This file part of www.watertownhistory.org website

200 W Main

Norton Grocery Store

The building originally on this site was a frame grocery store owned by Matthew Norton. It was moved behind the present building in about 1870 when the present structure was built by Silas Randall as an agricultural implements store. Later businesses in this location included E. W. Schultz, undertaker and furniture dealer, the Watertown School of Business, Baumann's Candy Kitchen, the Youth Activity Center, Tri-County Tobacco, Emil's Pizza, Pizza Junction, and presently Curves.

Mr. Lester Moser was a highly skilled candymaker. He learned the trade at the former Baumann Candy Kitchen in West Main Street, where the Tri-County Tobacco Co. is now situated. He was an expert candymaker and confectioner.

After the death of A. E. Baumann, Mr. Moser, who had worked for Mr. Baumann for many years, took over the business.

The Baumann Candy Kitchen was for years the leading establishment of its kind in Watertown. An ice cream parlor was operated in connection with the business.

In the line of fine candies, Baumann's was among the leaders in this section of the state. Its many excellent homemade candies, both hard varieties and chocolates, were among its best known products. It also turned out tons of special Christmas candies each year. These were sent far and wide to stores and shops and included many of the little German candies which at one time were so popular during the holiday season and which added color and holiday sparkle on Christmas trees and in candy dishes.

1996

11 28 1996

WHS_005_231

A three-story downtown structure located at 102 N. Water St. sustained extensive damage early Sunday when fire broke out in an apartment inside. According to Watertown Fire Department Chief Richard Olson, the fire erupted at approximately 1 a.m. in the second floor apartment of the brick structure located on the northwest corner of the intersection of Main and Water streets. The three-bedroom apartment, occupied by a couple and their five children, sustained smoke, fire and water damage. The couple and two of their sons were home at the time of the fire but escaped unharmed. They are currently staying with friends. A third-floor storage area in the building sustained fire damage as well. A vacant area on the first floor sustained water damage. A firm with offices on the Water Street side of the building was not damaged. However, workers were busy attempting to restore electrical service to the business after it was cut by firefighters battling the blaze.

Cross-References:

No 1: E W Schultz was co-founder of Watertown Table Slide