website watertownhistory.org
ebook History of Watertown, Wisconsin
William A. Beurhaus
1949 - 1936
Beurhaus-Gloger Shirtwaist Factory
200 E
Main
1887
WILLIAM A. BEURHAUS STORE,
street scene
1903
09 02
Click to enlarge
Harry
A. Beurhaus and Gustav E. Gloger have purchased the general merchandise stock
of William A. Beurhaus at 200 Main Street and have already taken charge of the
business.
This
is one of the best stands in the city, and Mr. Beurhaus has always enjoyed an
excellent trade there.
His
successors are two of Watertown's best-known young businessmen, and their well
known honorable manner of dealing with the trading public bespeaks for them
success in their business.
Just
now they are offering great bargains to reduce their present stock, and in a
short time they will have a large stock of all the latest in fall goods. Success to the new firm.
1906
12 30 6,000
POUNDS OF STUFFED GEESE
Wednesday and yesterday, W. A. Beurhaus bought over 6,000 pounds of
stuffed geese, one farmer delivering a load yesterday that weighed 2,684 pounds
for which he received a fat check, which convinced him that fat geese —
especially when the geese averaged over 22 pounds each — are a good thing about
Christmas time. Several of the geese
received yesterday by Mr. Beurhaus weighed 30 pounds, and one turned the scales
at 32 pounds. Mr. Beurhaus is packing
the geese purchased for consignment to parties in New York, Cincinnati,
Pittsburgh, New Orleans and San Francisco.
Watertown, as has already been noted in the Leader, is the headquarters
for stuffed geese which are regarded as a delicacy by many people who, being
possessed of wealth, can afford the luxury — for a thirty-pound goose costs a
sum of money, more than a poor man can afford to pay. Watertown Leader, 12
30 1906
1911
09 28 COZY
WARM COATS
-- -- 60TH BIRTHDAY
William A. Beurhaus very hospitably entertained the directors and
officers of the Merchants National Bank and
representatives of the Wisconsin National
Bank and Bank of Watertown last Monday
evening at his home in honor of his birthday anniversary. A pleasing feature of the evening's
entertainment was the surprise given the gentlemen present when at about 10
o'clock their wives entered in a body to join in the festivities. Mrs. Beurhaus had arranged this feature of
Mr. Beurhaus' anniversary celebration unknown to him. All present had a thorough good time, Mr.
Bearhaus and his amiable wife proving most excellent entertainers. It was Mr. Beurhaus' 60th birthday
anniversary. WG
1962
01 14 HARRY
A. BEURHAUS DIES AT 83
Harry A. Beurhaus, 83, 501 South Fifth
Street, died at St. Mary’s Hospital Sunday night. He had been ill a long time.
Long a Watertown business man and
member of an old family here, Mr. Beurhaus was also a veteran of many a city
council battle in the era that preceded the change to city managership.
He represented the old eighth ward
which for many years, along with the old ninth, was known as “the silk stocking
ward.”
Mr. Beurhaus was a fighter for
civic progress and ran into stiff opposition at times from council colleagues,
but once he decided he was right he kept fighting and went down in defeat on
many occasions rather than surrender his principles.
His father before him had been an
alderman also and was for years president of the old city council.
Played
Football
During his student days at St.
John’s Military Academy at Delafield he played football on the academy team,
playing the position of halfback. He was
then known as “Spike” and also achieved recognition as a runner. Years later, in 1955, when old friends and
classmates got together to honor Mr. Beurhaus at a dinner, many recalled that
he was one of the best runners in southeastern Wisconsin. He won many fast races as a young man.
After completing his education he
went to New York and then, upon his return to Watertown, joined his father in a
dry goods store he operated at Main and North Second Streets, now part of the
Elliott’s Ladies Shop.
In 1913 Mr. Beurhaus established
the Wear Well shirt waist manufacturing plant in the city. He engaged in that business until 1942 when
he sold the business to Rhea of Milwaukee which also operated the Glen
Manufacturing Co. [Glen's Manufacturing
was located above Elliott’s] He remained
as manager here for Glenn for many years, prior to his retirement.
Col.
Sproesser Tribute
One of the speakers at the
testimonial dinner, the late Col. J. W. Sproesser, said at the time that,
“Through the years Mr. Beurhaus has been a real asset to the life of this
community and I would very much dread to think what Watertown would be like if
we did not have men like Harry A. Beurhaus around.”
The Beurhaus acquaintanceships
extended over a wide area in and around Watertown. He was intimately acquainted with most of the
old Watertown families and its business leaders while his friendships extended
to the man in the street. A sense of
humor and a wry wit endeared him to people and made him welcome wherever he
went.
His last years were saddened by
his wife’s illness and his own incapacities as he was forced to give up his
daily activities in the city and community but he maintained a lively interest
in things as long as he was able to be up and around.
Native
of City
Mr. Beurhaus was born in Watertown
on Sept. 27, 1878, a son of the late Mr. and Mrs. William A. Beurhaus. He was married to the former Mayme Blair on
July 24, 1906. She survives as do a
daughter, Mrs. Norman Todd, Milwaukee; a granddaughter, Mrs. B. E. Meulemans
and two great-grandchildren, Marilyn and James Scott Meulemans, all of
Cincinnati. There is one sister, Mrs. Louis
Wagner of Watertown and one niece, Mrs. Roland Gibson, also of Watertown.
Mr. Beurhaus was a life member of
Watertown Lodge No. 666, B.P.O.E. He was
a 32nd Degree Mason and a member of the Tripoli Shrine, Milwaukee. He was a lifetime member of St. Paul’s
Episcopal Church and served for many years as a vestryman. . . .
Oak Hill
Cemetery burials:
Beurhaus,
Henry A., b. Sep 27, 1878, d. Jan 14, 1962
Beurhaus,
William A., b. Feb 15, 1849, d. Jan 29, 1936
Cross-References:
No 1: (no link) 1895 Picture of Beurhaus-Gloger
Shirtwaist Factory on corner of Main and Second. Images
of America - Watertown, Wisconsin: 1836-1936, p 79.
No 2: Beurhaus and
Gloger, on 1941 Watertown Church Census listing
No
3: Watertown Daily Times column on topic [WHS_005_235]. Many of the orders were sent to William
Beurhaus, 200 Main St., who apparently handled the shipping and marketing for
farmers.
History of Watertown,
Wisconsin