website watertownhistory.org
ebook History of Watertown, Wisconsin
Rock River
Society Holding
00053: Early
Watertown along the Rock River
Revised City Charter of
City of Watertown, 1894
SECTION 230 - Jurisdiction
of River and Bridges
All that part of Rock
river within the boundaries of said city, shall be under the exclusive
jurisdiction of the said city and its council, and all bridges over the said
river, within the limits aforesaid, shall be under its jurisdiction, and the
mayor and council of said city are fully empowered to
build bridges over said river, remove obstructions and filth, and cause the
said river to be kept as clean and as pure as possible; and the said common
council shall have power to prevent the erection of buildings or structures of
any kind in or upon said river, and to prevent the repairing of any building or
structure of any kind now erected in and upon said river, within the limits of
said city. All buildings which are or
hereafter may be erected in or upon said river, and adjoining or communicating
with any bridge crossing said river, shall be liable to a special tax each
year, to be levied and expended under the direction of the common council, for
the purpose of insuring said bridge against loss or damage by fire, which said
sum so to be levied and expended, shall be fixed by the common council, and
shall be apportioned among the said buildings, respectively, according to the
proportionate risk that in the opinion of the common council each ought to
bear; provided, that the taxing of said buildings shall confer no right to
continue the same beyond the time for which the insurance may be effected.
1839
MAP
OF ROCK RIVER, Wiskonsin Territory, WHS_005_009
1876 [or 1878]
07 24 THE FLORIETTA
The excursionists who
came up from Jefferson on board the Florietta Saturday morning, having spent a
few hours quite pleasantly in this city, started on their return trip shortly
after 5 o'clock in the afternoon. Busses
were provided at the Tivoli to convey passengers to the little steamer, which
stood waiting a few rods south of Boomer's dam to receive her cargo of human
freight. Before the boat started some
sixty persons were on board, including a band of musicians, and several
individuals from this town . . . The boat reached her destination at half past
eight o'clock in the evening, and as she slowly entered the dock, the band
played "God save the Queen."
Hundreds of people stood waiting for the boat's return, and before she
fairly landed, loud exclamations of joy went up from the gay and merry
throng. The boat will be here some time
during the present week, to carry passengers to Jefferson and back. WD
1881
FLOOD
TAKES OUT MAIN STREET BRIDGE
1885
03 14 BAPTISMS IN THE ROCK
RIVER
Fourteen persons were baptized
Sunday in Rock river, at Watertown, Wisconsin.
The ceremony was postponed for some hours, on account of riotous acts by
the assemblage on the bank. – The
Prairie Farmer, 03 14 1885.
1890
06 13 BATHING IN THE ROCK
RIVER
Notice is hereby given
that all persons found bathing in Rock river within the city limits will be
arrested and fined. So those who have
been violating the city ordinance on bathing will please take notice and as
avoid trouble. CHAS. KERR, City
Marshal.
10 08 BUILDINGS IN CENTER OF
THE RIVER
Judge Bennett has
decided at Janesville that the Rock river is not a navigable stream, and that
buildings may be erected in the center of the stream. He refused to dissolve the injunction by
which the chief of police was prevented from tearing down the buildings already
erected. WR
c.1890
ICE HARVESTING ON THE ROCK RIVER
S. M. EATON & SON ICE HOUSE
< Badger logo and birdhouses, S. M. Eaton ice house
Blocks of ice being positioned in channel in
Rock river prior to being placed on elevator to store in Eaton ice house
Cross References: Chapter on ice
harvesting
1891
01 30 SKATING CRAZE
The skating craze has
struck this city in great shape. One
dealer has sold over 400 pairs of skates this season. Old and young engage in the sport on the
river every afternoon, and in the evening long after 9 o'clock. WG
02 06 BROKE THROUGH THE ICE
Last Sunday while
skating on Rock river above Cady street bridge Miss Mamie Usher and Miss Katie
Killian broke through the ice, but were immediately rescued by several of the
many gallant young men skating on the river at the time. WG
1892
06 10 HIGH RIVER TAKES OUT
PART OF DAM
The water in Rock river is at high water mark, being as high as it was
in 1881 when the old bridge and several buildings were swept downstream. Part of the Rough
and Ready dam gave away Wednesday, so great was the water pressure. WG
1895
05 22 PIKE FRY ADDED TO ROCK
RIVER
Through the efforts of
Senator Solliday, the propagation of fish in Rock river at this point is
receiving some attention. Forty thousand
pike fry from the state hatchery at Milwaukee were planted in the river last
Wednesday evening by a number of our angling enthusiasts, and it is expected
that some black bass and other fry will also be placed here shortly. WR
1899
03 29 CARP ADDED TO ROCK
RIVER
There has been quite a number
of German carp caught here this winter, each weighing from 4 to 5 pounds. No doubt they are from fry put in by J.
