360 Elkhorn Wisconsin Bicentennial History 1976

1976 Elkhorn Wisconsin Bicentennial History. A nice, pictorial booklet of the community with history, images, names, and advertising published by the Elkhorn History Club and the Elkhorn Bicentennial Committee.This copy was made in order to provide a searchable document for use by researchers.

14909947

1976

360 Elkhorn Wisconsin Bicentennial History 1976.pdf

Linda Valentine Snippets

Linda Valentine Snippets

Copyright undetermined

text

eng

Wisconsin

History

Midwest

Pamphlets

Kenosha County, Wisconsin

PDF

Valentine
SNIPPETS of SALEM
360 - 1976 Elkhorn Wisconsin
Bicentennial History
Contents:
A nice, pictorial booklet of the community with history, images,
names, and advertising published by the Elkhorn History Club and
the Elkhorn Bicentennial Committee.
This copy was made in order to provide a searchable document for
use by researchers.

0- 135 pages
NOTES:
-Pages within the pamphlets may be out of sequence because of the scanning
process.
-Numbering on these pages may include the date and sequence within each
pamphlet.
The original materials used in this project were from the FWB Fred Wesley
Brown Collection. Some documents were photocopied before they were scanned
into the PDF document and those will be available in print format. The originals
may exist either in the FWB collection or at the Western Kenosha County
Historical Society- depending on family decisions at a later date. These
materials were contributed because the family wished that the history that they
and their families have experienced can be saved for the future generations.
Some "published" documents were dismantled in order to provide a 1:1 scan of
the original item rather than a scan of a photocopy. The decision to do this was
made because the INFORMATION was more important than the media that was
used to present the information. Naturally, singular ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS
were not destroyed.
Researchers should also refer to the Valentine Digital archives which may at the
SALEM COMMUNITY LIBRARY for more images in this collection or digital
images of items that may relate to this booklet or related to the topic.
Compiled 1/2014 by L S Valentine Copyright©Valentine2014

"~-- .. ---··-~-----··-~-· ·------~-~-----~--~

ON THE COVER: Nine Bicentennial Quilt Blocks were chosen as representative of the city of
Elkhorn's history. A wide diversity is noted In those selected. The Elk head represents the city's
name as the fir.st pioneers purportedly saw the antlers hanging in a tree. The old courthouse
Is what the city became--the Walworth county seat. A nearly equally lengthy history is represented by the County Fair block, now the largest such affair in the state. Elkhorn's musical
interest is denoted by the band shell, the third such structure, hearkening back to the early
Cornet Band, forerunner of the Holton-Elkhorn Band. Webster House Museum also is part of
the music heritage, where composer Joseph P. Webster lived and worked. The Octagon House
is just one example of the city's diversified and well-preserved homes. Education has been
important with many residents having attended the former 1887 School Building. The Matheson
Memorial Library is supportive of education and the second major library for the city. Spiritual
emphasis has always been intertwined from the earliest settling of the community. which is
represented by the oldest church. St. John's in the Wilderness Episcopal.

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Sponsored by Elkhorn Bicentennial Committee
Written by Elkhorn History Club
First Edition

First Printing

Published in 1917 by Elkhorn Independent ~

Foreword
What began as a rather simple
Bicentennial project in 1975,
grew in a short time into an
almost staggering effort to
record the inclusive history of
Elkhorn.
Never before had there been
an historic account aimed at the
exclusive story of Elkhorn, although the community had been
included in two early Walworth
County Histories, the 1882 effort of C. W. Butterfield, and
the 1912 account by Albert C.
Beckwith. Both of these histories were used to some degree in presenting Elkhorn's
early history, while the period
beyond was gathered from a variety of sources, including the
Elkhorn Independent, covering
more than the last half-century.
The fact-gathering and writing of the material was undertaken by the Elkhorn History
Club members, upon the request

of the Elkhorn Bicentennial Committee. The special committee,
appointed by MayorGerhardtimmega, was seeking to create a
lasting project in commemoration of the United States' 200th
anniversary celebration as a
nation, which they believe has
been produced with this book.
Initially the effort was envisioned as a brief and concise
updating of history, but as the
proposed chapters unfolded, History Club writers discovered
there was a great wealth of important and interesting material,
and so the history grew. Pictures came to light during the
long Bicentennial celebration and
were published in the Independent, resulting in a decision to include many of these as well as
others, which will be published
for the first time.
While the book has taken longer to produce than anticipated,

due to all volunteer effort and
attempts to be as accurate as
possible, there is the belief by
those involved that the project
will prove worthwhile and of
benefit for present and future
generations.
It could not have been accomplished without the help and
support of the many citizens who
contributed items; the Independent for its non-profit publication
of the material; the Bicentennial
Committee for its vision and financial backing, made possible
through the Elkhorn Chamber of
Commerce, and the History Club
members for their arduous and
sometimes tedious work in compiling the information. If there
is any thanks due, it belongs to
the citizens involved in this Bicentennial project of 1975-76.
With deepest appreciation,
The Editors

Bibliography
The following resource materials used in the preparation of the Elkhorn History Book
account:
Wisconsin Historical Collections-- Draper, VoL
Walworth County Atlas, 1872 and 1873
County History--Beckwith, Vols. I & II
History of Walworth County--Butterfield, 1882
Elkhorn Then and Now--5th grade report, Teacher Hilda Yares
History of Elkhorn--Mary Jo Weich
Clippings and materials lent by friends
Landowners Index, Patrons Business Directory, Vol. I, by Everts, Baskin
and Stewart
Talks with descendants of early settlers and elderly residents
Golden Thoughts at Ingleside--Mrs. Frank Leland, 1887
History of the Territory of Wisconsin, 1836-1848, compiled by Moses M.
Strong, Published 1885
Elkhorn Independent

Elkhorn History Book Editors:

Herbert Moering, Mary Bray, Doris Wise and Wilma
Steffen.
History Club Members: Doris Wise, Wilma Steffen, Mary Bray, Ruth Evans,
Linda Goeres, Lorraine Fischer, Edna and Laurel Gil- C\
logly, Jen Hoffman, Marj Lind, Leona Lindow, Edna Olsen, ~jl
Doris Reinke, Dora Wilson and Lorraine Young.

Table of Contents
Page. No.
Early Elkhorn and Its People

1

Growth of the City

5

Significant Structures

15

Education in the City

21

Transportation--Then and Now

33

Elkhorn in the News

39

Recreational Pursuits

49

Clubs and Organizations

61

Remember, Remember

65

Doctors and Dentists

13

County Seat Lawyers

15

Chunhes in the Community

n

Cemeteries

IS

Industrial Growth

17

Businesses and Stores

93

E

Early Elkhorn And Its People
Elkhorn Prairie in the early 1800's must have
seemed a natural paradise to three young land
speculators who came looking for a likely site on
which to found a village. Its rolling contours were
thickly covered with oaks and its rich, black loam
underlain with clay promised fertile farm acreage.
It was crossed by anarmytrailandhad been surveyed a year earlier. Its name already had been
given by Col. Samuel F. Phoenix who had spied an
elk's antlers in a tree, perhaps placed there by
earlier travelers.
The three men, LeGrand Rockwell, Hollis Latham
and Horace Coleman, searched for and located the
stake which denoted the center of the four central
townships. Although seen at its worst in winter being in the middle of a slough- the land in all directions was eminently desirable. It was located on a
natural watershed and seemed an ideal location for a
village, hopefully a county seat.
Mr. Rockwell's brother, John Starr Rockwell, was
an enterprising young government clerk in Milwaukee. Through John's knowledge of available land
claims, LeGrand Rockwell and several friends organized a syndicate for the purpose of land speculation.
Consequently, in February of 1837, Rockwell, Daniel
E. and Milo E. Bradley, came to Elkhorn Prairie and
set up housekeeping in a tent in a poplar grove
erected about a mile east from the center stake.
They immediately filed claims and set about clearing
the land for the future village.
The first house was a rude log shanty, completed
in two weeks, into which they all moved along with
their store of provisions. It was decided to set aside
land for a dairy farm to comprise one square mile,
so Rockwell left on foot for Indiana to purchase
cows and other livestock for the venture. Meanwhile, settlers Albert Ogden and Hollis Latham arrived and took up independent claims.
While Mr. Rockwell is away prospecting for
cows, let us look into the background of the territory
which is now Elkhorn. The original town was one of
five organized by an act of the territorial legislature in January, 18·38, and included the four towns
in the northwestern quarter of the county. These
are now known as Whitewater, LaGrange, Richmond
and Sugar Creek - an area of 144 square miles.
The first "town" meeting was heldatthehome of
Asa Blood who lived on the bank of Silver Lake in
Sugar Creek! In 1846 another act of the legislature
established Elkhorn as a separate town. The act
stated: "All that part of Walworth County comprised
in Section 6 in the town of Elkhorn, Section 1 in the
town of Delavan, Section 6 in the town of Geneva and
section 31 in the town of LaFayette is hereby set off
and organized into a separate town in the name of
Elkhorn." Except for Section 36, the remaining part
of Elkhorn was organized into a new section called
Sugar Creek. This legislative act designated Elkhorn
as a square of two miles embracing the geographical
center of the county and as the county seat. So the
hopes of its three earliest speculators were realized!
Meanwhile, the two Bradleys, Hollis Latham and
Albert Ogden were enduring a bitter winter in the log
shanty constructed by Milo Bradley. Although gener-

ously chinked with home-made straw-and-mudplaster, it was far from weatherworthy! Added to this,
provisions ran low. Coon and wild chicken stew were
added to their meager diet of corn meal and salt pork.
These foods were brought from Geneva on a hands led
devised by Bradley.
Despite these adversities, landclearing progressed rapidly and the first real house of sawn
planks (from the sawmill at Geneva) was ready for
occupancy by May, 1837. It was very pretentious
for its time, being 18 by 30 feet and consisting of
a story and a half. It had two outside doors, four
rooms on the ground floor and one large room upstairs, used as a dormitory and divided by sheets
for privacy. It had a dairy room and was unpainted.

WALWORTH COUNTY'S EARLIEST courthouse bui !ding was on an old stereoscopic
picture. Pathways are in about the same

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location as now in Courthouse park, but the
trees were much smaller and there was a
fence around the square, perhaps to keep
cattle from wandering into the area. The 3-0
picture belongs to Mrs .. Martha Wi II iams,
d. 2, Lake Geneva, and was created by
McPherson & Roleson, who located a "first
class" photography gallery at Darien to execute all styles of work as can be procured in
any establishment east or west. The firm
also had a "fine" view wagon for doing all
kinds of outdoor work within a circuit of
50 miles.

About this time LeGrand Rockwell returned from
Indiana, driving 25 cows, three yoke of oxen and a
horse. They were a poor lot but as there were no
others for comparison, they were greatly prized.
In early June, the families of the Bradleys arrived
from New York and took up residence in the new
house. Henry Bradley, the oldest of Milo Bradley's
sons, later became Elkhorn's fourth postmaster.
The population of Elkhorn now stood at 14 - 5
men, 3 women and 6 children. The first land under
cultivation within the town limits was by Ogden and
Latham who raised corn and turnips. The Bradley
house was also a hostel for travelers and remained
so for many years.
There were many land prospectors around through
1837 but they did not take up claims, many going on
to Delavan or other towns. Elkhorn's progress,
populationwise, was slow as it was not on water nor
on clearly-traveled transportation routes.
The
original land claimants split up and the dairy business
just begun was abandoned. All claims filed by these
first settlers were bought by the Rockwell brothers
with the exception of 50 acres belonging to Daniel E.
Bradley. When Milo E. Bradley moved away in
the latter part of 1837 the population of Elkhorn
stood at 9.
In 1838 Gen. Sheldon Walling, of western New
York, and his two boys bought a few acres from the
Rockwells and put up a log house. In 1839 he became the first sheriff of Elkhorn. He and his two
sons were in a retail business and he was also a
tanner. In 1838 Edward Elderkin arrived to practice law. Gen. Walling's home was near Elderkin's,
the latter now known as the Octagon House, located
at 127 South Lincoln St. Elderkins wife joined him
here in the fall and they were the only permanent
settlers that year.
Two new buildings were added by Mr. Rockwell,
one a house for his hired man, Daniel Bowen, and
the other, an office on the east side of the park.

WALWORTH COUNTY'S third jail, built in 1878, was the first to

be located on the northwest corner of Church and Walworth
streets, costing a total of $10,546 for the site and construction. It
preceded a log jail built in 1840, and a second one, erected in
1852, which were both on the northeast corner of Church and Court
streets. The windmi II was dismantled prior to the razing of the
building to make way for a new jail and jailer's residence on the
site in 1911, which remains as an annex to the present jail at the
west end of the courthouse building in the park. A "boneshaker"
bicycle was being ridden along the street in the foreground, which
had the big whee! over which the rider was seated.

A

RIDE

AROUND Courthouse

park by horse and buggy was in
vogue before the turn of the century. The buggy was headed north
on Wisconsin street. The early
courthouse stands to the left,
while the first bandshell, built in
the 1880s is to the right. The
latter was a wooden, six-sided
structure located in the northeast corner of the park, which
was replaced by a concrete facility in 1915.

2

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BY THE 1860s the El-khorn community was we!! on its way to becoming a thriving community with
more than 200 dwellings, including a number of stores in the downtown area on Wisconsin and
Walworth streets. Streets were unpaved, however, at the time and growth was checked to some
extent by the Civil War.

This later became the first courthouse, H, S, Winsor and his family and the families of Bowen and
Walling were the only new settlers in 1839, bringing the population to 23.
Not until 1843 did Elkhorn's population increase
substantially. In August, 1842, there were 9 buildings, two of which were stores. There were 9 fami-

lies and a population of 53. In that year the village
was platted, streets laid out, and lots reserved for
a park, school and jail. In the years 1843 to 1849
the population increased substantially to 539 and
the number of buildings to 80.
Then came the California Gold Rush and many
left the village, with some returning in later years.

3

This checked Elkhorn's growth for some years.
The railroad fever of 1854 gave it a fresh start as
real estate increased in value and population grew.
In 1857 there were 220 dwellings and the population
1,500. These expansions were diminished by the
financial crash of 1857 and the Civil War a few
years later.
The first marriage in Elkhorn was that of Hollis

Latham to Louisa, daughter of Daniel E. Bradley
in April, 1838. Their first child, LeGrand Latham,
was born in January, 1839. LeGrand Rockwell
not only gave his name to the first child, he was
also the first clerk of court, register of deeds,
acting postmaster and founder of the first bank.
The bank, post office and court were in buildings
built by this remarkable man!

ONE OF THE EARLY FAMILIES
in Elkhorn was that of Byron
Ketchpaw, who had their picture
taken along with some of the
Huntress children, back in 1885.

THE NICKEL PLATE Hotel was
an early building of the city,
built in 1885 by P.H. O'Brien,
who had also built the Elkhorn
House. The picture was taken
after the turn of the century as
evidence of the old Staver automobile, which was used by the
Fay Brothers to operate a livery
service between the depot and the

hotel, with many being driven to
lauderdale Lakes homes.

4

Growth Of The City
The first town meeting was held April 7, 1846
with Levi Lee as moderator and Alonzo Platt, secretary. From 1846 to 1892 three supervisors handled the town business.
In May of 1892 election was held for a village
president and six trustees. Harley C. Norris was
elected the first president. The members were
paid $1 for each day's service.
At the first meeting $20 was voted for building
and maintaining roads, $20 for the school fund, and
$5 for the poor fund.
The first five el\)ctions were forone-yearterms.
From 1902 on, the term has remained at two years.
In 1894 Elkhorn became a 4th-class city with three
wards and was divided from Sugar Creek Township.
While the local government was being formulated,
civic affairs were keeping pace with the growing
population. On February 21, 1884 the city bought a
piece of land from the Congregational Society for
erection of a city hall and engine house. A well at
the back of the property supplied water for fire
control, and the following year a fire company was
organized.
By the turn of the century the automotive era
was beginning and in 1905 Elkhorn had six automobiles. By 1911 the number of cars had increased
to 40. The business streets were oiled for the first
time. The population was now 1,707.
On July 11, 1912 a sewer system was proposed.
The December, 1913 tax rate for the year was computed at 2. 7 mills. On October 18, 1915 the Winsor
Street pasture was subdivided into lots and added to
the city.
An important milestone was reached in Elkhorn

A VERY EARLY picture of north Wisconsin street shows the

location {right) of the First National bank's initial building. in
what is now Walworth County Abstract Co. The next building is
John Hare & Son grocery store, with its horse-drawn delivery

cart approaching the store on the right. Stoves were available
from the Harley Norris hardware store, while next to that was
the Edwards and Preston Dry Goods store, which was later split
in half and made into two duplexes and the site became the next
home of the First National bank. in 1916.

with the arrival of electricity, available at first only
during certain hours. Twenty-four hour electric
current illuminated the city in 1916, although it was
not until 1937 that street lights remained on all night
Citizens were warned not to use the new light posts
as hitching racks!

A CREAMERY was an important aspect of the
city since the turn of the century, with horsedrawn wagons bringing in the milk cans each
day. The Wisconsin Butter and Cheese Co. was
one of the firms to operate a creamery in Elkhorn around 1920.

5

On January 3, 1918 home mail delivery was begun.
Because of a large demand for residences in 1918, 15
new homes were built. A new State Bank and new
stock-judging pavilion also made an appearance.
Factories and businesses gained fresh impetus in
those postwar years. The Holton plant, established
here in 1918, turned out 25 saxophones weekly. The
"Independent" installed a new Model 14 linotype
machine and Schmidt Bros. added a 5 horsepower
motor to their ice cream factory.
The city council voted to buy an honor roll for
the names of Elkhorn's soldiers. The attendance
at the Fair in 1918 was 35,000 people, the largest
in its history. On November 14, 1918, the city observed the signing of the Armistice "from early
morning until midnight."
In 1919 the Wisconsin Butter and Cheese Co.
received 34,000,000 pounds of milk at its plant here
and expanded by buying the Troy Creamery. The
city's tax rate advanced to 3 mills. Congressman
Randall introduced a bill for erecting a federal building in Elkhorn -- the Post Office.
In April, 1920, the cannon ordered for the city
park arrived and was placed in the southeast corner.
Also in 1920 an uptown telegraph office was installed
and the Elkhorn Community House dedicated.
The year 1921 sawconcreteroadsopenedbetween
Elkhorn and Lake Geneva, and between Elkhorn and

ONE OF THE EARLY locations of the Elkhorn Independent
was at 35 North Wisconsin st., now the location of Redenz

TV. Here a center of the room stove was part of the era between 1865 and 1914, where all type was set by hand. The cabinet at the !eft is sti II in the present plant on west Walworth
street.

FOR BETTER preservation of county r-ecords, a new building was erected in 1905 adjacent to the
courthouse in the park. It was also to house the register of deeds office for nearly 60 years before
being replaced by the present courthouse.

6

BUILDING AND remodeling were taking place
well before the turn of the century, including
this brick building at 3 East Walworth st.,
which was adjacent to Druggist W. J. Stratton,
who began in 1876. The bui !ding being remodeled
also developed a long history as a drug store
with both buildings later becoming the present
Park-View Drugs.

Bethel. The city's first veterinarian, Dr. Robert
Carmoth, opened an office. The new northside sanitary sewer system was put in service. A contract
to extend the waterworks was arranged.
"Milk Week", held in early April of 1921, was
considered a huge success with 100 gallons of sweet
milk, 50 gallons of buttermilk, 3,200 cheese sandwiches and 4,500 ice cream c,ones being sold at
the booth in the park. The will of Belle Mallory
bequeathed $30,000 to the city for a library.
In 1922 Miss Agnes Doyle was hired as a community nurse. She conducted an eye clinic at
which 209 persons were examined. A concrete

road from Spring Prairie to Elkhorn was put
into use that year. A semi -diesel engine to pump
city water was installed, and in April the Wisconsin Drainage Co. began a sewer on West Walworth
Street. A local inventor, Mrs. Harry Dunbar, was
granted a patent on a curtain stretcher. The
"Independent" newspaper observed its 70th anniversary.
An Elkhorn author, Carl Lindow, published a
textbook on agriculture. Mr. Lindow taught this
subject at Kentucky State Teachers' College in
Bowling Green. Professor Lindow is a brother
of Mrs. George Renner and Anna and Leona Lindow,

EARLY PATRONS of the First National bank
carried out their financial transactions in this
setting, starting in 1865, when the bank was
first established at 9 North Wisconsin st. It
remained here until a new facility was constructed in 1916 a couple doors north, which
later was razed after the present bank building
and plaza was constructed on north Washington
street.

7

By February, 1929, Elkhornhadgainedabankers'
credit union and a YMCA. The newly installed
"talkies" appearing at the Sprague Theater tied
up traffic for blocks in their early weeks. A new
water tower and outside water meters became
realities in March. "Beslivered and smelling of
Sloan's liniment" businessmen in June turned carpenters to erect a Girl Scout house on West Court
Street. By October a new building for the Elkhorn
Lumber Co. was in use.
Recreation needs were not being neglected. In
October a city semi-professional basketball team,
under Captain Merlin Davis, was organized. Shuffleboard was being enjoyed at the Community Hall.
In November, 1929, the postman's job was made
easier with the establishment of street numbers for
all businesses and residences. In December Harry
Howe completed a new greenhouse at his home on
W. Walworth Street. Dan Kelliher installed a new
sound system and a porous screen which put Elkhorn's theater on a par with those of larger cities.
Early in 1930 four new buildings were developing: The Matheson Memorial Library, the Highway Building, the Christian Science Church, and
the Municipal Building whose cornerstone was laid
December 11. Holtons was now manufacturing a
new "Collegiate" line of band instruments. The
newly-formed Boy Scout troop received its membership pins and charter.
According to the January 7th "Independent",
1931 was "just another year" with completion
and dedication of the Municipal Building and dedication of the new library as its outstanding achievements. The Legion ,and fire departments occupied
new quarters in the Municipal building and a 200
volume book collection was given to the library.
The old Methodist Church and Legion Hall were
destroyed by fire in that year.
Among events of 1932 were: completion of the
new sewage plant; the Holton Co. introduced a new
bugle; the new Christian Science Church was dedi-

Elkhorn.
By 1924 the new city well was pumping 180 gallons of water per minute. Pure water had been
found at 200 feet.
·
December, 1925, saw a reduction in Elkhorn's
tax rate from 3 mills to 2-1/2 mills. In 1926
A. G. Olsen opened a subdivision on the northwest
side of town consisting of one street, to be called
Eames Street. The same year the stop and go
traffic signal was placed in operation for the first
time.
A new section of town, Holton Heights, came into
being in 1919 when Frank Holton built 25 houses
on the 0. B. Rogers property. An editorial of the
time refers to North Broad Street as "one of the
most neglected streets in town" from West North
Street to Holton Heights. The article states that the
street is composed of "gravel, mud, and weeds."
the purpose of receiving bequests and donations of
money for maintaining the park. A new painting
entitled ''Hauling Up the Ammunition'' was hung
at the Legion Hall. This creation, by Mrs. J. Ed.
Meadows, was presented by The Women's Relief
Corps.
Also in 1928, a new Post Office opened in January with Dr. S. Clayton Goff as postmaster. In
February a Boy Scout Troop was started under the
auspices of the Harry Kelley Post of the American
Legion. There was a 30 bed addition to the County
Hospital that month. In March, 1928, William Matheson bought the A. J. Reed property fora city library.
Charles Lindow circulated a petition for changing
Walworth Street to Ogden Ave. but the name change
did not materialize.
In June, 1928, the city council ordered curbs
and gutters installed on six streets and a smoke
ordinance was adopted. A movement was started
in July for formation of a Chamber of Commerce.
Fall real estate values increased nearly $10,000.
The Rockwell farm was sold to a Chicago manufacturer who planned a factory on the site.

NORTH

BROAD street had no

boulevard as now when this picture was taken of the single
lane of travel. In fact in 1928,
the street was considered one
of the city's most neglected,
composed of gravel, mud and
weeds.

8

A GREAT IMPETUS to growth came with the relocation of the
Frank Holton Band Instrument Co. on the city's northwest side,
with the construction of a factory on north Church street. The
firm spawned a major industry for the city that became national

and infernational in scope, with other companies starting here
later, such as the Getzen Co., Allied Music, and several case
manufacturers.

cated; business of local firms appeared to gain
as 40 former employees returned to work at Holtons
and the Elkhorn Shoe Factory; the Sprague brickyard was demolished; the train carrying Franklin D.
Roosevelt's entourage passed through town; and a
new aerator system was installed at the water plant.
The Depression blues did not keep the people of
Elkhorn from patronizing the WLS Barn Dance
when that famous radio group appeared at the Sprague
Theater before a crowd of 2,700 in March, 1933.
Despite bank closings all over the country, Elkhorn
banks remained open and deposits appeared to more
than double withdrawals indicating citizen confidence
in local banks. People were being urged to turn in
gold certificates and gold coins to the banks.
The city, along with the rest of America, tried
to recoup the losses suffered in the Depression.
Although the economy was tight, Elkhorn continued
to grow in small ways. WPA help from the government was available for some projects. Mutual aid
groups such as co-ops and credit unions were
formed. The Elkhorn Community Chest was begun
in 1937 and became a continuing activity in the city.
A new post office was in use by April 1, 1937 at
its present site again. Street signs were in use
on all streets and accurate property descriptions
were begun in that year. A city water-softening
system was voted upon in 1937 and became a
reality the next year.
Early in 1938 the streets around the park were
widened. Contracts were given for the construction
of the new Walworth County HospitaL It was completed and opened for inspection in August, 1939.

WPA labor accomplished 3 miles of curb and
gutter and an addition to Elkhorn High School.
By 1939 the library boasted 7,000 volumes. A
new permanent performers' building was erected
at the fairgrounds. Elkhorn's first airport was established across from the Charles Flack farm near
Highway 12. Race meets, school plays and concerts continued to flourish.
As Elkhorn moved into World War II years,
selective service and draft notices were abundant
in the news. Many drives were successfully handled

THERE WERE MANY customers who went to the Center Service station for gasoline and car repairs in the 1940's. The
site, which is almost the exact center of Walworth county,
is presently the location of the Super America station and
retail outlet on the southwest corner of Lincoln and Geneva
streets.

9

IN THE LATE 1920s the city had a new pas! office in what is now the Towne House restaurant
to replace the burned out facility in the Sprague Building. Those working for the postal department included (from left) Postmaster Or. Clayton Goff, A!ice Morefield, Roy McCabe, Adrian
Ague, Jess Jenkins and Arthur Hand part time and janitor. This facility was used until April
of 1937 when the present post office was ready for occupancy.

with the city doing Hs utmost for the Red Cross,
war bonds, paper collections, and tin can salvage.
The park cannon went to help make up 500 pounds
of metal obtained in one drive. Local industries
lost many of their workers due to the draft. Refugees and women stepped in to replace them so the
factories and businesses remained open.
In 1944-45 servicemen began returning home and
a housing shortage was felt. The city bought the old
railroad right-of-way skirting the fairgrounds with
a view to erecting dwellings there. The tax rate
increased $2 for making permanent repairs to city
facilities, neglected during wartime.
The results of a 20-year survey of Elkhorn by
two government efforts showed the population and
growth of Elkhorn's trading area. In 1924 the population of trading area was 3,682; in 1935 it was
4,365, and in 1944 it was 5,094.
The postwar years showed considerable growth.
New businesses and renovation of old ones were
commonplace. Elkhorn became more accessible
as airline and bus service was established. Remodeling of big houses into apartments helped to
relieve the housing shortage. The city tax rate
increased in keeping pace with the new demands.
The Rockwell farm at the end of South Church
Street was bought by the city in 1946 for the beginning of an industrial area. This 7-1/2 acre tract
lured many small factories. A headling in the
"Independent" of December 1946 remarked that
Elkhorn was "back: to normal" and further commented that the ''lack of sensational news was

refreshing. 01
The church survey of that year showed 70 percent membership.
Both cultural and essential
functions flourished.
A radio pla_y by Mrs. AI

THE END OF WORLD WAR II and return of servicemen was
celebrated for a number of years with VJ parades late in the
summer, one of which was passing Courthouse park..

