single two story
building costing $5,000, by William Hartig Company, a
new home for the state bank and residences by O. A. Sell, Miss Bertha Yauman, W. E. Wendt and Dr. Eickelberg. Thus is Reeseville
rising like a phoenix from the ashes of the fire which recently destroyed the
greater part of the town.
↓ More on Reeseville ↓
Watertown Merchants Get Busy
Watertown Gazette, 01 20 1911
The Reeseville Review says that the business men of Reeseville
made an agreement to take all the available space in that paper for advertising
purposes. All of which shows that the Reeseville merchants are wide awake and up-to-date. They have sharp competition from the larger
cities, particularly Watertown and Milwaukee, both of which places are easily
reached by fast trains, running only a few hours apart. In order to meet this competition, the Reeseville merchants have stocked up with the best goods in
the market, which they freely advertise in the home paper and thereby increase
the local trade.—Juneau Telephone.
During the year 1911 we
hope to see Watertown business men do likewise with the local papers.—Watertown Gazette
Watertown Gazette, 02 12 1909
Watertown
City Mutual Fire Insurance Co. Elect Officers.
Last Saturday evening the directors of the Watertown City Mutual Fire
Insurance Co. elected the following officers for the ensuing year:
H. R. Moldenhauer, president; Michael Fitzgerald, vice-president;
Julius Strehlow, secretary;
William Trachte, treasurer.
Watertown Gazette, 06 15 1894
Two men
entered the store of D. W. Schwab & Co., on last Monday night, disrobed
themselves, and redressed in a new outfit, leaving their old garbs after
them. Messrs. Schwab and Co's loss is
about $20.
↓ More on Schwab & Co ↓
Watertown Gazette, 07 13 1894
"Dave" Schwab, the old stand-by clothing man of Watertown, was
in Juneau Monday. This was
"Dave’s" last business trip to that city, as he is soon to leave for
Cincinnati where he intends to locate permanently. For thirty-seven years the well-known
clothing firm of D. Schwab & Co., of Watertown, has been a household word
among lovers of fine clothing, and has always been synonymous with good
material, good work and good fit. For
thirteen years "Dave" has been the responsible head of the
establishment and there is no businessman of our acquaintance outside of our
own city, who will be more thoroughly missed than he. A regular solicitor for the best grades of
Gents' Furnishing Goods, his old time patrons as well as his new ones will
scarcely feel that perfect confidence in other firms that they have in
his. But successor Mr. Andrew Hertel has been a trusty and trusted employee of the firm
for years, and probably understands the tastes and demands of this section
nearly as well as Mr. Schwab himself, while the veteran cutter, A. W. Cavanath, will still handle the shears, and in the future,
as in the past, will "give the people perfect fit. He was square in business, a genial good
fellow to associate with, could tell a rousing story, and was everybody's
friend. We join with hosts of others in
wishing him “God speed” wherever he may be.
Watertown Gazette, 06 15 1894
A prominent
4th ward young lady had a lively encounter with a billy
goat on last Tuesday afternoon to the great amusement of the spectators. Said young lady was amusing herself by
mimicking the goat's bleat, when "Billy" retaliated by chasing and
bunting her. Not every Belle enjoys an
encounter with a billy goat, but "Billy"
enjoyed himself hugely on this occasion at the expense of the young lady. It is safe to say that billy
goats are not her pet animals.
Lectures and Bowling
Watertown Daily Times, 11 17 1903
A large audience assembled last
Thursday evening to hear the lecture on Charlemagne. The use of Concordia Opera House has been
generously donated, as the capacity of the assembly room was altogether
insufficient. The hall, however, was
poorly heated to the discomfort of many, and the bowling was also the source of
some annoyance. The next lecture takes
place Thursday, Nov. 19, the subject being Lorenzo di
Medici.
Reconstruction of South Third Street
Watertown Daily Times, 12 03 08
The section of South Third Street
that had been closed since August reopened to traffic on December 3rd.
The $1.47 million reconstruction
project included South Third Street from East Main Street to Western Avenue and
five roadways in that area between Third and Fourth streets. Those roads include Market Street, Jefferson
Street, Dodge Street, Spring Street and Wisconsin Street.
South Third Street from Main
Street to Dodge Street now includes two 11 -foot lanes and the parking area on
both sides of the road was widened from seven feet to 10 feet. South Third Street from Dodge Street to
Western Avenue has two 11 -foot lanes and the 8-foot parking area on the west
side of the road was expanded to 10 feet.
New sidewalks, stamped concrete
and decorative lighting was installed from Main Street to Dodge Street. The sidewalks on Third Street from Dodge
Street to Western Avenue, as well as the five side roads, were replaced where
necessary.
Watertown
Daily Times, 12 03 58
Watertown's
new deputy city clerk, Mrs. Ralph O. Ertl of 1311
River Drive, will begin her duties at the City Hall next Monday morning. She succeeds the late Mrs. Lester A. Kuckkahn whose sudden death took place on Nov. 8, just one
month to the date on which her successor will begin her duties.
Kuckkahn, Evelyn, b. Dec 26, 1903, d. Nov 8, 1958
Mrs.
Ertl has worked in the office of the Sears Roebuck
Co. store here for some years. She has
had some experience in City Hall office work, having worked there for a time
after the death of Arthur W. Duffy, who served as city clerk.
Watertown
Daily Times, 01 14 84
City
Clerk Bernice Ertl was honored by the members of the
Watertown Common Council Tuesday night for her service to the Watertown
community. Mrs. Ertl
will leave her post next Tuesday after serving 16 years [if newspaper date
is correct, this should be 26 years] as city clerk. Mayor Kenneth Thiel
presents her with a plaque inscribed, “In appreciation for your loyalty,
honesty and excellence as an employee for the City of Watertown. A special commendation for never missing a
council meeting as city clerk for 16 years.”
Memorial Hospital Auxiliary Tea
Watertown
Daily Times, 12 03 83
The
Volunteer of the Year award winner was announced and three new officers were
installed at the annual Watertown Memorial
Hospital Auxiliary tea held Sunday in the hospital cafeteria. Members of the auxiliary voted Diane Cochrane
as Volunteer of the Year. She has served
on the hospital auxiliary board for five years in several capacities including
publicity chairman, legislation chairman and vice president of fund
raising. A child safe volunteer at the
hospital, she was also chairman of the hospital Christmas bazaar held this
year. New officers installed for
two-year terms were Jo Bostrom, vice president of
programs; Marion Bauman, newsletter chairman and corresponding secretary; and
Peg Brandenstein, membership chairman and assistant
treasurer. They were installed by Sharyn Abraham, a past president of the auxiliary.
Enjoys Lecture on Foreign Churches
Watertown Gazette, 04 25 1923
The Catholic Woman's Club
was given the opportunity Monday evening of listening to a very entertaining
illustrated lecture on "Foreign Cathedrals," given by Mr. and Mrs. E. J. Brandt. The paper read by Mr. Brandt was very
comprehensive in its scope, showed much care in its preparation, and contained
much interesting information about many of the wonderful cathedrals as well as
other places of interest visited by Mr. and Mrs. Brandt on their recent
European trip.
Beginning
with the churches of England, Mr. Brandt described the famous Westminster
Abbey, as being typical of England's finest attempt in church architecture,
going on from there with a description of the most beautiful and best known
churches in various countries visited—Norway, Belgium, Switzerland, France and
Germany—and concluding with many beautiful exterior and interior views of four
of Italy's greatest cathedrals— Santa Maria Novelle,
in Florence; the Cathedral of Milan St. Marks, in Venice; and St. Peters, in
Rome.
In speaking of St. Peter's,
Mr. Brandt said that some idea of its vastness could be obtained if we
considered it as being just twice as high as the spire of St. Bernard's Church.
In all, over two hundred views were thrown on the screen, giving the
audience an excellent idea not only of the general appearance of these famous
edifices of the old world, but also showing many fine details such as
artistically-carved pulpits, doors of exquisite design and altars of rare
beauty. The many rare and beautiful
churches erected in Europe many centuries ago will . . .
Watertown Daily Times, 12 01 1958
Members of the City Council
and the City Water Commission last night laid the groundwork for carrying out
the first in a series of steps to improve and expand the city's water facilities, based on a report filed
several months ago by the Jerry Donahue Engineering Co. of Sheboygan.
The initial step, as decided
tentatively last night, calls for repairing and reconditioning Well No. 1 of
the system.
It was decided to bring in a
report and resolution to this effect at the Dec. 16 meeting of the Council. Any work undertaken will be submitted on bids.
Watertown Daily Times, 12 01 1983
Sally Flegner,
R.N., has been appointed department head of the Newbirth
Center at Watertown Memorial Hospital. Flegner, a native
of Appleton, has worked as a registered nurse at Watertown Memorial for eight
and one-half years, the last seven and one-half in obstetrics. She has served as a vice president of Webster
Elementary School's P.T.A., assisted with library and church functions, been a
substitute Sunday school teacher, and is currently room mother for second grade
and kindergarten at Webster.
Watertown Daily Times, 11 25 1983
Welcome Inn, 700 East Main
Street, has been sold to a local partnership and is under new ownership. Balloon Enterprises, a partnership consisting
of Charles Balistreri, William O'Brien, and David
Nielsen, has been formed, and has purchased the hotel and restaurant
facilities. Balistreri
and his wife, Betty, who formerly managed Balistreri's
Ristorante at 100 Madison Street, will manage the
motel and restaurant businesses. They
are also planning to move into the apartment which is part of the hotel.
Watertown Daily Times, 11 25 1998
A railroad engine spilled
more than 2,000 gallons of diesel fuel near a wetlands area in Watertown on
Tuesday morning, after it derailed while traveling on tracks south of West Main
Street, the Watertown fire chief said. Chief Richard Olson said the train, owned by
CP Rail, did not tip over but the track tilted enough to derail the engine and
puncture its fuel tank in two places.
“There were 2,100 gallons lost of diesel fuel, which is a very major
spill,” Olson said.
Harsh criticism upon the death of Carl
Schurz
Mother Earth, Vol. 1 No. 4, June 1906
Monthly Magazine Devoted to Social Science
and Literature
Carl Schurz, politician and career hunter by
profession, died May 14th. He was met at
the gate of Hell by the secretary of that institution with the following
question, "Were you not one of the enthusiasts for the battle of freedom,
in your young days? If the reports of my
men are correct—and I am confident my men are more reliable than the majority
of the newspaper men on your planet—you were even a Revolutionist?