McCall some ten years ago. The water in
Rock River is the lowest in forty years or more. WR
05 16 CARLOAD OF FISH FRY
ADDED TO RICK RIVER
On Saturday Assemblymen
Grube and Kessler were the recipients of a carload of fish fry from the fish
hatchery at Oshkosh. These were planted
in the river at different points. And
now our local fisherman can no longer complain that there are no fish in the
river because they were not fortunate enough in landing some. WR
1900
05 29 STREAM BOAT ON ROCK
RIVER
Messrs. Simon Molzahn, Charles
Feisst and Andrew Roegner are the owners
and officers of a neat little steam launch which has its moorings in Rock
river, below Boomers dam. The boat is
twenty-two feet in length, will accommodate a dozen persons, is fitted with an
eight horse-power engine and is propelled by a steam wheel. It is of light draft and capable of
developing a speed of eight miles an hour.
The launch was given a trial trip to Hahn’s lake last week and it is proposed
during the summer to make excursions down the river as far as Jefferson — a
most delightful and picturesque trip. S.
Molzahn is captain of the craft, Mr. Roegner chief engineer, and Mr. Feisst
navigating officer. WR
1901
06 28 SEWERS EMPTYING IN THE
RIVER
There are several
sewers emptying in the river between Cady and Milwaukee street bridges which
should be abated. These old sewers
should connect with the proper sewer.
There is no doubt of the water in the river being polluted and running
through the race where men come in contact in the various factories and mills
located on the west side. WG
1906
08 24 ROCK RIVER POLLUTED
WITH REFUSE
The following from the Jefferson County Union, published at
Fort Atkinson, is also applicable to this city:
The blue Danube would look pretty gray if the water of the Rock River
were turned into it. What should be a
beautiful stream is polluted with refuse in many places as it runs through the
city. The practice of merchants
adjoining the river of throwing all their rubbish into it is a bad one. Recently the man that cleaned out one of the
blocks after papering threw all the refuse in the river, making it look like a
sewer for a quarter of a mile. It is
very offensive to people who appreciate the river for its beauty to see such
desecration going on. Watertown Weekly Leader
1908
09 18 OPENING OF ROCK RIVER
CALLED FOR
Steamboats may be running
from Watertown to the Mississippi
Few are aware of the
fact that Watertown is at the head of navigation on the Rock river.
The above statement is prompted
by the announcement that an important deep water-way meeting is to be held at
Sterling, Illinois., when Illinois and Wisconsin congressional delegations and
mayors of towns along the Rock river will assemble to consider plans for making
the Rock river navigable from its source in Wisconsin to the Mississippi, thus
opening a new waterway from Wisconsin to the Gulf of Mexico. . . .
The proposed
improvement includes the building of a number of power dams along the river,
sites for nineteen of which have already been secured, not including the
government’s big plant at Sterling.
Should the proposed
plan succeed and the river be made navigable to the Mississippi river, the
people of Watertown, in the course of a few years, may have the pleasure of seeing
steamboats coming to and departing from our city. Weekly Watertown Leader, September 18, 1908
1917c
Rock River, view south
of Milwaukee St Bridge, west bank of river, c1917 WHS_006_Semrich_104
1936
09 30 CARP NETTED . . . ALONG WITH DEBRIS
River
"Catch" Yields Buggy, Bike, Bedstead
While scores of Watertown
residents looked on, Wisconsin Conservation Department workmen pulled in their
nets just south of the Main Street Bridge Tuesday, 9/29/36. The men were clearing rough fish from the Rock
River in this vicinity. The
"bag" included a bicycle, a baby buggy, a bedstead, oil cans and wire
netting. Only 36 carp were taken. The heavy articles had ripped several holes in
the net permitting the greater part of the catch to escape.
