website watertownhistory.org
ebook History of Watertown, Wisconsin
Schempf Building,
Main Street history to be celebrated
The photo is of the Schempf building from the 1902 Picturesque Watertown souvenir booklet.
Note that at that time the third story of the building
had not yet been added.
Schempf Building, Main Street history to be celebrated
The
historic Schempf Department Store building, 207-209 E. Main St., will be the
site of two special events celebrating the history of downtown Watertown on
June 26 and 27 hosted by the Watertown Area Chamber of Commerce, the Watertown
Historical Society and the Dodge/Jefferson Counties Genealogical Society. Both
events are free and open to the public.
Friday,
June 26, 2 p.m.
A
formal dedication of the Schempf building as an official Watertown historic
landmark will take place on Friday, June 26 at 2 p.m. During this dedication
ceremony, a plaque will be presented to Bill Lindborg
of Long Beach, California, who purchased the building last year and is in the
early stages of a full-scale restoration of the property. Watertown Mayor John
David and Watertown Historic Preservation Commission Chairwoman Melissa Lampe
will present the plaque to Lindborg, and will talk
about the importance of the designation as a local historic site. This event is
sponsored by the Watertown Area Chamber of Commerce.
Following
the plaque presentation, Lindborg will talk about the
history of the building and the Schempf family, of which he is a descendant.
Debbie Skalitzky of the Dodge/Jefferson Counties
Genealogical Society will also talk about the research that was conducted
through that organization to trace Lindborg’s
extensive historical family roots in Watertown.
To
conclude Friday’s presentation, Chamber of Commerce/Main Street Program
Executive Director Susan Dascenzo will provide an
overview of the local Main Street program, which is celebrating its 15th
anniversary as a Wisconsin Main Street Community this year.
Saturday,
June 27, 1 p.m.
The
Watertown Historical Society and the Dodge/Jefferson Counties Genealogical
Society are teaming up on Saturday, June 27 starting at 1 p.m. to host a
presentation on the importance of historic preservation and to provide an
in-depth history of the Schempf building. Lindborg
will also be the featured speaker at this event which will be followed by a
full guided tour of the building.
Prior
to the start of the presentation, historical images of downtown Watertown will
be shown. During this time guests may enjoy hor d’oeuvers provided by Plattdeutscher
Hall and the music of the Melody Steinbart Trio and
accompanying musicians from Maranatha Baptist University. For a sweet treat,
ice cream from Mullen’s, another historical business on Main Street, will be
served.
In
addition to Lindborg’s presentation on the history of
the Schempf building and his family, he will talk about the importance of
historic preservation on Main Street and what it means to a community. Skalitzky will also speak on behalf of her research on Lindborg’s family and the genealogical society’s dedication
to connect families to their Watertown roots and heritage.
For
more information regarding either these special events, please call Melissa
Lampe at (920) 390-2061.
Cross
References:
Historical
Society chapter on Schempf Building
History of Watertown, Wisconsin