!0

of the Elkhorn school system. A common school
district was formed and seven members elected to
the new board of education. The next year, a referendum authorized construction of a new grade school
on the west side of town. Tibbets and Bowers schools
were soon to follow. Other ,events of 1956-57 were
new locations for B. R. Reed Furniture, and Mann
Bros. A gift shop, "The Pink Poodle", opened in
the building which had housed Spragia' s Candy
Kitchen. A. K. Rubber Products established a factory here. A school contest resulted in the name
Sunset Drive for a new street on the west side of
town, which was proposed by Mary Conahan.
The Walworth County Historical Society bought
the Joseph Webster house and opened it as a museum
in May of 1957. Due to building expansion, a new
transformer was installed to handle the city's increased use of electricity. A census survey showed
3,413 residents.
In 1959 a $5 million bond issue was approved for
a new courthouse, a nursing home of the aged, and
additions to the hospital. St. Patrick's parochial
school was dedicated in early spring by Archbishop
Cousins. This year also saw 10 acres of land purchased from Mrs. T. T. Getzen by the Elkhorn
Development Co. for future expansion.
In 1960 construction began on the new courthouse
and the county home. After much discussion it was
decided to erect the new courthouse on the spot where
the two previous buildings stood. In this way fewer
park trees would have to be sacrificed.
ln May, 1961, Centralia Street was opened from
the A. K. Rubber plant to Devendorf Street in order
to reduce traffic congestion. Although the noon factory whistles were no longer operating, a new sound
was on its way as the Elkhorn Titans Drum and Bugle
Corps made its first appearance under the leadership
of Ed Mills.
After much controversy, it was decided in 1962
to move the city bandshell to the new Sunset park on
the west side of the city.
This was also the year when Elkhorn residents
celebrated its 125th anniversary. Along with a parade, window displays, and a street dance, the dedication of the new courthouse was one of the high-

Stivarius was written on the Webster family. School
population continued to escalate. Vapor lights,
city-wide garbage pick-up, TV, and street widening
were all activites of these post war years. A survey of 1950 revealed that 87 new homes had been
built since 1947 -- 17 of them in 1950.
In 1951 Elkhorn received national recOgnition
through Robert Conahan's idea of the "Liberty
Bell Get Out the Vote" campaign. A home-town
driver, Guy Crippen, won the Hambletonian, trotting's most prestigious race. Mrs. J. B. O'Donell
won 2nd place in the National Pillsbury Bake Off
contest with her prize peach shortcake recipe.
About 9 acres of land on the southwest side of the
city, owned by Broer lmmega, was purchased early
in 1953 and made into a subdivision for 32 homes.
James Jones was the builder. Another new factory,
which was to employ many people of the area, began
in August when the Oak Manufacturing Co., of Chicago, opened a branch here. The A. 0. Smith Corp.
welding division expanded its facilities also. The
Frank Holton house was sold for a nursing home in
August. A motel and supermarket were established
at the north edge of town and the State Long Distance
Telephone Co. building was expanded to house its dial
phone equipment. There were 24 home permits issued in 1953.
With the advent of television, the reading of books
fell into temporary disfavor, but Miss Mary Bray,
librarian, reported a circulation of 21,746 volumes in
1954. James Matheson donated more first editions
that year. A hot lunch program was started in the
schools and a recreation group called Elkhorn Boosters, Inc., was formed for promoting events for young
people.
The economy was picking up, with banks reporting
$10 million in resources. A new National Guard
Armory near the fairgrounds was dedicated in August
of 1955. A new factory on South Church Street, the
Klebe-Mancini Co., opened and the VFW building
was remodeled to house three offices. Bids for construction gf a Walworth County Special School were
opened March 1, 1955. The Bartelson subdivision
was added on the northwest side of the city.
The biggest news in 1956 was the reorganization

Patrick's, constructed during the 1958-59 period and dedicated
by Archbishop Cousins.

SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION also is an indicator of growth with
a total of eight bui Idings ranging from primary to adult vocational. Among those is one parochial primary school, St

ll

THE FIFTH ADDITION to the A.O. Smith Corp. plant in Elkhorn added 45,000 square feet of space for use in making Har-

Smith began its operations in Elkhorn in 1951 after acquir.ing
a 10,000 square foot structure from the Sta-Rite Co., of Delavan.

vestore silo un!oaders. Some parts were stored in the addition in late 1974 while electricians completed wiring. A.O.

lights of this occasion.
In this anniversary year, the Development Corporation purchased the 230 acre A. C. Desing farm
on the east side of town for future industrial expansion. In the fall, work was started on a memorial chapel at Hazel Ridge Cemetery, funds having
been provided by the Maude Groesbeck estate.
1963 was a great year for beginnings! New
traffic signs were operating at the intersection of
Wisconsin and Walworth streets. The jail in the
new courthouse was placed in use. The Elkhorn
Development Corp. selected the Skiff Woods location on the east end of town for a new high schooL
Another first was the conversion to offset printing
by the "Independent" with the March 21 issue.
The relocated bandshell was dedicated in Sunset
Park June 28. Oak Manufacturing constructed two
buildings to augment its plant and the Two Seasons
bowling alley opened on the north edge of town late
in December.
In 1964 the decision to erect a new high school
finally passed after four referendums. The new
building was to cost approximately $2,145,000 and was
to house 800 students. Other construction was the
Get zen Company's new building which replaced one
lost by fire, the Hi-Lo Supermarket, and Stuart
Tank Sales. Traveler's Restaurant and Walworth
Industries also were started. The Le Blanc Corp.,
of Kenosha, took over the Holton Band Instrument
factory. The Methodist Church built an addition
to seat 416 persons. Four new classrooms were

added to the West Side school as school populations
continued to grow.
Ground was broken for a municipal swimming
pool in August of 1965. The Junior Women's Club
had been instrumental in bringing about this long
time dream. Other events of 1965 were the dedication of the American Legion Post's new hall on
West Walworth Street and the opening of a Sears
Catalog order store.
The long-awaited pool became a reality in 1966.
That same year the A. 0. Smith Corporation's Harvestore Division doubled its capacity with a 30,000
square foot addition. The Special School, later called Lakeland School, was chosen on a national basis
to pilot a physical education program geared to the
handicap. Elkhorn senior citizens under Dr. Margaret Hatfield and Mrs. Ann King formed a permanent organization.
A year of unusual growth was recorded in 1967
as a new super highway at the east edge of the city,
Route 12, was open to Genoa City. The new high
school opened its doors in September. The Holton
Company had an 18,000 square feet addition constructed on the south side of the main plant.
Groundbreaking for the new State Bank building
took place in late July and the Fort Atkinson
Savings and Loan started a branch building here
in late November. The Gilbert building was completed in December and the Getzen Band Instrument
firm put up a new addition.
The Opitz Gatage operated from a new building
12

ELKHORN LIGHT AND WATER
COMMISSION SUPERINTENDENTS

MAYORS OF ELKHORN

Harley C. Norris
John Dunphy (elected)
DeWitt Stanford
Dr. George H. Young
Dr. William H. Hurlbut
George Edmund Pierce
Jay Wright Page
S. Clayton Goff
Herbert Eugene Hartwell
C. F. Graff
James L. Stokes
Dr. E. T. Ridgway
Arthur Wales
Arthur Groesbeck
Arthur Wales
Arthur Groesbeck
E. T. Ridgway
Harold Reed
Arthur Thorson
William Seymour
Charles E. Wilson
V. M. (Jack) Gunyon
Gail Platts
Gerhardt Immega

1897 - 1902
1898
1898
1899
1900
1901
1904
1908 - 1910
1912
1914
1916
1918
1920
1922
1924
1926
1928 - 1930
1934 - 1936
1938 - 1940
1944 - 1946
1948 - 1950
1954 - 1956
- 1960 - 1962
1966 - 1968
1972 - 1974

Fritz Ohlsen
H. S. Ludden
Frank Gates
Neal B. Thayer
Warren Holsbo
Basil Miller
Arthur J. Wolff
Anthony F. Bib a

April 5, 1907-1919
1919-1924
1924-1935
1935-Dec. 1, 1944
Dec. 23, 1944-Aug. 9, 1945
Dec. 1, 1945-Aug. 6, 1948
Dec. 1, 1948-Dec. 1, 1969
Oct. 13, 1969-present

ELKHORN POSTMASTERS

LeGrand Rockwell
Edwin Hodges
Lot Mayo
Henry Bradley
Wilson D. Lyon
Henry Bradley
Albert C. Beckwith
Thomas William Morefield
John H. Snyder, Jr.
F. M. Porter
Dr. S. Clayton Goff
George L. Harrington
Tessa Morrissy
Helen Voss
George L. Cain
Carroll Connor
Thomas Murphy

- 1932
- 1942
-

1952
1958
1964
1970
1976

Offices that have been filled by appointment by
the mayor with the consent of the council have included Health Officer, City Clerk, Street Commissioner, Weed Commissioner, Marshal, 6 school
commissioners, and 9 library directors.

on the north side of town; the Wisconsin Southern
Gas Co. had a new location on South Wisconsin
Street, and both A. K. Rubber and State Long Distance Telephone Co. built additions. On the loss
side -- marine mail service on Lauderdale Lakes
was discontinued as lake residents were added to
the rural postal routes.
Growth continued into 1968 as the Elkhorn Development Corporation designated a portion of the
Desing acreage to be the location of a vocational
school. Under the auspices of Kenosha Technical
Institute initially, it now offers many educational
opportunities to citizens of the area as the Elkhorn
Campus of Gateway Technical Institute. An apartment complex on West Walworth Street was contemplated, as well as a license examiner's bureau
on South Broad Street. Approximately 21 acres
of land was left to the city by the late Paul Temlitz.
This was also the year for a big step forward in
music with the first concert of the newly organized
Lakeland Civic Symphony given in November. Mary
Bray, Elkhorn's librarian for many years retired
and Miss Valerie Lapicola took over the reins of
the thriving library. The assessed valuation of the
city was now $10,116,080.
Expansion continued in 1969 with a school bus
terminal built on part of the land obtained from Fred
Proctor on highway 67 as the district turned trans-

1838
1849
1853
1861
1886
1890
1894
1898
1911
March 1915
October 1923
July 1928
August 1933
January 1951
April 1953
July 1954
June 1973

portation over to a private contractor, Philip Jones.
Sewer and water service was approved for the new
industrial areas. Plans were underway for a shopping center to be constructed near the new interchange of highways 12 and 15 on land from the former Desing farm.
For some time the city water system had come
under criticism and in 1970 work was started to correct the problem with a new aeroated tank installed,
chlorination equipment added, and $400,000 allotted
for further study and repairs. Elkhorn's first indoor pool became a reality at the Lakeland School.
Further events of 1970 included an expansion plan
for the library; a new parish house addition dedicated at St. John's Lutheran Church; and bids taken
for a new fire station. A full-time city engineer
began work. The Elkhorn Women's Club offered
trees to help replace those lost to Dutch Elm disease. Because citizens felt too many old buildings
had been lost to progress, it was decided to restore the 1887 school building and use it for administrative offices of the Middle school and Elkhorn Area district.
On April 19, 1971, an historical marker was
dedicated at the Webster House, which designated
the museum as an historical landmark. In July of
that year, Elkhorn's population took a sudden spurt
when more than 900 motor coach families attended

13

a convention at the fairgrounds. In September the
Rescue Squad assumed responsibility for providing
emergency ambulance service. With equalized valuation, the city's new value was listed at$40,511,000.
Concern for its citizens characterized much of
1972. Telecare, a service for elderly persons living
alone, was instituted in January and staffed by volunteers. Sunset Park's new shelter house, provided
by the Elkhorn Lions Club and known as the Lion's
Den, was dedicated June 11.
On February 3, 1973, a new children's library
opened in the basement of the Matheson Memorial
Library, due largely to the efforts of the Junior and
Senior Women's Clubs. The proposed shopping district across from the new high school observed
groundbreaking ceremonies Aug. 27 and construction
started in October. The new First National Bank
Plaza, on North Washington Street, opened December 17. The massive pillars on Wisconsin Street
from the original building were left to mark the entrance to a walkup bank facility and a small, scenic
plaza.
Continuing its concern for citizens, a child care
center opened at the First Baptist Church in connection with Citizen's Opportunity Services for children
between ages of 2 and 7. The next year, March,
1974, service to the elderly was begun when Meals
on Wheels began food delivery to persons restricted
to their homes. This continued for several years,

followed by a county nutrition program for senior
citizens. On June 6, the Octagon House, formerly
the Elderkin home, was named by the National Park
Service as an historic site and one of the four best
such structures in Wisconsin. The Matheson Memorial Library in September received a gift of
$1,000 and a set of presidential medals from Edgar
Lawrence, former city clerk and resident. As part
of the downtown restoration effort, framed certificates were awarded to business people who had completed exterior building improvements in keeping with
the older architectural theme for the city.
In 1975 the city began preparing to observe the
Bicentennial of '76 with downtown areas being re-

furbished and the city, in general, being "spruced
up." The new Elkhorn Community Center was completed and an open house on Nov. 14, marked the
occasion.
Many activities marked the Bicentennial -- a
bicentennial quilt depicting Elkhorn landmarks, fireworks, a special band concert, hosting the cross
country wagon train, to name a few. The compilation of the city's history is another part of the
bicentennial.
As the book goes to press, the city's budget is
$1.3 million, the population is 4,357, the total acreage inside the city limits is 2,640 acres, and two
major freeways intersect at the east city limits,
promising a continuation of growth.

at the time to recapture an earlier era of the ~ity's architecture

THE CITY'S GROWTH and change is mirrored in this Wisconsin street scene taken in 1973 looking north along the heart
of the business district. A restoration project was underway

with an accent on r-emodeling and painting store fronts.

l4

Significant Structures
COURTHOUSE

courtroom, library and jury rooms. The first floor
had two safety vaulted offices, the sheriff's office, a
poor-superintendent's office, and a supervisor's
office.
Dedication of the present Courthouse-Jail took
place on September 29, 1962. It was situated so as to
preserve as much of the park site and as many trees
as possible. The one- story east wing is designed with
a future second floor in mind if necessary. Native
stone, quartz, and pre-cast concrete were used for
the exterior. It serves as a community center as
well as for county administration and judicial
functions.

There was much rivalry for the location of the
county seat of Walworth County.
In 1838 Elkhorn, the geographical center of the
county was chosen, and the park was located in the
center of Elkhorn and the streets laid out from this
point. The county purchased the land for $1.25 an
acre in 1842.
Earlier, Levi Lee had built an 18 x 22 foot onestory building as an office on the east side of the
pa.rk and this became the first courthouse in April,
1842. It was considered the second best courthouse
in the state then.
In 1853 a rail fence was erected around the park
at a cost of about $500, shared by Elkhorn and the
county. In 1880 it was removedandsoldfor $22. In
1874 the building was moved to the south side of the
park .to make room for a new one, and later it was
moved to the corner of Broad and Walworth streets
to serve for a time as an implement shop.
In 1875 a fire-proof courthouse was built at a cost
of $23,775. This building was dedicated on Sept. 20,
1875, and stood in the park until it was torn down to
make way for the present $2-1/2 million oourthouse.
In the 1875 building, the upper floor was used for

COUNTY JAIL
The first jail, built in 1840, was crudely constructed of logs, and during this period sparsely
occupied.
After 12 years, it was condemned and a new jail
was built on the northeast corner of Church and Court
streets where in later years the telephone office was
located. ln 1878, this jail was replaced at the same
corner by one that was in use until 1911. In that
year, a building was erected on the northwest corner
of Church and Walworth streets. In addition to the

located in various places 'throughout the city. Dedication of the

THE PRESENT COURTHOUSE and attached jail facility to the

award-winning structure came on September 29, 1962.

left, was built in 1962, during a period when county offices were

15

THE SECOND Walworth County
Courthouse at the left, was
erected in 1875 at a cost of
$23,775. Located in the park in
Elkhorn, it was later joined by the
register of deeds building, and
both remained until the early
1960s, when a new complex was
constructed.

jail quarters, there was a barn, a shed, and a jailer's
home. It cost $10,546, including the cost of the
corner lot.
In 1962 the jail was included in the erection of the
new courthous~ and the old jail was used as offices
for a period of time. It is now known as the jail annex, but used for storage only.

of other pieces used in road maintenance and rebuilding.
Besides the two local commissioners noted,
Jack Cusack, of Elkhorn, had also served in that
capacity in between the two.

COUNTY HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT

In 1917 Walworth county established the first
hospital to care for the indigent and committed
patients. In 1929 a new building was erected,
which when vacated later as the hospital, became
the annex of the Lakeland Nursing home.
The older part of the present hospital building
was constructed and occupied in 1939. When additional space was needed, an addition was built on
the west in 1963.
Miss Margaret Schloemer served as the administrator for nearly 40 years, retiring in 1967. She
came from Janesville as a nurse for Dr. Munn,
when he performed surgery in those early days of
the hospital. She became the administrator following Mrs. Schumacher, who served only a few years.
At the present time Eugene Kieffer is the administrator, and plans are being made for a new wing to
enlarge the present facility. The hospital has a
present capacity of 140 beds and a staff of 300
employees.

LAKELAND HOSPITAL
(formerly WALWORTH COUNTY HOSPITAL)

Another county facility was the highway shop on
North Washington street. The county board in 1911
elected the first county road commissioner, Herbert
J. Peters, and appropriated $9,500 for the work of
the department for 1912.
There were few employees and very little equipment. The county started building roads in 1920,
and the first shop was built in 1926.
The Dec. 30, 1943 Independent carried an item
reporting that Herbert Peters said the winter was so
mild that the snow plows had not been out and that
the county maintained 23 truck plows and 3 tractor
plows staffed by 33 employees. A total of $20,000
had been appropriated for the removal of the snow
for the year.
The office for the highway commissioner was
located in the northeast corner of the old courthouse
until 1958, when the office, adjacent to the highway
shops was built. A shed across the street was also
built that year.
These buildings served the department until a new
multi million dollar facility was erected and occupied
in February 1976, situated just to the south of county
NN and adjacent to the complex of Lakeland Institutions.
The present staff, in addition to Highway Commissioner Wilmer Lean, includes three office employees, two patrol superintendents and 49 crew men.
An almost unbelievable amount of equipment is required, including 25 small trucks and six large ones
for winter snow removal primarily. In addition
there are graders, rollers, oil trucks and a variety

LAKELAND NURSING HOME
(formerly WALWORTH COUNTY HOME AND
HOSPITAL and before that WALWORTH COUNTY
ASYLUM)
It was in 1853 that the county board named a
governing commission for a county house and farm
and authorized the purchase of an 80-acre farm in
the town of Geneva. Additions through the years
increased the acreage until in 1912 the farm consisted of 408 acres with later additions making the
total 563.51 acres in 1976.
In 1912 the yearly appropriation for the care of

!6

the poor and insane was $16,000 including $1,000
for permanent improvements. The original house
was expanded; however it burned in 1872. A new
house was built for $10,000, and was considered one
of the best of the kind in the state.
Since that time buildings have been added and then
razed and replaced with more modern and efficient
structures and there is no resemblance to the "poor
farm" and "insane asylum" of 100 years ago. The
newest portion of this modern health care establishment operated by the county was opened in 1962.
There are plans for an addition in the near future
and the razing of part of the older building.
Fred Hemstreet will be remembered as one of
the most dedicated and efficient superintendents
of the Walworth County Home and Hospital from
1919 to 1943. After his death in that year his
daughter, Miss Ellen Hemstreet, who had been
assisting in the business administration, became
the superintendent and served until July 1963, when
the present administrator, Richard Coogan, took over
the position.

At the present time there are 335 residents in
the home, and a staff of 257, with 225 of them fulltime employees.
LAKELAND COUNSELING CENTER

The Lakeland Counseling Center opened in 1960
in the former Nurses Dormitory after a survey in
1956 recognized the need for such services. The
offices were maintained here until the present
facility was erected in 1971 and dedicated that
November.
The emphasis is on crisis intervention and on
preventative measures for those inneedofindividual
or family counseling. This new building, designed
specially for the counseling services, was erected
just to the west of Lakeland hospital with Dr. Walter
Gleason in charge.
The number of patients varies, but averages 7 to
15 inpatients and 700 to 850 outpatients. The 24 hour
service is staffed by 100 employees.

nurses home to the right of the hospital later became the Coun-

THE LAKELAND COMPLEXES were known as the Walworth
County Home. Hospital and Farm at the time the aerial photo
was taken in 1963 with the Nursing Home north building (above
right) having been constructed the previous year. The Lakeland
hospital {upper left), had a west wing under construction. The

seling Center until a new facility was built on the other side

of the hospital, leaving the former dormitory for use as the
Social Services office.

!7

A DONATION OF $60,000 by a former resident, CoL William Matheson, !ed to a new library
building for Elkhorn in 1931, on the site of the donor's former home. It replaced the Sprague
library, which had been started in 1901 with the Opera House construction and a donation of
100 volumes by Edward Sprague, 700 from the government printing office and 250 by public
donations.

When the Counseling Center moved into its new
quarters and vacated the Nurses Dormitory, the
vacated offices were taken over by the Walworth
county department of social services, as that agency
was in need of additional office space.

Col. William Matheson of New York, he offered the
city of Elkhorn $60,000 for a library with the stipulation that it bear his name and be in memory of
his parents.
On July 18, 1931, a dedication service was held
for the Matheson library at which time the heirs of
the late donor presented the gift to the city of Elkhorn.
In 1963, the Walworth County Library Services
project was organized with headquarters at the Lake
Geneva Library to make all books and other library
services available to all residents of the county.

MATHESON MEMORIAL LIBRARY

A public library was one of the dreams of
Judge Gale and others as early as the 1840's.
For the next half century attempts were made to
establish one.
Finally in 1900 Edward H. Sprague announced
his plan to erect a practically fire-proof building on
Walworth and Broad Streets, to serve as an opera
house and a library room.
The city council contracted with Mr. Sprague
for the use of a specially prepared second floor of
the building for a period of 50 years. Mr. Sprague
contributed 100 volumes of his own selection. The
government printing office added 700 volumes. Public subscription netted 250 books of general interest.
On Sept. 2, 1901, the Charles Edward Sprague library
was opened to the public and was used until the
Matheson library became a reality.
William Matheson was born in a humble home
on the site of the library that bears his name. The
home was later destroyed by fire.
Despite his early days of poverty and struggle,
he became a scientist of international renown and
a power in the business and industrial world. As

POST OFFICE

The first mail service was established in Elkhorn
Mail was relayed from Racine to Spring
Prairie and then carried from there by a horse
back rider to Elkhorn.
The rider reportedly had the mail in his tall
plug hat. This was portrayed in a mural, painted
by a Milwaukee artist, Tom Rost, and was hung in
the present post office in June, 1938.
The location of the post office has changed many
times. ln 1875 it was located on Wisconsin street
at a site now occupied by the Morrissy, Morrissy
and Race law offices.
In 1916 it occupied the front of the Sprague
Building which was located at the corner which
now houses the Elkhorn Light and Water Commission. When the Sprague Building was destroyed
by fire, the post office had temporary quarters in
in 1838.

18

by a concrete facility (upper right) in 1914, and finally the present
shell, dedicated in 1926. The $5,000 original cost shell was
moved to Sunset park in 1962 where summer concerts continue to
be presented by the Holton-Elkhorn band.

THE LONG TRADITION of music and its related instrument
industry is marked by the even longer band music, associated
with band stands or shells. The first, a six-sided wooden affair
(upper left) was built in Courthouse park in about 1875, followed

19

On August 11, 1926, a new band shell costing
$5,000 was dedicated. The program, which was
attended by 4,000 people, was arranged by the
Holton-Elkhorn Band. The dedication address was
given by Prof. Charles Jahr.
The shell was designed by G. Pheby of Phoenix,
Ariz., who had gained national attention in the musical world through his invention which produced remarkable accoustical qualities. Elkhorn's band shell
was rated by authorities as the finest in Wisconsin,
if not the finest in the midwest.
When the new courthouse was built in 1962, the
band shell was moved to Sunset park where concerts
are held weekly during the summer months.

Columbus HalL
A "new" post office was opened January 3, 1928,
in a building built by John Harris and which is now
the Towne House Restaurant. A picture in "The
Independent" shows the lobby as of January 1, 1928,
and describes it as having both "beauty and sturdiness" with its mahogany finish, partitions of steel,
and lock box equipment.
The post office is now on the northeast corner of
Walworth and Washington streets. It was built in
1936 as a WPA project, dedicated to then Postmaster
General, James A. Farley.
No substantial improvements or changes, except
for an interior painting job 15 years ago, were made
until 1976. It is now undergoing extensive remodeling and renovating at a cost of $107,320. The postal
building itself will retain its well-known and classic
look of an earlier era.

THE STEELE HOUSE
Mr. and Mrs. Everett Moore - 12 N. Church St.

BAND SHELL

The first school huilt in Elkhorn was on the west
side of the park on a lot reserved when the land was
plotted. It was built of wood, 20 by 20 feet, and was
called the "Old Oak School House."
In 1850 it was replaced by a brick structure and
this was used for 18 years. It was then sold to Dr.
Reynolds who sold it to Belden Weed a year later.
The building was remodeled into a residence and
has been in the Weed family ever since. Mrs. Moore
inherited it in 1962 from her mother, Mrs. Edna
Steele who had been the owner since 1935.
This two-story home was built of yellow Elkhorn
brick but later was painted red as it is today. It is
a well-preserved and beautiful home of Gothic Revival
style with elaborate scroll and fret work under the

Music has always been an integral and absorbing
interest to the people of Elkhorn, and so the history
of the band shell, as it is usually called instead of
band stand, had an early start.
The first one, built in 1875-76, was located in
the northeast corner of the Courthouse park. It
was a wooden, six-sided structure with railings and
a roof. Being constructed of wood made it an irresistible temptation for youngsters to carve their
initials on it. The Old Settlers Club had their annual
meetings here. It was also used for visits of important speakers and for Fourth of July programs.
It was replaced by a square cement stand in
1914 and its first concert was held that same year.

