This file portion of www.watertownhistory.org website

 

Mulberger Family

 

Henry Mulberger, Sr

Arthur Mulberger

Charles Mulberger

 

The large Watertown brick Second Empire home was built by Henry Mulberger, Sr., at 311 South Washington Street in the early 1870's.  The Mulbergers came from Germany in the mid 1800's when there was a great influx of German persons into this part of Wisconsin.

 

Henry's father was a burgomaster of a good sized German city.  His grandfather had been a city official in 1809 and was active in arranging tax assessments as requested to help support Napoleon's army.

 

Following in his footsteps three members of this family served as mayor of Watertown. 

 

Henry Sr., a lawyer and an insurance man, was elected mayor in 1867 and again in 1898.

 

Arthur, his son, was mayor in 1908.

 

Charles was elected mayor in 1916.  Charles went on to become a Wisconsin State senator.

 

Charles Mulberger

 

Mayor Mulberger was without question Watertown’s most flamboyant mayor, a very popular executive.  He had a law degree but never practiced law.  He would come down to the business section every morning around 10 o’clock, go to the old Seager Barber Shop for his daily shave and a trim, then walk over to a floral shop and buy a fresh carnation which he wore each day in his bottonhole, then make the rounds of downtown business places, including the old Deutsches Dorf which was then the gathering place for many Watertown business men and executives.  It was by far the finest saloon Watertown ever had and was located at the corner of Main and North Third Street, now the site of the Wisconsin Gas-Electric building.

 

Mr. Mulberger was a “promotive” mayor of Watertown and never missed an opportunity to advance and publicize the city.  He played an important part in promoting the old Watertown Inter-County Fair and for years was its superintendent of speed, or the race track.

 

He had a distinction which he shared with his family.  His father, Henry Mulberger, Sr., and two of his brothers, Henry Mulberger and Attorney Arthur Mulberger all served the city as mayors.  Thus Watertown has had four Mulbergers who occupied the office of mayor, a father and three sons.

 

Mulberger Home

 

  

 

The imposing Mulberger home shows many architectural influences.  It is built with a Mansard roof [French] with Victorian influence throughout [American] and the original tower known as a Bismarck helmet [German] still tops the home.

 

There are many windows, even in the almost two story section of the Bismarck helmet, and .protruding through the roof. The home was built as were many other large homes of this era, with a large central hall, open stairway, gleaming and excellent woodwork throughout.

 

The Mulbergers occupied the home for many years.  It is currently owned by Randy and Sandy Effinger.

 

In 1959, the home was purchased by Bethesda Lutheran Home and converted into a group home for residents.  Randy and Sandy bought it from Bethesda in the spring of 1990.  Much of the interior and exterior remains as it was originally built.  The present porch is a remodeled remnant of the large porch that at one time extended across the front of the house.  The house has original woodwork, two beautiful original gas chandeliers that have been converted to electric, four fireplaces and an open stair case.

 

The house is a restoration in progress.  A newly remodeled, beautiful master bedroom suite has a fireplace, whirlpool tub, wet bar, fourteen wall papers and borders from the Bradbury & Bradbury Neo-Classical Collection, and tow originally oil chandeliers converted to electric.  Many Christmas decorations including two trees, one crystal and white with a Santa flying around the top, a Snow Village and some Christmas Anna Lee collectable dolls.

 

1855

07 12       “Brutalities” committed by Henry Mulberger and Henry Tigler on German citizens.   WD

 

1906      Mulberger, Arthur, 1906, cartoonist drawing, WDT series, Men in the Public Eye, WHS_005_437