1941
08 12 NOTZ PAINTING DONATED TO WATERTOWN HISTORICAL SOCIETY
A painting
by the late Dr. F.A. Notz, professor of Greek at Northwestern College and a painter of note,
has been donated to the Watertown Historical Society by the daughters of Dr.
Notz, it was announced by Dr. E. C. Kiessling of Northwestern College.
The picture arrived Sunday morning and the announcement of its arrival
was made during the Pioneer Day program at the Octagon House by Dr.
Kiessling. It was he who suggested to
the daughters that they contribute one of their father’s works to the society.
This suggestion was made some months ago during the exhibit of paintings by
Watertown artists which was held at the Elks Club.
The daughters at that time agreed to the suggestion and made a special
effort to get it here on Sunday. The
painting is entitled "Rock River at Watertown." It is a water color and is to be placed
permanently in the Octagon House.
Dr. Notz and his family used to live in Western Avenue. Dr. Notz, who is still remembered here by a
great many people, taught at the college more than 40 years and painted
numerous Watertown scenes.
The 3 daughters now reside in Washington where one of them, Mrs. Cornelia, is
one of the head departmental librarians of the Congressional library. Getting this painting by the man who
distinguished himself in the field of education here is something every member
of the historical society will appreciate, and it is certainly worth preserving
in the permanent collection of objects at the Octagon House.
1977
05 20 RESTOCKING OF RIVER
Restocking of game fish
and forage minnows in the Rock River is on schedule, but a third chemical
treatment of the lower portion of the river is being considered, according to
Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Area Fish Manager James Congdon. The third treatment might be necessary
because of the number of fish that survived last fall’s carp kill. A survey will be made by DNR crews to
determine just how large the carp population is. No plans to re-treat portions of the river will
be made until that study is completed.
The section of the river from Hustisford to Watertown has been restocked
with the following species: 7,500 adult yellow perch (spawners); 1,400 adult
channel catfish (spawners averaging two pounds); 13 million northern pike fry,
stocked in shallow marshes and sloughs in the river system where they
propagate; five million walleye fry; and more than five million minnows
normally found in the-Rock River (10 different species). Condon said within the next several months
53,000 largemouth and 225,000 smallmouth bass fingerlings will be stocked in
the river.
1988
09 07 FOUNTAIN IN THE RIVER
Watertown’s downtown
will be beautified on Tuesday with the installation of the long awaited water
fountain in the Rock River, according to officials of the Watertown Arts
Council. The fountain, a joint project
of the arts council and the city of Watertown, is scheduled to be installed
about 150 feet north of the lower dam, and will be easily visible from Main
Street. The fountain is about 32 feet in
diameter and 16 feet in height. It is
scheduled to be installed on Tuesday and tested during the week before it is
formally dedicated and placed into use on Friday. The project has been four years in planning.
2014 KAYAK ENTIRE ROCK RIVER
Maranatha
Baptist University students. WDTimes
article.
