This file portion of www.watertownhistory.org website
Wethonkitha
Club
116 S
First
1955, 08 26
The Western Union Telegraph Co. has
been ordered to move from its quarters at 112 South First Street by Oct. 31 so the
city can utilize the property for its South First Street parking plans, it was
disclosed today. W. A. Krienke, manager of Western Union, announced that as yet
the company has not decided where it will locate. There have been reports that
if quarters can be made available in the Carlton Hotel, opposite the present
site, that may be done. The city of Watertown acquired the building occupied by
Western Union, as well as a strip of land directly to the north, from the
Wethonkitha Club Realty Co., some time ago in order to provide ample space to
carry out contemplated plans for the proposed automobile parking ramp. The city
already owned the major portion of the lot which it plans to use for parking
purposes.
1955, 10 14
The Western Union office, located in
South First Street, has been given some additional time to vacate the building
it now occupies, city officials disclosed today. The building is to be part of
the site for the proposed automobile parking ramp and was acquired from the
Wethonkitha Club some months ago. Originally the telegraph company was to
vacate it by Oct. 31. The telegraph company will move its office and equipment
to quarters in the Hotel Carlton, directly across the street. Work on changing
the installations will be under way as soon as arrangements are completed.
1955, 10 28
The Western Union Telegraph Company
started moving operations yesterday. It is moving its Watertown office to new
headquarters in the Carlton Hotel, across the street from its old office in
South First Street. The telegraph company is vacating the building directly
north of the Wethonkitha Club, the city recently having purchased it along with
a strip of land and plans to utilize the land as part of the South First Street
parking area, on which a car ramp is to be constructed.
1955, 12 12
Four members of the City Council
last night applied the brakes to plans for construction of an automobile
parking ramp in South First Street. The fifth was not able to be at the adjourned
meeting due to out of town business. The four councilmen voted unanimously to
reject all bids submitted for the ramp after it was officially stated the
lowest bidder, Farmer Bros. of Tomah, had made “an honest error” in computing
their basis for their estimate. Their bid figure was between $8,000 and $10,000
too low, the county was informed. The bids were filed Nov. 8.
1955, 05 16
Work of razing the building in
2003, 03 01
Abstract
from Watertown Daily Times article
Social club located at 116 South First Street, along the
Rock River, with the name coming from an Indian word that means good fellowship
or gathering place.
All stockholders of the club are Lutheran laymen; only
members of the Missouri or Wisconsin Lutheran Synod are eligible to join.
The club was formed in 1923 by a group of 12 Watertown
Lutheran men who agreed that they needed a meeting place that would provide
opportunities for socialization outside of their church.
Specht’s Harness Shop
This property was
site of first hospital in Watertown
Meetings were first held at Raue’s Hall, on the third floor
of what is now the Morgan Stanley Witter building at 200 East Main Street. In 1923 the members purchased the Sprecht property on South First.
Club members purchased stock in the newly formed Wethonkitha
Realty Co. to pay for the building. The
realty company still controls the stock (800 shares).
In 1955 the club sold the north portion of the building to
the city for the Western Union building.
For a time, the Wethonkitha Club was also the site of the
Watertown Chamber of Commerce office.
2005
Wethonkitha Club 2005, 116 S
First, Sale of building, society history
Image of
property WHS_005_215