Carl Schurz nodded.
"And why have you
thrown your ideals and convictions overboard?"
"There was no money in
them," Carl replied, sulkily.
The Satanic Secretary nodded
to one of his stokers, saying, "Add 5,000 tons of hard coal to our
fires. Here we have a man that sold his
soul for money. He deserves to roast a
thousand times more than the ordinary sinner."
Robert Lee
Grulke, age 79, of Menasha, passed away into the arms
of God during the early hours of Tuesday, November 11, 2008, at St. Elizabeth's
Hospital. He was born in Lebanon, WI, on
February 17, 1929, to Emil and Charlotte (Andrews) Grulke
and was one of 10 children. He graduated
from Watertown High School and later attended Northwest College and the University of WI,
Milwaukee, obtaining a Masters degree in Education. He went on to marry Elaine Wentland of Deerfield, WI at St. John's Lutheran Church in
Dubuque, IA on March 1, 1959. They then
moved to Lincoln, Nebraska where they had three children and then later moved
to Menasha, WI where they currently still reside.
At a young age, Bob showed
promise as one of Dodge Counties "Wiz Kids." He also went on to receive the Joe Davies
scholarship award for select high school students in and around Watertown. Upon completion of high school, Bob wrote the
highest biology college admissions scores of that time. After graduating from college, at the age of
18, Bob became a teacher and principal in Waukesha County, WI earning the
prestigious placement of one of the top three principals in the State of
WI. During his tenure as a principal he
also co-authored a book, "Guide to Superintendency
for School Administrators in Waukesha County."
Upon retirement from the
school system, he went on to work for the leading educational publisher,
Prentice Hall, becoming one of the top three sales people in the company.
Bob was an avid hunter and
fisherman and it was often said that he was most happy fishing for bluegills
with his fly rod. He also loved
gardening, photography, and all animals and birds in general. Hardly ever seen without his dogs, we know
that they will all be happy to greet him again.
Bob is survived by his
beloved wife of almost 50 years, Elaine Grulke and
dear father to their three children: Forrest (Rebecca) Grulke,
Plover, WI; Nancy Wissell, Vernon Hills, IL; and
Tracy (Dan) Curtin, Hortonville, WI; seven grandchildren: Krystyna,
Bryttany, Barrett, Hayden, Mackenzie, Alexis, and
Madison. Surviving siblings and in-laws:
Emil Jr. (Betty), Marvin, Cheryl (Harry) Haapala,
Stuart, Kathy (Ron) Schuman, William Jordan, and Margo Grulke.
He was preceded in death by his
parents and siblings: Emil and Charlotte Grulke;
Barbara Jordan, George Grulke, Phyllis McCuen, and Joanne Kreitzer.
A celebration of Bob's life
will we held on Thursday, November 13, from 4 p.m. - 8 p.m. at the Wichmann Funeral Home Tri-County Chapel (3212 S Oneida
Street, Menasha). Church services will
take place on Friday, November 14, 2008, at 11:30 a.m. at Immanuel Lutheran
Church in Lebanon, Wisconsin and a visitation will be available Friday morning
from 10 a.m. until the time of service at the church. Bob will also be receiving graveside military
rights for his work in the Naval Reserves.
Interment will take place in the Kroughville
Lutheran Moravian Cemetery in Lake Mills, Wisconsin. In lieu
of flowers, donations are appreciated to the Fox Valley Humane Association.
The
Sheboygan Press, November 11, 2008
Albert W. Bruesehoff, of 708 North 15th Street, Sheboygan, passed
away on November 10th, at St. Nicholas Hospital, at the age of 89.
Albert was born on May 21,
1919, at Barre Mills, WI, the son of Richard and Blondina (Freitag) Bruesehoff.
He was baptized at the
Lutheran church in Barre Mills where his father
served as teacher and organist.
He attended Lutheran schools
in Racine and Juneau. He attended high school at Northwestern Preparatory School in
Watertown, WI. At that time, his parents
moved to Watertown where his father took the position of principal of the
school at Bethesda Lutheran Home. He
graduated from Dr. Martin Luther College, New Ulm, MN, in 1945. His graduate work was done at the University
of Wisconsin, Madison, as well as Marquette University, the University of
Minnesota, Mankato, and the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.
On June 23, 1946, he was
united in marriage to Valeria Thalmann at Emanuel
Lutheran Church, Hamburg, MN. Their marriage was blessed with 2 sons and 2
daughters.
The family lived in Winona,
MN, Elgin, MN, St. Paul, MN, Jacksonville, IL, and Oconomowoc, WI, where Albert
was teacher and principal of the Lutheran schools. His last position was as Director of
Education and Minister of Music at St. Mark Lutheran Church in Sheboygan,
retiring in 1978. In 2005 he was recognized by the Lutheran Church, Missouri
Synod, for 60 years of faithful service in the ministry of the church.
Albert was a member of
Trinity Lutheran Church, the Sheboygan Chapter of People to People, the Mayor's
International Committee, the Commission on Aging, the Historical Preservation
Committee, the Wisconsin Council on Human Concern, the Northeast Area Health
Board, the United Way Board and the Sheboygan Symphony Orchestra. In 1995 his
name was placed on the Sheboygan Musical Wall of Fame.
Survivors include his wife,
Valeria; two sons, the Rev. Richard (Naomi) Bruesehoff,
Park Ridge, IL; the Rev. Mark (Diane) Bruesehoff,
Ocean City, NJ; two daughters, Judith (Jon) Koenig, Michigan City, IN; and
Kristin (Robert) Sturgeon, Portage, IN; 10 grandchildren, Nathan Bruesehoff, Renton, WA; Dr. Peter Bruesehoff,
Madison, WI; the Rev. Christopher (Jamie) Bruesehoff,
Tom's River, NJ; Emily (Michael) Johnson, Kyle, TX;
Sara Bruesehoff, Ocean City, NJ; Gretchen Bruesehoff, Elon, NC; Joshua
Koenig, Kalamazoo, MI; Jason Koenig, Edwardsville, IL; Erik Sturgeon and Lauren
Sturgeon, Portage, IN; two great-grandsons; one sister-in-law and
brother-in-law, Leila and Rudy Skoda, Union City, TN; one niece; two nephews;
and many cousins and friends.
He was preceded in death by
his parents, his in-laws, one sister and brother-in-law.
Funeral services will be
held on November 13 at 12:00 noon at Trinity Lutheran Church, with the Rev.
Timothy Mech and the Rev. John Berg officiating.
Inurnment will be at Glenview Memorial Gardens, Ixonia,
WI. Friends may call at the church from 10:00 a.m.-12:00 noon.
In lieu of
flowers, memorials may be given to Sheboygan Area Lutheran High School,
Bethesda Lutheran Home, Sheboygan Symphony Orchestra or St. Nicholas Hospital
Hospice.
Watertown
Daily Times, 11 11 1983
Another
Watertown industry has undertaken an ambitious expansion program. Wis-Pak, Inc., 860
West Street, has announced it is constructing a 48,000 square foot addition to
the north end of its facilities. The
addition, which will be 200 by 240 feet in size, will be used primarily for
warehouse space, according to Arnold Fobes, vice
president and general manager. Work on
the $600,000 square foot addition got under way this week. Oliver Construction of Oconomowoc is general
contractor for the project. Initial
ground preparation work is now under way.
Watertown
Daily Times, 08 23 1983
Six
returning letter winners and an influx of talented freshmen promise to make it
an interesting season for the Watertown High School swim team. As is the case with the letter winners, the
new crop of AAU swimmers is very versatile, giving coach Dave Hanssen a lot of flexibility in the lineup. Hanssen is hoping
the incoming group will complement returning letter winners Chris Opperud, Cara Himrich, Ellen
Schmitt, Patti Ebert, Cathie Miller and Lisa Drebenstedt.
Milwaukee Street Bridge Reopened
Watertown
Daily Times, 11 07 2008
The new Milwaukee Street bridge over the
Rock River reopened to traffic at about 2 p.m. today. The roadway has been closed since December
2007 when the old bridge was demolished.
In 2006
the Milwaukee Street bridge averaged about 7,200 vehicles per day and it was
expected that number would be the same when it reopens.
The new
Milwaukee Street bridge is an open arch structure with a Texas concrete
rail. Because the Milwaukee Street
bridge is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the designs for
the new bridge had to be aesthetically similar to the old structure.
The old
Milwaukee Street bridge was a three-span, open spandrel, reinforced concrete,
continuous-rib-arch bridge that had a structure length of 240 feet. It was constructed in 1930 by Eau Claire
Engineering and designed by Daniel B. Luten.
The new
bridge has been expanded to three travel lanes, with two moving east and one
going west. The two eastbound lanes are
about 25 feet wide and the westbound lane is approximately 15 feet wide.
With the
sidewalks and the area for bicycles, the entire bridge is almost 60 feet wide. The overall width of the old bridge was 42
feet, which included a 30-foot-wide roadway.
The
designs also called for the river walk on the east side of the river to be
extended south under the bridge. The
stairs to access the river walk from Milwaukee Street have been replaced with a
ramp.
Along with
the replacement of the bridge, the project also included the reconstruction of
the Milwaukee Street intersections with South First and South Water streets.
A
southbound right-turn lane has been added to South Water Street, as well as a
second eastbound through lane where it intersects with Milwaukee Street. The intersection has also been extended to
the south to help smoothen out the three lanes of traffic on the bridge.
The
concrete islands at the intersection of Milwaukee and South First streets have
been removed and the intersection has also been widened.
The entire
project has a cost of $3.1 million and the city will be responsible for
covering 20 percent of the total, which is $620,000. The remaining amount will be covered by state
and federal funding.
City
officials and those involved with the project will hold a ribbon cutting
ceremony on the morning of Nov. 15 to officially celebrate the reopening of the
bridge.