Once the Second
School House

in Elkhorn

20

the famous Jenny Lind at the piano, on to Racine
and finally to Elkhorn. He was accompanied by his
wife and four children, and moved into the house
where he lived until his death in 1875.
The Webster family added a kitchen. The house
now has a front parlor, a back parlor or music
room, dining room, large kitchen, and three bedrooms upstairs.
They are furnished as in the
Civil War era. The only recent change in the exterior was the construction of fire escape stairs
from the second floor on the west side.
The Webster House is valued not only because
of its beiug over a century old, but because it was
the home of Mr. W~bster, composer of the famous
song, "The Sweet By and By." It was published
in 1868 and is still popular. It is included in
hymnals and in a special book called "Hymns of
Faith." He composed over a thousand ballads
and many hymns. His first composition to be
published was "There's a Change in Things We
Love." One other song worthy of mention which
was written the first year he lived in Webster
House was ''Lorena.'' It was popular with Civil
War soldiers as they sat around the campfire.
This song was chosen as the theme song of the
movie, "Gone With the Wind.''
ln 1930, a son, Frederick, and his wife returned
to Elkhorn. Together they began restoration and
repair of the Webster House and its furnishiugs.

eaves and on the porch.
With walls of 12-inch thickness, no basic changes
have been made in this home of 11 rooms. It has the
original woodwork of walnut, includiug the circular
stairway. Recently a room was added on the rear
with floor to ceiliug fieldstone walls and fireplace.
This addition was designed and built by Mr. Moore.

THE WEBSTER HOUSE
County Museum - 9 Rockwell St.
The Webster House is a small frame house
painted white. Originally it consisted of only the
center portion, a one- story buildiug, 18 x 22,
erected by LeGrand Rockwell on the east side of
the Elkhorn city square. It was used as a federal
land grant office for selling land to Walworth County
pioneers.
In the 1840s Rockwell, one of Elkhorn's first
settlers, moved the building to its present location
on the street named in his honor. An east wiug
was added after the house was moved.
In 1857 Joseph Philbrick Webster settled in
Elkhorn after some amount of traveL He originally left Manchester, N.H., where he was born in
1819, and went to Boston in 1840, the mecca of all
music students. He later came to New York City
and then to Madison, Ind., where he accompanied

Webster House Museum operated by W alwortb County Historical Society

21

He died in 1948 and his wife in 1951.
Relatives of Mrs. Webster were not interested
in keeping the home, it was sold in 1955 to the
County and then leased to the Walworth County
Historical society for $1 a year. After restoration,
it was opened as a museum at the time of the County
fair in 1956. The first official season was begun
in May, 1957, with dedication services held on
May 19.
On Aug. 8, 1970, the Webster House Museum
was named a Wisconsin State Landmark and an
official marker was installed.
The first curator was Frederick H. Young.
He and Mrs. Helen Kluge are the present cocurators of the museum.

renovation, restoration, refurbishing, and remodeling, much of it done by the Stenstroms. The only
addition made to the house was an extension of the
back wall to modernize the kitchen area and to
create a family room with windows that overlook the
back yard. The simplicity of the design of a New
England colonial home has been maintained and
finely preserved.
ISHAM HOME
Charles Murray - 16 N. Church St.
This home was built in 1897 by Frederick Willard Isham who recorded in his diary, "Used $2,000
matured life insurance policy to build our home.''
It was built of Cream City Milwaukee brick with
red mortar and stone sills. It has three stories
above the ground and originally had 11 rooms.
The first floor consisted of a library, sitting room,
dining room, bedroom, two pantries, kitchen and
bath. A large double stairway, built of walnut,
leads to the second floor which has four bedrooms.
A. J. Reed purchased the home from the Isham
estate. He owned it until1955 and remodeled it into
a funeral home. The next owner was John Wolf who
sold it to Charles Murray in 1966. Mr. Murray has
remodeled the home extensively, including an addition
in the back, a parking lot, and an office area in the
basement. The front porch has been retained in this
substantial Victorian style home.

LATHAM HOME
Harold Palenshus - 218 E. Court St.
This attractive home is noteworthy, not only
for its well preserved age, but also because
LeGrand Latham, the first child born in Elkhorn
in 1839, lived here after it was built in 1843.
His father, Hollis Latham, was one of the
early settlers, having come to Wisconsin in 1836
from Vermont and to Elkhorn in 1837. While here,
he was justice of the peace and held other offices.
He was a delegate to the State Constitutional convention of 1847-48.
The house was constructed of Elkhorn yellow
brick, as were so many of this period that have
stood a long time. Originally it had a porch covering almost the entire front of the house except for
the windows at each end. Today the porch covers
only the front entrance, and the floor-to-ceilingwindows have been bricked in partially for sash
windows. A number of years ago, this one-story
house with brick foundation was converted into two
apartments.
Jean Ketchpaw of Chicago writes that his father
bought the house from LeGrand Latham in 1906,
and the Ketchpaw family lived there until 1917, at
which time his grandmother, Mrs. C. A. Hodges,
became the third owner. It was sold to Fred Kehl
in 1918 and his family owned it until 1970 when it
was purchased by Mr. Palenshus.

REV. WEBSTER HOME
Harold Dailey Home - 300 N. Broad St.
The house was built in 1857 on land purchased
in 1839. The Rev. Henry D. L. Webster built an
American Gothic style house of yellow Elkhorn
brick, later painted white by the Dailey:s.
He was a minister of the Universalist church,
which had a limited survival in Elkhorn. He
was a poet and collaborated with his friehd Joseph
Webster (no relation) in composing a poem for the
song ''Lorena'', a very popular song during the
Civil War.
In 1945 the home was purchased by the Daileys
from the Maynard Stearns family. Only minor
changes have been made, such as removing a fifth
fireplace from the kitchen, closing up the Broad
street entrance, and removing the large porches,
no longer a necessity in these modern days of family rooms, air conditioning, and TV.
Remaining are the double brick walls throughout
the house, the open staircase, the four-window
cupola, the two very old pine trees near the entrance, and the basic plan of the house in the form
of a cross, which can !:>e clearly seen from the
basement area.

JAMES AND ANNIE TUBBS HOME
Dr. and Mrs. A. K. Stenstrom - 525 W. Court St.
Dr. John Henderson was the original owner,
through a government land grant deed, of the land
on which this house stands. Samuel and Po'-ly
Tubbs purchased the property from him and then
deeded it to James Tubbs, their son, in 1850. On
Christmas Day, 1855, James and his wife Annie
moved into their new home. They lived there the
rest of their lives.
One son, Willis, had remained at home and in
1906, on New Year's Day, he married Nellie Harper
and they remained in the Tubbs family home the
remainder of their lives.
In 1953 the Stenstroms purchased the home from
the Tubbs estate. Among the interesting hold-overs
of an earlier era, were space heaters, French doors)
a sink with a pump in the kitchen, a cistern, a well
in the back yard, and an old wood shed. Then began

CHARLES WALES HOUSE
Elkhorn Clinic - 104 S. Wisconsin St.
Charles Wales came to Wisconsin in 1844 and
the following year settled in Walworth county. He
was born in Plymouth, N.Y. in 1818.
He lived in the country on 160 acres of land
for which he paid $1,000 to LeGrand Rockwell. He
engaged in many civic activities such as president

22

The Octagon House

built by

Edward Elderkin

was identical with four rooms and two fireplaces on
each floor.
Any changes have been internal ones such as enlarging the kitchen by removal of a partition, altering the rear exits, installing gas heat, and reducing
the six fireplaces to three, and at one time converting the four- room basement to a three room apartment. The apartment is no longer rented but is used
now as a family room and extra bedroom.
After the death of the Elderkins, many people
occupied the house for various lengths of time. It
became very neglected and run down. In 1917,
Mr. and Mrs. Frank Kurick purchased the home and
after much time and hard labor restored it to its
original beauty. In 1947 the Maynard Stearns bought
the house and in 1954 it was sold to Mr. and Mrs.
Arthur Johnson. In April, 1967, Mr. and Mrs.
Gubrud became the present owners. In line with
Elkhorn's face-lifting project, the house has been
painted buff and brown.
As the Octagon House is listed in the "National
Register of Historical Homes", the Gubruds have
become adjusted to people gazing in admiration
and taking pictures of this well preserved and unique
example of an architectural style of well over a
century ago.

of the Walworth County Agricultural society, The
Grange, the Universalist church and Old Settlers
club. He kept personal and business records and
in 1864 wrote, "spent the Fourth of July in Delavan
dining at the hotel, cost $6". As school clerk for
district number 7 that same year he recorded
"one broom, 25¢, crayons, 50¢, one cup, 20¢".
In 1875 he built a home in Elkhorn and lived
there until his death in 1903. His daughter, Ruth
Eliza, sold it to Mr. White in 1921 for $6,000. Jack
White sold it to Dr. Sorenson and after extensive
remodeling, it became the Elkhorn Clinic.
THE OCTAGON HOUSE
The Leonard Gubrud Home - 127 S. Lincoln St.

A beauty among Octagon houses is the one built
by Edward Elderkin in 1856-57. He was a young
attorney from Lawrence County, N.Y., who came to
Elkhorn in 1839 and practiced law here for over 40
years.
The house was built of solid brick in contrast
with many of wood which no longer exist. The walls
were 15 inches thick, and today it stands as originally planned with its 16 foot tower without external
additions or changes. Originally each ofthe 3 floors

23

Originally the

Levi Lee Home

THE LIVINGSTON HOUSE

LEVI LEE HOME
The Gillogly House • 312 W. Walworth St.

John Pappas Home - 311 S. Washington St.

Levi Lee, the builder of the first courthouse in
Elkhorn, was paid in land deeded to him. It consisted of a large portion of the west side of Elkhorn.
In the early 1850's, he built this home of yellow
Elkhorn brick, now owned by Laurel and Edna
Gillogly. It changed hands many times over the
years with the price in 1868 of $850, and by 1911
it sold for $2,000 by Betsy Harkness to John H.
Snyder, Jr. Other sales followed until the present
owners, Laurel and Edna Gillogly, took possession
on September 29, 1969.
As expected, the house has undergone changes
and remodeling in room sizes and number, involvine:
removal of partitions. For instance, a front and
back parlor are now one lar_ge living room and a
summer kitchen is now a family room. No longer
is there a trap door in the vestibule leading to a
cellar which contained a coal bin and a large cistern
for rain water. The porch, however, is still there,
a reminder of what used to be a very necessary
adjunct to a home.
It remains one of the oldest and finest preserved
homes of the 19th century.

This Gothic-style home was built in 1870 by
John W. Hayes, a depot agent for 54 years. He
married Elizabeth Fleming, and they had three
children-- Harry, Charles, and Carrie.
The two story house is constructed of buff
brick, and all original windows have brick lintel
arches and stone sills. The decorative corbells
under the roof are of elaborately scrolled design.
The porch which extended across the front of the
house has been replaced by a semi-circular portico
with pillars, but the original brick walk remains.
Tlie front double doors lead to a vestibule which
has a circular plaster bas- relief of floral design in
the ceiling. At the end of tne hallway a windiog
staircase of dark mahogany leads to the second
story.
Carrie Hayes Livingston was born in the home,
February 10, 1871; Dr. George Young was the
physician present. With the exception of four years,
she lived her entire life in this house. She died
May 3, 1967 at 96 years of age.
She attended school in Elkhorn and after graduation, taught school for five years at the Jackson

24

Preserving a 19th century home such as this is
keeping faith with both past and future generations.
Jacob Bernard Bauermann was the carpenter-contractor for this home and it is an excellent example
of his work.
-

and Fairfield rural schools. She married Justin
Livingston November 3, 1914 and after his death,
(September 3, 1929) she continued to reside here.
Later the house was purchased by John Pappas
who renovated and remodeled it into apartments.
The lovely 100-year-old brick home reflects the
changes that have taken place in Elkhorn in the
last century.

OGDEN HOUSE
Severt Sather - 426 W. Walworth St.

THE GRADY HOUSE
Richard Pfeil Home - 210 E. Geneva St.

Albert Ogden was the original owner of this
yellow brick house, which is over 130 years old.
He was born in Walton, New York, in 1815,
came to Milwaukee in 1836 and to Elkhorn with
Hollis Latham in 1837. They are credited with being
the first white men in Elkhorn.
Ogden and Latham broke the first ground in the
area, planting mostly corn and turnips the first year.
Ogden continued to farm most of his life. Along
with others, they saw the county seat established on
the site they had chosen.
The house Ogden built has a porch across the
entire front. The brick windows are of the classic
arched style. There are five rooms downstairs
and four bedrooms upstairs. The back porch has
been enclosed and paneled. There is a full basement and an attic.
The home was purchased by Mr. Sather in 1952
and his family is the present owner of one of Elkhorn's oldest homes.

This large Victorian yellow brick house was
built by Mr. L. MacAroy, in 1893, the year of the
Columbian Exposition in Chicago. Later it was
owned for many years by the Grady sisters. In
1941, Richard Pfeil purchased the house.
He removed the porch across the front of the
house, installed shutters at the windows, and remodeled the interior extensively. The ten room
home is built with a fieldstone foundation and hip
roof. The only beautiful hand-crafted floral basrelief ceiling decoration that remains is in the
front vestibule. The woodwork throughout the home
is go! den oak.
This home reflects the gracious, comfortable,
and well-constructed homes of years ago, and the
vine-covered exterior -- green in spring and summer and golden in autumn -- enhances the beautifully landscaped grounds.

The Former

Residence of

Grady Sisters

25

Norton Family

Lived in Home
Many Years

shows were well known to Elkhorn residents. Mis;
Florence Norton taught kindergarten for several
years here, and married Francis Cory; their son
John still resides here, but the daughter Nancy
has passed away.
The home was sold in 1969 to Mr. and Mrs.
David Ross and has been extensively remodeled;
the large front porch was removed and shutters
have been added. The golden oak open stairway
has been retained and the original fireplace has
been repaired. The leaded glass from the corner
window has been adapted to fit into the archway
between the present living and dining rooms.

NORTON FAMILY HOUSE
David Ross Home - 206 N. Broad St.
This was the home of the Norton family from
1888 to 1968. It was in 1888 that John and his
wife, and his brother Abram moved from their
LaFayette farm to Elkhorn. The home remained
in the family until 1968, when Miss Irene Norton
passed away at 96 years of age.
Her brother William Clarence Norton was a
well known attorney in the city and was active in
community affairs and in local sports. He also
had beautiful peonies and roses and their flower

26

Education In The City
In February, 1837, a few years after the beginning of settlement in Elkhorn, a need for a public
school was expressed by citizens.
Residents who were able to teach, had been
doing it at home gatherings and early private
schools were taught by Col. Edward Elderkin,
Lydia Carr, Mary S. Brewster and Adelaide B.
Beardsley.
In 1840, the first public schoolhouse, a 20 by 20foot frame building was constructed on the west
side of the park, on a lot reserved for that purpose
when the town was plotted. The building was known
as the "Old Oak Schoolhouse."
The first school district was formed on April22,
1846, with school commissioners George H. Young,
Edward Winne and H. S. Winsor in charge. The fund
at the disposal of the committee at that time, was $9
in the treasury, while the addition of $20 was raised
by a vote of the town to be applied to the use of
District number one.
The population at that time was less than 200
and there were about 40 pupils. However, the
little wooden building was soon outgrown and in
1850 a plain two-story native brick building was
erected on the same lot, and is now the present home
of Mr. and Mrs. Everett Moore, 12 No. Church

street. The people took very good care of their
school as it is noted that the building was occasionally painted, while the walls and ceiling were whitewashed annually.
The number of children increased and the brick
building was soon outmoded too. Doctor Reynolds
bought the building and used it as a residence;
building materials, particularly brick, were very
scarce and one was fortunate to obtain a substantial
schoolhouse to use as a home.
Consequently, a new schoolhouse was built in
1857, fronting on Jackson street, at the east end of
Walworth street. Ample grounds were secured by
vacating the street which extended further eastward
and by the purchase of ground on either side. The
structure was two stories, capped by a belfry and
measured 60 by 45 feet. There were four classrooms, two on each floor, on either side of the hall.
The lower floors were occupied by the primary and
intermediate departments; those on the second floor
were used hy the grammar and high school departments.
lt is interesting to note that to provide shade
for the lawn and playground the school board had
nearly a hundred maple trees planted around the
schooL Edward H. Sprague, whose name was later

THE MAIN ROOM in the now razed 1906 building portion of the present Middle school, could
handle all of the Elkhorn high school students back in about 1910. The room was located on the
second floor with desks for

an

four classes of students.

27

THE ELKHORN SCHOOL FACUL TV got together for a picture in
front of the 1906 high school building, probably before 1920. Those
pictured were (front row. from left) Miss Dunlop, Miss Enteikin,
Miss Case, Miss Wright. unidentified, Miss Hicks. Miss Buchanan,

Miss Stewart, (2nd row, loft) Miss Vaughn, Miss Beckwith
(Constance). Mr. Dixon, Miss Martin, Miss Derthick. Miss
Beckwith (Mabet), Miss Maloney and Miss Francis.

$55,700. The county history notes that it was steam
heated and electric lighted! So now the original
building was used only for the grades.
Textbooks were loaned to the students for a
moderate rental fee. In the high school, the following subjects were offered: practical arithmetic,
grammar, geography, physiology, rhetoric, algebra,
United States history and civil government, Latin,
history of Oriental nations and Greece, history of
Rome and the Dark Ages, history of France and
England, studies in Dickens, Burns, Emerson, and
Shakespeare, zoology, chemistry, state history and
Constitution. This curriculum was sufficient to
place Elkhorn high school on the accredited list of
the University in 1884.
References to some of the salaries paid to the
teachers in the "good old days" may be of interest
to present-day teachers. In 1911, Miss Minnie
Earnest, the fourth grade teacher, was hired for$50
a month. The same year the eighth grade teacher,
a man, was paid $70 per month.
There were 32 graduates from Elkhorn high in
1911. Some other interesting facts found were:
On Feb. 7, 1918 the school was closed because
of a fuel shortage.
In October, 1918, schools were also closed because of the flu epidemic.
In 1918, Elkhorn had 184 boys and 185 girls of
school age, and 32 graduated from the high school.
On Dec. 11. 1919, a grade school band was or-

used for the theaters, was a principal of this school
for a while.
Squire Stanford did the carpentry work for this
particular building, while Stevens and Dewing did
the masonry. The total cost including the fence and
furniture was $14,994.37. It was built for a capacity of 200 scholars.
Because of an increase in pupils, a two-storied
addition was built in 1882. The entire structure,
addition and all, however, burned in 1886. For a
time school was held in scattered sections of the
city. The second primary and intermediate pupils
met in the Village hall. The grammar room pupils
held classes in the Universalist church. The high
school was divided between the Bradley building
and the YMCA rooms, while the first primary
class met in Lyon's building.
The city immediately began to make plans for a
new building and after some deliberating over the
estimate which ran somewhat higher than anticipated, a large building was constructed for $25,000.
At that time, it was a combined grade and high
school building. Now this building, known as the
middle school, is used to house the various school
offices.
The increase in the number of pupils and departments, arising from the admission of pupils
from other towns, made a separate high school
building necessary; and a red brick high school
building was constructed in 1906, at a cost of

28

WHEN THIS PICTURE of the 1887
building was taken pupils in
kindergarten through eighth grade
were

meeting in classes. The

same two trees directly in front
of the building still remain today,
but al! the others are gone.

ganized with H. H. Burch directing.
In 1920, there were 22 graduates from the high
school.
On Sept. 22, 1921, 37youngpeopleleftfor schools
of higher learning.
On .Nov. 3, 1921, a saxophone band, composed
of 10 g1rls, was formed under the leadership of Mr
Kettlehut.
·
On Dec. 15, 1921, the PTA was organized at
the school.
In October, 1922, Mrs. George Morris was given
a surpnse party by the other teachers who left her a
beautiful gift.
On Nov. 2, 1922, the Elkhorn teachers formed a
local teachers' association, with Charles Jahr as
president. This became known as the Elkhorn Education association on Dec. 28, 1944.
On Nov. 23, 1933, 30 or 40 men from Elkhorn went
to work on the new athletic field project on Wright
street. The project included a football field, baseball field, two handball courts, two tennis courts and
a playground, being constructed by unemployed labor
as a CW A project.
This land was given from the estate of John
Harris and the consulting engineer was Joseph
Biagi.
On Dec. 14, 1933, Elkhorn high debaters, under
Coach Henry Tall, debated the question, "Resolved
that the U.S. should adopt a system of radio control
and regulation similar to that of Great Britain."
On Dec. 28, 1933, The Federal Relief administration announced an opportunity for unemployed
teachers to work; each teacher had to have at least
10 students in her class. Francis Hutton conducted
a class in social studies and Frank Hoffman had a
music class.
On Feb. 8, 1934, the Band Mothers gave a play to
raise funds to send the school band to the state tournament at Green Bay in the spring. The newly organized school orchestra, directed by Mr. Dennis,
gave an overture between acts.
In February of 1934, Elkhorn High was selected
for study to determine to what extent TB was attacking students; this was in charge of Mrs. Ruth

Dunbar, the school nurse.
In March, 1934, Supt. Charles Jahr attended the
NEA meeting in Cleveland, Ohio.
On May 24, 1934, the Elkhorn high chorus under
the direction of Ella Kneller, was on radio station
WHA in Madison.
ln September, 1934, the kindergarten was closed
on a Monday following a report of a suspected case
of infantile paralysis in the city.
On Sept. 13, 1934, Supt. Jahr stated that there
were 335 pupils enrolled in the grade school and 232
in the high school.
The first school board chosen by an election,
held a meetmg on Tuesday, July 2, 1935. Those
elected were Dr. E. D. Sorenson, Miss Blanche
Kihne, and Charles Lyon.
In September of 1935, a course in home mechanics was added to the manual training department
for the first time.
Local debaters under Coach Tall had a clean
sweep of the Whitewater District tournament held
on a Saturday in February of 1936 at Beloit high
school. They captured four places while debating
the subject, "Public Medicine." The anti climax
came in returning home when they got as far as
Janesville and were snowbound until Monday. All
schools were closed for that day and the next.
In April of 1937, approximately 50 adults and
children enrolled in music instruction at the WPA
recreation center in Columbus Hall. Instruments
taught were: piano, guitar, violin, cornet, and drums.
At the music festival held in Lake Geneva in May,
1937, local musicians took eleven first places.
An addition to the old high school, which included
the Kinne gymnasium, was completed in 1939 at a
cost of $150,000. The Ford Construction company
of Janesville did the work. A comment made about
the new addition "It is surprising the amount of
room which the new addition provides, and one is
moved to opinion that surely this new addition will
care for Elkhorn School needs for many years in
the future. The gym is considered to be one of the
finest in the state."
A total of 54 seniors received diplomas in May,
29

A
KINDERGARTEN
CLASS,
which met in the 1887 building,
now
district
administration
offices, was pictured in front
about 1917. The teacher was
Florence Norton (right), with
Orma Desing as her assistant.

1939, with the graduates dressed for the first time
in caps and gowns for the exercises held in the
Municipal building.
In 1954, an addition to house the manual arts
department in the high school was erected, at a
cost of $120,000.
In 1955, the Elkhorn Area Common School district was formed by the consolidation of rural districts with the city's school system.
The West Side School was built in 1957 at a cost
of $343,000. In the same year, the addition to the
Tibbets school was added at a cost of $81,000, and
the Bowers school was built at a cost of $94,000.
Four new classrooms were added to the West
Side school in 1965, at a cost of $76,000. On
Feb. 14, 1959, the school building was a merit
award winner in the state architectural contest.
Elkhorn's new high school was completed in

1967 at a total cost of $2,599,304.76.
Razing of the former 1906 high school building
began on March 31, 1972; the rubble was removed to
Sunset park, where it was used in the construction
of a hill for use in sledding and tobogganing during
the winter. In its place was constructed a major
addition to the Middle school.
Elkhorn had a "first" in the nation in September, 1950, when the first rural area class for the
handicapped was started in a rented basement facility in downtown Elkhorn. Four years later there
were two rooms in the rented basement. In 1955,
a new three-room school was opened in Elkhorn for
47 pupils, three teachers and a custodian-cook. In
1957, three classrooms and a basement were added
and in 1959, the basement was turned into an industrial arts and home economics area. In 1962, 10 new
rooms and a gymnasium were added as the enrollment

Lakeland Schoo!

Wa! worth County
30

1958. It was staffed by three School Sisters of
Notre Dame and three lay teachers. The first
year only had accommodations for seven grades,
so the first class didn't graduate from eighth
grade until 1960.
Since that time it has been eight grades staffed
by the three sisters, five lay teachers, a reading
specialist and librarian. There has also been a
group of volunteers who do clerical work.
When the school first opened several classrooms were not yet completed and the students
had makeshift classes in Columbus Hall where
work was done on card tables and books kept
in paper bags.
The school has had an active music program,
including three bands with more than 50 participants and also an athletic program with competitive basketball.
A closer relationship was
developed with the public school system in the
1970s for shared needs such as transportation
of pupils and certain programs.
In the area of vocational and technical education, the Gateway Technical Institute (GTI) developed an Elkhorn campus on the city's southeast side in 1970 with classes first held Feb. l,
!971. Walworth county had become a part of VTAE
district 6 in 1968, joining Kenosha county.
Known as KTI initially, bus service was instituted to the Kenosha campus in the fall of
1969. The name change to GTI was made when
Racine county joined the district in June of 1972.
Among those involved with the VTAE board of
governing directors since the start was Walworth
County Supervisor Philip Morrissy, an Elkhorn
attorney.

