Deutsches Dorf

ebook History of Watertown, Wisconsin

Deutsches Dorf

Third and Main

Garret Gahlmann

Holmes, Fred L., Sideroads: Excursions into Wisconsin’s Past, Madison: The State Historical Society of Wisconsin, pg 75.

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Among the more pretentious saloons that had a free lunch counter was the Deutsches Dorf at Watertown, which came to enjoy a statewide reputation. Architecturally it was modeled upon the famous German drinking place at the World’s Fair held in St. Lewis in 1904. With its carved woodwork it looked more like a music hall than a saloon, and it often served this purpose.

Groups of patrons would join their voices in old German songs and ballads, and on special occasions the proprietor, Garret M. Gahlman (Gallmann), would bring a German orchestra from Milwaukee to entertain his customers. During the pre-prohibition era its massive oak bar, laden with a variety of good food, required the services of four attendants.

Deutsches Dorf Saloon Token

Mayor Charles 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.

c1905

John C. Gruel purchased the Deutsches Dorf with the late Grover Glaser as a partner.

The Deutsches Dorf which was situated at Main and North Third Streets where the Gas and Electric building is now located, was perhaps the outstanding tavern in the history of Watertown. It was an elegant place, staffed by several bartenders, who always wore white jackets. The tavern had several palm trees and its lunch counter was known throughout the state. It featured three varieties of hot meats every day, in addition to the regular lunch counter fare.

On special occasions poultry dishes were featured. The place regularly employed special music, often bringing German orchestras and stringed groups from Milwaukee to entertain customers.

The Deutsches Dorf took its name from a bar that had been established on the grounds of the Columbian Exposition. In Watertown the name fitted well because Watertown was predominantly German drinking and eating customs prevailed.

1906

1906

1909

01 22 Long distance telephone pay station established in Deutsches Dorf WG

1918

Deutsches Dorf closed with the advent of prohibition in 1918.

1921 Watertown Canning Company Officer

The Watertown Canning Company was established and incorporated in 1913. The 1921 officers included G. M. Gahlman, Treasure.

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1946

Garret Gahlmann Obituary

Derived from Watertown Daily Times, 02 02 1946

Garret M. Gahlmann, 79, 1417 River Drive, died at this home on February 1, 1946. He had made his home in Watertown for the previous 45 years.

A son of the late Frederick and Josephine Baurichter Gahlmann, he was born in Clyman January 5, 1867, in Clyman. His marriage to Laura Belle Kehoe took place June 8, 1904.

Mr. Gahlmann was a member of St. Bernard’s Church and was buried in the parish cemetery.

In the death of “Gary” Gahlmann Watertown lost one of its most widely known and most popular residents. As the operator of the old Deutsches Dorf, at Main and North Third streets (216 Main), later the site of the Gas and Electric Company building, Mr. Gahlmann for years played host to thousands of visitors to Watertown. The place was perhaps the most popular gathering and stopping off point in the city of many years, when an earlier “Gemütlichkeit” marked community life here and elsewhere.

Mr. Gahlmann conducted his business along high ethical lines and many older residents, as well as hundreds scattered far and wide, remember it as a place where they could meet their friends among spacious and pleasant surroundings, with white-garbed bartenders dispensing drinks and with a lunch counter that fairly groaned with good day in and day out. And presiding over it was Mr. Gahlmann, with a cheery word of welcome for everyone.

In later years Mr. Gahlmann opened a new business establishment at the corner of North Third and Madison streets (300-302 Madison) and this, too, became known at the Deutsches Dorf, but it was on a much smaller and far less glamorous scale. He retired from business some time ago.

It can be said of Mr. Gahlmann that he had friends in every walk of life and in many Wisconsin cities, as well as cities scattered around the nation, among people who had visited his earlier place of business and who always went away with a friendly feeling for its genial proprietor.

The Poor Man’s Club

The old-time saloon was the Poor Man’s Club. Men gathered in the barbershop or sat around the country-store stove to discuss politics, but for good-fellowship, friendliness, and Gemütlichkeit they went to the saloon. To it came men from all walks of life. Within its portals a democratic spirit reigned, and all present became equals.

Standing at the bar with one foot on the rail or sitting around tables, little coteries talked companionably of their families and home and of their work. They drank a little beer, ate of the free lunch, and then went home or back to their work. Social life today offers few meeting places like the old German saloon. Compared with it, the modern tavern is an arrogant pretender.

Holmes, Fred L., Sideroads: Excursions into Wisconsin’s Past, Madison: The State Historical Society of Wisconsin, pg 63.

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1956

John Gruel Obituary

Derived from Watertown Daily Times, 02 29 1956; article includes photo

John Gruel, 1872 – 1933

Sheriff of Jefferson County, 1925-1933

John C. Gruel, 83, of 209 Cady Street, former Jefferson County Sheriff and one of the most widely know men in the community, died this morning following a protracted illness which began with a stroke he suffered two months ago.

Mr. Gruel was born in Watertown on March 31, 1872, a son of the late Mr. and Mrs. August Gruel. He was married to Miss Nell Mahoney in 1899 and conducted a hotel, shoe store and tavern in Clyman with the late Louis Kronitz and after five years of operations he disposed of his interest to Mr. Kronitz. Mr. Gruel operated a grain elevator in Clyman for another year and then came to Watertown where he purchased the Deutsches Dorf with the late Grover Glaser as a partner. The place closed with the advent of prohibition in 1918. For several years Mr. Gruel was a salesman for Wilkowski Bros. cigar manufacturers here.

In 1925 he was elected sheriff of Jefferson County and served until 1933 after which he again became a salesman.

Mrs. Gruel died in 1942 and a year later he married Esther Glaser of Watertown.

He is survived by his wife, an adopted son, Donald Gruel, Corpus Christi, Texas. He also has two brothers. William and Walter of Watertown, and a sister, Mrs. John Rhodes, Reeseville. Two sisters preceded him in death.

Mr. Gruel was a member of St. Mark’s English Lutheran Church at Jefferson. He was an honorary member of the Janesville Elks Lodge and was a member of Lincoln Lodge No. 20, Knights of Pythias in Watertown and the Plattdeutscher Verein.

Arrangements Pending

The funeral arrangements will be announced tomorrow, the Schmutzler Funeral Home of Watertown in charge.

Outstanding Sheriff

John Gruel was an outstanding sheriff and public servant in office. It was said of him “he looks like a sheriff” and he did, for in his day he was large and impressive, well built and set up and by his very appearance commanded respect.

Mr. Gruel had so many fine qualities that it is impossible to even touch on his attributes. He was loyal and kind and friendly and knew how to deal with people. Of him it can be said that whatever defects there were in his nature, they were far outweighed by his good qualities and character.

In his later years he found much pleasure in tinkering about his home, building bird houses and doing other small woodwork. He liked people and he was especially fond of children. He reflected an inner goodness that attracted people to him and his friends were many throughout this area.

Elegant Place

On special occasions poultry dishes were featured. The place regularly employed special music, often bringing German orchestras and stringed groups from Milwaukee to entertain customers.

Compiled by Ken Riedl