Watertown
Gazette, 03 16 1894
R. Achtenhagen's opening at his place of business in Cole’s
block last Monday was a grand success in every respect. The place was crowded with anxious buyers from
morning until late in the evening, and all admired the elegant stock and
especially the low prices at which it was offered for sale. The fine display of floods in the show window
was very attractive, and was admired by everyone who saw it. Mr. Achtenhagen is
certainly a subject for congratulations on the success of his opening, and a
beginning so successful is a fine indication of a good business career to
follow.
Watertown
Republican, 04 04 1894
H. L.
Beckmann (Beckman), of this city, is the inventor of a handy device called the
"Little Wonder" door fastener, which is used as a bolt to secure
doors from opening. It is made so as to
apply to any door and is small enough to be carried on a key ring. It should become quite popular with
travelers.
Uncle Tom' s Cabin Co
Watertown
Gazette, 03 30 1894
A
fair-sized audience was tortured by an "Uncle Tom' s Cabin Co." at
Concordia opera house on last Tuesday evening.
It was the worst attempt ever made here in that line.
Watertown
Republican, 03 28 1894
F. A.
Cooley is erecting a building for mercantile purposes, on the corner of Western
Avenue and Fifth Street [413 Western Ave].
Main Street must look to its laurels if it does not want to see trade leave
it and seek new channels. Business is
working south, evidently.
Cross
reference:
1909 mention of store with respect to
route of interurban
Former
First Congregational Church Parsonage
500 S. Fourth St

Watertown
Daily Times, 12 04 2008
Home of
Tim and Peg Theder at 500 S. Fourth St. featured in 2008 Holiday Parade of
Homes
The Theder
home was built in the early 1900s as a parsonage for the then adjacent First Congregational Church. Many parents and children will remember
fondly the home being used as the Gingerbread Preschool. The home was decorated with all of the
preschool decorations including a fire escape on the front of the home.
Using
Peg's talents as an interior designer, she saw the potential of returning the
home to a residence, and in 1989, they purchased the home. After extensive remodeling of the entire
home, it is home now to her interior design business as well as Tim's landscape
contracting business.
The home
was filled with many treasures and holiday decorations that the family has
enjoy throughout the years.
One
feature of the home is the sun room, which was decorated with a unique
Christmas tree used to display Peg's collection of Village Homes complete with
a train set. The living room tree is
adorned with wooden ornaments Peg painted the first year they were
married. Tim and their son, Tyler, are
passionate about hunting and fishing.
Their favorite pastimes are showcased with whimsical ornaments and
continued over into a trophy bedroom.
Watertown
Gazette, 03 23 1894
The ladles
of Watertown and vicinity will be interested in the annual millinery opening of
Mrs. C. Weiss, 203 Main Street, which will be held on next Monday and
Tuesday. At the opening there will be an
elegant display of pattern hats, made up in the very latest style, besides hat
shades and fillings, and everything found is a first-class millinery
store. The display will be one of the finest
ever made in Watertown, and the prices will suit everybody, so low will they
be. A general invitation is extended to
the ladies to call on those days and inspect the goods. [Clara Weiss]
Watertown
Daily Times, 10 27 1998
Members of
St. Mark's Evangelical Lutheran Church, 215 N. Sixth
St., will say farewell to the Rev. Donald Sutton this week. Sutton, who has served the congregation for
the past 13 years as family/youth pastor, has accepted a call as pastoral
coordinator of the ministry team at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in New Ulm,
Minn.
Watertown
Daily Times, 12 05 1958
It's
goose-noodling time in Watertown again.
The once widespread practice of “stuffing
geese” for the holiday trade is now down to a trickle, but this year some
200 genuine Watertown stuffed geese will be readied here at the home of Mr. and
Mrs. Fred Rumler, 727 North Church Street.
And most of them will wind up on the plates of smart diners at Luchow's
Restaurant on 14th Street in New York City. Luchow's is now in its 76th year of
operation. In recent years the
restaurant, which is known the world over for its fine dishes, has been taking
the bulk of the stuffed geese from Watertown.
Shipments are made through Kerr's Poultry and Egg House in Watertown.
Squad Cars Carrying New Weapons
Watertown
Daily Times, 12 05 1998
Watertown police squad cars are carrying new automatic weapons this week, now
that most officers have completed the training process. Eight Colt AR-15 rifles were purchased, which
will provide shot accountability and increased standoff distance, said Capt.
Tim Roets. “The Watertown Police
Department had conducted an extensive study on determining what squad gun
should be placed in our cars,” Roets said.
“The study determined this would be the best weapon suited for our
needs.”
Watertown
Republican, 02 06 1895
The entire
hardware stock of E. A. Heck, with the exception of the tinkers' [tinners?]
tools, has been disposed of by the mortgatees, Frank Stercinski and Mrs.
Charles Noack, to D. & F.
Kusel and removed to their store.
The Abilene Reflector-Chronicle,
12 08 2008
. . . After Martin and Dorthea Volkmann of
Statien, Germany, sailed to America in 1857, they settled near Watertown,
Wisconsin. The following year the
Volkmanns loaded a wagon and moved to Kansas Territory with their five children,
Frank, August, William Frederick and Wilhemina.
The trip took eleven weeks, including two weeks in Iowa waiting for a
rain-swollen river to recede. The wagon was pulled by a team of oxen from
Watertown to the settlement at Lyons Creek.
The Volkmanns settled in the Lyona area where they began to farm the
rich Kansas soil . . .
Watertown Republican, 01 23 1895
During the year 1894
there were 226 arrests made by officers in this city. The statistics as compiled by the
chief-of-police show the nature of complaint and number of arrests as follows:
Assault, 29; abusive language,27; drunk and disorderly, 17; petit larceny, 11; carrying concealed weapons, 4; obtaining money by false pretenses, 3;
malicious mischief, 3; indecent
exposure,2; threats, 2; resisting officer, 2; bastardy, 1; grave larceny, 1; assault with intent to rob, 1; non-support, 1; jumping board bill, 1.
In addition there were
papers served on 121 tramp cases, making the total 226 arrests. Besides, 1,000 persons were accorded free
lodging at the jail.
[File on Police Department]
↓ More on Police, 1894 ↓
Julius Schoechert
Watertown
Gazette, 06 29 1894
Julius
Schoechert has been appointed special policeman
for the west side without pay. Mr.
Schoechert will make it interesting for evil doers in that section of the city.
Watertown
Daily Times, 12 06 1983
New
officers for 1984 were installed at the recent Christmas meeting of AARP
Chapter 2007 held at the Watertown Country Club. Mrs. Lucille Gronert, the first president of
AARP Chapter 2007, installed the following officers: Mrs. Adeline Lattimer,
president; H. Zimmermann, first vice president; C. Coogan, second vice
president; Mrs. Dorothy Draeger, recording secretary; Mrs. Peg Buckland,
corresponding secretary; and Mrs. Lillian Wilde, treasurer. Named as directors
for two-year terms were Leona Strohbusch, Ruth Funk, Russell Gallup and Ervin
Finder. Members of the nominating committee for two-year terms are Irene
Splinter, Milton Bender and Margaret Pfeifer.
First Republican Mayor
Watertown
Republican, 04 03 1895
For the first
time in the history of Watertown a Republican mayor will be at the head of the
city government the ensuing year, Justus T. Moak
having been chosen at the municipal election yesterday by a clean majority of
134 over ex-Senator W. S. Voss, mayor for the past two years, and who a year
ago received a majority of 519. The
outcome of the mayoralty contest is quite generally a surprise, and especially
so to the "powers that be" in the Democratic Party here. It cannot, however, be considered a purely
Republican victory, but rather one for reform and the practice of stricter
economy in the administration of the city's affairs. From the result it is quite evident that the
majority of our citizens is dissatisfied with the present regime and wanted a
change, and especially it is true of the common classes. Mr. Moak's election is due to the generous
support of his Democratic friends who had become dissatisfied with their own
party's representatives in office, for it is an undisputed fact that without
the aid of this faction the Republicans would not have been successful.
↓ More on Mayor Moak ↓
Watertown
Republican, 04 17 1895
The first
meeting of the Common Council and the inauguration of Mayor J. T. Moak occurred
last evening. Long before the time for
convening, the lobby of the council chamber and the corridor communicating were
crowded with citizens interested in the proceedings. The aldermen-elect entered the chamber in
single file and took their respective seats, closely followed by the incoming
and outgoing mayors. Mr. Moak was
formally introduced by Mr. Voss, the clerk called the roll and the oath of
office was administered to the body by City Clerk Bieber. The council was then ready for business.
Watertown
Republican, 03 13 1895
The family
of Thomas Darcey, 107 North Montgomery Street, was poisoned one day last week
from eating brick cheese. Timely medical
assistance avoided fatal results.
Watertown
Republican, 02 13 1895
A new post office has been established in the eastern part
of the town of Watertown, in the Wieman homestead, six miles from the
city. It is named Aliceton, and W.
MetcaIf, formerly of Farmington, is the postmaster. Mr. MetcaIf has built a store at the place
and keeps a general merchandise stock.
Watertown
Daily Times, 12 09 1958
The
seventh dinner meeting of the G.B. Lewis 25 year
club was held Wednesday night at Otto's Inn. Two new members were welcomed into the club
who had served the company 25 years: Herbert Knoll and Ray Erdmann. Those in attendance who served the company
for 25 to 48 years were: Otto Wendt, Otto Erdmann, Loretta Irving, Edward
Wiese, Gordon Frater, Herman Gerth, Walter Kaercher, Herbert Riedemann, John
Erdmann, Karl Lange, Arthur Killian, Neil Follensbee, Carl Wollin, Carl Stark,
Raymond Erdmann and Herb Knoll.
Watertown
Daily Times, 12 09 1998
A
community program that has been well received in the past will again reach out
to residents. The Bread and Roses meal
program, which provides a free meal to anyone in Watertown, is being
reinstated, according to committee chairwomen Jean Kwapil and Judy
Hoffstetter. The dinners will be served
Thursday evenings at Immanuel Lutheran Church fellowship hall with the first
one served Jan. 14, 1999, from 5 to 7 p.m.
New Christmas Wreaths
Watertown
Daily Times, 12 06 1998
Eighty new
Christmas wreaths are on display on Main and South Church streets in
Watertown. The lighted wreaths are being
paid for by donations to the Watertown Chamber of Commerce. There will be an
annual expense of approximately $1,500 to provide the annual Christmas season
display. People who are interested in
contributing to the annual display can contact the Watertown Chamber of
Commerce. The city's park, recreation
and forestry department is responsible for installing, maintaining and removing
the decorations.