Elkhorn High School Under Construction
increased to 225. Eight years later, nine new classrooms, industrial arts, a library, music room, swimming pool, five offices, nurses' facilities and a speech
room were added. At present, 312 students from ages
3 to 20 are enrolled in Lakeland schooL The school
is under the Walworth County Handicapped Children's
Education board.
St. Patrick's Catholic grade school opened
its doors to more than 200 students on Sept. 22,

PRINCIPALS AND SUPERINTENDENTS

Administrators of Elkhorn Public Schools beginning with the first year in the Brick School House
on the west side Court House Square:
James B. Tower
B. C. Rogers
W. C. Dustin
J. D. Waldenmeyer
M.D. Carrol
G. C. Plumb
H. D. L. Webster
J. J. M. Angier
R. M. McKee
0. S. Cook
0. M. Baker
E. Chamberlin
E. W. Peet
A.M. Case
T. N. Wells
C. W. Cutler
A. J. Cheney
William Elden
C. W. Cutler
Charles N. Bell
W. A. Delamater
E. H. Sprague
D. H. Flett
A. !. Sherman
Howard L. Smith
F. G. Young

~-

lst Assembly in New High School Auditorium
31

1850-1851
1851-1852
1852-1853
1853-1854
1854-1855
1855-1856
1856-1857
1857-1858
1858-1860
1860-1861
1861-1862
1862-1863
1863-1866
1866-1867
1867-1868
1868-1869
1869-1871
1871-1873
1873-1877
1877-1879
1879-1881
1881-1883
1883-1884

Elkhorn Middle School
D. D. Mayne
R. F. Skiff
J. T. Edwards
C. D. Kipp
T. J. Jones
John Dixon
L. F. Rahr
Charles A. Jahr
L. K. Forrest
H. G. Knutson
Stanley B. Helms
Clarence Schacht
William Paton
Robert Houg
David R. Ross

1884-1889
1889-1890
1890-1894
1894-1900
1900-1907
1907-1914
1914-1916
1916-1942
1942-1945
1945-1948 (Jan.)
1948-1954
1954-1961
1961-1963
1963-1969 (April)
1969-

HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPALS
Donald Disrud
Jack Refling
R. Deane Page

ASSISTANT HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL
Frederick Suchy

1972-

PRIMARY SCHOOL PRINCIPALS
Merrill Dexter
Frank Grunseth

-1945
1945-1971

PRIMARY SCHOOL Kindergarten through Grade 5
VICE-PRINCIPALS
Henry Tall
Donald Disrud
E. Giese

1948-1955
1955-1963
1963-

.Clifford Schiefelbein

1937
1944
1945

1971-

MIDDLE SCHOOL PRINCIPAL
Frank Grunseth

1971-

tl;

f'~-,

Gateway Technical Institute-Elkhorn Campus
32

Transportation ... Then And Now
In the early days, travel in the Wisconsin
Territory was difficult. Settlers who came to
Elkhorn in the 1830's had to walk all the way
from Milwaukee following Indian trails which had
been beaten into the ground for decades. The
more prosperous settlers sometimes had ox teams,
but the narrow trails did not encourage their use.
Many settlers used sleds or even wheelbarrows to
transport their belongings.
One such Indian trail started at the foot of
Delavan Lake, passed through Elkhorn and went
on to Waukesha. This was used by many settlers
coming to this area. According to Butterfield,
an early historian, the first wide road was made
by pioneers dragging an oak tree from Spring
Prairie to Delavan. This became one of the main
roads and highway 11 follows essentially the same
path.
Even before statehood, the Territory of Wisconsin residents recognized the importance of good
transportation. The towns on Lake Michigan furnished markets for the inland farms, and roads
were vital to the success of communities like Elkhorn. Some military roads were in existence,
but market roads were necessary too.
Plank roads became the favorite mode of meeting this need. The Territorial Legislature granted
companies authority to construct plank or turnpike roads and collect tolls. They were surfaced
with 3-inch planks, 8-foot long, laid on 4 by 4
stringers. Plank Road school was appropriately
named as it bordered on the plank road going
from Burlington to Janesville, passing by the fairgrounds. Another plank road went from Elkhorn
via Palmyra to Hustisford.
Once actual roads were established, four-horse
post coaches made runs between the cities. Elkhorn residents in 1845 could board the stage at
Troy and go to Milwaukee or Galena. Other stage
lines could be boarded at Whitewater for three day
trips across the state. Connections with supporting lines could be made, and inns or stage stops
provided lodgings for the night at convenient intervals.
In the 1850's a new invention rivaled the stage
coaches as a fast and comfortable way to travel.
The railroad boom reached Wisconsin. Specu-

lators, business men, farmers, and home owners
all believed that Elkhorn would become a railroad
center. They had visions of Elkhorn being the hub
of midwest transportation and fondly expected the
little town which had a population of 539 people and
80 houses, to grow into a great and thriving
metropolis.
In an effort to make their dream come true,
Elkhorn citizens worked h~rd and spent much money
persuading the various railroads to build their
lines through Elkhorn. In 1852 the Racine, Janesville and Mississippi Railway Co. was chartered.
Original plans were for the road to bypass Elkhorn
on its way from Racine to Janesville. But the
people of Elkhorn subscribed $20,000 and thus
persuaded the road to go through the city. This
road later became part of the Milwaukee Road.
If Elkhorn was to become a railroad center,
though, more than one road would be needed, and
the residents were soon busy working for the
organization of the Wisconsin Central Railroad,
which was chartered in March, 1853. It was
supposed to pass through Whitewater, Elkhorn,
and Lake Geneva on its route to the state line.
The "1857 Panic" caused the collapse of this
company though, and the railroad was never built.
Before the ''Panic'', the Milwaukee and Beloit
Railroad was chartered (1855) and this also was
expected to go through Elkhorn on its way to
Delavan and Beloit. This road failed, too, and
was never completed. The struggle of the residents to obtain more railroads is evidenced in
old stock subscription contracts which stated that
the shares were purchased ''upon the express
condition that said Milwaukee and Beloit Railroad shall be located and constructed to some
point within the corporate limits of the Village
of Elkhorn."
The newspapers followed the progress of the
railroads with tremendous interest, recording each
mile of track laid as the road slowly approached
town. In the June 1, 1855 issue ofthe "Independent"
it was reported that "the parties having the contract for the completion of the work on the Central
Railroad from the state line to Elkhorn have arrived at Geneva and will commence work next week.
We hope the company will be able to procure iron

LONG DISTANCE travel was difficult in Elkhorn's early days,

until the mid-1850s, when a railroad line finally reached here·
and then on to Delavan, where
the Iine ended for a time. The
passenger depot, erected in 1856
and used until 1915, still stands
after having been moved across
the tracks and now a storage
shed for the Elkhorn Chemical

Co.

33

Road passenger service ended and in the early 1970s the depot
in about the center of the phoio was razed. However, diesel

THE RAILROAD in an earlier era, helped to insure the stability
and growth of a community, providing travel for passengers
and the movemeni of freighi for local industries. For Elkhorn,
the former aspect remained imporiant until 1965 when Milwaukee

freight trains sti!! move slowly through the south edge of the

city serving industry.

and have the track laid the coming fall."
As pointed out earlier, this company never
finished the track.
Bad weather, lack of materials, and finally bankruptcy ended the laying
of the rails far short of Elkhorn. Evidence of
the graded roadbeds still remains, though, stretching across the fields -- silent testimony to the
dreams of those early Elkhornites.
The one railroad that did go through Elkhorn,
had its track completed as far as Delavan in 1856
and trains began to pass through Elkhorn. A big
celebration was held at Delavan to commemorate
the opening of the road. An excursion train carried people to Delavan and was greeted by the
firing of a cannon and the playing of brass bands.
A flag was presented to the president of the railroad with the slogan "Onward!" embroidered on
it. A dinner and a ball followed the speech maKing.

A spur line, completed in 1869, also went through
Elkhorn passing in back of the fairgrounds to Eagle.
The effect of just this one railroad on the growth
of the town can be seen from these figures. In
June, 1855, the population was 737. By 1856 the
population increased to more than 1,000, and by
1857 there were 1,500 residents. Many buildings
were erected and new businesses sprang up. Elkhorn was booming -- in the same week in 1856
two stores and a lumber yard opened their doors.
Thus Elkhorn, although it did not become the planned railroad center, more than doubled its population as a result of the one railroad which did
eventually pass through it.
This railroad served Elkhorn for many years.
During fair time in ''the old days'', special trains
would be put on for those too far away to come by
horse and buggy. The 1904 fair was so popular that

34

THE EAGLE BRANCH LINE was a spur betwee11 the city and

the Waukesha village of Eagle, which also served as a place
to park trains at the turn of the century for those attending
the Walworth County Fair. The branch ran east of the fair-

the train had to take one trainload offairgoers to the
grounds and then back up to pick up hundreds more
who had been unable to find room on the packed train.
Special crews and engines would be on hand two days
before and two days after the fair for switching and
handling the extra traffic. Chicago businessmen
would charter a special train to make the journey to
the fair.
In the summer the train brought the lake residents
to the area. They were met at the depot by surreys
and transported to the resort hotels like The Sterlingworth, which even then was a popular lake attraction.
Extra coaches were used on the Eagle to Elkhorn
run on "Old Settlers Day", which was held annually
at the fairgrounds for many years. It was a very big
occasion, witfl prominent speakers, good food, and
family entertainment. For the convenience of those
attending, the "Eagle Flyer" would stop right at the
fairgrounds. Many well-known Elkhorn names were
listed among the Old Settlers organization. Some of
those listed in the 1903 newspaper as belonging were:
Godfrey, Morrissey, Seymour, Skiff, Isham, Opitz,
Arnold, Amos, Babcock, Lauderdale, Mason, Dunlap,
Devendorf, Derthick, Davis, Flack, Lean, Lyon, Carter, Kinne, Knilans, Ketchpaw, Spencer, Barr,
Church, Loomer, Potter, Matheson, Merry, Eames,
Ellsworth, Flitcroft, Featherstone, Bray, Brownlee,
Hartwell, Harrington, Wiswell, Young, Whitmore,
Webster, Welch, Waite, Robinson, Ward, Winsor,
Tubbs, lves, Meadows.
A modern train depot was built in 1915, which

grounds, and as many as 12 trains at one time awaited the
return trip of fairgoers, who came from as far away as Chicago.
The scene is near the present Activity Center building with
the fair's woods in the background.

remained in existence until the early 1970s when it
was eventually torn down. During the earlier part
of that period, train transjJortation was a highly
important element. In !926 through train service
between Milwaukee and Kansas City was announced
with regular stops in Elkhorn. For many years
Elkhorn residents did ride daily trains to Milwaukee, and to Chicago by transfer. For those traveling towards Kansas City, the Southwest Limited had
sleeping cars. Trains arrived and departed six times
daily.
There had also been a special lake train from
Chicago to Elkhorn, but that was discontinued in
August of 1926 as lake residents were driving their
own cars now. The Eagle passenger service ended
in 1927, which ran on a spur line along the east side
of the fairgrounds
The hey day of train travel was clOsing, although
passenger service to Elkhorn lasted until October
of 1965 when the last Southwest Limited made its
final run to Milwaukee. Now only freight trains
rumble through the city, limited in speed because
of poor track conditions. Public travel was left to
buses, which provide transportation to Milwaukee,
Rockford, Chicago and Madison.
As Elkhorn entered the 20th century, local travel
was by horse and buggy or horse and sleigh. Streets
in town were muddy in the spring and dusty in the
summer. An important piece of maintenance equipment was the sprinkler wagon, used to settle the dust.
Accidents seemed as f~equent in those days as now
35

however. The weekly paper reported runaways,
overturned buggies, and even collisions between
buggies.
Pedestrian safety was aided by the installation
of street lamps in 1886. For the comfort of horses,
a horse trough was set up downtown in 1895. The
deteriorating board sidewalks were being replaced
in 1900 by new vitrified brick sidewalks. Three
years later cement sidewalks began to be laid.
The importance of the horse at the turn of the
century can be seen by reading the old ads which
offered for sale the latest in surreys and harnesses.
H. E. Hartwell advertised his livery and boarding
stable opposite the Nickel Plate Hotel. Amos
Brothers started the summer ice wagon run, pulled
by a team consisting of a horse and a mule. In
1904 it was reported that 140 teams were hitched to
the posts downtown as owners attended the horse
auction on the corner by the Elkhorn House (WalEd White, the local aucworth and Wisconsin).
tioneer, gave prospective buyers the opportunity to
see the horses offered for sale by herding them on
the street.
Fred Opitz's Carriage and Wagon Works was
busily filling orders for all kinds of wagons and
W. C. Rosenhauer's Delivery Wagon was operating.
Something new was on the horizon, though - the
automobile. It was to bring about many changes
in Elkhorn's way of life.
The May 21, 1903
''Independent'' made this important announcement:
"Zwiebel and Griebel are the first Elkhorn residents to own an automobile. They purchased the
machine in Milwaukee Friday and it was delivered
to them here Saturday morning. It is made by the
Olds Motor Works, of Detroit, and will carry four
passengers.''
This first car proved a popular way to go places.
"Dr. George H. Young, George Kinne, and J. H.
Derthick attended the Clinton ball game Tuesday in
the height of fashion. The trip was made in Zwiebel
and Griebel's new Oldsmobile which they chartered

HORSE transportation required blacksmiths and
their shops, such as the one operated by Tom
Morrissey at the corner of Washington and Court

AT THE TURN of the century, local travel was confined to

horse and buggy on dirt roads and streets for 9 months of the
year and by horse and sleigh in the winter. Such was a typical
!ate fall scene in Elkhorn.

for the afternoon. Zwiebel was the chauffeur."
Dr. J. M. Marsh soon acquired a motorcycle,
the first to be owned in Elkhorn. It was known as
the "Mitchell" and was manufactured in Racine.
In 1903 many cities were finding it necessary
to adopt ordinances limiting the speed of these
new vehicles. The 1903 "Independent" was advocating that Elkhorn do so. Six miles per hour was
considered a top speed within city limits.
As late as 1911 cars were so rare that each

streets where the Gilbert building stands. It
was also a carriage works and next door was
Osborne's farm implements.

36

THAT'S A WINTON automobile, one of many lines that faded in
obscurity in time. It was Mr. and Mrs. Will Magill who were ready
to take a drive when the picture was taken about 1910.

new purchase was recorded as news in the paper.
For instance, "Fred Voss has purchased a Buick
car. It is a five passenger machine with aremovable tonneau.''
That same year, A. J. Pierce, in a big touring
car, made news by traveling from Elkhorn to his
farm, a distance of over 9 miles, in less than 30
minutes!
Modern auto travel is a far cry from the experiences intrepid motorists had in the early part
of this century. Citizens of Elkhorn were notified
one week in 1911 that 20 cars of the Wisconsin
Automobile Association would make an endurance
run, going through the city at 9:30 a.m. People
were asked to make a "strenuous effort to keep
all livestock, dogs, and chickens, off the road, as

BY THE 1930s, the automobile had become an important mode
of transportation year-round and neighborhood service stations
appeared to provide gasoline and car repairs. The Standard

it is the desire of the promoters to do as little
damage as possible, the tour being to encourage
motoring and good roads, rather than to discourage it." Of course horned animals, except
milk cows, had been restricted from running loose
as early as 1871.
Dr. Ridgway was one of the first to have a
Model T Roadster. However, he used it only in the
summer. Winter snowdrifts made the horse and
buggy essential.
The horse was kept in Dick
McCabe's barn on the property east of the Post
Office.
In 1911 oil was beginning to be used on city
streets to control the dust, but the increased use
of cars made drastic street improvements necessary. In 1917 the downtown streets were being
paved, causing cancellation of the summer band
concerts because the torn up condition of the
streets made attendance difficult and even dangerous.
By 1923 three more city streets were paved:
the north end of Church Street, Winsor Street, and
East Street (now Lincoln) from Court street to
Jefferson. In addition new Highway 12 came through
Elkhorn. Originally it was to have passed through
the eastern end of town, but businessmen prevailed
and persuaded the state to route it through the business section, following Wisconsin street.
Garages soon sprang up to sell and service the
new mode of transportation. By 1924 Schmidt's
Garage was selling Studebakers and E. A. Spinner
was selling Fords. The Hup and Reo cars were for
sale at 403 No. Wisconsin St. where the Van Velzer
Motor Car Co. was situated.
1924 was the year when paving of highway 12
was completed from Elkhorn all the way to Whitewater. The East Troy-Elkhorn highway was also
paved that year. And more cars came to Elkhorn!
ln 1925 Thomas A. Pope was the agent for Maxwell
cars; Squires and Opitz's Garage was advertising

station at the corner of Wisconsin and Court streets isn't
much different after 40 years.

37

BY 1956 THE TOP of the tower at the Loraine hotel, as it was
now known. was gone along with the large clock. The hotel now
had awnings over each of the upper windows and it was serving
as a bus station.

THE DOMINANCE OF

motor ve-

hicle traffic over other forms of
travel, is perhaps best seen in the
aerial view of the Rock freeway between Milwaukee and Beloit, which passes Elkhorn along
the south edge of the city. The
final 28-mile segment was opened
to traffic on Oct. 28, 1976,
following

Buicks; and Zwiebel and Griebel's Badger Garage
was operating.
By 1926 the county had two snowplows to clear
the roads after a snow storm. People were beginning to use their cars all year round.
When World War II came, no new cars were
built. The cars people had were carefully maintained, and driven on retread tires and rationed
gas (3 gallons per week for ordinary persons without priority). A good deal of traveling was done by
bus . . . three buses a day to Milwaukee, Racine,
Beloit, and Janesville.
Defense industries ran
private buses to bring workers to their factories.
The war ended in 1945 and in November, the car
dealers of that day, Wales, Klitzkie, Last, Henderson, Melcher and Opitz, were happy to announce
that the first new cars since the war were arriving.
Twenty years later, in October, 1965, passenger
train service ended when the Southwest Limited
made its last run through Elkhorn to Milwaukee.
As the train passenger service ended, the era of
super highways dawned and Elkhorn found itself in
a favorable location for easy auto access to major
cities via highways 11, 12 and 15.
Elkhorn residents also may envision the city
as an area hub, a center where auto travelers
will come. Will the cloverleaf intersection of
routes 11, 15 and 12 do for Elkhorn what the
nebulous railroads did not accomplish in the 1800s?
Only time will tell.

,,_,_,~c~J/'::c,c·-·'-"<-

an o~e~~"!lnt:~:~~~~:~~"'!!l!l!llllll!l!l!!l!l!ll!l

at this highway 67
'1'
attended by Gov. Patrick Lucey
and Transportation Secretary Zel
Rice, as well as local dignataries.

.

*"*""'P '"''''"

,.111:!;;,::':'::~:: ';;;1;,,;,,.,.,., "'~::~ ~,:::;;:

.&

38

Elkhorn In The News
worthiness of Elkhorn, which has prouuced some
notable items at various times in history.
A story with photographs featured Ell<horn in the
March 26, 1952 issue of the Milwaukee Journal entitled "Why Elkhorn Is a Nice Town in Which to Be
Living." In December of the same year a TV crew
from the program "March of Time" came and filmed
a story entitled" American Community" shown internationally during the holidays. About 2351ocal people
were pictured in the half hour film! It was a story
of the city's activities, andformerElkhornresidents
who were located elsewhere viewed the program with
pride.
In 1956 Mrs. Cecile Johnson and family, of Scarsdale, New York, were passing through the city and
as an artist she was very impressed by Elkhorn's
beauty. She returned in 1957 and painted several
scenes including the Steele home, the Joseph Webster
home, and several of the Christmas decorations in
the park. These were reproduced in "Ford Times"
and also on Christmas cards. One of the paintings
hangs in the Elkhorn Light and Water Commission
Office.
As the county seat, Elkhorn has been in the political eye many times. One has only to go to the Courthouse on an election night to be aware of the action.

Elkhorn is not only geographically located in the
center of Walworth County, but has often been the
"center of action" in many past news events.
It has been proclaimed the "Christmas Card
Town", the subject of a TV "small town" documentary, and entertained the great and near great in the
political field, including one who became President
of the U.S. Washington papers and national TV
coverage were focused on a local drum and bugle
corps appearance in a President's Inauguration Day
ceremony; the nation's heart was touched by the
courage of a local woman afflicted with multiple
sclerosis during much of her life, and several national publications carried the story about a race
horse's tragic ending during a fairgrounds track
event here.
On the sensational side was the capture of the
Touhy gang from Chicago at the north edge of the
city, as well ·as land eviction proceedings from
area farms during the depression.
Elkhorn citizens have often been found newsworthy, some because they happened to be where
the action was at an opportune time, while others
made headlines because of their contributions to
the world of art, science, movies or literature. The
following incidents will help to illustrate the news

~

~;z.;~~
SCENES SUCH AS the holiday nativity setting, painted by Mrs. Cecile Johnson, of Scarsdale,
N.Y., brought Elkhorn the title of "Christmas Card Town." This scene and others of local homes
and countryside in winter settings were later reproduced on Christmas cards and in the "Ford
Times" magazine of December 1958.

39

Excitement runs high as the candidates and citizens
await returns from all parts of the county.
Many nationally-known politicians have visited
Elkhorn over the years during the campaigns for
office, including many who were seeking the Presidency of the U.S.
In the early years, their visits were often the
occasion for not only adults, but also for school children to come and hear them talk.
The LaFollettes, Blaine and Len root made rousing
speeches, while William Jennings Bryan, the "silver
voiced orator", held his audience spellbound in the
1920s.
Others who have come included Wendell Wilkie
in 1944; Henry Wallace that same year; Estes Kefauver in 1952 followed by Robert Taft, Earl Warren,
Harold Stassen and Joseph McCarthy.
In 1960, Sen. and Mrs. John F. Kennedy greeted
many Walworth county citizens at a rally in the municipal building as he was on his way toward the
United States Presidency. He was followed a few
days later by Sen. Hubert Humphrey and his wife,
Muriel, as they spoke at the Courthouse.

AMONG THE Presidential candidates to visit Elkhorn during
campaign trail times was the late President John F. Kennedy,
who came in 1960 with his wife, Jackie. His walk through the
city was made with Harold Dailey, local Democratic precinct
committeeman.

COMMUNITY VOTE CAMPAIGN
An interesting and successful "get out and vote"
program was conceived by Robert Conahan in the fall
of 1950 and adopted by the VFW and American Legion
groups throughout the county. It was known as the
"Liberty Bell Plan" and worked as follows: 15,000
small Liberty Bells were printed with the message
"I am in front against Communism--! voted in the
election on November 7, 1950". Each person was
presented with a bell after he had cast his vote.
These were collected later by the Grade School children in a "house to house--friend to friend'' campaign. The grade with the greatest number of bells
was awarded a prize donated by the sponsoring
organizations.
The Liberty Bell program was adopted by the
National V.F.W. in September 1951 at their encampment in New York City. Robert Lehman, Post adjutant and delegate to the convention, accepted$5,000
-- second place award for community service. In
1952, 20,000 bells were printed "I Have Voted" -proof that the idea had spread and was effective.
In 1956 the Boy Scouts hung similar bells on voter's
doors instead of the previous method of acknowledgement. This bell program became Nationwide and
4-million Boy Scouts hung them on 35-million homes.
When Dwight D. Eisenhower was inaugurated on
Jan. 20th, 1953 the V.F.W. Drum and Bugle Corps,
which had been formed in 1946, was honored by an
invitation to participate in the inaugural parade. The
Corps consisted of 36 members and was led by Fred
Platts, marshal of the Walworth County fair. He
rode Lady, his dancing bay mare.
The parade, lasting several hours, was televised
with schools closing at 10:30; the Post Office and
business places also closed so that everyone could
watch! However, Elkhorn didn't appear until 4:26
p.m., just getting under the wire as the telecast concluded at 4:30!
Also in the parade were two Elkhorn young people
who were performing in other units: Eugene Frank,
taking part in Purdue University's Varsity Glee club
and Susan Hampel, a member of the Lubbock Texas

Hubert H. Humphrey

Joseph McCarthy

High School band.
In the Patriotic vein, the city has recognized and
honored all those who served their country ina military sense. The American Legion was formed in
1919 and after World War II the Veterans of Foreign
Wars was organized in 1946 with Judge Roscoe Luce
as its first commander.
Elkhorn not only sent its quota of men to serve
their country but also sent two dogs. Tommy
O'Keefe, who served in World War I, brought his dog,
Denny, home with him from service and the dog took
part in the parades and festivities of peace. After
World War !!, the annual VJ Day parades, attracted
audiences from miles around. And who can forget
the ration books for meat--sugar--gas--shoes?
In September of 1949 the V.F.W. was awarded
first place in the nation as the organization which
had contributed the most toward outstanding community service!
The nation was touched by the plight of Martha
Jane Marsh. Marty, as she was known to everyone,
became the victim of multiple sclerosis while attending college. Returning home, she worked in an
office for four years-earning her own way in order
to consult many specialists in the hope of finding a
cure. ln the meantime, she also directed the choir

40

of the First Congregational church and volunteered
in many civic enterprises.
When no longer able to get around, she opened
"Marty's Doll Shop" in 1946, using her artistic
talents in making her own patterns and designsthus giving her dolls an individual personality. She
also restored many treasured heirloom dolls, costuming them authentically. Her shop carried many
handmade gifts.
In 194 7 she was confined to a wheel chair from
which she conducted her shop's business. Marty
read a magazine article in December of 1950 by
Dr. Hinton D. Jonez who suggested a method for
relief of MS. She wrote for information and learned that an entrance fee of $200 was necessary,
and also that a companion must accompany any patient
coming for treatment in Tacoma, Wash. Marty began
home treatments until she could enroll. The city
opened its heart and Mrs. Herbert Wise, a longtime
friend, offered to be her companion. Organizations
and individuals raised $1500.00 to defray expenses.
They arrived at the hospital in February of 1951.
She was a patient until May, returning in high spirits
confident of complete recovery, and walking with
help! Home treatments were continued and Dr. Jonez
was pleased with her progress. Marty often expressed gratitude for the generosity ofthe community
which may have added several years to her life.
In the annals of the sports world the American
Legion Athletic award given by the Kelley-GardnerKatzman Post 45 is a coveted one for "all around
athletic achievement". It was conceived by Will
Foster in 1922 and was adopted by the national
American Legion. The first medal was awarded
to Willis Opitz followed by many others.
The 1974-75 record of Fred Suchy's basketball
team of 19 consecutive wins and only one tournament loss was the best in a long line of outstanding
seasons.
Volo Song was world champion 4-year-old trotter
when injury and death brought an end to his career
on July 16, 1944. The trotter, owned by Colonel
Baker of St. Charles, Ill., won the Hambletonian
race in 1943 and appeared destined for a brilliant
career. However, in the early race meet in Elkhorn that career came to an abrupt end as Volo
Song rounded the north turn leading the "pack", and
suddenly broke stride. The others swerved around
him as he stood with his left foot raised. The stunned grandstand audience watched as Harry Fitzpatrick, the driver-trainer, left the sulky and led
the limping horse back to the stable.
Baker hoped to save the horse for breeding purposes and refused to have him destroyed. In spite
of Dr. Ferguson's care, the seriousness of the
broken leg made it impossible to save him. He
was put to sleep the following Tuesday - thus ending
his career. Volo Song was buried in the famous
horse cemetery on Red Gate Farm near St. Charles.
Elkhorn has experienced its share of robberies,
traffic violations, and even a major crime or two!

telephone pole at the Bethel church corner. Traffic
Officer Harry Ward, a new man on the force and off
dut.)' was ordered to intercept the car at the city
lumts m order to get restitution for the pole.
Without star or gun, he hailed George "Spur"
Wiswell to take him so he could stop fhe car. As
the car came roaring into town Ward waved it down
and the five occupants in the car were questioned
regarding the pole incident. Though they denied
any involvement, Ward spied a splinter of wood
and then arrested the driver. Ward pulled him
from the auto, shoved him into Wiswell's car, and
ordered Wiswell to take the driver to jail for questioning. Ward rode on the running board as they
drove to the park.
Chief Will Ward and Harry talked with the other
four occupants thinking they were fishermen but became suspicious and escorted them to the jail but
did not book them. They were later granted permission to go for a beer; and while they were at a local
tavern Ward searched their car. Found were a
machine gun, kidnapping tape, several small arms
and ammunition. Deputies became suspicious when
the men didn't return, and a search was begun for
them.
Two were found in a ditch near Dorr' s Trailer
court on east Geneva street; a third was in Lake
Geneva making a call to the jail to learn the whereabouts of the driver and was picked up by Lake
Geneva Police Officer Jack Cusack and brought
back to Elkhorn.
In the meantime Tom Morrissy, local reporter
for various papers, had called the Chicago Tribune
crime reporter and given him a description of the
men. He found out that the man Harry Ward had
wrestled from the car was none other than Roger
Touhy - wanted for the kidnapping of Jake Factor.
The man who had taken the wheel and had driven
the car into town was Willie Sharkey, a purported
triggerman! Gus Schafer was Postal Department
Public Enemy No. 1; "Father" Tom Me Fadden
was an alleged labor racketeer and "Poly-Nosed
Cator", who had escaped in the night, was another
wanted gangster. He, too, was later captured and
all were convicted.
Twenty years after the capture of the TouhyGang,
Don Morrissey wrote the script for a "Big Story"
radio program depicting the life and capture of
Roger Touhy!
Hans Lindstrom, Elkhorn Motorcycle traffic
officer, was shot March 12, 1927 while making a
routine traffic arrest. He was found at the side
of a country gravel road one mile northeast of
town. He had been fatally wounded with a 32 caliber gun. Norman Wallis and Earl Williams, both
of Delavan, were apprehended and convicted for
this crime two years later. After serving their
sentences at Waupun Wallis became a mechanic
in a garage and Williams became a printer in
Indiana.
Two Elkhorn women won national baking contests.
Mrs. J. B. O'Donell won third prize of
$4,000 in the Pillsbury Baking contest for her
entry "Plantation Peach Shortcake". She received
her award at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City
in December 1951. Will Foster, the Independent's
reporter, was present as Margaret Truman, intra-

TOUHY GANG CAPTURE

The capture of Roger Touhy and four members
of his gang on July 19, 1933 attracted national interest. The incident began shortly after 9 p.m. when
Hugh Squires received a call that a car had struck a
41

as well as large limbs and branches. A number of old trees
in Courthouse park were extensively damaged by the high winds.

