This file portion of www.watertownhistory.org website
Schempf’s
Department Store
George
S. Schempf
Schempf
Brothers
____________________________________________
Schempf’s Drug
Store
1902, Building at
209-211 Main. Image is prior to 1903 addition of a
third floor
Founded by George Schempf. Opened
in Sept of 1899. Closed in 1936
Schempf's "Big Cash Store" was the
local Gimbel’s or Chapman's in earlier days. With
three floors of merchandise and a grocery department in its large building
(later occupied by Kresge’s), it had a real passenger
elevator and an overhead money shuttle service that used to fascinate
youngsters.
The store was founded by George S. Schempf (Johanna)
after his return from the California gold rush. He brought in his nephews,
Leonard and John, as partners, and they were the proprietors of the store in
its golden age. The last of the family to run the store were Max Kusel, who had married Amanda Schempf,
and Edward L. Schempf, a gifted singer who often
appeared as soloist in choral concerts. The store was taken over in 1936.
Third Floor Opening, 11 21 1903
Last Saturday Schempf
Brothers’ Third Floor opening attracted thousands of people. A third story has
been added to their business block, and has been recently completed. This is
stocked with a large assortment of cloaks, shirts, waists, furs, carpets, rugs,
curtains, draperies and fancy arts goods, and on Saturday the very large crowd
that visited the opening were highly pleased with what they saw in the line of
elegant goods, and also the arrangement of this large, well lighted and well
arranged addition to Schempf Bros. Co. business
house. It was beautifully decorated with
palms and greenery, and in the evening eight Humphrey four-glow gas lamps
illuminated the place to perfection. The Apollo Orchestra, stationed on the
second floor furnished music in the afternoon and evening. The elevator just
placed in the store was a great convenience for the visitors on this day, and
nearly every visitor took advantage of it and visited the 3d floor, it being
the first and only passenger elevator in use in Watertown. Schempf
Bros. Co. is to be congratulated on the success of their opening, and the
people of Watertown and vicinity have every reason to feel proud of this old
and reliable business house.
Schempf Drug Store
Watertown
Leader, 09 11 1906
It has been known for several days
that there has been a change in the Schempf Drug
Company and the Leader has been
anxiously awaiting the time when it could impart the information to its
readers, but was requested not to do so by Mr. John Schempf
and the new purchaser of his interest for certain reasons best known to
themselves.
After a business career here for
several years, Mr. Schempf has disposed of his
interest in the business to Mr. W. G. Atwell, who has already assumed charge of
the business. It is with much regret that Mr. Schempf's
many friends learn of his retirement from the business which he began seven
years ago with modest beginnings, till he has worked up an enviable reputation
and an excellent business - in fact a drug store that is a model of beauty and
one that would be a credit to any city much larger than Watertown. The regrets
are more keen when it is known that Mr. Schempf at no great distant date is to engage in business
elsewhere.
Cross reference: Harry Huth,
druggist apprenticeship in the Schempf drug store.
Edward L. Schempf
Watertown
Leader, 08 16 1906
Edward W. Schempf
lies suffering at his home at
From information received last
evening, it appears that trouble had been brewing between Mundt
and Schempf, both of whom were working on the Leonard
Schempf farm in the town of Clyman,
the owner of the place being the step-father of the victim of the stabbing
affair. It is said that the parties had an altercation a couple of weeks ago,
but finally became reconciled and shook hands and became friends once more.
Just how the trouble started
yesterday, the Leader representative
was unable to learn. It is said that the two men were engaged in harvest work and
were standing on a stack of grain, when Mundt
suddenly pulled a knife and flew at Schempf in a rage
and began cutting him. The result was that Schempf
received a couple of bad gashes in the arm and another bad wound in the chest.
The latter, it is reported, was not far from the heart, a spot the offender no
doubt attempted to reach.