Highway 16 Bypass Project
Watertown Daily
Times, 11 04 1958
The Public
Service Commission of Wisconsin has scheduled a public hearing for Nov. 19 in
connection with the proposed construction of an overhead over the North Western
Railroad track one-half mile north of Watertown. An overhead will be constructed in connection
with the highway 16 bypass project. The
hearing was scheduled as a result of a petition which the State Highway
Department had filed with the commission on Oct. 21. The commission is now investigating the
petition. All expenses in connection
with the investigation, which include checking the books, accounts, practices
and activities of the railroad, will be assessed against the railroad.
Watertown
Daily Times, 12 11 1983
The Flower
Box, a floral shop on North Fourth Street, has been purchased by Tom Schwefel,
former designer at Draeger's Floral and Gift Shop. The new owner said the name of the floral
shop will be changed after Jan. 1. The
Flower Box was operated by Jeanne Robinson for the past two years and was
formerly Flowers by Alice. Schwefel said
he will continue the services offered by the previous owner including supplying
fresh cut flowers, blooming plants and green plants as well as floral
arrangements for funerals, weddings, birthdays, anniversaries and other
occasions.
Watertown
Daily Times, 12 11 1998
David W.
Hertel, 201 N. Church St., was appointed Tuesday night to represent Aldermanic
District No. 7 on the Watertown Common Council.
Hertel, who previously served on the council, said he stepped forward to
fill the position vacated by Tracy Terrill because of his continuing interest
in city government. He will fill
Terrill's term until the April election.
The council appointed Hertel with a 5-3 vote, the other votes being cast
for candidate Julaine K. Appling, 510 W. Main St. Hertel began his service on the board
immediately, after being sworn in by city Clerk Mike Hoppenrath, who was
dressed in a green shirt and red Santa hat.
New Layout for the Watertown Daily Times
Watertown
Daily Times, 12 15 1983
The new
design of the Watertown Daily Times has been received
favorably by our readers. Thursday was
the first day of the design changes and staff members have received positive comments
from many readers. The masthead was
changed back to a more traditional style with a banner across the entire top of
the front page. The Bodoni typeface,
used on the Daily Times masthead for
most of the 88 year history of the paper, has returned. In addition, the day of publication of each
paper is in a reversed typeface and placed as a ribbon on the right side of the
masthead, providing for quick identification of each issue. The second section was also redesigned to
follow a format similar to the front page.
Maranatha Baptist Bible College
Watertown
Daily Times, 12 15 1998
An
evangelist who graduated from Maranatha Baptist Bible College has been selected as
president of the college, officials have announced. Dr. Dave Jaspers will take
the helm of the Watertown institution on Jan. 4, 1999, only the third president
in the college's 30-year history. He was selected for the post after a
unanimous vote by the college's board of trustees. After 13 years of pastoral
and evangelistic ministry, Jaspers' appointment marks a return to his alma
mater.
Watertown Gazette, 02 05
1909
The
committee of the City Council and citizens having the Lincoln Day celebration
in charge for Friday evening of next week at Turner opera house met at the city
hall last Wednesday evening and perfected all arrangements. C. McGee, of Milwaukee, one of Wisconsin’s
most gifted orators, will deliver the address and the Apollo Club and the Northwestern
University Band will furnish the music.
At 8 o’clock p.m. a procession will be formed fronting the city hall,
composed of the Mayor and the City Council, the speaker, G.A.R. Post, the Kriegerverein, Northwestern
University cadets and, headed by the Northwestern University band, will
march to Turner opera house, where an appropriate program will be rendered.
↓ More on Lincoln Day Celebration ↓
Lincoln Day in Watertown
Watertown Gazette, 02 19 1909
The 100th
anniversary of the birthday Abraham Lincoln, the United States’ famous Civil
War president, was appropriately celebrated all over the United States last
Friday, and Watertown was not behind in doing him honor. During the afternoon the Northwestern University
cadets and band paraded our streets in honor of the event and gave several fine
exhibitions of drill work. The boys made
a very fine appearance and are a credit to the University. In the evening at 7:30 o'clock a parade of
military and civic societies was formed fronting the City Hall in North First
Street and marched to Turner opera house, where patriotic exercises were
held. The parade was made up as follows:
Dr.
Fred C Werner, Marshal
Northwestern
University Band
Northwestern
Cadets
O. D.
Pease Post No. 94, G.A.R.
Krieger
Verein
Speaker
and Committee
Executive
Committee
Citizens
. . .
Turner opera house was packed to the doors.
It was nicely decorated in honor of the event; a large portrait of the
lamented president draped with flags was suspended over the stage. On the stage were seated the executive
committee of the celebration, the council committee, the citizens' committee,
the Grand Army committee and members of the Apollo Club. W. D. Sproesser presided and introduced the
speaker of the day, Attorney C. A. McGee of Milwaukee. Mr. McGee is certainly a gifted orator and
his subject was handled very eloquently and patriotically, all present being
delighted with his remarks. The singing
of the Apollo Club, directed by Edward L. Schempf, was particularly
appreciated. Mrs. William F. Whyte
accompanied the club's vocal numbers in her usual artistic style. W. D. Sproesser read Lincoln's Gettysburg
address in a very creditable manner and the Northwestern University band,
directed by Prof. H. A. Frank, played several patriotic selections. Following was the program in full . . .
↓ More on Lincoln Day Celebration,
Apollo Club ↓
Apollo Club in Rehearsal
Hayden's ''Creation” Will be Produced on
Elaborate Scale
Watertown Gazette, 02 05
1909
The Apollo Club of this city is contemplating to
produce on a large scale one of the grandest and most beautiful musical works,
Hayden's "Creation" at their next concert. In fact, the rehearsals of this masterpiece
have begun and there is sufficient artistic spirit among members of the club to
guarantee a perfect production. But it
takes a large chorus to make this composition effective, to bring out the
powerful and wonderfully harmonious choruses and to make the beauty of their
melodies impressive, especially in such choruses as “The Heavens Are
Telling." The management of the
Apollo Club therefore wishes to arouse the interest and enthusiasm of everyone
who is interested in music and chorus singing and asks them to join the club,
to help swell the numbers and the volume of the voices, to profit by studying
this grand work and to assist in the production of one of the finest
compositions ever written. Let everyone
who feels so inclined be present at the next rehearsal in the Masonic Temple on
Tuesday evening, February 2, at 8 o'clock sharp.
Part of
this rehearsal will be devoted to the study of the choruses for the Lincoln
memorial celebration, for which occasion a large chorus is also desirable. But besides a large chorus, the financial
support and backing of our public spirited citizens is necessary for the
undertaking of such a great work. An
orchestra of at least eighteen of Bach's best musicians is needed to make the
production worthy of the masterpiece, besides soloists for the different solo
parts. In fact the expenses will be
extremely high and the management of the Apollo Club has therefore set a list
in circulation for a guarantee fund, each signer to guarantee a pro rata share
of five dollars of any possible deficit.
The
endeavors off this club to offer to the music-loving public only the best at
its concerts deserves a better support than has been given heretofore, and the
management feels that this is their last effort to secure this support. If sufficient interest and enthusiasm does
not exist among the citizens of Watertown to give the support and approve the
faithful work done by the Apollo Club, then the club has no cause for
existence. It would indeed be too bad if
a city like Watertown could not keep a musical organization above water.
Watertown Gazette, 02 05
1909
Otto
Gerbitz has returned from a business trip to Antigo, Nielsville and other towns
in the northern part of the state. Mr.
Gerbitz has built more houses in Watertown the last two years and done more to
improve the residence portion of the city than any other resident. John Hilgendorf, the boss contractor, built
all his residence buildings and has put them up in fine shape. Mr. Hilgendorf is a thorough mechanic in his
line of work and when he turns over a building to the man who employs him, you
can count on it being all right. We want
more men like Mr. Gerbitz to build up our city.
↓ More on Otto Gerbitz ↓
Enterprising Citizen
Watertown Gazette, 06 03 1910
Otto Gerbitz has built a fine cement walk fronting his
home at the corner of West Main and Warren streets. Aside from the walks on West Main and Warren
he has built a large cement walk all around his house, which sets it off in
fine shape. Mr. Gerbitz has built more
houses, and all of them large and up-to-date homes, than anyone of our citizens
the past year. He has built up the
section of the Third ward between Warren Street and the C.&N.W. Ry., and
his enterprise has added greatly to the value of property in that section of
the city. We hope that more of our
moneyed men will follow Mr. Gerbitz's example and do likewise. He is now building an automobile garage in
the rear of his home, and has purchased a fine automobile, which he intends to
use both for pleasure and business purposes.
Watertown
Daily Times, 12 13 1983
Fire broke
out at The Office tavern, 1217 River Drive, early today, causing damage to the
building and its contents estimated at $100,000. The fire was reported at 4:12 a.m. by a
street department employee plowing the streets.
When firemen arrived at the scene, the
building was already fully involved with flames. Twenty-six firemen battled the blaze which apparently
started in the basement and spread vertically into the bar area and then into
the attic area. The first floor caved
into the basement, making fighting the blaze difficult.
Hospital Association Directors
Watertown
Daily Times, 12 13 1998
Two new
directors were elected at the annual meeting of Watertown
Memorial Hospital Association Wednesday evening. Elected to their first terms were Cathy
Kwapil who will have a three-year term and Pat Caine who was elected to fill
the final two years of the term of Steve Foti who has resigned. In addition, Steve Zillmer and John Uttech
were re-elected for three-year terms on the board. In addition to Foti, Joy Soderstrom is
leaving the board after having served for 11 years.
Theodore Roosevelt
Watertown Gazette, 02 12 1909
In short, the fundamental facts of human
nature apply to men and women who live in the country just as they apply to men
and women who live in towns. Given a
sufficient foundation of material well being, the influence of the farmers'
wives on their children becomes the factor of first importance determining the
attitude of the next generation toward farm life. The farmer should realize that the person who
most needs consideration on the farm is his wife. I do not in the least mean that she should
purchase ease at the expense duty.