A THUNDERSTORM WITH near tornado winds, tore through
Elkhorn on June 11, 1973, knocking down a number of trees

duced by Art Linkietter, presented the checlc
In 1959 Mrs. Fred Proctor won a Whirlpool
range and a trip to California for her chocolate
cake recipe which won acclaim in the National
Grange Baking contest.

into deep muddy ruts. But, on March 27 when
<pring had officially arrived the worst blizzard
of the year occurred. By July, though, the city
was wilting in 100 degree temperatures.
Wind has been a devastating factor at times.
ln march of 1961, winds of 75 mph. ripped through
the city downing trees and knocking out telephone
and electrical service. Again in 1973 there was
similar damage and devastation. An intense night
time storm caused flash flooding on April 20, 1973.
Many basements were flooded as sump pumps
failed. Yards were under water and some people

WEATHER MAKES NEWS

The weather often has been a newsmaker. In
March 1913 it was recorded that with the disappearance of snow winter sleighing was spoiled
and streets became impassable as they turned

ONE OF THE best remembered
snowstorms in the city's history
occurred in the winter of 1946
when several feet of the white
stuff accumulated, burying cars
downtown and making it almost
impossible for snowplows to operate for a period of time.

42

THE MOST COSTLY and crippling storm in the city's history
ocurred in March of 1976, when freezing rain coated the landscape, finally downing huge tree limbs and utility lines and
leading to massive power outages in the city and throughout
southern Wisconsin.

even rowed boats around in some of the tlooded
areas.
There is usually one extensive snowstorm each
winter. Among the worst ones remembered were
those of 1946 and February of 1974 in which traffic
was halted entirely as the county highways were
closed to vehicles.
Perhaps the most crippling winter storm in the
city's history was March 2, 1976, in the form of a
freezing drizzle. Two days later the city's electrical lines were a shambles as heavily ice coated
tree limbs and branches carne crashing down.
The entire city was without power for 2-1/2 hours
on March 4, which marked the height of the storm.
Many homes, however, were without power for much
longer periods of time as line crews worked around
the clock trying to restore current on main lines.
The cost of the storm reached $100,000 in repair
damage and cleaning up of fallen trees and limbs
continued into the spring.
Fires have caused great losses of property. A
fire of undetermined origin destroyed the grandstand at the Walworth County Fairgrounds on July
25, 1970. The structure was rebuilt in 1971 after
a temporary grandstand had been used the previous
year for the fair.
Another tragic fire at the Fairgrounds occurred on
Nov. 30, 1975 when one of the horse stables burned
and claimed the life of George Anderson, a groom,
and 26 race horses.
An efficient Volunteer Fire Department has prevented considerable loss of property in other fiery
incidents. Fires in homes have brought deprivation,
hut the compassion of Elkhorn's citizens has often
eased the burden of loss.
A new fire house, located adjacent to the Municipal building, was erected in the spring of 1971.
Senior citizens still remember the great Sprague
Opera House fire, which occurred July 2, 1925. An
initial blaze caused by exploding fireworks in a
variety store, had been extinguished by the fire department.
Later it was believed the hot steel
ceiling set fire to the floor timbers of the upstairs
Sprague theater later in the evening. The entire
facility went up in flames, including the Opera
House, the variety store, post office and Christian
Science reading room. Firemen concentrated efforts on saving the adjoining downtown buildings on
Walworth street.

although never proved. A new grandstand was built in 1971,
helped by donations from many organizations and individuals.

A FIRE OF GREAT emotional impact involved the loss of the
old wooden amphitheater at the Walworth County fairgrounds
on July 25, 1970, because arson was suspected at the time,

43

Remains of the great Sprague Opera House fire on July 2, 1925

stable at the Walworth County fairgrounds, fought by Elkhorn
volunteer firemen in bitter cold weather.

The 1'1fe of groom George Anderson and 26 harness race horses
were victims Qf a fire Nov. 30, 1975, which destroyed a horse

44

Will Lyon, son of Judge and Mrs. Jay Lyon, was
a teacher in Tiensten, China under the auspices of
the Chinese government in 1911. He taught high
school science in that city.
Also in 1911, Mrs. Jay Page spent two days in
Chicago during August and witnessed the landing of
Harry Atwood, Boston aviator, who made a record
trip of 286 miles from St. Louis to Chicago in only
5 hours and 43 minutes!
In 1917 a paradewasformedofthedraft selectees
to go from the courthouse to the train depot. Led
by the school band it also contained two Maxwells,
Buicks, Overlands, and Studebaker cars.
In 1923 Bayard Lyon visited Egypt and witnessed
the opening of King Tut's tomb. He was disappointed as the tomb contained nothing of intrinsic
interest. However, other tombs nearby proved to
have valuable treasures.
Sidney Smith, of cartoon Andy Gump fame, attended the American Legion celebration on July 4,

MINI-HEADLINES OF MAXI-IMPORTANCE!
Nick Carter became the first Elkhorn resident
to attend a national political convention. In 1892
he was working as an usher when Benjamin Harrison
was nominated as the Republican presidential candidate, followed by Harrison becoming the 23rd President of the U.S.
In 1911 a new law was enacted limiting women's
working hours to 10 per day. As a result the dry
goods stores were forced to close three nights a
week at 6 o'clock. These stores were then open on
Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday nights only.
Also in August of the same year Suffragists
touring the state with speakers of the Equality
League, held a meeting in the park on behalf of
women's voting rights.
A big attraction at the 1911 County Fair was a
Curtis biplane.
Fair receipts reacbed $14,000.

depot, with residents watching and accompanymg them. The
young men boarded a train, filling several coaches, which took
them to Camp Grant near Rockford, IlL, for training.

ALTHOUGH WORLD WAR I had started in 1914, it wasn't until
April 6, 1917 that the U.S. entered the conflict. Later in the
summer, a parade was formed of the draft selectees, who
marched down Wisconsin street from the Courthouse to the

45

1923 with his son, Chester, accompanying him in his
Rolls Royce. He chose a young lad, Glenn Babcock,
to draw the letter "B" which Mr. Smith later
transformed into the face of a boy with the "B"
forming the figure's lips.
In May 1924 Elkhorn was chosen one of two
small cities in Wisconsin to be a part of a survey
•sponsored by three agencies: the Bureau of Agriculture, Washington, D. C., the Institute of Social
and Religious Research, New York City, and the Department of Agricultural Economics of the Wisconsin College of Agriculture. It covered the areas of
social- religion -educational aspects.
Clifford Snyder was one of Walworth county's
most famous sons. He gained international fame
with his paintings which were exhibited in some of
the world's most famous art galleries. He was a
dentist for several years in Berlin, Germany, where
he served the Royal Family. Heusedtopractice his
dental profession half the year and his art work the
rest of the year. Later a studio in Paris served as
his art headquarters, at which he died in January,
1928. Six paintings by Mr. Snyder are on display in
the Matheson Memorial library.
The Sperry Candy Co. of Milwaukee, formerly of
Elkhorn and headed by Miles Sperry, sold the rights
and formula of the famous "Denver Sandwich" candy
bar to theRedelCandyCo.,ofMilwaukee. The rights
and formula went for $15,000 and royalties on all
productions of the bar.
Adeline Bartelson was a 14-year-old sensation as
she won the State math Championship in May 1927.
The judges felt that her new records of speed and accuracy in computation would stand for a long time to
come! Mrs. Warren Whaples was still working with
figures in the office of Attorneys Eberhardt and
Sweet in the 1970s.
Alfred Olsen was a versatile inventor. One of
his greatest achievements was the origin and development of Densewood. In 1932 Rep. Thomas Amlie
heard of the rapidity with which the Speaker of the
House of Representatives, John Garner, broke his
gavels! Olsen was informed of this situation and
made a trip to Washington, n. C., where he presented
Mr. Garner with two gavels of black walnut.
His brother, Theodore Olsen, created handmade
knives which began as a hobby but spiraled into a
business with requests from all over the country.
His daughters, Thelma and Elma, are known for their
rosemaling talents, and articles made by these talented women are enjoyed by many. They also teach the
Norwegian art every year in several localities.
Another Olsen brother, Elmer, was also creatlve,
and his son, Earl, owner of the West Side Machine
Tool, Inc., is a talented musician. Earl has a
treasured collection of hand-carved Prehistoric
animals made by his father.
A well known hymn, "In the Sweet Bye and Bye"
was composed by Joseph Webster. Another of his
compositions, ''Lorena'', was the theme song used :in
the movie "Gone With The Wind."
Allen Ludden of television's "Password" fame attended Elkhorn schools while his father served as the
Elkhorn Light and Water su_perintendent.
In 1955 Bob Carman, the former writer for the
Independent, was made assistant vice president of
Welcome Wagon Inc. He was also a member of NBC
in Chicago and was a writer for entertainer Arthur

Kay Harris in the movie, "Tillie the Toiler"
Godfrey and later for Jack Paar.
Dan Kelliher, owner of the Sprague theater, was
elated when Elkhorn was chosen for the world premiere of ''Tillie, the Toiler'', starring a local girl,
Kay Harris. Kay, while working in Cincinnati, had
been given an opportunity for a screen test by Penny
Singleton. The premiere was a link to Hollywood for
the city and its local star!
Marion Tubbs Lawson wrote several books including ''Proud Warrior-Blackhawk", ''Solomon Juneau - Voyaguer" and "Maggie -Flying Bird". Her
mother, Helen Tubbs, was a prolific writerofpoetry
and prose.
Elkhorn boasted two women post-mistresses!
Mrs. Tom Morrissey (Tessa) was the first woman to
hold that office, serving from 1933-1950. She was
followed by Mrs. John Voss (Helen) whoservedfrom
1951 until 1953.
Dr. Rolland Anderson was voted the state's
"Veterinarian of the Year" in 1955.
Elizabeth Morrissy, now of Baltimore, received
one of the highest honors of the Catholic church at the
direction of Pope Pius XII in June, 1955. She was
presented with the "Pro Ecclesia Pontifice" medal

46

-

for distinguished service in the field of higher education.
Dr. Carl Lindow, with the Kellogg's Research station and later as counsel to the food and feed industries, wrote several books in thatfield. He appeared
in the "American Men of Science" and "Who Knows
and What", both honorary organizations in the scientific areas.
Student Joe Morgan, of Elkhorn, was given several
local awards and a state citation in 1967 for having
rescued three members of the Joseph Jacobs family
from a house on fire in late 1966. He used a ladder
to reach an upstairs window and bring the three children down it.
Connie Platts, of Elkhorn, who reigned as a Walworth County Fair queen, also added the honor of
being the first of Wisconsin's "Fairest of the Fairs"
queen and reigned over the 1967 State fair.
National situations were felt in Elkhorn during the
1970s, such as a partial meat boycott in April of
1973. Meat buying dropped by 8 to 10 percent in
Elkhorn stores as some housewives protested high
prices across the nation.
In February of 1974, truckers protested higher
fuel prices and a reduction of the speed limit to
55 mph nationally, which had come about due to the
Arab nation's oil embargo against the U.S. during
part of 1973. The truckers strike limited gasoline
and food supplies to some extent. The gasoline
shortage, the second to be felt locally in the 70s,
resulted in a couple of gasless Sundays as serVIce
stations simply closed.
A new "Brown Flu" hit Walworth county in
mid-May of 1974 as Walworth County Sheriff's
Deputies went on a work slowdown over stagnant
wage negotiations with county officials. There was
even a demonstration by deputies and theirfamilies,
as a symbolic picket line was formed for several
walks around the Courthouse here. A settlement
brought an end to the "flu" epidemic, which while
not of great severity,. was similar to other strikes
by public employees in Wisconsin and other oarts

%_,-~-

l

Connie Platts-State Fair Queen 1967

KNOWN AS THE "Brown Flu" epidemic," deputies of the
Walworth County Sheriff's Department went on a work slowdown

after wage negotiations with the county's

committee had bogged down in early 1974. The symbolic picket
line at the Courthouse occured in mid-May of that year.

Personnel

47

A NOTEWORTHY VISIT to Elkhorn was provided by !he 72member West Point Glee club, including senior Cadet James

and was called upon to introduce a number before his many
friends and neighbors in the EHS auditorium. The cadets
stayed overnight in the homes of local residents before resuming

Gronseth, an Elkhorn high graduate of 1969. The cadet was
able to arrange for the concert here on March 25, 1974,
as the Glee club toured the U.S. during their spring recess,

their tour.

of the nation, that started in the 1950s and 60s.
There were disturbances on college campuses in
the late 1960s, including one at the UW- Whitewater.
Racial incidents on Dec. 15-16 in 1969, Jed to two
black students being expelled and seven blacks suspended, following several weeks of formal hearings
at the Courthouse here during January. The disci-

plinary action by university President Dr. William
Carter came on the heels of a fire that destroyed
the Old Main building on the UW- W campus. Arson
was confirmed in the Feb. 7 blaze. There were also
some campus demonstrations over the suspension
of four teachers involved in protests, who were later
reinstated and the furor died off.

48

Recreational Pursuits
A great variety of recreation forms have developed in the Elkhorn area over the years, much of
it associated with the popularity of the lakes for
tourists in the summertime, which has been extended
into winter as well with ice-boating, skiing, icefishing and snowmobiling.
The development of state and city parks has led to
a lengthy period of baseball, a growing popularity of
tennis, band concerts and leisurely family picnics,
cycling and bunting add to outdoor activities, while
bowling remains one of the most popular indoor
sports.
Probably the first and most important recreation
started in Elkhorn, was the Walworth County Fair,
which was first held in the block to the southwest of
Courthouse park back in 1851. It was most likely
an exhibit of vegetables, corn and livestock, a project
of the Walworth County Agricultural Society, whose
constitution was adopted in 1842. In 1855 the original purchase of land was 6 acres at $100 an acre;
while today the Fair Association owns 85 acres and
the city has grown around much of it.
Horse racing became an early and integral part of
the fair. Since horses were used exclusively for
riding and driving, transportation and hauling of
freight, it is likely that owners strove to improve
the various strains, thus ensuring a faster and more
efficient means of locomotion. The races attracted
horses of note because the purses were considered
generous. Today the purse for each race is $1,000,
whereas most county fairs offer $500, and five horses
of the eight in each race come in on the money.
There were more pacers than trotters, but the intention was (and still is) to keep the numbers even.
In the days before motor transportation, there
frequently would be 100 horses here at once, and

THE POPULARITY of the Walworth County Fair has been
enhanced for a long time by harness racing. An early sulky
raced on the half mile track, probably about the turn of the
century.

their owners and trainers spent several days at the
fairgrounds, during which time a friendly camaraderie was enjoyed.
The track at Elkhorn is a half-mileovalin length
and the heats are twice around. Some tracks are a
mile around, but the visibility is much better with
the smaller oval. The dirt track today is composed
of limestone.
In 1913 the world Champion Shire Stallion, Dan
Patch, was a distinguished visitor at the Fair. A
"Shire" stallion was one of a large, heavy breed of
draft horses, originally developed in the "Shire" or
Midland counties of England. Dan Patch was a

TRACK INTEREST WAS evident
in this late September County
Fair picture taken in 1910 showing the old wooden grandstand
which was finally destroyed by
fire in 1970. The parade marshal
appears to be situated in front
of the old curved amphitheater.

49

THERE'S NO QUESTION about continuing interest in harness
racing with jam packed stands following a policy of free grandstand attractions in the 1970s. There was plenty of action in
the south tut·n.

OVER 141,000 ATTENDED RECORD SMASHING 1976 WALWORTH COUNTY FAIR
50

SOME OF THE buildings at the

1918 Walworth County Fair are
still recognizable on the left,
although the midway has changed

markedly from that of the 1970s.
However, large crowds continue
to flood the fairgrounds and its
exhibits.

especially for the Fair, and people came from as far
away as 90 and 100 miles. The "Eagle Track" ran
diagonally east of the fairgrounds. In 1913, Thursday attendance was 26,000 and Friday attendance
20,000; all the excursion trains were crowded to the
platforms. Recently Fair attendance has been estimated at over 120,000 for the five-day session,
With the attendance for the 1976 six-day Fair of
141,471, the all-time record.
The Holton-Elkhorn Band traces its history back
to the early 1840's; and during the Civil War, many
members of the band joined the 12th Regimental Band.

$10,000 animal owned by J. J. Mitchell of Ceylon
Court, Lake Geneva. Some years ago, a horse named
"Volo Song", owned by the Bakers, of St. Charles,
Ill., broke a leg in a race at the Fair and had to be
shot.
The original grandstand was made of wood and was
without a roof. It was later replaced by the amphitheater, which burned in 1970. The following year,
the present concrete structure was built, a large
portion of it paid for by donated funds of interested
citizens and fairgoers.
At the turn of the century special trains were run

form of bossy in addition to those riding in the convertibles
on Labor Day, the final day of the Fair in 1969.

ALTHOUGH THERE ARE many attractions at the County Fair,
its original purpose of being a showcase for agriculture con-

tinues. The Parade of Champions included many queens in the

51

INTEREST IN
MUSIC arrived
very early in the community
with the formation of a municipal band in the early 1840s,
which was to become known as
the Elkhorn Cornet Band. Uniforms were definitely a part of
the summer concerts, which received an infusion of talent when
the Holton Company relocated its
plant here. The present HoltonElkhorn Band along with its predecessor is now the nation's
second oldest municipal band.

There was a re-organizationin1883, and the Band
was duly incorporated as the Elkhorn Cornet Band.
In 1890 new music and a complete set of high-grade
silver-plated instruments were purchased; and
H. D: L. Adkins became director, a position he held
for 28 years.
On June 20, 1912 the weekly Band concerts began
on a Wednesday night, and continued until the middle
of September. There were 20 players: Cornets-E. W. Cory, George Taylor, W. E. MaGill, Cadmus
Marsh; clarinets--Arthur Johnson, Francis Cory,
John Renner, Addison Haugen; altos--Dr. J. M.
March, L. Clifford Howe; French horn--H. D. L.
Adkins; trombone--Charles Wales; tenors--F. B.
MaGill, John Wall; baritone--Dr. S. C. Goff; bass-Phil Stewart; baritone sax--George Renner; drums-Chris Nuoffer; tenor drum, traps, bells--GlenSweet;
director--J. H. Snuder, Jr. Mrs. Harry Dunbar and
Mrs. Mabyn Howe were soloists with the band.
The Band received an infusion of new talent in
1918 when the Frank Holton & Co. moved its band
headquarters and instrument factory to Elkhorn from

Chicago. A number of excellent musicians were included in the Holton work force, and they added
greatly to the Bands improvement, making it one of
the finest industrial bands in the country. Weekly
concerts in Courthouse Park drew crowds up to 5,000,
some coming from as far a way as Madison and
Milwaukee.
In July, of 1922, Carrie Jacobs Bond attended a
band concert here. In 1926 the city built an accoustically perfect band shell in the park, which
remained there until the new Courthouse was being
built in 1962, then the band shell was moved to its
present location in Sunset park, where the band
concerts are still conducted on Friday evenings
during the summer, making it the second oldest
municipal band in the nation.
The band was over 100 years old in 1945, but
there were no concerts that summer due to the lack
of experienced musicians, as many of them were
serving in the World War II armed forces.
On New Year's day of 1914 the Elkhorn Cornet
Band held its annual dance. The school musical

A NUMBER OF DANCE bands
have been formed over the years,
with the Bud Wilber musicians
probably the best known. The
band, which was pictured at the
Milwaukee Athletic club about
1960, was composed of (from lett)
David Beattie, Bobby Wilber,

Barbara Mann, John Davis, Bud
Wilber,
Bob Dominiak, Ted
Buenger, Dale VanDoren, Robert
Reed, Phil Welsh and lester
Loehrke.

52

organization put a ban on the tango: "dances with
obscene variations and naughty wiggles" were not to
be tolerated! It was stated that ''if the mothers of
Elkhorn were not disposed to bar the dis reputable
squirm of the underworld", then the band or some
other organization should ban it from local dance
halls.
Other musical activities took the form of gatherings around the piano or organ on Sunday evenings for
singing of all the old-standby selections, as well as.
the latest songs. Then there would be popcorn and
cider, or perhaps mush and milk for the evening meal.
Those were the days of the barbershop quartet, the
community chorus and the fami!y orchestra.
There were several Elkhorn musical organizations for the edification and benefit of those who enjoyed good music. They were started for the pleasure of the individuals concerned, and later branched
out to entertain the public.
The Philharmonic Club of Elkhorn, probably the
only organized singing group in the city aside from
local church choirs, was going strong at the turn of
the century, and for several years after. Membership numbered more than 50, and meetings were held
at various homes, where programs would be arranged
and presented.
Three 1903 printed programs furnished at the
meetings have been preserved by the Elkhorn Independent and name soloists who participated; Mesdames Walter Lauderdale, Harley Norris, F. H.
Eames, John Dunphy, Fred Schmidt, Edward Ellsworth, Bertha Medbery, Byron McKinstry, Fred
Hubbell, Phil Stewart, Julia Dunlap, T. J. Jones.
Grant Harrington, L. L. Medbery, Julius Edwards,
Nad H. C. Miller; Misses Cora Harris, Edna Derthick, Linn Sprague, Lucille Damuth, Margaret
Phillip, Helen Sage, Bertha Taylor, Lulu Matheson,
Modjeska Martin, Mabel Morefield, Mabel Young,
Eva Tubbs, Jessie Sprague, and Mary Chrystal.

This group presented programs which included
patriotic songs, songs by American composers,
;ongs and ballads of Scotland, and compositions by
Joseph P. Webster. They presented the "Messiah"
several times, not only in Elkhorn, but also in
neighboring towns. Mrs. Fred Schmidt was the
club's last president in 1932.
Those were also the days of the barbershop
quartet, but as far as anyone can recall, no organized quartet sang with regularity in the era around
1903. In later years, Victor Johnson, GeorgeDesing,
"Dusty" Rhodes, and Archie Morrissey comprised
a quartet, and the group sang together for several
years. In the 1920's and far into the 1930's, the
Princess Quartet filled hundreds of engagements;
its members were Victor Johnson, Paul Hughes,
Kenneth Goodrich and Dan Kelliher.
In the late 1960's, barbershop was revived for
a couple of years among men. Gene Ingersoll, John
Henderson, Kirt Fiegel and Charles Bils formed a
quartet and barbershop concert competition was held
at the high school in 1969 and 1970.
A few Elkhorn women foundharmonyintheSouthern Lakes Sweet Adelines chapter, headquartered in
Delavan during this same period and into the mid1970s. Patti Murphy became a group director, with
Esther Derksen, Candy Cervenka and Maurine Walsh
taking part in shows.
There were other local organizations that provided amusement for the participants as well as for
the listeners. Dr. J. M. Marsh was famous for his
family orchestra, and E. W. Cory had the same type
of musical organization. The musicians played for
fun, and were good enough to perform frequently in
public. Both orchestras were in demand for entertainment and as "pit" orchestras at the Sprague
Opera House.
With all the local musical talent, small groups
could be found to play for dances. Many people re-

A CONTINUATION OF the city's music interest was the
establishment of the Milwaukee Symphony Associaf1on of Wal-

and school concerts to the area each year. The public C11es
are held at Elkhorn high school, which includes a full Mil-

worth County in the 1970s, which brings a series of public

waukee Symphony performance.

53

ONE OF THE MOST well known local barbershop groups was

in the 1920s. The quartet was composed of (from left) Dan

the Princess Quartet which sang for many years after starting

Kelliher, Paul Hughes, Kenneth Goodrich and Victor Johnson.

member the good times enjoyed in Warning Hall
(above Lynch Interiors) and in Columbus and Wisconsin Halls. The George Hatch Orchestra, from
Janesville, was sometimes called to play at Warning
Hall and was a favorite band as George Hatch was a
former Elkhorn boy. At intermission wonderful
dinners were served in the Nickel Plate dining room.
Local liveries stabled out-of-town guests horses
without charge.
Then there were dances at Pecks Station and at
Millard which were well attended by local dancers.
It was great fun in winter to arrange a sleigh ride to
a dance in one of the rural areas. And barn dances
could be counted on to draw some of the local young
people for summertime entertainment.
At the turn of the century, the Choir Boys Band
of St. John's Episcopal Church was an outstanding
young musical group.
An old-time fiddlers' contest, the first of its kind
to be put on here, was a distinct success at the·
American Legion Hall in April of 1926.
After World War II the VFW Drum and Bugle
Corps was organized and in 1948 was joined by Fred
Platts and his horse "Lady"; their fine performances made them a popular demand in the area.
The manager Edmund Mills and Mr. Platts built a
trailer to transport "Lady" to the performances
with the corps.
In 1968 another drum corps, The Titan Drum and
Bugle Corps, was formed; it too was a fine group of
young players and was directed by Gene Meadows and
Elmer Scheiby.
Also in 1968, The Lakeland Youth Symphony was

organized; the group received an invitation and accepted to play at Hemis Fair in San Antonio, Texas,
in August ofthat summer. Later the orchestra moved
to Whitewater.
Dramatics have always been of interest botb to
those who participate and to those who are entertained. Elkhorn was fortunate to have the Sprague Opera
House for the use of local and traveling groups until
it burned in 1925. In those early days of tbis century
the home town drama groups rehearsed and produced
some memorable plays here, and then went to neighboring towns to perform for their audiences, while
the dramatic groups from those towns would come
to Elkhorn in an exchange performance. The fact
that often the players were friends and well-known
to the audience made the productions all the more
interesting and enjoyable.
A so-called "Chautauqua" came to Elkhorn, and
was held on the west side of the Courthouse. The
performances were presented in a large tent in July
and August. This was an outgrowth of the adult educational movement which originated in Chautauqua,
N.Y., its home base. Lyceum bureaus of several
grades of price range furnished the talent for small
towns. lt is thought that the longer-established Assembly Grounds on Delavan Lake rather eclipsed
Elkhorn's in size andnumberoftalentedperformers.
In July 1916 "The Birth of a Nation" was shown
in the Sprague Opera House. A company of 25 people and two motion picture machines came to present
it, with a 17 pi~ce orchestra furnishing tbe music for
the performance. In 1922 Elkhorn arranged for a
Lyceum course, which was a kind of winter Chautau-

54

qua. In May 1922 a Masonic Minstrel show was
presented for two evenings to packed houses.
A number of Elkhorn area and summer residents
were involved with the famed Belfry theater near
Williams Bay, which began in 1932 and lasted until
its demise following the widening of nearby highway
67 in the mid 1960s. Its most illustrious residentactor was Paul Newman in the 1950s. The former
Mormon church still stands as part of a new
theater building, which is used on occasion by a
summer troupe.
The allegiance to the Belfry productions became transferred to the Lakeland Players, Inc.,
which was formed in Elkhorn in 1973. The local
and area thespians specialized in Broadway musicals, first at the Elkhorn Cinema (Sprague theater)

and later in 1976, performing on the stage of the
Elkhorn Area high school.
A team of debaters comprising Roy Lauderdale,
Merton Wales, and Henry Brown, were matched
with Beloit in the Sprague Opera House a number
of years ago. Several hundred people attended
the inter-city match.
A history of recreation in Elkhorn would not
be complete without a word about Dan Kelliher,
who built the Sprague Theater in 1928. He was
a public-spirited gentleman, and presented only
"high class" movies; he loved children and gave
them many free shows at holidays and other times.
His theater also was popular for staging shows
as well as showing movies. The Ladies Aid Society of the Congregational church sponsored the

community entertainment in the form of plays and other dramatic presentations. He often treated children to special
free showings, such as this Christmas party in December of
1965.