Montgomery Ward closes
Watertown
Leader, 09 08 1907
The future occupancy of the store
building at
_______________________________________________________________________________
John Schempf
John Schempf
1844 -
1920
ANGEL OF DEATH CALLS
JOHN SCHEMPF
PIONEER RESIDENT
One of Watertown’s
Foremost Business Men
And Worthy Citizens
Succumbs at Home This
Morning
Schempf,
John, b. 1844, d. 1920, Sec 25
John Schempf,
pioneer resident and one of the most widely known business men in this section
of Wisconsin, answered the call of death in the family home,
John Schempf
was a son of the late Mr. and Mrs. George F. Schempf
and was born in Milwaukee
The keen aptitude and rare business
judgment of Mr. Schempf was shown in the rapid
development of a business which has grown to immense proportions and spread all
over this section of the country, the firm name becoming a household word in
thousands of homes where the impress of honest dealing and worth was stamped
upon it by the marked personality and character of its founder and head, a
fitting legacy to those who come after him.
On
Long Business Career
Mr. Schempf
began his long and honorable business life more than 60 years ago and during that
time his name was a synonym for honesty and integrity. He was a type of the forceful, self reliant
man of the kind who have left their mark on the upbuilding
of the community. He was primarily the
keen man of business, but with the liberal tastes so well known. Of a genial and happy disposition he shed the
radiance of good cheer wherever he went and was always a favorite in the social
world of which he was a part. His nature
was of the quality which makes and keeps friends. Democratic by nature, he gathered about him
warm friendships which endured during life.
He never aspired to public life, taking interest, however, in all that
meant the better welfare of the city, a generous giver to every worth cause without
ostentation, and the community will deplore the loss of an active and widely
popular business man and citizen.
Mr. Schempf
is survived by his widow and four children:
Edward L. Schempf, Miss Elsa Schempf, Watertown, Mrs. O. Weber, Stevens Point, John W. Schempf, Milwaukee.
Seven grandchildren also survive.
The funeral will take place on
Monday afternoon. Services will be
conducted in the home by the Rev. Julius Kingmann of
St. Mark’s Lutheran church at 2 o’clock.
The burial will be in
Oak Hill cemetery. Friends are kindly requested to omit flowers.
The Mayor’s Tribute
Mr. Schempf’s
death is deeply mourned all over the city, especially by the older residents
who were closely associated with him in a social and business way for many
years.
In speaking of the life and
character of the deceased, Mayor Herman Wertheimer
said: “John Schempf
was a most exemplary citizen and was always loyal to Watertown, its people,
institutions and enterprises. I knew him
as a friend and business man for over fifty years, and can truly say of him
that in his quiet and natural way, he all the time endeavored to promote the
best interest of the community, and his assistance was always substantial and
effective.”
“A thorough business man from the
time of his youth, he was well prepared to develop the mercantile business of
which he had a perfect understanding.
His integrity was of the highest order and the people all over this
section reposed in him the fullest of confidence. Mr. Schempf was
truly a man of honor, possessing a genial, kindly disposition, and as such he
was beloved and esteemed by all our people.”
An Appreciation
Charles E. Frey, president of the Merchants National Bank, of which the deceased was
a founder and director said: “Watertown
can point to no finer character man than that of Mr. Schempf. For over a half a century he was numbered
among the leading business men of this city and none stood higher in the public
estimation. He was a business man in the
true sense and meaning of the term, and devoted himself energetically to the
advancement of his enterprise.”
“His main business principle was
honesty and he believed in applying in detail all true business methods. His high integrity, which brought him the
unqualified confidence of the people, coupled with a ready judgment and great
energies, secured for him a notable and successful business career.”
“He was a man of generous impulses,
who took a kindly interest in his fellow men.”
Cross-References:
No 1:
1908, Main and Third Streets, looking west. Schempf’s is on the
left
No 2:
Store on
No 3:
Shopping bag handle
No 4:
Nephew John was originally proprietor of Schempf’s
Rexall Drug Store, interior of store (WI His Soc
link)