Neither man nor woman is really happy or really useful save on condition
of doing his or her duty. If the woman
shirks her duty as housewife, as home keeper, as the mother whose prime
function is to bear and rear a sufficient number of healthy children, then she
is not entitled to our regard. But if
she does her duty she is more entitled to our regard even than the man who does
his duty and the man should show special consideration for her needs. I warn my countrymen that the great recent
progress in city life is not a full measure of our civilization, for our
civilization rests on the wholesomeness, the attractiveness, and the completeness
as well as the prosperity of life in the country. The men and women on the farms stand for what
is fundamentally best and most needed in our American life.
– Theodore Roosevelt, The White House, February 8, 1909.
Charles Wenck's Office Removed
Watertown Gazette, 02 12 1909
Chas. J. Wench has removed his fire insurance
office from over Raue's
store to the Bank of Watertown building. For over 30 years he occupied a joint office
with August Tanck on Main Street, but the increase in business of both
gentlemen now requires separate offices.
Watertown Gazette, 02 12 1909
Unveiling at First
Methodist Church. A most pleasing
and appropriate service was held at the close of the Sunday school hour at the
First Methodist Church in the assembly room last Sunday morning. It was the occasion of the unveiling of a
faithful likeness of the late Jonas Stahl [1836-1907], who, for thirty years by
fidelity in service and sweet voice in song was the inspiration of the
Methodist Church and Sunday school.
After singing by the school, the pastor delivered an address in memory
of the departed. The Sunday school flag,
the stars and stripes, was removed from the wall and as the audience looked upon
the likeness of this good man ("Old Faithful" we love to call him),
it seemed that his very presence was among mortals. The Sunday school was gladdened by the
presence of Mrs. Stahl, who is again able to be about, besides many
visitors. The picture is an enlarged
photograph done by the Watertown Photograph Co and is the gift of Mr. and Mrs.
Harry Forncrook, of 313 Warren Street, who with many others love to revere his
memory.
Jonas
Stahl is buried in Oak Hill Cemetery
Elk's Ball at Turner Opera House
Watertown Gazette, 02 19 1909
Bach's orchestra of Milwaukee will furnish the
music for the Elk's ball at Turner opera house next Monday evening, Washington's
birthday. The decorations are being
prepared on a very elaborate scale, and it is said will exceed in beauty
anything in the decoration line ever attempted here.
Watertown Gazette, 02 19 1909
Last Friday evening the pupils of 4th grade No. 4 School enjoyed a sleigh ride to the home of
H. F. Scholz, town of Emmet, where they were right royally received by Mr.
Scholz and family. They were chaperoned
by their teacher, Miss Alina Kirchhoff.
On their return to this city they wound up at the home of G. A.
Stallmann, where Mrs. Stallmann, assisted by Mrs. M. F. Blumenfeld, served them
with refreshments. A spelling contest
was indulged in, Miss Ada Wegemann receiving the prize.
Monday evening the teachers of No. 2 School
gave a valentine party at the school building to a number of teachers of the
other schools. The school room was very
prettily and appropriately decorated.
Games and guessing contests were indulged in and refreshments were
served in three courses. The affair was
a decidedly pleasant one. Those present
were the Misses Edna Voss, Ida Barganz, Sophie Koehler, Josie Voss, Thekla
Krebs, Ida Kopp, Anna M. Holland, Mary Crangle, Ella Sipp, Leona Steinmann,
Katie Brasky, Emma Wittchow, Mamie Stacy, Margaret McGrath.
Watertown Gazette, 02 12 1909
By P. H. Swift
Respectfully dedicated
to my childhood friend, Charles E. Straw, Watertown, Wis.
The maple syrup
and the buckwheat
cake,
The bread like mother
Used to make,
The chicken like
My mother fried,
That used to line
My small inside;
The pumpkin pie,
The doughnuts brown,
The candy dad
Brought up from town,
Don't very much
Appeal to me.
But buttermilk
Of those days! Gee!
I feel I wouldn't
Give a durn
If I could stand
Beside the churn
And drink again
The way I did
When I was just
A little kid.
If buttermilk
Intoxicated,
I'd always be
Inebriated.
Yum, Yum.
Watertown Gazette, 02 12 1909
H. J. Darton, for many years a resident of
Oshkosh and employed as a locomotive engineer in the railway passenger service
from Oshkosh to Antigo during that period, was in our city a few hours on
Friday last. He failed to meet one of
our old residents whom he desired to see.
He called on Schlueter
Bros. stating that 38 years ago he had fired a locomotive for C. E. Straw,
who was at that time acting in the capacity of engineer for the Milwaukee Road. Failing to find his old comrade, Mr. Straw
hopes he will come this way again, and says that Henry is not very wide from
the mark, it being just 37 years past that he had charge of locomotive No. 147,
and named "John Bailie", after the head of the car department. This engine was built in Boston by Hinkley
& Williams, and was known as a "cold water Hinkley," like many
more of same brand owned by the C. M. & St. P. Ry. at that time. The "Bailie" and crew that followed
the No. 147 was in charge of Joseph Bilty, conductor, and served the stock
yards, also the packing houses out on “the marsh," as that district was
then known to all railroad residents in Milwaukee; same section of land is now
covered with a network of tracks. Our
friend Dudley Fitzgerald at that time, 1872, was in charge of the "south
yards" during the long hours of the night.
Watertown Gazette, 02 19 1909
A Ride on the Trolley
Have you ever been on a Watertown trolley
car? It is a fine craft, rocking along
in fine style. If the swaying motion
doesn't exactly lull one to a state of blissful unconsciousness, it will
assuredly make him at times feel like taking a good snooze. They have several little conveniences too for
the security and comfort of the sleepy or seasick passengers. The window sills particularly were devised
especially for convenience in resting the arms and elbows when it is impossible
to sit up without something to hold onto or lean against.
A young gentleman from the west side has it in
for the trolley cars. He says but little
about it himself, but a number of happy and joyous fellow passengers are
telling it. He got on one of the cars
the other night, and the only unoccupied space being by the side of a pretty,
well-dressed and refined-looking young girl, he took the seat, although with
apparent diffidence. The young woman's
elbow was on the window next to him. She
had found it necessary to brace against something, being evidently worn out
with a round of strenuous shopping and the car careening and plunging along
like a merry-go round. When the car
bumped passed one of the side streets the girl’s arm slipped from the window,
and in some inexplicable way onto the young man's shoulder. She was certainly sound asleep, he says, and
he is equally certain, in his modest way, that she did not open her eyelids
previous to this unfortunate accident. He being a young man of retiring
disposition and somewhat inclined to bashfulness in the presence of ladies,
found himself in a delicate position.
It was very evident to the other passengers that it
was a serious problem. The perspiration
starting from his forehead showed this, also the fixed and glassy way in which
he gazed at the "Uneeda Beer" advertisement on the opposite
side. Several acquaintances of his among
the passengers were making unseeming exhibitions of mirth over his unfortunate
predicament. One man was trying to place
a bet that he would stay to the end of the line and back again, unless the girl
woke up, and each and every villain agreed that he would stay on the car as
long as he did. He didn't know what to
do. If he got up, the girl would wake
and be embarrassed; if he stayed, those devils in the car would never let him
hear the last of it. Just when he had
given up all hope, the conductor shouted "tickets," and the girl
awoke with a start, shot one glance at the bashful young man, smiled happily,
and went to sleep again.
Watertown Gazette, 02 19 1909
The choir of St. Paul's Episcopal Church is actively engaged
in rehearsing Stainer's sacred cantata, "The Daughter of Jairus,"
under the direction of Edward L. Schempf, to be sung Friday evening, February
19, in St. Paul's Church. Some of the best
musical talent of Watertown are assisting in this work and it undoubtedly will
be one of the musical events of the season.
Mrs. William Sproesser
will sing the leading soprano parts; Edward L. Schempf,
tenor; William Sproesser, baritone. The
augmented choir will be accompanied by the organ, with Mrs. Elizabeth Green as
organist, and a small orchestra, including a cellist from Milwaukee who has
been specially engaged for this occasion.
The fact that the cantata is the work of the celebrated musical writer,
Stainer, is sufficient evidence as to its worth. It abounds with beautiful solos, duets and
choruses. A treat is in store for all
lovers of music who take advantage of this opportunity. The effect of the combined chorus, organ and
orchestra is truly grand and inspiring.
This cantata was sung by St. Paul's choir a number of years ago and the
concert proved a splendid musical event.
The price of admission has been fixed at thirty-five cents. Tickets may be obtained from members of the
choir and at Eberle's and Schempf's drug stores.
Fun in the Country
Watertown Gazette, 02 19 1909
A number of
Watertown business men and their ladies growing weary of city life and longing
for one of the “good old times" in the country that they so much enjoyed
in years gone by, arranged last Wednesday for a sleigh ride and in order to add
life, grace and beauty to the crowd, a few young ladies and gentlemen of this
city and the adjoining towns of Shields and Emmet were invited. Two bobsleighs were comfortably fitted out
and at 7:30 o'clock the party started for the home of Michael Casey and wife,
town of Emmet. The sleighing being good
and the weather moderate, of course the ride was a most enjoyable feature of
the evening's program, especially to one young gentleman who occupied the
hindmost corner of one of the sleighs.
He went through several stunts that left several of the young ladies in
good humor all evening and they remarked "oh, we are so glad we came, we
never experienced such joy before," and the young man said
"ditto," and began singing "Sweet Marie.” "That is well put," shouted
everybody, "we guess you heart is in the song.” There was no proposal, however.
At about 8:30 the
home of Mr. and Mrs. Casey was reached and here a wide-open hospitality was
extended and it only took a few moments for all to feel at home, and they
certainly had one of those "good old times." The fore part of the evening was passed in
social converse and at cards. The honors
at cards were won by a ten-year-old son of Mr. Casey, who showed the city folks
a thing or two about playing cinch. At
10:30 a delicious luncheon was served, at which two legal lights from the city
officiated as toastmasters. It is not
often that at a festive board two toastmasters are tolerated, but in this case
it was absolutely necessary to keep these gentlemen talking, else the rest of
the party might possibly run short on rations.