DAN KELLIHER WAS KNOWN throughout the community by

young and old alike as operator of the movie theater for nearly
50 years. The building of the modern Sprague theater in 1928
was matched by the first-rate movies he booked as we!! as

55

THE SPRAGUE OPERA House frequently had shows on stage,
ranging from traveling companies to high school productions.

One of the latter was presented in this early scene, featuring
a large cast, probably about 1920.

ELKHORN RESIDENTS have had a long interest and involvement in drama, beginning with traveling troupes appearing
in the Sprague Opera House. Later there was the nearby Be!fry

theater and now a large number of residents appear in Lakeland
Players productions, such as the "Music Man" that was given
on stage at the Elkhorn Cinema in late 1974.

56

ONE OF THE MOST unfrogettable dramaiic events in Elkhorn
history was the ..Womanless Wedding," so called because
65 men made up the entire cast for the variety show, with
the late Judge Roscoe Luce as the "bride". The extravaganza

was staged in October of 1928 at the new Sprague theater.
Variety stage shows were received for a while by the Kiwanis
Club in the early 1960s.

"Womantess Wedding" in October in 1928, which
was seen by about 1,200 people. lt featured 80
local men in the cast of characters, including the
late Judge Roscoe Luce as the "leading lady."
In the tate 1950s and early 60s, the Kiwanis
club revived the stage shows, creating several
musical revues, featuring instrumental and vocal
home town talent. Probably the most memorable
aspect of the revue was the men's chorus line of
high steppers.
In 1869 an Old Settlers' Society was organized
to give young and old of Elkhorn a new holiday, an
Old Settlers' Picnic Day. The second Wednesday
in June was established as the meeting day, and
hundreds of people gathered annually with picnic
baskets in Courthouse Park. There were domestic
and imported speakers, and old Elkhorn was visible
in its non-partisan, non-commercial aspects.
Speeches alternated with a band playing and doublequartet singing.
The Soldiers and Sailors Reunion was held in
the park in August each year. The Independent of
Aug. 21, 1913 reports: "The Elkhorn Band played
an unusually enjoyable concert last night, the program being made up especially in honor of the
Soldiers and Sailors Association, which held its
annual reunion on the park yesterday afternoon.
Several hundred more than usual beard the concert from the extra seats placed in the park."
In 1920 the Community Hall was added to the
north side of the Baptist Church, where it served

the townspeople as a center for recreation, for
basketball, volleyball, handball and bowling, for
many years. After it fell into disuse and disrepair,
it was torn down in 1972. The addition had originally been the Unitarian Church which stood on
Walworth Street.
Tent shows were frequent attractions in summer; in addition to the Chautauqua programs,
there were Wild West shows, Medicine shows
and Circuses which pitched their tents on vacant
lots about town. Picture, if you can, a tent show
in place of the First National Bank, or the National
Food Store, or the True Value Hardware Store, or
in the 100 block of West Court Street. Nowadays
the circuses are apt to be on or across from the
Fairgrounds.
Bowling has been popular in Elkhorn since early
in the century. In 1942 a newcomer was told that if
she wanted to get acquainted in the town, she would
have to bowl.
The first alleys were in what is now the Arnold
building and were operated by Phil Stewart. In
1938, six lanes were installed in the former Spinner
Ford Garage, and were run by Kenneth Seelye, who
was granted a beer license. This was looked upon
with disapproval by the Methodists, many of whom
never returned to bowl there. At this time the
official name of the alleys was "Elkhorn Recreation", and mail came addressed thus, until new
ownership took over. The business was purchased
in 1948 by Verne Evans, who operated the lanes
57

If You Can't Laugh Don't Come to See the
,,

'0MANLESS WEDDING''

11

To Be Presented at the Sprague Theatre-Biggest Affair Ever Staged in Elkhorn
Screames of Laughter-Sponsoried by Ladies Aid Society of Congregational Church

80

......

Local Men as Characters ...... 80
By SYMPSON-LEVIE COMPANY OF BARDSTOWN, K ENTUCKY

AU Star Cast Featuring Judge Luee as Leading Lady
Mademe
King.

Cast of Characters

Schuman

Heink-Roscoe

Mr. and Mrs. Henry Ford-Harold
Opitz, W. R. Brownlee.
Annie Laurie-Chas. Bray.
Henpecked Husband and his Devoted Wife-Ed House and Mr. Kidd.
Flapper of 1928-Bud Meyers.
Kentucky Colonel and his LadyFrank Holton, Art Jones.
President and Mrs. Coolidge-Burr
Little, Elmer RidgewaY.

Butler-Geo. Harrington.
Punch Girls-Willis Opitz,

Bill
Sheldon.
Present Takers-Herman Schaffer,
Bayard Lyon.
Bride's Weeping
Mother-Chas.
Wilson.
Bride's
Comforting
Father-Al
Spinner.
Bad Little Brothers-Hal Hubbac>l,
Claude Eames.
Old Maid Aunt-Donald Trythall.
Ikey Rosenstein-Geo. Meyers.
Bride's Grandmother-Ora Taylor.
Bride's Grandfather-A. J. Reed.
Chas. Chaplin-Ben Bachhuber.
Deaf Unde and Aunt from the
Country-C. A. Jahr, Reuben Lackey.
Twin Sisters-Henry Tall, Dr. Gre~
gerson.
Pritz Kreisler-Glenn Vaughn.
Mary Pickford-Dan Kelliher.
Groom's Haughty Father and Mother-Alfred Godfrey, C. W. Schramek.
Sis Hopkins-Art Desing.
Sit Harry Lauder-Paul Hughes.
Mr. and Mrs. John D. RockefellerNick Carter, Harry Dunbar.
Fashion Plate-Birdell Reed.
Country Cousin-Oscar Desing.
Pat and Rosie O'Grady-L. J. Merriam, Will Shaver.

Negro Mammy'--Mark Potter.
Baby Sister-Ernie Daskall.
Rastus and Samba-Harold Reed
and Hilmar Desing.
V!i:Tiage Sf:hoolmatm-John Meadows.
General Pershing-Chas. Lyon.
Col. Lindbergh-Volney Lackey.
Thead Bara-Jim Rosa.
Irving Berlin-Kenneth Goodrich.
Ushers-Mr. Steele, Rev. Barnlund.
Best Man-Laurel Swan.
Bishop-R. T. Wiswell.
Ringbearer-Dr. Ridgway.
Maid of Honor-Dr, Sorenson.
Bridesmaids-A. T. Thorson, Harry
Cain, Walter Strong, Harry Howe.
Trainbearer-Burton Wales.
Flower
Girls,
Harry
Shaffer,
Clarence Bucholtz.
Bride-Judge Luce.
Groom-Guess Who 11 ?

ONDAY AND TUESAY,

OCT~

29·30

Show Starts at 8:30 P.M.-Reserved Seats 75c; General Admission 50c; Children 30c
a

arnlng

This particular play was composed, is owned and produced by Sympson-Levie Company,
protected by Copyright, No. 70971, U.S. Copyright Office, Washington, D. C. Any person or organization attempting infringement will be prosecuted to the fullest extent and
damages collected.

58

ONE OF THE EARLY recreation
centers in Elkhorn was the Community hall, which was added on
to the First Baptist church in
1920. It had formerly been the
Unitarian church here. The hall
on the north side of the Baptist
church provided activities in
basketball, volleyball, handball
and bowling for many years until
no longer used in the 1960s, and
was finally torn down in 1972.

for the swimming bus and provided leadership.
After discussion for several years, a pool in Sunset Park became a reality in 1965, spearheaded by a
citizens committee with Robert Getzen at the head.
The committee raised $36,000 in pledges. It has
been a busy spot in summer ever since with swimming classes and competitions. The pool at Lakeland School and other school and resort-motel
pools in nearby communities accommodate those
who wish to swim in winter.
Ball games always have been of interest. During
the summers of the depression years, a game called
"kitten ball" became very popular. The ball used
was a semi- soft ball about four inches in diameter.
There were numbers of teams, and an inter-city
league. There were four diamonds in Elkhorn, one
east of Jackson Street in the south part of town, one
where the Henderson garage is now located, one
near the Holton Factory, and one at Harris Field,
near the Middle School. Lights were installed at
the latter, and there were bleachers at this field,
so that two games could be played in one evening.
During the 1930's, when corn sold for 30 cents a
bushel and oats for 10 cents and when there was
much unemployment, many kitten ball games were
played, and much enthusiasm was aroused because
of friendly rivalry between the teams.
Baseball teams for different age levels of boys
and later for girls, became one of the popular summer activities, most of it sponsored through a city
recreation program of Little and Pony Leagues,
girl's softball and the growing interest in both men's
and women's slow-pitch softball. For many years,
up until the mid-1960s, there was a city hardball
team of young men, but interest diminished with the
advent of the slow-pitch leagues and tournaments.
Men's basketball has drawn interest in the past
several years with two divisions playing in the Kinne
gym of the Middle school, which was a long time
site of Elkhorn high home games.
Tennis and golf have their devotees and have
grown in numbers of players. Most Elkhorn golfers
played at the nine-hole Lauderdale Country club or
at the 18-hole Delbrook course in Delavan. Lake
Lawn lodge on Delavan Lake, Hillmoor at Lake Geneva and later the Playboy club's two courses, have
come into more public use. The latest course to

during the next six winter seasons.
A frequent onlooker in late afternoons remembers that the following businessmen gathered there
regularly: "Sprint" Howard Wheeler, Colon MacKenzie, Art Desing, Jim Mason, Vic Johnson, and
Harry Frank. There was also a unique team of
the five Flynn sisters: Leah (Jensen), Charlotte
(Minette), Carol (Meadows), Phyllis (Gaber) and
Pat (Wilber).
They were sponsored by Breber
Music -- and are still at it.
Bowling was especially popular at this time,
and the alleys were often booked up Saturday for
the following Sunday from 1 o'clock to closing time.
Television had not yet come to Elkhorn, because of
the high ridge north of Lake Geneva.
The problem of the time was in obtaining pin
setters; farmers were happy to have their sons
''set pins", and many were anxious to earn extra
money, but the State Industrial Commission was
greatly concerned and very arbitrary about it.
Harold Mishler purchased the alleys in 1954,
mechanized and operated them until the present
Two Seasons Alleys were built and operated initially
by Robert Reed and Phil Welsh, who later sold it
in 1975 to Norbert Landreman.
The 1926 purchase by the city of Dan Corbett's
pond brought to an end the joys of Elkhorn's "Ole
Swimmin' Hole".
Alas, this area which once
echoed to the sounds of happy shouts, and where
many local lads learned to swim, is to become -a dump! Many a city father heard the high-pitched
voice of old Dan shouting, "Be off, or I'll be havin'
the law on yez!"
On the site of this loved spot there was once a
gravel and clay hill which rose some ten feet higher
than the surrounding land. The hill furnished material for many road and construction projects, and
the resulting hole became Corbett's Pond. An ice
house was built near it, and ice was taken from the
pond to fill it. Now the ice house and the pond remain only as memories.
Swimming, other than for the boys at Corbett's
Pond, was not easily available and necessitated an
opportunity to go to one of the lakes. In the 1930's
a Red Cross swimming program was instituted which
bused the children to Williams Bay for swimming
lessons. Later the city assumed the responsibility
59

mobile safety was being conducted north of the city on county
property.

SLEIGH RIDES OF an earlier era have been almost totally
replaced by winter rides on the popular snowmobile, which
came into great prominence in the late 1960s. A class in snow-

open was the Evergreen Country club in the spring
of 1975, a project developed by Mann Bros. Inc.,
of Elkhorn and located north of the city along highways 12-67.
Interest in tennis locally has grown at about the
same rapid pace as its rise to prominence around the
nation. When the three tennis courts at the Harris
Athletic Field became too crowded, four new ones
were built at Sunset park on the west side of Elkhorn
in the fall of 1968 for public use. To meet the demand for teaching and competition, the Elkhorn Area
school district added eight tennis courts and a

"bounce wall" at the high school site in the fall of
1976.
While sleighing parties were in vogue in the early
1900s, which might involve many for a day or evening's ride, these were gradually replaced by hayride
parties and more recently by family snowmobiling,
a multi-million dollar recreation enterprise. For
those seeking the quietness of winter, cross-country
skiing is a new hobbyforquiteafew as nearby downhill skiing areas have become crowded due to its
immense popularity.

A CONTRAST TO the snowmobile of winter is the municipa!
swimming pool in Sunset park, constructed in 1965, which

draws hundreds of youngsters for fun, competition and swim
lessons.

60

Clubs And Organizations
aine Hotel, with the Presidents of the District
and State Federation attending. Two charter members were honored: Mrs. Morris Steele and Mrs.
Granville Jones (nee' Jessie Lyon). Contributions
of the History Club to Red Cross, Community
Chest, Infantile Paralysis Fund, Indian Welfare,
Camp Truax, etc. were noted.
At the Golden Jubilee program, roll call response
was short biographies of women prominent in
state and local history. Poems written by five
club members were read: ''The Inventor's Wife''
by Mrs. Alfred G. Olsen, "Wisconsill" by Mrs.
Henry Tubbs, "The Cycle" by Mrs. Bertha Weeks,
"Plymouth" by Mrs. A.O. Stevens, and Mrs. M. S.
Steele's poem in memory of Helen Martin. Mrs.
Fred Webster told the story of the Webster home
where she and her husband were residing.
The Elkhorn History Club today still meets
on Monday nights, twice a month, and still belongs to the District and State Federations. The
Club gives an award to the outstanding girl history student in Elkhorn High School each year.

The Elkhorn History Club is the oldest club
in continu&us existence in the city. On Oct. 6,
1893 five young ladies met at the home of Miss
Jessie Lyon to organize a literary society. Then
on Nov. 6 sixteen women organized the History
Club, with meetings to be held on Monday evenings in their homes, and limited membership to
25. The ladies reviewed books, wrote poetry, studied short stories and current events, put on plays,
did war work and Red Cross service in the two
World Wars, bought bonds, kept records of war
service in World War I, and donated a set of
Shakespeare books to the library.
They sponsored exhibits and speakers on Indian
relics, paintings, color etching (Pescheret ofWhitewater), china and glass (Watts of Milwaukee). They
even put on grand opera with Ruth Bradley Eames
as Madame Butterfly. (She was Claude Eames'
mother and had a lovely soprano voice.)
The club had joined the District & State Federation of Women's Clubs January 3, 1919. On their
50th anniversary, a luncheon was held at the Lor-

THE OLDEST CLUB IN CONTINUOUS existence in the city is the Elkhorn History club, organized

in 1893. Members of the club in 1903 were (front row, from

!eft) Jessie Byington, Margaret

Hurlbut, Edith Schmidt, Mabel Young Wiswell, Lutie Reed, Lin Prisk, (2nd row, left) Bird Cain,

Ruth Wales Isham, Helen Tubbs, Emma Sprague, Sarah Francis, Mary Mills, (3rd row, left)
Jessie Lyon Jones, Jessie Sprague, Irene Norton, lucy Coman, Millie Johnson, Mamie Hoffman
and Carrie Medberry.

61

AMATEUR PHOTOGRAPHERS formed the Elkhorn Camera club

were (from left} Mrs. Howard C. Strong, Mrs. J. Walter
Strong, Miss Myrtle Mosher, Mrs. W. Allyn Strong, W. Allyn
Strong, J. Walter Strong and Robert Robson.

in 1938, which continued in existence until 1942 as World War II
was now underway. At a meeting of the club in the East meeting
room (now Mary Bray room} of the Matheson Memorial library

OTHER ORGANIZATIONS

Order of the Rainbow - is also a Masonic
group, this one for girls between the age of 12
and 20. This is both a social and a service organization, supporting the Masonic Home at Dousman,
the Shrine hospital, and locally the girls provide
entertainment and services at the nursing homes.
Each April Founder's Day is observed by attending
one of the local churches in a group.
The Elkhorn Camera Club was organized April
12, 1938 with J. Walter Strong as president; it
disbanded in the fall of 1942.
League of Women Voters operated in 1920. It
disbanded in 1921 when women got the vote in
Wisconsin.
Women's Club of Elkhorn - was an outgrowth
of the Literary Club. Rosemary Hohfelder was
1976 president.
Junior Women's Club - it is involved in many
community activities. Dixie Fiegel was 1976 president.
Haklar Club - was organized by high school
girls about 1915 as a sewing club; then became
a card club with evening parties. It disbanded
after Alice Murphy died as it had met there and
she had served refreshments and dinners.
Hoo-Hoos - was organized about 1922 to meet
in homes. At that time city lights were turned
off at midnight. The hostess called the Power
House on meeting night and asked that the lights
be left on till l a.m. so the members could see
to get home.
W.C.T.U.
(Women's Christian Temperance
Union)
was an early organization, but is no
longer in existence here, having started about

History Club - oldest continuous existence"
Begun in 1893. A women's club. Doris Wise was
the 1976 president.
Booster Club - Elkhorn Business Men. Begun
in 1920. Robert Riese was president in 1976.
Kiwanis Club - organized Apr. 27, 1922. Frank
Holton was the first president. It has Monday
luncheon meetings and is a service organization.
Robert Getzen was 1976 president.
Chamber of Commerce - organized Sept. 20,
1945. William Sheldon was first president with
Carroll Conner now the executive vice president.
Richard Howarth was President in !976.
Red Cross - dates back to 1917. Then Virgil
C. Cobb's sorrel mare was sold for the benefit
of Red Cross. Vera Davis was district representative for many years. In World War II and
afterwards she was American Field Service Representative. Marlyne Seymour was Elkhorn's chairperson for the last decade.
Masonic Lodge, Harmony Lodge, organized June
17, 1848. Later disbanded when many members
went to California Gold Rush. New lodge started
in 1856 as Elkhorn Lodge #77. The Masonic Temple
was built in 1915.
Eastern Star - a women's fraternal organization, is both a social and a service group. It supports the Shrine hospital and helps provide care
for sick or orphaned children. The Elkhorn order
was started in 1899 with East Troy as its mother
chapter. Its Worthy Patron and Matron are Harry
and Barbara Grabow.
62

1911.
The Badger Club - was organized in Feb.
1912 as a young men's social club. Walter West
Jr. was first president.
The Garden Club - was organized in July of
1918, with 65 members. Mrs. Don Kunkel was
1976 president.
In December, 1918, the County Bee Keepers
formed an organization with J. A. Travis president.
In 1927 the Girl Scouts were organized. Mrs.
Carl Riekon was the 1976 community leader.
On Feb. 28, 1946, the V.F.W Post was organized with Judge Roscoe R. Luce as first Commander. The VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars)
Building was later built on South Broad Street
On Sept. 10, 1919 the American Legion Post
was organized and its charter was granted Nov.
24, 1919. There were 15 charter members, later
becoming known as the Kelley-Gardner-Katzman
Post, which now meets in the Municipal Building.
The 1976 Commander was Charles Gerlach.
The Rotary Club, formed in Elkhorn in August,
1969, is the city's newest service club. Earl Paddock was 1976 president.
The Elkhorn Senior Citizens, organized in 1967,
meets in the Elkhorn Community Center on Thursday afternoons. Mrs. Ann King was 1976 president.
Boy Scouts - the 6oth anniversary of the
national organization was noted in February, 1976.
Elkhorn Boy Scouts in several troops belong to
the Sinnisippi Council. Local leaders in 1976 were
Leonard Brellenthin and Thomas Conway.
The Jaycees - as a service organization has
a number of annual projects including a couple
for children. Among their larger efforts were
gifts for the Community Center and improvement
of Harris Athletic field. Heading the chapter are
James Beaver and Ken Meine!.
The Jaycettes - is a women's group assisting
the Jaycees. Its charter president was Mrs. Charles
Murray, while Mrs. Judy Landreman is now
president.
Lions Club - is celebrating its 25th anniver-

sary with Harold Schuren as incoming president.
Major community efforts have included gifts for
the Community Center and municipal swimming
pool, erection of the Lions Den in Sunset park
and supporting delegates to Badger Boys State.
American Legion Auxiliary - members are involved in service to veterans through Poppy Day
sales and helping with the Christmas gift shop
at Wood VA hospital. Phyllis Wilkinson is president.
VFW Auxiliary - is also a women's group working closely with the Veterans of Foreign Wars
organization by remembering the sick and bereaved.
It was organized April 10, 1947 with a membership of 20, including women from Lake Geneva
and Delavan. President is Mrs. George McCann.
Order of the Moose - fraternal organization
promotes family togetherness through support of
Mooseheart Home for Children and scholarships
for needy children. Members also sponsor the
8th grade Middle school graduation party and allows
use of its building for events. William Longmore is
its governor.
Women of the Moose - is an auxiliary to the
men's lodge with similar aims. Its senior regent
is Barbara Sleeman.
Welcome Wagon Club - was formerly the Newcomers Club locally. It provides informative programs for new people in the community in addition to social functions in helping the newcomers
become acquainted. Teresa Donnamaria is the president now.
The Daughters of the American Revolution Elkhorn Chapter - was organized in January 1910 with
13 local women. The president at this time is
Mrs. Frederick Young.
The Daughters of the Unions Veterans of the
Civil War Tent No. 8 - was organized in January
1926 with 33 members. Mrs. Lawrence Kehl is the
president nrJw.
4-H Clubs - find many Elkhorn area children
active. Professional leadership is offered by the
UW -Extension faculty in the courthouse here. Support for 4-H programs is a joint effort of county
government, the University of Wisconsin, and the

THE CITY'S MEMORIAL DAY
observance has been a co-operative effort of veteran's organizations.
Members of the
American Legion post, which was

started after WW I, and of the
Veterans of Foreign Wars, begun
after WW II, comprise the color
gu·ard and rifle squad leading the

annual parade in Elkhorn.

63

ONE ASPECT OF THE Daughters of the American Revolution
is patriotism, which the Elkhorn chapter demonstrated in the
presentation of a Betsy Ross flag to the Webster House Museum
in May of the Bicentennial year. Taking part in the flag pre-

sentation were DAR members (from left) Mary Belle Harris,
Mrs. W. F. Uebele, Myrtle Bodden, Phoebe Ellsworth, Joyce
Kimpel and Walworth County Historical Society Officials Stanley
Schuren and Helen Kluge.

U.S. Department of Agriculture. Those enrolled
in 4-H have a wide choice of projects, such as
creative arts, personal development, science projects or home economics.
AARP - stands for American Association for
Retired People. It is associated with the national
association and it aims to help the elderly. lt
does this in many ways: educational or informational meetings, making insurance available and
sponsoring a drug center where medicine can be
obtained at less expense. The Elkhorn association
meets in the Civic Center with Mrs. Mildred
Leonard as president.
American Field Service - better known as
AFS, helps students from other parts of the world
become acquainted with the United States. Foreign students have come to Elkhorn to attend school
for a year, residing with a local family and sharing its life. While here, students also are available to speak at club meetings so that Americans
can learn about their countries too. In addition,
this group also supports Elkhorn students who go
abroad as part of the exchange.
Elkhorn Pistol Club - is a new club, organized only two years ago for people interested
in competitive shooting. It meets in the county's

Hunters Safety Building on Hodges Road and is
governed by a board of directors.
Knights of Columbus (Council 3464) - was organized here in !952. Its principles are unity, charity,
fraternity, and patriotism, all leading from and
flowing back to their solid belief in Catholicism.
The Elkhorn council is one of many such councils
in the world concerned mainly with helping the
church. David Nettekoven is Grand Knight of the
Elkhorn council.
Lakeland Players Inc. - was begun in 1973
and is composed of amateur actors and actresses
who have banded together to form a community
theater. lts performances are given in the auditorium of the Elkhorn High School now. The Players
have specialized in musicals. Linda Brabazon,
Elkhorn, is the 1976 president.
Southern Lakes Business and Professional Women's Club - has members from the entire county,
but Elkhorn women have, from its start in 1951,
played an important role. Mrs. Wayne Jacobs is
the current president of the club. The BPW Club
promotes the interests of women through education,
fellowship, service, and legislation. The club has
provided scholarships for students atGatewayTechnical institute.

