website watertownhistory.org
ebook History of Watertown, Wisconsin
North Western Intersection Removed
Watertown Junction
1873
08 14 THE MAGNETIC WELL at the
Railroad Junction
Sometime since an artesian well was sank near
the Railroad Junction in this city. It
is now ascertained beyond a doubt, that the subterranean struck supplies an ever flowing stream of water, pure and clear as crystal
perfectly colorless and almost tasteless, highly magnetic and possessing rare
and extraordinary medicinal properties.
Here the water has been thoroughly tested and
tried and has effected several remarkable cures and found generally beneficial
in many cases of chronic disease.
Wishing to avoid all statements not strictly accurate and which facts
will not amply sustain, we hazard nothing in saying that this magnetic well
will prove a “fountain of health” to numerous classes of invalids, and
unsurpassed in its curative qualities by those of any other of the celebrated
springs new so widely known and drank.
The slight examination already made, more
than indicates this and when a more exact and searching analysis shall have
been made by skilled and competent chemists, the claims now put forth will be
fully established.
We are glad to learn that steps are being
taken to bring this perennial and healing fountain into the universal notice
and appreciation which it deserves. It
ought to be widely known that here is a sure and available remedy for rheumatic
and other complaints which has been demonstrated useful as a restorative.
Mr. J. H. Sleeper has been appointed by the
Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway company Manager of their wonderful Magnetic
Spring, near the Junction, in this city.
We call attention to his card in another column. Watertown Democrat, 08 14 1873
Cross reference of 1928: We
are reminded of a deep well at the Junction drilled by the Milwaukee Railroad
50 years ago or more. When it first
began to flow a wooden canopy was erected over it and the water was in great
demand. It came from the St. Peter
Sandstone and was shipped on orders to other places but of late years the well
has been closed to the public. The water
was magnetized and steel or iron held in it a few
moments was magnetized. WDTimes, 10 06 1928
Cross reference
WI Historical Society has images pertaining
to this well:
Cross reference: In 1878 there is a Spring Street
near the Junction area.
1977 article
WDT 06 23
1977
In three days of work, a crew of the Milwaukee Road disassembled the intersection of the Chicago and North Western Railroad with the Milwaukee Road tracks, leaving the Milwaukee Road as the only through railroad serving the city.
Freight service will not be affected by the removal of the intersection because Watertown industries which are served by the Chicago and North Western will be serviced through Clyman Junction to the north and will travel south to the Milwaukee Road tracks but will not cross the tracks again.
Removal of the intersection this past week ended 118 years of a rail line operating through Watertown and connecting Fort Atkinson with Fond du Lac.
The Chicago and North Western tracks actually had not been used for a through route for nearly two years since the decision was made to use the line as a spur from Clyman Junction and to run a switch train from Clyman to Watertown as needed rather than operate a train daily. That train still operates and picks up and delivers cars to the Milwaukee Road tracks at a siding near the train depot off of Montgomery Street.
Watertown residents who are in their 30s and older may even remember when the line regularly carried passengers. Passenger trains operated along the Janesville to Fond du Lac route from its inception and up until June 6, 1950 when the service stopped.
An early passenger schedule for the line, dated July 15, 1896, showed passenger service was available from Janesville to Fond du Lac.
One train operated daily except Sunday from Janesville at 12:45 p.m., Milton 1:08 p.m., Koshkonong 1:21 p.m., Fort Atkinson 1:40, Jefferson 1:58, Johnson Creek 2:21, Watertown 2:38, Clyman 2:53, Juneau 3:07, Minnesota Junction 3:13 p.m. and several other stops on the way to Fond du Lac at 4:20 p.m.
Other northbound trains stopped at Watertown at 9:42 p.m., and 7:55 a.m. and made all of the above mentioned stops.
Return trips from Oshkosh stopped at Watertown at 8:37 a.m., 6:45 p.m. and 10:45 p.m. daily.
The Chicago and North Western dates back to 1859 in Watertown. It was in that year the line between Janesville and Minnesota Junction, north of Juneau, was constructed by the North Western. That section included the intersection because the Milwaukee Road had laid its main line through here four years earlier.
The section of the line from Minnesota Junction to Fond du Lac, a distance of 29 miles, was constructed in 1854 by the Rock River Valley and Union Railroad.
The entire line from Janesville to Fond du Lac was reconstructed in the years 1914 through 1916. Since that time the intersection itself has been replaced several times, the last of which was in the late 1950s.
The junction point between the Chicago and North Western and the earlier lines which formed the present Milwaukee Road became a focal point of activity almost immediately upon installation of the intersection.
Bay State House; Junction House
A railroad ticket office was maintained there and in 1863 the Bay State House, a hotel was built to accommodate railroad men and the traveling public.
The Bay State House burned in 1875 and was replaced by the three-story, brick Junction House which contained ticket and telegraph offices for the railroads and a hotel and restaurant.
The Junction House served the public until it, too, was destroyed by fire at high noon on Friday, Oct. 9, 1920. It was never rebuilt.
Freight and passenger service on the line was at a peak in the 1930s and 1940s and gradually declined until the passenger service was terminated in 1950.
Although the intersection has been removed, a number of Watertown industries continue to rely on the North Western for service.
Those industries include Midland Cooperative, Specialty Foods, Loeb Industries, Redigas, Mining Liquor, Wisconsin School Service, Dadant and Sons, Rock River Consumers Cooperative, and Sealy Mattress. Their service will not be affected by the removal of the intersection.
The Milwaukee Road has been anxious to have the intersection removed because of the high maintenance of an intersection, higher speeds are allowed when there is no intersection, and a major track renovation program between the intersection and Ixonia will be undertaken later this summer.
The Milwaukee Road agreed to reinstall the intersection if the need should every again arise.
The present line between Watertown and Johnson Creek is in poor condition and is no longer used because no business or industries are serviced on that segment.
The portion from Clyman Junction to Watertown is used as a spur line to bring cars to and from Watertown industries.
The North Western spur line in Watertown connects with the Milwaukee Road through a siding located adjacent to the Milwaukee Road depot. Cars are transferred to and from the Milwaukee Road tracks at this location, and the switch engine still operates to and from Watertown as needed which is about three times each week.
After 118 years of through service for two railroads in Watertown, all that remains of the intersection is the ties and steel which are piled up as a stop for a loose box car.
History of Watertown, Wisconsin