Supper being over, one of Watertown's substantial business men suggested
a quadrille, and as there were several violinists present and a number of good
pianists, his motion found numerous seconds, and on went the dance. The aforesaid business man was the first to
give vent to his feelings as he tripped the light fantastic and
enthusiastically remarked: “I’m just as
good as I was 20 years ago.” The
prompter winked at the other gentlemen in the set and kept said dancer so busy
with “right and left four,” “grand right and left,” “swing the one on the
corner,” etc., that it was not long till it was very apparent the merry swirl
was proving too much for the gentleman from Watertown and his partner remarked
this is no place to have “Fitz” and they scooted to a cozy corner and indulged
in a cheese lunch, a commodity that the gentleman is a better success in
manufacturing than in trying to outdance two lawyers and an editor.
We’ll let him down
easy—for he administered to our wants at the hour of parting and saved our life
in our journey home. At intervals during
the evening vocal and instrumental music enlivened the occasion and all present
joined in the choruses. It began to be
noised about the house that we had a celebrated warbler amongst us and after
great persuasion on the part of the ladies the warbler got to work—and the
ladies began to holler “Oh, Mabel, isn’t it terrible.” Several of them laughed
till they swooned away, but it was no use, the warbler kept on—the shingles on
the house began to drop off and all the sparrows for miles around were
attracted to the neighborhood—no use—his wife threatened divorce—nothing
doing—he kept on—finally a brother lawyer present got out an injunction against
him and he stopped short—but it was out of the frying pan into the fire—and
worse—we had a standard oil warbler present, he remarked the machinery needs
oiling, and he took up the key where his legal friend left off, and the only
way relief was found [was when] some one hollered, "all board for
Watertown." There was a sudden halt—some
one remarked its 1 o'clock—another "it's a shame to keep these people up
so late."
A vote of thanks
was given Mr. and Mrs. Casey and their interesting family for the excellent
time given them under their hospitable roof, and good night was said, all
leaving for their homes with fondest memories of a winter’s night in the
country at one of the finest homes in Dodge County and with one of its most
esteemed families.
Watertown Daily Times, 11 26 1958
The supply of toys
which the Fire Department repairs and turns
over to the Family Welfare Association for distribution, has hit a new low this
year, firemen disclosed today. Fewer
toys than ever have been received this year, the men regretfully report. For a period of a great many years the
firemen have conducted a toy repair project.
They welcome all sorts from small toys to larger items like bicycles and
sleds. All are placed in first class
condition and repair.
Watertown Gazette, 02 19 1909
Turner Opera House was packed to the doors last
Tuesday evening to witness the performance of the Watertown Imperial Minstrels,
and the excellence of the entertainment furnished, well deserved the
magnificent audience. From start to
finish everybody was amused, and it certainly was one round of pleasure. The
hall decorations were very artistic and added interest to the occasion. W. J. Bethke officiated as musical director
and the Weber-Stube orchestra furnished the music and accompanied the vocal
numbers. John F. Berigan made a most
excellent interlocutor. The minstrels
were made up as follows: Comedians—F. P.
McAdams, Lew W. Parks, Otto V. Knaak, bones ; Gordon E. Bacon, C. A. Kohn, John
J. Lietz, tambos. Vocalists—William L. Schlueter,
E. J. Hoermann, Joseph Glaus, William F. Richards, Joseph J. Raue, Carl F.
Otto, Edward C. Wolfram, J. C. Weber, Baldwin S. Raue, Frank G. Exner, George
A. Richards, Roman M. Hahn.
The jokes and funny
sayings of the above combination were all well taken and thoroughly enjoyed by
all present and the following vocal selections were heartily applauded:
True Blue Company
Dixie Dan John J. Lietz
Lazy Moon W. F. Richards
Your Minstrel Boy C. A. Kohn
Smiling Star Frank G. Exner
Common Sense Otto V. Knaak
When the Bell in
the Lighthouse Rings W. L. Schlueter
I'm Glad I'm Married F. P. McAdams
My Mother's Kiss Was
Sweetest of Them All E. C. Wolfram
Mandy Lane L. W. Parks
What's the Use G. E. Bacon
In Watertown Company
↓ More on Turner Opera House ↓
“Paid in Full”
Watertown Gazette, 09 16 1910
To My Theatre
Patrons:
In making my
bookings for the coming season I have secured many excellent and meritorious
attractions. Among the number I am
pleased to announce that I have secured The United Players Company's big
production of Eugene Walter's great play, "Paid in Full." This is the play that ran for two years in
New York and six months in Chicago.
"Paid in Full" practically needs no introduction to the
theatre-going public. It has been known
ever since its initial performance as the greatest American play, and the
present production that I have secured has lost none of its strength and beauty
in its presentation by the United Players Company, as they have a complete and
adequate equipment of special scenery and a carefully selected company of
metropolitan players of actors and actresses, and I sincerely trust that my
patrons will show their appreciation of this opportunity to witness this
exceptional play and performance by extending their liberal patronage to my
theatre on Tuesday, September 20, the date of the company's appearance here.
Respectfully, Wm. Bethke, Manager
↓ More on Turner Opera House ↓
"Ishmael"
Watertown Gazette, 09 30 1910
Next Sunday evening
at Turner Opera House promises to be a notable event, the occasion being the
first presentation in this city of "Ishmael," the play that is
setting all the country talking, and is creating a furor in theatrical circles. "Ishmael" is a dramatization by
Grace Hayward of Mrs. Southworth's widely read story "Ishmael." Miss Hayward has also drawn upon Mrs.
Southworth's "Self Raised" for some of the incidents and scenes of
the play, and as a result of the combination of the two, this clever dramatist
has created a play that bids fair to surpass the wonderful success of her
“Graustark" and "St. Elmo."
"Ishmael"
is so different from the usual run of plays that it leaves a distinct
impression of its own upon the mind of the spectator. The story and theme are new. There is an abundance of bright dialogue,
droll humor and the pathos and sentiment of the play are not of the artificial
sort. The stage settings are remarkably
elaborate and many of the scenes art so well managed as to receive hearty applause. The engagement of “Ishmael" promises to
be a record breaker.
Watertown Daily Times, 12 19 1958
New figurines
almost life-size enhance the scene at Bethesda Lutheran
Home as the grounds and buildings take on a Christmas atmosphere. The supervisor of manual arts training,
Martin F. Heinemeier of 120 South Washington Street, obtained the set from a
manufacturer in Milwaukee. The group is
enclosed in a green arbor setting against the east wall of the manual arts
school building. It can be viewed by
taking the “service road” and visitors are welcome to see it.
New Watertown Police Department
Watertown Daily Times, 12 19 1998
A new Watertown Police Department would be
constructed near the high school under a plan
unveiled by the Watertown Unified Board of Education Tuesday night. Under the proposal, the school district would
donate approximately 8.73 acres on the high school site to the city of
Watertown. The city, in return, would
build Elm Street through to Carriage Hill Drive and otherwise develop the
surrounding property. The plan would be
contingent on voter approval of a referendum to construct a new facility.
↓ More on Lincoln School ↓
Possible New City Police Station
Watertown
Daily Times, 01 26 1999
The Watertown Board of Education agreed
Thursday night to several land transfers that will allow for construction of a city police station near the high school if
voters agree to the project in a possible referendum. School and city officials expect the deal to
be finalized in the coming days by attorneys for the city and the school district. The plan for the land swap was developed to
allow for the construction of the station on land owned by the school district
on the south end of the Watertown High School
property . The parcel would front on an
extension of Elm Street the city is planning.
As part of the land transfer plan, the district will deed to the city a
right of way needed to extend Elm Street from its westerly terminus at Fremont
Street west to Carriage Hill Drive. The
school district will also deed to the city a 4.98-acre parcel along the south
side of the Elm Street extension, and about .59 acres along Carriage Hill
Drive. The district will also trade a
1.13-acre parcel along Carriage Hill at West Main Street to Maranatha Baptist Bible
College in exchange for a 1.06-acre parcel south of the 4.98-acre parcel.
Specifications
for a New High School
Watertown Daily Times, 12 17 1983
The Watertown
School Board will be asked to give the go ahead for preparation of educational
specifications for a new high school when it
meets at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday in the board room of the Educational Service
Center, 111 Dodge Street. Preparing the
specifications will be done by Dr. John H. Fredrickson, the school facilities
consultant who has prepared a phase I study dealing in general with eventual
construction of a new high school. The phase I report will be presented
Wednesday for reactions from board members, who may take some action on it at a
later date. The report will be detailed
in Tuesday's Daily Times.
Watertown Daily Times, 12 18 2008
The Watertown Food
Pantry has received a donation of food and cash from a recent drive sponsored
by the Watertown Professional Firefighters
IAFF Local 877 and held at Breselow's Family Market. Hundreds of pounds of food and $321.53 were
generated from donations by area residents and local businesses including
Seneca Foods and Berres Brothers Coffee.
From left are Larry Crawford, Watertown Food Pantry board president;
Dennis Breselow, owner of Breselow's Family Market; and Greg Wellach, vice
president IAFF Firefighters Local 877. [picture not available]
Watertown Daily Times, 10 23 1983
Construction of a two-bedroom senior citizen
apartment complex was approved unanimously at a joint meeting Monday night of
the Marquardt Memorial Manor and Moravian
Homes boards. Known as Hus Apartments,
the complex includes 22 apartments and provides the first two-bedroom
development for senior citizens in Watertown.
The non-subsidized apartments are restricted to persons 62 years of age
and older. The complex, to be built
north of Marquardt Manor, 1020 Hill Street, will cost about $1.15 million,
according to Boyd Flater, executive director.
Flater said that plans have been completed and that details of contracts
are being worked out. He expects
construction to begin in about two weeks, with occupancy on June 1, 1984.
Educational Foundation of Watertown
Watertown Daily Times, 10 23 1998
A new educational foundation dedicated to
promoting and strengthening public and private
schools in the Watertown area has been formed. Educational Foundation of Watertown, Inc., is
a nonprofit, tax deductible corporation.
It is accepting funds which can be donated to any individual school or any
educational purpose the donor wishes to support, according to Ray Kubly,
foundation president. Plans are now
under way for the development of a new logo for the foundation. A $100 savings bond will be awarded to the
winner of the logo contest.
Watertown Daily Times, 08 30 1998
What began as a nondescript bus turnaround on
a miniature model of Watertown High School more
than five years ago is now a blooming example of what students and a devoted
teacher can do when they set their minds to it.