64

Remember, Remember
Do residents recall the delicious aroma coming
from the popcorn wagon that was on the Chicago
Store and former State bank corners and later on the
Masonic Temple corner?
Or can a person recall when the city purchased a
water sprinkler wagon in 1914 to cut the dust on the
city's business streets?
Who remembers when the school bell was rung to
call the children to classes in the morning and at
noon? Or sometimes when it rang a few moments
late if Mr. Yahnke saw some coming tardy, but enabled them to be on time due to the delay. The school
bell now is mounted in front of the Middle school as a
decoration and a reminder of days gone by.
In 1905 there was a grand total of six automobiles
in Elkhorn. Some may recall the Mitchell, Detro iter,
Studebaker, Ford, Cadillac, Reo, Over land, Chalmers, Hudson, Buick, Crow, Paige, Hup, Pierce
Arrow, Dort, Stutz Bearcat and Stanley Steamer.
A billboard fenced off the vacant lot where now
the Sprague Theater stands, and all sorts of auction
and sale bills were posted there. There were knot
holes that one might peek through to see if anything
had happened behind the fence.
The Indianapolis Publishers of "The History of
Walworth County" by Beckwith have notified the Elkhorn patrons that the books will be delivered on or
about August, 1912. It was interesting to note how
many Walworth County citizens "came across" with
the $75 for the privilege of seeing their faces in the
biographical volume.
In 1912, Elkhorn's ironing day was changed from

Tuesdays to Wednesdays, and in 1914 ithadbeen expanded to both days. With electricity available
both days in the forenoon, electric irons became
more popular despite the scarcity of power.
October 1913. A. J. Reed has anew rubber tired
hearse.
"December 1913 - Some depraved specimen of
humanity is responsible for the death of little' 'Dixie''
the post office dog. He died of poisoning last night
after he returned home from the office with Miss
Morefield. The same fate met "Sancho", Fred
Schmidt's black shepherd and the dog belonging to
George Strode. The individual responsible deserves
a coat of hot tar and feathers!" (An Independent
item)
The Elkhorn Independent had sections of news devoted to Honey Creek, Darien, Delavan, Lyons, East
Delavan, Adams, Springfield, Spring Prairie, Whitewater, Aliens Grove, Heart Prairie, Bloomfield,
Pecks' Station, LaGrange, Millard and German
Settlement.
April 8, 1914 - Don Blanchard, of Chicago, suffered a fracture of his right arm cranking his car in
front of the Nickel Plate hotel.
June 10, 1914 -Fourteen stalled autos were pulled
out of the mire of Elkhorn streets last week. This
was the record number, according to Street Commissioner Thomas Keefe.
REMEMBER WHEN
Do you look at the peak of the Elkhorn House now
Manuel!' s restaurant, and remember the clock that
used to be there?
May 8, 1913 Again sidewalk conditions in the city
of Elkhorn have become a subject of heated debate.
Stretches of the dangerous board walk which were
condemned four years ago are still untouched, although notices were served the owners by the street
commissioner for their removal.
Do you remember the sound offootsteps resounding in the still of the night as some passerby walked
across the board walk?
Oct. 30, 1913 There is now a continuous cement
walk on both sides of the street from the business
part of Elkhorn to the depot. The last piece of the old
board walk in front of Miss Nettie Smith's place on
the west side of the street has been removed and a
cement walk put in its place.
April 6, 1916 Local fire departments first call
in several months was on Monday to a fire of unknown
origin, which totally destroyed the Nick Burns barn
near the depot. When reached, the fire was burning
merrily, but not for long before three streams of
water were turned on it. The horses had been taken
out before the department arrived. The roads were
in such a bad condition that the hose cart was taken
down the sidewalk and everything considered, made
good time. The fire drew a large crowd in much less
time than either of the political meetings here lately.
Remember the lamp lighter who made the rounds
at dusk lighting the street lamps, and in the morning
went around again and put the lights out. His name
was Mr. Smith, and he was a brother to Mrs. Pete
Bauermann.

Remember the popcorn wagon here?
65

AT THE TURN OF the century,
there were just buggies on Elkhorn's dirt streets. The new Elkhorn House hotel had been built

on the northeast corner of what
was to become the main intersection -- Walworth and Wisconsin

streets.
It had a clock on the
corner of the building at the
attic level, just below the roof
line.

quart.
1912 Prunes 3 lbs. for 25¢, butter 1 lb. 31¢,
towels 17 by 36 10¢, muslin 8¢ a yard, at the R. G.
Hoffman Store, barrel of flour $4.80, and gasoline
16¢ a gallon.
1913 Cheese 25¢ a lb., Christmas gifts- Chocolates 35¢, 60¢, $1 and $1.50 -Sperry Bros.; E. C.
Hubbard Store 40 lbs. apples $1, 20 lbs. best cane
sugar $1, Navy beans 5¢ lb., 1 lb. coffee 18¢, 10 lbs.
salt 10¢.
The Ford touring car just received, come in and
look it over, price $570, Ben Bachhuber.
1914 Carload of apples and pears $1 a bushel,
call 246 for delivery; bread 6 loaves for 25¢, We
bake every day but Sunday, Robinson's Bakery.
Aug. 1916 Real kerosene tractors. See them
at work International Harvester $725 and $900 f.o. b.
Chicago; Groesbeck and Son-Lard 3 lb. pail, 42¢,
5 lb. pail 70¢; Elkhorn Dry Goods Co.-buttons
2-1/2¢ a dozen, percale 8¢ a yard, lawn 10¢ a yard,
tub silk 50¢ a yard, voile 50¢ a yard.
1918 A. J. Reed Sewing machines $35.
April 1943 Oranges 40¢ a dozen, Lard 17¢ lb.,
Ham 38¢ lb., frankfurters 29¢ lb., eggs 38¢ dozen,
bread raisin 13¢, rye 10¢, sugar 10 lbs. 66¢.
Dec. 14, 1916 Hereafter all meals at the Hotel,
50¢.
Dec. 26, 1916 Issue of the Independent quotes
prices advertised by merchants in "1854" and notes
that these prices are interesting in view of the
present (1916) high cost of living. Eggs 14¢ dozen,
butter 14¢ and 16¢ lb., potatoes 40¢ bushel, pork
$3.75 100 lbs., best flour $7.50 barrel, ham 8¢ & 9¢
lb., cheese 9¢, 10¢, 12¢ lb.
John Meigs tin shop ad "Wheat, oats, barley,
grass seed, butter, eggs, old copper, pewter, iron
and rags taken in payment of cash prices."
In January 1918 a ban was placed on the purchase
of wheat flour, the purchase of an equal amount of
substitutes was required pound for pound; In August

July 27, 1917 A. J. Reed now has one of the most
modern and best automobile hearses in this section
of the country, which he and his son Harold brought
to the city last Friday evening from Grand Rapids,
Michigan. It is finished in black with 6 cylinders,
16 horsepower motor driven by a worm gear which
makes a quiet operation. The speed variation is from
2 to 50 miles per hour.
CHANGES IN THE PARK

There have been many changes in Courthouse Park
over the years:
The watering trough which for years supplied
water for the horses and dogs disappeared from the
park many years ago. How many?
Sept. 6, 1917 ~The new fountain was in place "on
a new fangled terrace" bordering the park on Walworth Street, directly opposite the intersection with
Broad Street. There are compartments near the
base for the use of dogs and squirrels, and a reservoir for horses and a bubbler for humans. This is a
donation to the city by C. B. Williams.
How many years since the cannons from the Civil
War and from the first World War graced the East
side of the park and afforded a play thing for the children?
There was also a sign on the East side of the park
marking the Indian Trail that once passed through
our city. Long gone too.
And the band shells are •only a memory there.
July 1913 The old stand in the park whith for
45 years served faithfully as a band stand and speakers platform is no more. Since it was rotted beyond
repair the park authorities decided it should be removed. It had cost $120.
REMEMBER THESE PRICES

Nov. 7, 1907

The price of milk raised to 6¢ a
6£

of that year 2lbs. of sugar per person was the ruling.
And in March most local groceries discontinued delivery.

Other bargains included Waterless Knox, Autocar,
Rambler, International, Hupmobile, Ford, Liberty,
Brush, Kissel and Auto Cycle.

READING NOTICES

CITY
May 27, 1897 First city election was held in
Elkhorn. H. C. Norris was elected mayor.
Feb. 15, 1917 The high cost of living took another crack at the taxpayers pocket book. These remain unchanged:
Treasurer
$200 a year
Assessor
$150 a year
Clerk
$400 a year
Election officers $2 a day
These are raised
Health Officer and
Cit;y Physician
$50 to $60 a year
Mayor
$3 a meeting
Alderman
$2 a meeting
Night watch and
$720 to $900 a year
City marshall
Street Commissioner
$2.75 to $3 a day
April 5, 1936 City to have street lights all
night, which didn't start until January 1, 1937!
July 19, 1956 40 Years Ago in Independent's
''Backward Turns":
Electric fans are a luxury that Elkhorn people
have not heretofore been able to enjoy. With day
electric service established many are availing
themselves of these comfort creating accessories.

June 8, 1898 - The Ladies of the Universalist
Church will serve supper tomorrow evening from 5
to 7. Owing to "war prices" they have concluded to
raise the price to 15¢, which is cheap enough for the
supper they serve.
Sept. 28, 1911 - Wanted: a man past 30 with
horse and buggy to sell stock condition powder in
Walworth County. Salary $70 a month.
Oct. 9, 1911 - Wanted: Practical experienced
nurse from Chicago desires situation. Price $12
a week.
Dec. 28, 1911 - I am prepared to do all kinds of
furniture repairing, refinishing and re-upholstering.
Anyone wishing any work done send me a card and I
will call on you. Chas. Lindow.
Feb. 29, 1912 - Nine room house, good location.
A bargain. Owner going West. This place must be
sold at once. Price $1,900.
May 23, 1912 - Pasturage - Have accommodation
for one more cow in my pasture. I also have a
garden for rent. Mrs. C. J. Latham.
Dec. 5, 1912 - Wanted: 20 cords of wood wanted
for the county jail, call at the County Clerk's Office.
March 13, 1913 - For sale: 1 square box buggy
$3, 1 Stanhope buggy, leather quarter top$15, 1 light
wagon $15, 1 light double harness $5, pole and neck
yoke $4, E. W. Cory.

THE DEPRESSION
During the depression an Elkhorn farm was listed
for $2,000 in an advertisement in "The Elkhorn Independent''. A 6 percent first mortgage with interest payable semi-annually was available. It was due
in two years.
"The Milwaukee Journal" on January 7, 1975,
said that a farm in Walworth county in the 1930's
was listed for $4,600. The price included buildings
and the herd.
A local realtor said that there would be about
20-25 cows in a herd on an 80 acre farm. In 1975
each cow might average $500.
Walworth county farm land would probably go for
$1,000 an acre now. That would make 80 acres and
the herd and buildings worth about $90,000 today.
To make matters worse the May 12, 1932 issue
of "The Independent" had an article stating that
despite 11-cent a quart milk prices in Chicago the
prices to the farmers were unchanged.
Kettelhut' s Quality Market (phone 40) was selling
rolled rib roast for 17 cents a pound, hamburger was
three pounds for 22 cents and you could get butter
for 21 cents a pound with a meat order. What was
the price-per-pound to the farmer then?
if you preferred the city you were probably no
better off. On November 24, 1932, someone advertised for a home in or near Elkhorn that $2,500
would buy.
If that price included a garage fine but what if it
didn't?
A one car wide 10 X 16 with side door, two windows, cement floor was built for $115. A two car
size 16 X 16 three window side door $215.

CLASSIFIEDS
Jan. 28, 1915 - Notice: $10 will be paid and no
questions asked for the return of a ladies gold ring
with small diamond setting.
July, 1915 - Classified Advertisements replaces
Reading Notices 25 words or less one week 25¢.
Lost: A large black cloth covered coat button.
Finder please return to the Independent office.
Lost: A fountain pen on streets of Elkhorn.
Return to Elkhorn Dry Goods Co.
Lost: Sunday a large white Chinchilla covered
coat button. Finder please leave at this office.
Sept. 16 - 1915 - Lost: Roll of bills in Elkhorn.
Finder claim reward.
Feb. 15, 1917- Wanted: Young lady for permanent position in our Elkhorn store. Must be intelligent and show aptitude both in selling and in taking
care of stock. Salary $5 a week to start. Advancement when ability is shown. Apply Friday in afternoon or Saturday morning at Brown Bros. Co.
Aug. 30, 1956 - In the "So it Goes" column of
the Independent:
William Zwiebel and Henry Griebel took on the
automobile shortly after the turn of the century
and by 1910 they found themselves in the used car
business. Here are a few excerpts from an ad
which was headed "Bargains Used and Second Hand
Automobiles" One cvlinder Norther with top $100.
Two cylinder model F Buick, 5 passenger, top,
windshield, 5 lamp, and gas tank $250. (That was
the model with the door out of the back of the car).
67

SOME OF THE older generation
will still remember when the
Conoco

service station on the

corner of Court and Wisconsin
Streets looked like this during the
30's. Not only was gasoline available, but one could obtain oil

change, grease and repairs that
were made in the single bay garage to the left of the station
office.

James Chevrolet was advertising a Roadster for
$445 that could go on one side of the new garage.
Perhaps an old one is all that the family owns. If
that is the case and it needs fixing, there was a "nonsqueak special" for $2.
Anderson Super Service would completely grease
the chassis for $1.
A flat tire? No problem. A new Goodyear
Speedway tire was $3.95. Why not buy a set for a
mere $15.32?
It would be tempting to plan on eating out for
Valentine's Day at Princess Anne Restaurant and
have roast young turkey, Long Island spring duck
or spring chicken and choice of other meats for
65 cents.
A new dress for the occasion would be just
$6.95 and hosiery for 69 cents at the Loraine
Dress Shop in Elkhorn.
If the children are included it would be wise to
pick up a coat for them at The Chicago Store selling for $2.98-$4.95 in 1932.
But dad hasn't purchased a suit in years? The
Costello Clothing has nothing less than a Hart
Schaffner and Marx for $20.
If the outing does not come about because someone is sick or there is no money, whip out your 99
cent thick heavy cast aluminum saucepan and throw
in your 16 cent a pound wieners in your boiling
water. Cut a few slices of Wisconsin brick or Longhorn cheese for 15 cents a pound. And see if you
!Jave some 10 cent-a-bottle-ketchup in your $99$139 refrigerator.
Make some cookies out of the finest sugar at 43
cents per 10 pound bag and your 49 pound bag of
Pillsbury Best Flour for $1.35. A 9 cent bag of
gingersnaps would be easier.
If moving was in the plans most any home rented
for $20. It was even quite easy to spot a used bedroom set for $50. And the "Independent" office had
bundles of old papers "fine for packing dishes or
furniture before moving."
In the January 3, 1935 Independent, an article

appeared about the use of the Municipal Building.
In 1934 there were over 300 meetings held in the
building by different organizations and for wedding
receptions} school activities, musical recitals, minstrel shows and home talent plays. Mr. and Mrs.
Frank Holton observed their Golden anniversary in
the auditorium.
Now when citizen band radios are common and
allow communication with untold numbers of other
CB owners, one is reminded of the thrill of the first
short wave receivers in the 1930's. Those were
"eaves droppersn, because one could listen in on
the conversations of police officers, and airline
pilots and airports, and perhaps even hear from
foreign countries.
The WLS Barn Dance program was a popular
one on the radio, and people from the area enjoyed
going to Chicago to attend the show. In June 1935
the WLS Stage show appeared at the Sprague Theater
for matinee and evening performances with Red
Foley, the Ridge Runners, Linda Parker, Karl and
Harty, Slim Miller and others. Remember?
In January 1936 the thermometer registered 23
degrees below zero and the highway crews were
working 24 hours a day, vainly trying to keep the
roads open. ln February the country was threatened with a fuel shortage due to the prolonged cold
spell which broke 5 records. On July 14 that year
the temperature soared to 110 degrees, the hottest
day in 33 years.
Joe Dorr, when he was sheriff the first time
between 1936 and 1940, set up the first two-way
direct radio communication system in the state for
his department, which was also one of the earliest
in the nation. This system made it possible to check
licenses) stolen car reports, wanted persons and
make character checks in a way previously thought
impossible. In fact, the county board considered it
impossible and extravagant and called it "Joe's
Folly."
January 11, 1940- The Independent reported that
the city's first Christmas party had been ~iven at a

68

Humphreys - standing, Alhert Cadow, Sam Dike, Charley Forbes,
Herman Miller and Desing, who kept on working while taking
part in the discussion.

THE HOT STOVE LEAGUE, or as they sometimes called
themselves, "The Society of the Tired, Again", met often in
the 1930's at Gus Oesing blacksmith shop to discuss the day's
current topics. On hand for a session were {from left) George

in Wisconsin, 25 of them in Elkhorn. Many are the
escapades and incidents of those years that will be
recalled by the many students who went through the
system during the long tenure.

cost of $321.58, which was contributed by the merchants, firemen, tavern keepers and the Community
Chest. It provided the community with its first and
very successful civic Christmas party.
August 1941- Papers stamped "Special Delivery"
were found in the mail boxes of Elkhorn citizens,
sending them to the post office to pick up their special
mail only to find there was none. New rubber stamps
had replaced the old ones at the post office and the old
discarded ones had been found by children who stamped slips of paper and peddled them house to house.
Cowboy star Ken Maynard and his wonder horse
"Tarzan", a Palomino, appeared at the Sprague
Theater on November 4, 1941 with a "veritable
horde" of youngsters in attendance at both the matinee and evening performances.
Dec. 4, 1941 -Mr. Charles Jahr resigned as the
principal of the local school after teaching 40 years

WORLD WAR II

"WAR" was the subject in the news during the
1940's. Not the happiest of years, but some of the
most important. There were the stories of the boys
who served with bravery and daring in all branches
of the service; some of them never to return home.
There were items about war bond and salvage drives,
civilian defense and home front activities.
Remember the ration books with their coupons,
stamps and tokens to be used for the purchase of
processed foods, meats and fats, sugar, shoes, fuel
oil, gasoline and tires and a section in the paper

69

WORLD WAR II

is

remembered by many families because

of the men who were in the armed forces between 1941 and
1945. As with many communities, Elkhorn had an honor roll
of servicemen erected in Courthouse Park.

headed ''Rationing.'' A curfew was placed on garages
and filling stations effective February 3, 1942 which
set their hours from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. except on
Saturday when they could remain open until 9 p.m.
The local express office was swamped with old
tires as part of the gas rationing program, a person
who had more than five tires was to take the surplus
to the express company to be consigned to Uncle
Sam either free of charge or for payment. The
Railway Express Agency bore the brunt of the tire
business and was burdened with tires of every description, which bewildered the local agent, Ken
Severson.
A section entitled "Mail Call" related news of the
boys in service and kept the readers up to date on
their addresses. The December 23, 1943 Independent
carried a letter from Sgt. Carroll Connor written
on the back of a label from a can of "Goldwyn"

brand Elkhorn peas. ''I'll bet this little can of peas
never dreamed it would get so far from home as this
God-forsaken place. I was surprised and mighty
glad to see a stack of good old Elkhorn peas setting
in our kitchen, and it brought Elkhorn a little closer. Thought you might be interested to know that
Elkhorn boys are eating Elkhorn peas somewhere in
the southwest Pacific."
November 4, 1943 "Eat At Pete's" in letters 7
feet high were painted on the water tower by a
courageous sign painter for Halloween. This gesture of good will toward Pete Langley, who went
into the restaurant business at the Villa a few days
before, was embarrassing to Pete, but didn't last
long; as Neal Thayer's (Light and Water Superintendent) sense of humor prompted him to send Pete
a bill for $1,500 as rent for the tower as advertising
space for a year. Pete by return mail sent a check

SOME RESIDENTS may remember the Civil War
cannon that stood for many decades in the southeast corner of Cour-thouse park. It was probably placed there a few years after the War
between the States as a memorial. Another big
gun was added to the southwest corner following
World War I. Both became casualties during
World War II, when they were removed and melted
down for use in the war effort

70

CIRCUSES and particularly its
music, had a special attraction
for many local residents because
Ringling's bass drummer, Rollin
Sherbondy, lived in Elkhorn for
many years, spending his winters
here while the circus was in
Florida quarters. Among the visitors to the Sherbondy home, was
Merle Evans, the circus bandmaster for a long time, who became known to local residents
and played one concert in Sunset
park as a featured trumpet soloist. The band pictured was in
Chicago in 1946.

for $750 covering 6 months rent, but neglected to
sign it. Mr. Thayer, Frank Tooke and Morris Rathbun climbed the tower and painted outthe letters with
aluminum paint, one of the scarcest items of the
time.
Stories about Rollin Sherbondy appeared from
time to time; he was the bass drummer with the
Ringling Bros. Circus and spent his winters in
Elkhorn. In January 1948, Rollin had been expecting Dr. Gregerson to stop in to see him, but Doc
had not stopped before Rollin had to go on. So he
told several of the fellows to watch for Dr. Gregerson and sure enough, they brought him back. Doc
was surprised, said "seemed like everybody on the
show knew me."

Feb. 4, 1954 - Small town folks often assume
an apologetic tone in giving the location of their
home town. This is a mistake. Instead of saying,
"It's a small town 80 miles northwest of Chicago", why not throw back your shoulders, give
your questioner a withering glance and say, "Don't
you know where Elkhorn is? Why, it.'s the center of
the finest resort area in the United States. It's
where folks from Chicago save their money 11-1/2
months of the year just to spend two weeks in."
April 5, 1956 - Forty years ago this week folks
were getting ready to take the muslin cover off the
family car, inflate the tires and remove the chunks
of wood from underthewheelspreparatorytolaunch-

SO IT GOES

The "So It Goes" sectwn written by Claude F.
Eames appeared on the front page and carried
whimsical and clever anecdotes like these:
July 9, 1953 - "An Elkhorn man used to drive
to the depot and take the train to Chicago. One
day he telephoned from Chicago to ask the station
agent to go out and shut off his motor. He went
out but the motor wasn't running . . . the gas tank
was empty.''
July 30, 1953 - If you want a bargain, invest
15¢ in a train ticket to Delavan and take your grandchild on his first train ride. Eyes were big as
saucers when the conductor s~owled over his bifocals and said, "Where' s your ticket?" He gave
the right answer, "I'm too little. . .and l don't
have to pay." The guestions came faster than
they could be answered. "Why does the man say,
"Board?", How fast are we going? Where' s the
drinking water? Why do they have a washroom
at both ends of the car?" It's a great experience,
that first ride on a train . . . great for the child
... and greater for the escort.
October 8, 1953 - Recall the early days during
the transition from ice box to refrigerator.

WHEN THE ICE MAN CAME around in the summertime, the
blocks he brought had been cut and stored from the previous
winter. The scene is believed to be on Lauderdale Lakes,
where the ice was cut from the lake and the blocks transported by a horse-drawn sled to packed in sawdust in a warehouse.
Most of these blocks went to lakes residents, while
-those for Elkhorn iceboxes came from Williams Bay in the
summer, with cards left in windows to tell the ice man how
many pounds were needed.

7l

ing the old bus for the season.
April 12, 1956 - This village now is in the worst
stage of all prosperous, new, growing places. People
crowding in rapidly and no dwellings to accommodate
them. A dozen or two tenements in various parts
of the village are being erected, but in the meanwhile
a great many families are actually suffering for want
of dwellings. The above item could be written about
Elkhorn today, but it was taken from an Independent
of exactly 100 years ago in 1856.
June 7, 1956 - Remember when the city health
officer tacked a sign on your house every time a
communicable disease was reported? Today only
four diseases are placarded: cholera, diphtheria,
plague and smallpox.
November 1959 - The bound volumes of the Independent were moved from the Claude Eames home

.o the Matheson Memorial Library. These volumes
contain over 100 years of history,andarethe source
of information otherwise unobtainable.
"Backward turns" section is again in the papers
with items from years ago, and in December 1960
"Frontier Tales" became a regular feature. These
articles written by Maude Totten, (Mrs. Lyman Totten), of Richmond, covered lives of early settlers
in Walworth County.
At the Baptist Church Christmas program in December, 1960, a three year old boy who hadn't yet
learned to read, memorized his lines well. Half
way through the recitation, he glanced over at the
prompter, stopped and said, "Anna, you're on the
wrong page.''
No doubt residents ''remember'' many other
unusual and amusing incidents of the past.

THE FOURTH OF JULY was usually the time for a Tibbets-Bethe! area community get-together of
residents, relatives and friends. This particular event is believed to have occurred in 1909 at the
home of "Uncle Jim Parsons", located near the intersection of county highways A and D at
Tibbets. One of the early cars in the area is parked in the yard along with buggies. The photograph
was taken by Howard Webb, an oft-time visitor who had a studio on East End avenue in Chicago.
The picture belongs to Mrs. Mary Sheard, who is among the youngest children sitting in the front
row.

72

Doctors And Dentists
In the early years of Elkhorn, the settlers were
few and the physicians were even fewer. Mothers
could not send for their family physicians if the
little ones were sick or their own health failed, but
had to cope as best they could while fighting fatigue,
anxiety and grief.
Elkhorn's first physician and surgeon, George
Henry Young, came Sept. 3, 1843 from New York
state, He served the people of Elkhorn and vicinity
for 48 years, longer than any other resident physician could claim at that time. He died Dec. 28, 1891.
Dr. Samuel Wirt Henderson arrived here from
Ohio in 1847 and he died at age 40 in 1857. His
obituary stated that ''a jump from a wagon to hard
ground resulted in inflammation of the bowels and
in death a week later. He understood his case from
the first."
These two doctors came during a serious outbreak of typhoid fever which killed many people.
Dr. Bononie Orrin Reynolds also came from New
York state and settled in Elkhorn in 1854. In 1857,
he had as partners Dr. Mar,Y J. Reynolds, his wife,
and a Dr. Smith. Their office was in the Reynolds'
new building which was one. door west of Matheson's
store.
Dr. Isaac W. Coman came in 1857 after having
studied in medical school under Dr. Frank H. Hamilton, who later became one of President Garfield's
physicians. Dr. Coman was never in the army, but
prized a letter offering him a position on the surgical
staff. In 1862, Dr. Charles S. Duncolme had his office
in his residence, once the home of the Rev. S. Eastman, near that of Dr. G. H. Young, Sr. Dr. F. F.
Cammark had rooms at the Bemis Hotel. By 1866,
Drs. B. 0. and Mary Reynolds had moved their
practice to Lake Geneva.
C. W. Butterfield lists in "The History of Walworth County" the physicians of 1881 as follows:
Dr. G. H. Young, his son Dr. G. H. Young, Jr., in
partnership with his father; Dr. l. W. Coman; Dr.
William Henry Hurlbut; Dr. D. D. T. Hamlin and
Dr. Dow with office in his residence at the northwest corner of the square.
In 1882, Dr. Birney Hand opened his office over
the Ferris grocery.
In August, 1889, a board of pension examiners
was appointed to help Civil War veterans. The
members were Drs. Reynolds, Hurlbut and Young, Jr.
Dr. George H. McCallister came in 1896, Drs.
Young and Oviatt in 1897, Dr. E. C. Austin and Dr.
G. Stewart McNeel in 1898. ln 1900 Dr. J. M. Marsh
was practicing from an office in his residence at the
corner of Wisconsin and Geneva streets. Dr. J. W.
Gething came in 1902 and opened his office over
Howard's City Drug store in the Huntress building.
Dr. Edward Kinne had his office and residence over
Byington's store in 1903. Dr. William O'Malley had
an office in 1905 over Clark's Drug store. ln 1911,
Dr. M. J. Kinney rented the office rooms formerly
occupied by Dr. Hurlbut opposite Clark's Drug Store.
Dr. E. T. Ridgway opened his office in 1912 over
Ellsworth's store.
The Independent noted on January 18, 1912 that

Dr. R. A. Vorpahl had sold his practice to Dr.
Arthur M. Tweedie, a graduate of Western Reserve University in Ohio.
ln November, 1913, Dr. George Young, Jr., took
his son Howard into partnership, with offices in
the Bauermann Block. Dr. Gething returned in
1919 from Battle Creek, Mich., and was honored at
a dinner held at the Nickel Plate Hotel on March 29th.
Dr. E. T. Ridgway was nominated state senator in
September 1920.
Dr. Isabel 0. Barber was the first osteopathic
physician, at first having her office in her home on
east Geneva street and after 1921, at 116 No. Broad
st. Harris and Harris, chiropractors, practiced in
the Nickel Plate hotel in 1921, and R. C. Martin,
chiropractor's office was at 19-1/2 S. Wisconsin St.
in 1923.
The Independent of April 5, 1.923, had a feature
story headlined "Family Guards Health For Full
Century" noting that "Dr. George Young, Sr., had
given 48 years service, Dr. George Young, Jr., 42
years, and Dr. J. Howard Young had been in practice
for the past 10 years."
ln November, 1923, J. H. Tenpenny, a chiropractor, came to Elkhorn. The same month Dr.
Ridgway took into partnership Dr. G. F. Macintyre.
Dr. Macintyre sold his practice to Dr. E. R. Rickard
in Jan., 1925, and in May of that year Dr. Ridgway
bought out Dr. Rickard. A month later Dr. Ridgway
was appointed county physician to succeed Dr. Kinne
who had died the previous month.
Dr. Edmund Sorenson came to Elkhorn in 1924
Dr. Milan Helmbrecht was a dentist in Elkhorn from
1925 to 1929 when he left to go to medical school.
He returned to practice medicine here in 1936.
Dr. J. V. Herzog practiced for a few years in the
1930's.
!n November, 1939, Dr. J. A. Rawlins opened an
office in Elkhorn in the quarters occupied by Dr. A. R.
Bellerue. A year laterDr.Ridgway,Dr.Rawlinsand
Dr. Sorenson opened the Elkhorn Clinic at Wisconsin
and Geneva streets. Dr. Ridgway sold his interest in
1944 and went to California. He returned in June,
1945, and maintained an office in his home until his
death in 1955. Dr. Henry Malin joined him in January, 1946.
July, 1940, Dr. Roger Johnson became an associate of Dr. Howard Youngandin1953Dr. David Freed
became Dr. Young's partner.
Dr. W. E. Christner, osteopath, came in 1941 and
0. W. Babcock, chiropractor, in 1945.
Dr. Kenneth Bill joined the Elkhorn Clinic in 1949
He opened his own office in 1961, where he practiced
until he moved to Florida in 1974.
Drs. Richard J. Rogers and Henry R. Mol located
here in September, 1955, in the Godfrey Building.
They opened Doctor's Clinic in 1963, and were joined
by Dr. G. T. Petersen in1965, and later by Dr. E. E.
Carlson and in 1968 by Dr. Joseph Schrock. Dr. Petersen left in 1973 to practice in Florida.
The doctors practicing in Elkhorn in 1976 include
R. J. Rogers, Henry Mol, Edward Carlson, Joseph
Schroc!l:, E. D. Sorenson and Milan Helmbrecht.
73

A LITTLE SPECIAL RECOGNITION was given to the doctors

at Lakeland hospital from Mrs. Irvin Bruhn were (from left)
Drs. Joseph Schrock:, William Woods, Irvin Bruhn, Kenneth
Bill, Henry Mol and Harold Werbel.

of the area by the Walworth County Medical Society's Auxiliary in the form of carnations in 1970. Receiving the flowers

Dentists present at a meeting in school to discuss
the survey with other health and school officials
included L. B. Gregerson, N. E. Kvool, G. E. Richards and N. M. Sabin.
Dr. Roger L. Schmetter came to Elkhorn and
took over the office of Dr. N. E. Kvool in 1956,
but did not move here until 1960.
Dr. Bruno Schiffleger purchased the practice
of Dr. Louis Gregerson in March 1962. Dr. Gregerson had bought the practice 34 years before in 1928
from Dr. M. G. Helmbrecht when he left to attend
the University of Wisconsin to study medicine.
Dr. Kathy S. Truesdale opened her dental office
in the fall of 1976 at 715 W. Walworth St., the West
Side Clinic.
All the dentists but Dr. Sabin have offices at
715 W. Walworth St. in the West Side Clinic.