2017
09 13 RIVER DRAW DOWN DURING DAM REPAIR
< PORTFOLIO OF PICS
THIS PORTION IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION / BEING EDITED
Cross References:
Rock River,
1913 ? WHS_004_NT013
Rock River,
1915 ? WHS_004_NT071
Rock River,
Above Rough & Ready Dam, view from Octagon House, 1944 WHS_001_PC_101
Rock River,
Below Rough & Ready Dam WHS_002_PC_297
Rock River,
Map, portion within Territory of Wiskonsin, 1839 (1) WHS_005_009
Rock River,
Map, portion within Territory of Wiskonsin, 1839 (2) WHS_005_010
Rock River,
Picturesque view, from Tivoli Island, c1899 WHS_005_497
Rock River,
Prochazka's Picnic Place WHS_002_PC_359
Rock River,
Scene at Riverside Park WHS_001_PC_278
Rock River,
Scene at Riverside Park WHS_002_PC_284
Rock River,
Scene at Riverside Park, 1940s WHS_002_PC_286
Rock River,
Scene on WHS_001_PC_273
Rock River,
Scene on WHS_001_PC_277
Rock River,
view from Main St bridge, looking north, c1874 WHS_005_434
Rock River,
view from Main Street Bridge, looking north, 1886 WHS_005_435
Rock River,
view north fr Milwaukee St Bridge, fake steamboat, compare to PC_156 WHS_001_PC_145
Rock River,
view north from Cady St bridge, Hartig ice shoot WHS_001_PC_147
Rock River,
view north from Main St bridge WHS_001_PC_153
Rock River,
view north, from Milwaukee St Bridge WHS_002_PC_372
Rock River,
view south from Cady St bridge, Fuermann Brewery WHS_001_PC_146
Rock River,
view south from Milwaukee St Bridge WHS_001_PC_150
Rock River,
view south from Milwaukee St Bridge, c1905 WHS_002_PC_362
Rock River,
view south of Milwaukee St Bridge, west bank of river, c1917 WHS_006_Semrich_104
Rock River,
view west, from N Fourth St Bridge WHS_002_PC_369
Rock River,
Viewed from roof of Octagon House, 1903 WHS_005_210
Rock River,
Viewed from roof of Octagon House, 1903 WHS_005_211
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Silver Creek and Days of Good Ice. Winter in Wisconsin brings me a bittersweet feeling
whenever I drive over the Division Street Bridge by Riverside Park in
Watertown. On a crisp winter’s day with
clear blue skies and pristine snowdrifts, this was a magical place 45 years
ago. Every weekend and most school
nights, when there was good ice, we were skating on the Rock River. Watertown, back then, was a small German city
with 4 parochial grade schools, two Lutheran, two Catholic and several public
grade schools. But when it came to
skating, the Rock River was nondenominational; it was just good ice. There was
a small warming house that sizzled with the sound and smell of wet woolen
mittens drying on the heater, the thunk thunk thunk of our skates on the wooden
floor and laughter . . . The river itself spoke to us with deep-throated cracks
as it shifted its load of ice. We skated
until we could barely stand. We were
cold, wet and tired, but so energized by socializing, skating and the perfect
setting it didn’t matter. We played
crack-the-whip and oh the music! The
warming house had a blaring speaker system and the Beatles were the rage. To this day I know every word of every early
Beatle song from those days of skating and singing at the top of our lungs to
songs like “8 days a week”. Our parents
told us never to go under the bridges because the ice wasn’t safe, so of course
we did. We skated to the Silver Creek
warming house, a few bridges and miles down river, just for the adventure
especially at night. The Beatle songs
and frozen river remain, but the warming house, the kids and the laughter are
no more. This saddens me because I
cannot imagine a childhood without those days of good ice. Anonymous
Another Memory: Yes, it
does evoke memories!! I was just in
Watertown last weekend and drove over the Division St. Bridge and fondly
remembered the hours spent skating. The
warming house was the old Girl Scout building I think! I remember that some of the boys would bring
their snowmobiles to the rink and we would sneak rides! I would also skate at the "Brick
Yard" rink. They too had a TV in
the warming house and I remember seeing the Beatles!
Another Memory: I have shared so many times how great it was
to skate at Riverside Park and to take skating class in PE there. I learned so
much and loved it. When I left for
college in Missouri in 1980, I couldn't wait to come home for Christmas so I
could skate. It was late at night and the park was dark, but I put on my skates
and skated by moonlight. It was awesome! I was truly free and had all the space
I needed. It was not too long when I saw
a tall figure come walking out in boots on the ice toward me. I was a little
nervous, and it wasn't until he was fairly close that I realized it was my dad.
He taught me how to skate when I was three years old. He took us to rinks and
also flooded the yard each year. He just wanted to be with me and make sure I
was safe. I will never forget that night.
A few years later while at college in Minneapolis, I was able to skate
at the park rink in front of my dormitory. It was there that another man came
out on the ice in boots to boot skate with me. It was my husband and soon after
he proposed and we married in 1984. I
have made sure to teach each of my kids to skate. I even host skating parties
at my home here in Southern Indiana on the rare years when our pond freezes
enough to skate. I have several pairs of skates on hand for those who need them
. . . . I still have my skates. Although I am not as nimble as I used to be, I
continue to love the freedom, excitement and camaraderie that skating brings.
I'm looking forward to the next chapter when I can pass the baton on and teach
my grandchildren.
History of Watertown,
Wisconsin