That bus turnaround, once an island of grass surrounded by parking lots
and sidewalk, is today a sea of color in the form of a peace garden. Students envisioned it as a place for inward
reflection, a break from tile floors and concrete block walls inside the high
school, which was opened in 1994. Social
studies teacher Steve Jacobson has been a mentor for students involved in the
project, and his own ideas have meshed with theirs.
Watertown Gazette, 02 19 1909
Monday afternoon the Board of Public Works
opened the bids for furnishing two sprinkling wagons of 600 gallons capacity
for the city. Following were the bids:
Q. N. W. Sherman $335.00
J. D. Casey 250.50
Studebaker Mfg Co 296.60
Austin Western Co 291.00
Bitten by Dog
Watertown Gazette, 02 19 1909
Joseph, the
four-year-old son of Mrs. Lilian Brandenburg, proprietor of the New Commercial Hotel, was bitten in the face by
a dog in the lobby of the hotel last Sunday afternoon. Dr. Shinnick cauterized the bite and advised
the taking of the boy to the Pasteur Institute, Chicago, and he and his mother
have been there for several days.
Watertown Gazette, 02 26 1909
At about 1 o’clock
Friday morning fire at L. H. Cordes’ home in
Third Street destroyed it to the extent of about $400. Mrs. Cordes smelled rubber burning as she lay
awake in bed and aroused her husband. He
went downstairs and discovered fire in the pantry. The house phone was just over the blaze and
he went to a neighbor and sent in an alarm to the fire
department. In the pantry there is a
combination gas and electric fixture which was in an imperfect condition and
set fire to the woodwork in the wall and it spread rapidly to the bathroom
above. The fire department responded
promptly and the aid of chemicals put the fire out in short order. Defective electric covering and gas also was
the cause of a small fire at G. Fuermann’s in North Fourth Street on Friday.
Watertown Daily Times, 12 23 1958
Second Lt. Ronald
Kapheim, son of Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Kapheim, North Church Street, recently
was awarded his wings following a nine month period of primary training with
the Air Force. He received his training
at the Harlinger, Texas, Air Force Base.
Ronald now is spending a leave at his home here. Upon his return he will be transferred to an
Air Force base at Waco, Texas, where he will receive training as a radar
observer on an all weather jet interceptor plane.
Kapheim,
Ronald, Second Lt. 1958, Awarded
his wings
Watertown Daily Times, 12 23 1998
Firing up the
burners will have a whole new meaning Monday when Zwieg's restaurant begins another
era with a new grill. After turning out
burgers by the bagful for the past 52 years, the original grill had begun to
feel the heat. Thursday was its last
gasp. A new grill is being installed
today to replace the one that dates back to 1946. The old grill was a familiar sight in the
small family restaurant where patrons seated on counter stools can watch cooks
flip rows of sizzling burgers while the smell of frying onions wafts through
the air.
Watertown Unified Board of Education
Watertown Daily Times, 12 22 1998
There will be an
open seat on the Watertown Unified Board of Education next spring, as one of
three incumbents has declared he will not run again. Terry Grinwald, board president, signed a
statement of noncandidacy Tuesday, the district office reported. The two other incumbents whose terms expire
in April, Barbara Phelps and Mark Putra, submitted their statements of
candidacy Tuesday.
Watertown Daily Times, 11 24 1983
Wisconsin-Michigan Trailways will
be serving the Watertown area Monday with six buses per day, according to Bob
Moore, Green Bay, home office of the bus service. The Watertown terminal will be located at
General Rental Center, 211 North Third Street.
Three of the buses will go west to Madison and three will go east to
Milwaukee. Moore said Trailways seeks to
serve residents of Watertown and the surrounding area on a permanent basis, and
not just for the duration of the Greyhound bus strike. Buses will carry passengers and packages
weighing up to 150 lbs.
Watertown Daily Times, 11 15 2008
Rock River Pizza
Co. and River City Distributing Co. are holding a fund-raiser for the Watertown Fire Department where someone can win a
mini chopper. Pictured standing next to
the chopper, from left, are firefighter/paramedic Ken Riggs;
firefighter/paramedic Greg Wellach; assistant fire Chief Ralph Wandersee; Lt.
Layne Fohr; Rock River Pizza Co. owner Randy Trella; Steve Zgonc of River City
Distributing Co.; Fire Chief Henry Butts; and firefighter/paramedic Christine
Butzine [Newspaper photo not available]
Rock River Pizza Co. and River
City Distributing Co. are sponsoring a fund-raiser that will benefit the
Watertown Fire Department. Every time a
customer at Rock River Pizza Co. purchases a Hook and Ladder product or makes a
donation, they will be entered into a drawing where they can win a mini chopper
motorcycle.
Proceeds raised during the event
will be donated to the Watertown Fire Department and local National Burn
Centers. The drawing will be held on
Dec. 17.
The mini chopper was
donated to the Watertown Fire Department by River City Distributing Co. The fire department then donated the chopper
to Rock River Pizza Co.
Watertown Daily Times, 12 20 1958
Carl
V. Kolata, head of radio station WTTN who is serving his first term as a
city councilman and whose term expires on next April 21 announced late
Wednesday afternoon that he will not be a candidate for re-election. His intention to retire at the end of his
term had been rumored for several weeks.
Of the other two councilmen whose terms expire on April 21 - Fred W.
Kehl and Charles E. Kading - only Mr. Kehl has indicated to date that he will
seek a second term.
In a statement
which he gave to the Times this
morning, Mr. Kolata said: “Because of the unusual interest in local government,
and because of the numerous inquiries of me, I am making this statement for
publication. After many weeks of
deliberation and many conferences with interested people, it is with deep
regret that I make this decision. I have
decided not to run for re-election to the office of Council for the city of
Watertown.”
Watertown Daily Times, 12 20 1983
Watertown
businessman Royce Rowedder was elected to a second term as president of the
Health Planning Council (HPC) at the agency's 15th annual meeting. Rowedder has represented the Jefferson County
Health Resource Committee on the HPC Board of Directors since 1981, and in
addition to holding the office of president, has served for three years on the
administrative committee. HPC is an
independent, nonprofit agency serving 11 counties in southern Wisconsin, and is
one of many such Health Systems Agencies located throughout the United States.
Watertown Gazette, 02 26 1909
The following
reports were submitted:
To the Honorable
Mayor and Common Council of the City of Watertown.
Gentlemen: The
undersigned, to whom was referred the matter of building a new school house [Lincoln School] in place of the
present No. 2 building in the Fourth ward, beg leave to report.
That upon careful
consideration of the matter we are satisfied that it is necessary to build a
new school house as aforesaid, and we therefore recommend that the Common
Council introduce at this meeting if possible an ordinance authorizing the
issue to bonds preparatory to the building of such school house, and as it will
be necessary to lay such ordinance over until the next meeting of the Common
Council, we further recommend that the chairman of the committee on public
buildings of the Common Council, and the chairman of the Committee on Buildings
and Grounds of the Board of Education, invite competition in the matter of
considering other plans for a new school building, besides the one thus far
procured, provided, that they can secure sketches of such other plans from
architects or contractors without a great expense to the city.
Respectfully
submitted,
Herman Tetzlaff,
of the Finance Committee..
F. C. Werner;
Herman Tetzlaff,
Frank Kalina,
Committee on Public Buildings.
C. A. Kading,
City Attorney.
The report was
adopted.
↓ More on Lincoln School ↓
That New School House
Watertown Gazette, 03
05 1909
On February 2,
1909, the Board of Education addressed the following communication to the Mayor
and Common Council of the city of Watertown, Wis.
To the Hon., the
Mayor, and Common Council of the city of Watertown, Wis.
Gentlemen: At a regular meeting of the Board of
Education, Dec. 2, 1908, a resolution that it is necessary to erect a new
school building [Lincoln School] in place of the present school building No. 2,
in the Fourth ward of this city, was unanimously adopted.
The probable cost
of such proposed building will be THIRTY THOUSAND DOLLARS ($30,000 ). At a special meeting of said Board of
Education January 21, 1909, the plans herewith submitted for your approval were
duly adopted.
The material in
said old school building may be used in the erection of a new school building,
and it would be advisable to authorize and instruct said Board of Education to
offer the same for sale in the call of sealed proposals for a new building to
contractors, the proceeds which may be derived therefrom to be applied on the
contract price for such new building.
Watertown, Wis.,
Feb. 2, 1909.
By order of the
Board, Carl R. Feld, Clerk.
The matter was laid
over by the council for further consideration.
Since then the
Board of Education has not as an official body received any official notice
from the mayor or council to either sell the old building or go ahead with the
contemplated school. We believe the
mayor and council as well as the Board of Education are both of the opinion
that this work should be pushed from now on, and we understand that at the next
meeting of the council the Board of Education will be authorized to proceed in
the matter. At the Board of Education
meeting last Wednesday night, a resolution was passed, and the clerk was
instructed to present a copy of it to the mayor and city council, again setting
forth the amount of money needed for the erection of a new school in place of
No. 2 school, and requesting the council to authorize the Board to dispose of
the old one. The committee on buildings
and grounds of the Board of Education was also directed to advertise for
proposals for the erection of the new school, and the superintendent, and chairmen
of the buildings and grounds and teachers and instruction committees were
directed to look up temporary quarters to hold school in while the old school
is being torn down, and the new one is ready for occupancy.
Should the plans of
the school board in this matter meet with no further opposition, the intention
is at the close of the present term of school in April to tear down the old
school and begin the erection of a new one.
The school law of the state requires that school facilities shall be
furnished our people at least 9 months in the year, and it is out of the
question to grant a long vacation to the pupils of No. 2 School, else the
chances are we would receive no state school money.
Extra precautions
are being taken at No. 2 school by the Board—it is thoroughly cleansed every
week and the janitor has been instructed to put in all his time at the school
during school hours to see that everything
is properly attended to and the superintendent reports that he is faithfully
carrying out the Board's instructions.
↓ More on Lincoln School ↓
City Council Notes
Watertown Gazette, 03
19 1909
At the meeting of
the City Council held last Tuesday evening the Board of Education submitted the
following resolutions and communication, as directed at the meeting of the
Board of Education heId on Wednesday evening, March 10, 1909:
Resolved, That the
committee on buildings and grounds be and the same is hereby directed to
advertise for sealed proposals for building a new school house according to
plans and specifications adopted by the Board of Education.
