website watertownhistory.org
ebook History of Watertown, Wisconsin
Woolworth’s
316-320 E Main
Woolworth’s, 1950s, “5 cents to 1
dollar”
F. W. Woolworth Co was the
original chain of five and dime stores.
1930
-- -- F.W. WOOLWORTH BUILDING BUILT by Maas Bros. of Watertown
Replaced former Miller Cigar Manufactory
(312-314 E Main) and Miller house (316)
1954
SISTERS OF
THE SWISH, STAFF OF WOOLWORTHS, 1954 Centennial Celebration
Carol Loeder,
Nancy Doubleday Griep, Gladys Koehler, Esther Block, Lenore Kegler, Merla Stark
Frannk, Dorothy Munzel,
LaVern Jine, Lorraine Guenterberg, Betty Scharp Hall,
Margaret Schlueter, Clara Roth, Alta Hardtke, Ruth Flath, Patricia Behling
Peterson, Viola Wahl, Rosemary Korban, Verona Martin, Betty Schwenkner
Kofler, Audrey Fuchs Zautner, Helen Prentiss, Laverne Thelke
Neis, Pauline Scharp Reith, Hidegard Scharp Raabe Kajewski, Carol Buss Bergdoll, Rita Maron, Iris Grulke,
Beverly Stafeil Ruehlow
1962
04 02 GRAND OPENING FOLLOWING REMODELING
The F.W. Woolworth Co. store in Watertown,
located at 312 Main Street, announced plans for its grand opening following an
extensive remodeling and major improvement program which has been underway for
several months. The grand opening will run for four
days, according to Gordon J. Conard, the manager. The store features all new
counters, a new tile floor, new fluorescent lighting, air conditioning and a
new 25-stool luncheonette.
1975
12 05 WOOLWORTH
BUILDING IS SOLD
The Woolworth Building, 320 Main
Street, has been sold and will be occupied by Royce Fabrics following a
complete remodeling.
Royce Fabrics, owned and operated
by Royce Rowedder, will move from its present location in several months when
the remodeling project is completed.
When completed the new store will
be one of the largest fabric facilities in southern Wisconsin and will feature
expanded areas for fabrics, art needle work, yarns and sewing machines.
Royce Fabrics stores are also
located in West Bend, Fort Atkinson and Hartland. The Watertown store was opened in February of
1969 and was the original store.
Royce Fabrics, 1975
Cross
references:
LaVerne J. Jine
(Bergdoll) [1928-2009] worked at F. W. Woolworth's as the manager of the
lunch counter
Lunch counters. Ruth Sellnow, longtime Watertown
resident, has written a remembrance of growing up in Watertown: Lunch counters, were
once great places, to eat in downtown Watertown. The counter at Woolworths had club sandwiches., BLTs and a multi-layered devil’s food cake with
a white sea-foam frosting, that were all favorites. The Kresege store
counter survived even longer with the usual staples of lunch counter fare and
coffee. It brought people together for
food and conversation.
REFLECTIONS:
Julie-Fred Guenterberg
I have the "L" from the
woolworths sign in my garage. Manager
gave it to my mom who's name was Lorraine,
when the store closed.
Sherry Baumann-Filenius
My aunt was Merla from behind the
lunch counter.
Antonette Toni Kottwitz Huggett
I worked there as a teen. Made
lots of BLT's and malts.
Mona Achtor
Remember there was a back exit up
a few stairs on right side. Going to catechism class
at St. Lukes on Sat morning we used to go there for a mid
morning break!
Terry Boyce
I loved Woolworth's. Remember
buying strands of angora to put on class rings? I always loved the cherry cokes. Also bought all of
my 45's from the stand by the checkouts!
Andi Wyrwa
Yes, cherry coke... sitting at
the lunch counter. 😊
Bonnie Bohlman
Yup 👍 cherry coke was the best!!!
Cyndy Guetzlaff Eaton
Don’t forget about the plate of
French fries to go along with the cherry cokes! 🍟🍟🍟
Laurie Lund Purtell
I bought records there also!
Merrilee Kaulitz
I used to work at that lunch
bar...1st job. Every other Fri.night, and Sat.
Perfect h.s. job. Merla ran a tight ship.
Sherry Baumann-Filenius
Merla is my aunt. She's still a
great cook at 91 years old ❤️
Laurie Lund Purtell
We used to walk there from high
school and share an order of their great French fries.
Richard Neumann
Parakeets, small turtles and a great lunch bar… fries, 26 cents.
MerriJo Wurst Lineberry
I remember the wooden floors
Bonnie Bohlman
Really liked the candy assortment
at Woolworths
Terry Boyce
Bonnie Bohlman They used to carry a candy bar
that was 7 Brazil nuts covered in chocolate. I loved them and have never found
them again.
Julie-Fred Guenterberg
I remember Merla's"
strawberry pie was something customers came into the store specifically to get
every June when the berries were in season.
Janice Wendorf
I remember stoping
after school for a cherry cola and onion rings
Andi Wyrwa
The "dime store" 😁
History of Watertown,
Wisconsin