Resolved, That the
clerk be and he is hereby directed to officially notify the Mayor and Common
Council that the cost of the new school building to be erected in place of No.
2 school house will be $30,000.
That the Board of
Education has now on hand the sum of $4000 levied last year for repair of said
No. 2 school building and which sum is available for the new building.
Further, the Board
of Education requests your honorable body to authorize the said board to sell
the old No. 2 School building to the highest bidder.
To the Hon. the
Mayor and the Common Council of the city of Watertown.
Gentlemen: I hereby transmit to your honorable body the
above and foregoing resolutions approved and accepted by the Board of Education
March 3, 1909.
By order of the
board,
Carl R. Feld,
Clerk.
To the Hon. the
Mayor and Common Council of the city of Watertown.
Gentlemen: It has been determined and is hereby
certified by the Board of Education that the sum necessary for the construction
of the No. 2 School house according to the plans and specifications approved and accepted by said board . . .
↓ More on Lincoln School ↓
Bids Opened for New School House
Watertown Gazette, 04 02
1909
At a
special meeting of the Board of Education held last Monday evening the bids for
the construction of the new school building in the
4th ward were opened. Wagner &
Baumann of Monroe were the lowest bidders; their compete bid being $30,105, on
which they allow a deduction of $1000 for the old school building and $5100 for
the heating and ventilating. The Board
deducted the $5100 and accepted the bid of Otto Biefeld & Co. of this city
for the heating and ventilating for $4952, making the complete bid for the
school of Wagner & Baumann combined with the Biefeld bid less $1000 for the
old school, $28,957.
Following
is the full list of complete bids submitted, there being a few other bids on separate
parts of the work.
H.
Schmidt, Milwaukee.........$32,926
Appleton
Construction Co.......... 30,910
G. R.
Kachie, Madison............... 31,988
Wagner
& Baumann, Monroe..... 29,957
A.
Sommers & Son, Janesville..... 34,550
John
Schatz, Watertown....... ... 32,042
Block
& Schlueter, Watertown... 32,725
Rohde
& Zickert, Watertown..... 32,183
[Zickert, Herman G]
↓ More on Lincoln School ↓
Contract For New Public School Let
Watertown Gazette, 04 16
1909
At the
meeting of the city council held last week Thursday evening, the school bond
ordinance was passed, all members present voting for it, hence at a special
meeting of the Board of Education held last Wednesday evening the contract for
the new school was let to Wagner & Baumann, of Monroe, Wis., the contract
price being, $29,957. They pay $1000 for
the old school building, which will make the above amount $1000 less. About the 26th inst. the work of tearing down
the old building will begin, and it is expected to have the new school
completed on or before November 1st . . . The new school building will be a
credit to the city—the first story will be of vitrified brick and the second a
grayish pressed brick with a tiled roof.
It will have a perfect system of heating and ventilating and nothing has
been neglected in its planning to conduce to the health and comfort of both
teachers and pupils.
↓ More on Lincoln School ↓
Classrooms Relocate
Watertown Gazette, 04 23
1909
Next
week the old No. 2 public school building in the 4th ward will be torn down and
a new building will be erected in its stand.
Until the new building is finished, the pupils of this school will be
located as follows:
First
grade in Welsh church building in North Washington Street.
Second,
Third and Sixth grades in the basement of the public library building.
Fourth
and Seventh grades in the store building at 117 West Main Street.
Fifth
grade in the Fifth Ward hall.
These
quarters will be made as comfortable as possible for pupils and teachers and
the little inconvenience that will be experienced will cheerfully be overlooked
in anticipation of the fine new school building which they will shortly have.
↓ More on Lincoln School ↓
Men Wanted
to Wreck Old School
Watertown Gazette, 04 30
1909
Men Wanted to wreck old school
building at corner of Montgomery and O'Connell streets.
Report at 7 o’clock Friday morning.
Wagner & Baumaun. Contractors.
Ordinance
Watertown Gazette, 02 1909
Gentlemen: The undersigned special committee, to whom
was referred the matter of the complaint against the permission of wine rooms
in connection with saloons, etc., beg leave to report:
That due to the
well established custom of people coming to town and temporarily stabling their
horses in barns maintained in connection with the saloon business in the city
of Watertown, back rooms and waiting rooms have been established by saloon
keepers for the accommodation of such persons so unhitching for their families
while hitching and unhitching their horses, and for such purpose such rooms are
recommended and commended.
On Saturday,
January 23, we visited and inspected saloons maintaining back rooms, making one
trip of inspection in the early part of the evening and one later; that we
found such back rooms occupied in several instances by minors of both sexes;
that some saloons maintained as high as four back rooms; that the same are
small and not connected with each other or with the main bar room; that they
lead off from a narrow hallway and are each equipped with a door; that in
several instances we found them occupied as aforesaid and not properly lighted.
We therefore
recommend that your honorable body cause the passage of an ordinance regulating
such back rooms by limiting the number to one or two such rooms with each
saloon to be connected by an open passage-way or partly glass door with the
main bar room.
And we further
recommend to your honorable body and particularly to the license committee that
in the future no application for retail liquor license should be acted upon
favorably or granted to any applying therefor, unless the premises at which
such license is asked for is constructed in accordance with the above
suggestion.
Along this same
connection your committee recommends for your consideration the matter of
passing an ordinance fixing a time when all saloons should be closed at night.
And we further
recommend that when such ordinance is so passed that strict compliance with its
terms should be insisted upon by the city authorities and that any deviation
therefrom should be punished to be provided for is such ordinance.
On said tour of
inspection we also found evidence in existence in connection with the saloon
business in the city certain nickel machine gambling devices, but we have been
informed the state law amply provides for the abating of the same we make no
recommendations in the way of passing an ordinance pertaining thereto.
Watertown
Republican,
10 24 1894
Wegemann &
Strauss, the enterprising young dry goods firm, has just finished
remodeling their store, whereby a commodious cloak room is added on the second
floor, with a convenient interior stairway leading to it. This firm keeps abreast of the times and is
meeting with well-deserved prosperity.
Watertown
Republican,
12 12 1894
EmiI Luessow, of
this city, was arraigned in the circuit court of Oconomowoc Wednesday on the
charge of bigamy. His first wife resides
in Ixonia and the second would-be wife is a fair resident of Oconomowoc. The jury found him guilty of the charge and
sentence will be passed upon him by Judge Sloan as soon as a criminal calendar
is done with.
Watertown Republican, 10 17 1894
Charles Wendtland,
of this city, was accidentally shot in the left foot Sunday, while on an outing
in the country. The affair occurred on
the farm of August Marquart in the town of Emmet, and luckily was not attended
by more serious results. While a
companion was in the act of loading a shot gun, an untimely discharge took
place and the shot entered Mr. Wendtland's foot, quite badly shattering a
portion of it. Dr. Spalding was called
and dressed the wound. Amputation was
not necessary, but Mr. Wendtland will be laid up a few months by the accident.
Watertown Daily Times, 12 27 1983
Luminaires will,
for the third consecutive year, be the center of attraction in the 300, 400 and
500 blocks of North Washington Street Christmas Eve. Luminaires, lighted candles in sand-filled
paper bags, will create a scene of great beauty in the three-block area. The sidewalk display will be ready for
viewing by the public beginning at approximately 6:45 p.m. The candles will burn until about 2 a.m.
Christmas Day.
True Meaning of Christmas, 2008
Watertown Daily Times, 12 23 2008
Forty-four area
students in first through fourth grades from St. Henry and St. Bernard Schools
entered the Knights of Columbus "True Meaning of Christmas'' poster contest. Entries were judged on the following
criteria: 20 points for expression of the Christmas theme, 30 points for
originality and 50 points for artistic quality.
The winning entries in Watertown were created by Michael Kuckkan in
grade one, Ali Hinchcliffe in grade two, Sara Lemminger in grade three, and
Erin Haeger in grade four. Their posters
have moved on to the Diocesan level where winners will be selected to move on
to the state competition.
Watertown Gazette, 02 26 1909
James P. Holland,
editor of The Daily Times, left here on Wednesday
for Hot Springs, Arkansas, where he will take baths for rheumatism till about
March 15. In the meantime the editorial
department of The Times will be
looked after by J. W. Cruger, one of the proprietors thereof. Mr. Holland’s many friends hope he will find
the relief he seeks at Hot Springs and that he will return home restored to
health.
Watertown Daily Times, 12 27 1958
The Oconomowoc
American Legion band, with 85 members, including players from Watertown, will
leave Christmas night to represent Wisconsin in the Tournament of Roses
parade. Watertown is represented in the
Oconomowoc band with a number of players. Included are Marilyn Eske, vocalist;
Armund Turke, baritone horn; Will Eske and Ellward Kuehl, trombones; Harold
Baumann and William Turke, clarinets; Donald Neitzel and William Kehl, drums;
Walter Samstad, trumpet; William Nass, bass horn; William Kehl Jr.,
clarinet. Donald Timmel, trombone, and
Richard Schliewe, bass horn, are from Ixonia.
Mrs. Donald Timmel and Marilyn Eske, who is Mrs. Will Eske, will be
among those carrying a “Wisconsin” banner and other signs in front of the band
during the parade.
Watertown Daily Times, 12 26 2008
TOWN OF WATERTOWN -
A garage at the W3200 block of Oak Hill Road and its contents were declared a
total loss following a fire that started Wednesday evening.
According to Watertown assistant fire Chief Ralph Wandersee,
the approximately 850-square-foot detached garage at W3256 Oak Hill Road was
fully involved in flames when firefighters arrived at the scene around 7:05
p.m. Wandersee said the fire was called
in by a motorists who was passing by the garage. The property owners were not home at the time
of the blaze, he added.
The contents of the
garage that were damaged included a skid steer, two lawn mowers, a car and a
large number of tools. Damages are
expected to exceed $100,000, Wandersee said.
Firefighters were
on the scene for about two and a half hours.
Mutual aid was provided by fire departments from Ixonia and Clyman.
C.&N.W.Ry. Warehouse Fire
Watertown Gazette, 02 26 1909