DENTISTS
Dr. Gerald E. Richards came to Elkhorn in
February 1.949 and took over the dental office of
Dr. T. B. Kurtz, who had taken over the office of
Dr. A. J. Hofstede in 1945. Dr. Hofstede had
followed Dr. Frederick G. Taylor in the Kinne
Building. Dr. Richards had served in the Navy as
a dentist after graduating in 1946.
Dr. Norbert M. Sabin opened his dental office in
July 1949 at 8 East Walworth Street and remained
at that location until July 1973 when he moved to
104 S. Wisconsin St.
In December of 1953, a dental survey was announced for the city to check on the results of floridation. which had been in effect since April of 1948.

74

County Seat's Lawyers
Edward Elderkin established an office in Elkhorn
on Oct. 25, 1839, and practiced for 42 years. He
was appointed register of deeds under LeGrand
Rockwell and was also deputy postmaster for several
years.
He married in 1843 and had three sons and four
daughters.
He also brought up several orphan
children, relatives of his wife. He built the famed
Octagon House on Lincoln street and Elderkin's
addition was named for him.
Horatio S. Winsor, of the law firm of Winsor
and Sprague, came to Elkhorn in 1839 and studied
in Elderkin's office. He was elected district attorney, and served one term as county treasurer.
In 1880 he formed a partnership with E. H. Sprague,
while living on West Walworth street where the
apartments now stand in the 200 block. Winsor
street, a bloc!\ south, was named for him and was
once his cow pasture.
On July 14, 1887, Will Peterson and A. C. Graff,
promising young lawyers, tried their first case
before Justice Wales.
In the early days, lawyers did not always graduate from law schools in the middle west, but studied
law in a judge's office and then hung out their shingle.
Elkhorn had Justice Wales in 1887 and in 1916
Jack Fuller was Justice of the Peace here. He

lived and practiced in the house on the northeast
corner of Broad and Geneva streets.
County Judge Jay Lyon was the father of Charles
E. Lyon, who had graduated from the Chicago Law
school and had his office in the second First National
Bank building on North Wisconsin street from 1922
until his death in 1968.
Judge Belden was Circuit court judge for Racine,
Kenosha and Walworth County for many years.
On Aug. 3, 1916 Roscoe Luce and Charles Wilson
opened an office in tile First National Bank building.
They both served during World War I, and cwsed
their office while in the army; Luce as a sergeant
and Wilson as a 2nd lieutenant. In January of 1919,
Mr. and Mrs·. Charles E. Wilson, newly married,
arrived to make their home here. Luce returned
in October from France and resumed practice.
He later moved to the then new State Bank building
(Now Stensby's Drug Store) on the southeast corner
of Walworth and Wisconsin streets.
Attorneys in Elkhorn in 1919 were E. H. Sprague,
Arthur Clohisy (also Justice of the Peace, 1898),
,lay W. Page, and Robert Bulkley, who worked part
time in Page's office.
The Elkhorn lawyers listed in the State Bar association in 1929 included Alfred L. Godfrey, William
C. Norton, Roscoe R. Luce, and Charles E. Wilson.

W.C. "DAD" NORTON was a prominent citizen after the turn of the century, being known for his
early basketball coaching of the Elkhorn high team and later as an attorney. He was pictured in his
law office on North Wisconsin street, where the present Morrissy law firm is located.

75

Some Prominent Lawyers

Judge Roscoe Luce

Charles E. Lyon

Alfred L. Godfrey

Aug. 3, 1961, an Elkhorn man, George Young, who
helped out at the University of Wisconsin Law school
by taking a temporary teaching post and went on to
become dean of the Law school, was honored. He
was a son of Dr. and Mrs. J. Howard Young.
The Jan. 4, 1968 obituary of Charles E. Wilson,
attorney here for 51 years, described his life since
coming in 1916 as law partner with Roscoe Luce.
He was alderman of the third ward from 1934-39,
a two term mayor, 1948-1954, and County Court
Commissioner for more than 30 years. He was
honored by the County Bar association dinner in
1965 and given a desk set inscribed with his name
and 50 years of service in the community and the
country.
Other Elkhorn young men who became lawyers
were Judge John Voss, Donald Voss, Thomas Godfrey, John Morrissy, George H. Young, William Seymour Jr., Philip (Pete) Morrissy, Robert Arnold,
Rodney Thorson antl Gilbert Church Jr. There is
also the city's only woman attorney, Alice Morrissy, wife of Philip Morrissy, who practices law
here and had kept the office running while her
husband was in the service during World War II.
Also of note is Mrs. (Debbie Lehman) Barcz,
admitted to the Wisconsin Bar and also admitted
to federal court before Judge John Doyle, Madison,
in 1976. Her father is Elkhorn attorney Robert
Lehman.
Probably due to Elkhorn being the county seat,
there has always been a large number of lawyers
in the city. In fact, Courthouse park is literally
surrounded by law offices. At the present time
in 1976 lawyers represented in offices in the city
include Arnold, Arnold and Knight; Seymour, Lehman and Kremer; Godfrey, Neshek, Worth, Howarth
and Leibsle; Davies, Thorson, O'Brien, Johnson and
Conover; Denipsey and Harrison; Alfred Hansen;
Morrissy, Morrissy and Race; Pfeil and Hardt, and
Sweet. Eberhardt and Blanton.

Lawyers were not required to belong to the Wisconsin Bar association then, but later it became
compulsory. Many also joined the active County
Bar association.
In 1924, Jay W. Page, county judge for six weeks,
died. More than 2,000 people attended his funeral
services which were held in the County park. He
was very much loved and respected.
In January, 1939, Sheldon and Freitag were a
new law firm here and Walter Welch opened a
law office here at 31-1/2 North Wisconsin st.,
over the White House restaurant.
Dec. 25, 1930, the obituary of Edward Harvey
Sprague appeared in the paper, after the prominent
Elkhorn attorney had died in Milwaukee. He had
graduated from the University Law school in 1878
and returned to Elkhorn and opened a law practice
here, first alone and then with Horatio S. Winsor.
The firm name was Winsor and Sprague until Winsor
retired after six years. Sprague erected the Opera
House in 1898 and conducted it until the fire destroyed it in 1925. He provided the Charles E.
Sprague library for the city as a memorial to his
son Charles, who died of tuberculosis in 1892 at
the age of 19. This library continued in operation
until 1931, as it and Attorney Sprague's office were
saved in the Opera House fire by a firewall separating the two parts of the Sprague property.
June 25, 1953, William Seymour Jr., a June
graduate at law school joined Thorson and Lehman.
His father had been an Elkhorn attorney and mayor
of the city.
April 16, 1970 Alfred Godfrey, widely known
attorney died. He came to Elkhorn as a partner
of Jay Page.
He had been the attorney in the
appeal of the Eckman murder trial in 1926 at
Madison. Clarence Darrow, the famous criminal
lawyer from Chicago, defended Eckman, but Godfrey
won for the state and Eckman was sentenced to life
imprisonment.

76

Churches In The Community
In 1841 the first church meeting was held in
Elkhorn, under the mission auspices of the Episcopal
church, making it one of that denomination's earliest
in Wisconsin.
Other churches were organized within the next 20
years, including the Methodist, Baptist, Congregational and Catholic, all of which exist at the present
time in the community.
The Universalist Society built a place of worship
early in the city's history, but faded from the scene
near the turn of the century and the congregation
disbanded.
Since the pioneer years, Elkhorn has seen the
founding and growth of the First Evangelical Lutheran
Church (1870); St. John's Lutheran church (1898);
Christian Science (1903); Jehovah's Witnesses
(1930's), and the Emmanual Baptist church, youngest
and last, organized only ten years ago (December,
1965).
ST.

JOHN'S CHURCH IN THE WILDERNESS

110 So. Church Street
This was one of the oldest mission churches established by the Episcopal church in Wisconsin and
the earliest in Walworth county.
'
It was founded by .three young men involved in
missionary labor throughout the state, with headquarters at Nashota. The church was organized in
1841, and the first church service was held on
Oct. 31 in an old school house.
Services continued to be held there until 1848,
when the society was reorganized to conform to the
statutes of the state. Services were then held in
the Courthouse. The name became simply St. John's
church. In 1849 plans were undertaken for building
a church edifice. In September 1854 the cornerstone
of the church was laid and in 1855 the first Episcopal
church building in Walworth .county was erected. It
was a wooden building located on the site of the
present church.
In 1856 the first church bell in Elkhorn was purchased in Chicago and is still in service. In 1858

Early Interior,
Late Exterior Views of
St. John's Episcopal
Church

77

county was a Methodist group in East Troy in 1839.
A short while later Elkhorn became a "mission"
of that society and its own church was .organized
in 1841.
Church buildings were not then an immediate
need and men and women met for religious communion in small groups at the larger cabins, and
when schoolhouses appeared they were made doubly
useful, an arrangement followed by this Methodist
society. Each group met its share of the expense
for "heating and sweeping" when the schools and
courthouse were used.
The short pioneer period was followed by immigration at an increasing rate and the Methodist
society had grown to such numbers that by 1856
a brick building was erected at the cost of $5,000,
located on South Broad street near the site of the
city water tower. The church burned in 1859 and
was replaced by a wooden structure on the same
site in 1860. In 1890 the building was remodeled
and in 1900 extensive repairs were made.
Once again the membership had outgrown its
building, so in 1923 it was sold to the American
Legion who later gave it to the city for a shoe
factory when the Legion rooms were completed in
the Municipal Building.
Some years later this
building burned.
The present Methodist church site was purchased
in 1923 and a red brick building was built on the
south part of the lot.
ln 1940 the members of the Church celebrated
100 years of Methodism in Elkhorn with a special
program. On Memorial Day, 1947, a cross as a
memorial to Pvt. Hollis Gunyon was first lighted.
In 1950 electric chimes became a mark of distinction for the church. Records and organ music
are heard daily in the downtown area.
The latest addition and remodeling came in 1964
to meet increased needs. This new construction
consisted of a new entryway, balcony, narthex,
nave, chancel area, and Sunday School rooms.
The older part of the building was enlarged and

this building was enlarged and rebuilt of brick.
Early members, including priests who often
traveled 40 miles on foot, found Elkhorn to be a
virtual wilderness and modeled their society along
that theme. The original parish had about 40 members, growing until the early 1880's when a decline
set in. As a result, from 1883 to 1888 St. John's
was a "mission parish" with Delavan rectors in
"charge of the services.
When new families moved to Elkhorn, a revival
started and in 1893 the church building was enlarged
and a Guild Hall erected. A pipe organ was first
used in the services in May, 1901 and replaced in
1937 by a new organ.
In the 1930's the members decided to revert to
the original name of the parish and it has been known
as the Church of St. John in the Wilderness since
that time; recalling its namesake St. John the Baptist, who in the Holy Scriptures is "the voice of one
crying in the wilderness." Like St. John, this
church was a pioneer Christian society in the
wilderness of Walworth county.
Since the 1960's the church has been remodeled
and enlarged and is the focal point for many activities
of the membership and the community.
The Reverend John Bigler was one of the latest
rectors at St. John's in the Wilderness starting his
tenure in August, 1963 and finishing in 1976. The
Elkhorn Senior Citizen's organization received an
impetus from the church as did the "Tele-Care"
telephone project to check on welfare of persons
living alone.

FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
Court and Broad Streets
From its founding and until about 1935, the Church
here was called the Methodist Episcopal church, a
name derived from its ancestry. Later the name became First Methodist, then in 1968 the First United
Methodist Church.
The first Christian organization in Walworth

United Methodist
Church and
Fellowship Hall

78

remodeled into fellowship hall and kitchen.
The present pastor, a graduate of Western
Theological seminary, is the Rev. Raymond Steger
who came to the church in June, 1975, from a
ministry in Waupun, Wis.

sort of penny arcade in the 1880's, and later, a
skating rink where marathons were held. Finally
the building was cut in two to make two structures
and moved to other sites.
The present building at first had a steeple, but
it was removed many years ago. This structure
was financed in part by beef, chicken, and ham dinners served at the fairgrounds for 25 cents. The
receipts were taken daily to the bank in a tin pail
carried under a shawL Then there were no automobiles, no movies, and none of the modern conveniences. The home, the school, and the church
were the centers of interest in the community,
A new pipe organ was installed in 1915. In 1924
and 1925, and again in 1965, additions and remodelings took place. By 1969 the membership had grown
to 242 persons and there were 110 pupils in the
church schooL The need for additional space had
become cruciaL A Christian Educational building
providing Sunday School rooms, the minister's
study, a church secretary's office, and space for
church meetings was planned. Ground for the addition was broken OcL 5, 1969. The building was
completed for use and dedicated on Jan. 24, 197L
The addition is attractively tied to the present
church for easy access from the sanctuary and
from the basement.
The Rev. Charles Barnes, the present minister,
came in mid-1975.

FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH THE UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST
Geneva and Wisconsin StreetS
Four years after Elkhorn had been laid out in 1839,
there were only 40 people. Eight Christian men and
women met with Rev. Gaston on Dec. 9, 1843, in the
old Elkhorn House to organize a church.
The Rev. Gaston, who became the first minister,
was a circuit rider and missionary sent by eastern
churches.
He served Delavan, Darien, Sharon,

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH (ABC)
Court and Broad Streets
The Baptist Society of Elkhorn was organized
Dec. 4, 1852, at a meeting in the old county courthouse.
Articles of faith and a covenant were adopted by
24 constituent members. On Jan. 13, 1853, a council
of churches recognized the new society. During 1853
the first church edifice (34 by 54 feet) was built at the
corner on the present site at a cost of $2,200. This is
believed to have been the first place of worship built
in Elkhorn. By 1857 a Sunday School was organized.
In 1885 this first church building was moved away
and a brick church (34 x 60 feet) took its place on the
same corner and was dedicated April28, 1886. This
second church was largely rebuilt in 1897; then partially destroyed by fire in 1907. While repairs and
reconstruction took place, the members worshipped
at SL John's Episcopal church. The repaired building
was rededicated on Dec. 30, 1908. On Dec. 14, 1924,
fire again struck and the Joss was about $30,000.
Previously, on Aug. 21, 1919, an older Universalist church building, located near where the Catholic rectory now stands, had been bought and moved to
the rear of the Baptist church. This was first used
as a Community House, but later it became the recreational hall of the Baptist Society, This building was
not damaged by the 1924 fire, and services were held
there following the destructive fire of the Baptist
church.
In 1926 the present brick church was built and
dedicated SepL 15, 1927. This is the fourth house
of worship for Elkhorn Baptists and is built on the
same corner as the first three. The old recreational hall, used by many youth and young adults,
however, was razed in 1972.
ln February, 1958, a group of Spanish speaking

CongregationalUnited'Church of Christ
Walworth, and Richmond, as well as Elkhorn.
Meetings were held at first in the courthouse
and schoolhouse. By 1846 one of the two elected
deacons contracted to heat and light the courthouse
and give it needed care for religious services for
one year at five dollars. The Society continued to
grow and in April, 1854, a Sunday School was organized.
On Dec. 7, 1857, the Congregational Society and
the Wesleyan Society formed a partnership to build
a wooden frame building on the Geneva street lot
where the Powell Antique shop is now located. Each
society paid $600 for the construction. This union
lasted until 1878 when the Congregationalists bought
the Wesleyan halL Little is known about the origin
of the Wesleyans and eventually they were absorbed
by other denominations.
The Congregational Society continued to grow and
in 1882 the present brick church was builL The
former Congregational building of 1857 became a
79

First
Baptist Church

people used part of the church facilities for their
church services. This group became a member of
the Association of American Baptist Churches in
1967 -- now known as the American Baptist Convention. In 1971 the Spanish Baptist church moved
to a schoolhouse on the Delavan Road.
In the fall of 1973, the Citizens Opportunity Service (COS) began to use the church basement for a
children's Day Care Center, while parents, especially from low-income families, work.
• The church now shares a pastor with the Honey
Creek Community Baptist church.

ST. PATRICK'S CATHOLIC CHURCH
Walworth and Church Streets
Though St. Patrick's Catholic church, named
for the patron saint of Ireland, was organized later
than the Protestant churches, mass had been celebrated in 1848 in the Elkhorn area in a home near
Tibbets. These services were conducted by a circuit rider who came on horseback through the
wilderness from Milwaukee.
By 1852 services were being held in a home in
Elkhorn. The parish was a mission of St. Andrews'
church in Delavan. Later, services were held in
the courthouse.
Because of the growth in population from 1845 to
1,857, there was a marked gain in membership and in
1860 the church was officially organized. Soon an
old tannery, standing on the NE corner of Lincoln
and Walworth streets, was purchased and remodeled
for a place of worship. This building was enlarged
in 1865 and used until 1880. From the beginning,
priests from Delavan conducted services here.
There was no resident priest until 1878 when Father
Vahey was appointed. In 1880 the church was incorporated under the laws of the state of Wisconsin.
Under Father '4ahey' s leadership, a church was
built at the corner of Walworth and Church streets
in 1880. The rapid growth oftheparishnecessitated
a larger building, so in 1905 the present St. Patrick's
Church, occupying the site of the original white brick
edifice, was built. While the present church was
being constructed, services were held in nearby
Columbus Hall which had been built in 1897. Here
church related activities are held by various organi-

UNIVERSALIST CHURCH
The only reliable information concerning this
early movement of the Universalist Church is that
they held services in the old Courthouse. The
society flourished under the Rev. H. D. L. Webster,
but following his pastorate, interest languished
and the organization lost life.
Occasional services continued to be held and
in 1874 a new interest was awakened. ln 1875 a
church was built near the present Masonic Temple.
In 1878 the society was re-organized with 30 members in the parish. For some reason the organization was soon disbanded.
It was not until 1919 that the Universalist church
building was bought by the Baptist conl)"regation.
It was moved to the rear of the Baptist church and
first served as a Community House. Later it became the recreational hall of the Baptist Society
until it was razed in 1972.
80

•

T

Early Catholic Church and Rectory
-the Latter Now a Home
at 206 N. Wisconsin St.

St. Patrick's
Present Edifice

_.....
zations. of the church. In addition to Columbus Hall,
there is also a modern rectory erected just east of
St. Patrick's in 1921.
Since 1905, St. Patrick's has been remodeled and
repaired, and a more extensive program was undertaken following a fire which in 1957 gutted the
building.
By 1950 more spiritual instruction for the children of the parish was wanted. At first several
nuns from St. Mary's of Burlington came each Saturday morning to instruct the children. !n 1955, to
complete the parish unit, a campaign to build a school
was begun. For this school 20 acres of land in the
northwest part of Elkhorn were bought. The school,
with three Notre Dame sisters, opened Sept. 22,
1958, with 199 students. Since then there has been
a growth in the number of pupils to 230. The number of teachers (3 sisters and 7 lay) has been increased due to the enrichment of the curriculum and
interest in athletics.

The St. Patrick Parish, since June 26, 1956,
!las been under the able leadership of Father
Hanauska who is well- known both in his parish
and the community.
FIRST EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH
Centralia and Devendorf Streets

One of the later congregations to be incorporated
as a church in Elkhorn was the First Evangelical
Lutheran on Feb. 28, 1871.
Pastor Duborge was the founder, but in 1874
he was called to Chicago. That meant he could be
present only one Sunday out of six and that laymen
served five Sundays. To remedy this, Pastor J. J.
Meier, of Slades Corners, was called to serve the
congregation together with Slades Corners and
East Troy churches. The year 1876 became an
important milestone -- Rev. Meier was called to
81

be the resident pastor, the first parsonage was
purchased, and membership in the Wisconsin Synod
was established.
By 1884 the congregation had grown, and that
year a new church, at a cost of $2,800, was dedicated. The Rev. Johanne Dejung was serving for
$250 per year. By 1893 a parochial school of 30
pupils had been started, also youth choirs, and a
brass choir. In 1894 the dual relationship with East
Troy that had lasted 20 years was terminated.
From 1898 to 1968 First Evangelical Lutheran
was served by four pastors. Membership grew and
a building program for the Sunday School was completed. In 1959 need for more space became apparent and a planning committee was named.
On Aug. 4,1968, the present pastor, Rev. Frederic
Kosanke, was installed. Growth steadily continued
in church membership and physical needs, which resuited in the purchase of a new parsonage, the establishment of a building fund, and the purchase of
3.82 acres for a new church building.
On Nov. 11, 1973, the cornerstone ceremony for
the new church was held, and on June 9, 1974 the
building was dedicated. Included in the new facility
was a library, a cry room, a kitchen, Sunday School
rooms, Fellowship hall, church offices, and nave.
Two significant features of the new edifice are
the Cross Tower on the exterior, suggestive of the
Trinity, and in the narthex the Ladies Aid Window
from the old church on Geneva and Church streets
was installed. It is of Christ knocking on the door.
The present pastor, the Rev. Frederic Kosanke,
is the lOth in succession who have served this
church and this community.
He, his wife and
family reside in the new parsonage at 500 West
Centralia street, across from the new church.

ST. JOHN'S LUTHERAN CHURCH

104 So. Broad Street
In January, 1898, some members seceded from
the First Evangelical Lutheran church after a doctrinal split. These assembled for worship in the
former Universalist church, led by Pastor Kompflein, of Janesville.
A brick church, at a cost of $3,500, in the same
block as the Evangelical church was dedicated Dec. 4,
1898. The Luther League purchased the bell for the
steeple. In later years, the majestic steeple and
bell were removed when the steeple was struck by
lightning.
Services in these early years were in the German
language exclusively, as were all business meetings
and conversations. For 15 years the congregation
remained an independent unit with no synod affiliation, until 1924 when they affiliated with the Synod
of the Northwest of the United Lutheran Church in
America. This is now known as the WisconsinUpper Michigan Synod of the Lutheran Church in
America.
From 1926 to 1945 four pastors served, and the
growth in numbers was steady. In 1948 the congregation voted to enlarge the church building. A large
brick extension was added on the church's west side
and a complete redesigning of the old church interior
was made. The work was completed in 1951 and on
June 29, 1952, dedication services were held.
In August, 1961, the church acquired property adjoining the church to the south and plans for a new
parish education building were made. In 1970 the
building was completed at a cost of$200,000 and was
dedicated April 5, 1970. In that same year, Pastor
Charles Burmeister was recalled to serve a second

St. John's
Lutheran Church

82

Summer Vacation Bible School
for All Denominations
at· Baptist Church in Early 1930s
with Rev. C. A. Jones in Charge

time.
The history of St. John's consists largely of 15
pastorates and building and remodeling of the church
edifice from 1898 to 1976. The real significant story
of St. John's related to its many faithful members
through these years.
The first pastor was Rev. Hugo Stuebenvoll, a
friend of the late German Emperor, Wilhelm. One
of the heirlooms from this pastor's time is an autographed German Bible bearing Wilhelm's bold signature, sent as a greeting to the new church. A second
autographed Bible was sent by the Archduke of Baden.
The present Pastor Burmeister is serving in a
fashion peculiar to Lutheran tradition -- a second
pastorate after an absence of 15 years. He first
served from 1945 to 1955 and returned in 1970.
One of the Rev. and Mrs. Burmeister's children,
Jonathan, is a Wycliffe translator on the Ivory
Coast, Africa.

meeting places before 1931. Meetings had been held
in homes, in the former Universalist Church building, in the Sprague Opera House, the American
Legion Hall, which had once been the Methodist
church, the Baptist Community House, and in the
second story of several store buildings.
The present edifice on Broad street was built
in 1931 and dedicated July 24, 1932, and is next to
the newest in the history of Elkhorn religious
organizations.
The building is unique in some
ways.
The illumination is from behind amber
glass panels in the walls at intervals around the
auditorium. The ceiling is beamed and the area
is open to the roof.
The Christian Science Societies have no ministers, but rely on the King James version of the
Bible, the Chdstian Science text books, and on
readers. All Christian Science Societies are uniform and are affiliated with the mother church
in Boston.

CHRISTIAN SCIENCE SOCIETY
319 No. Broad Street

JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES
Schmidt and Cobbie Roads

The first recorded meeting of the Christian
Science Society in Elkhorn was in 1894, but the
formal organization of the group dates from April
2, 1903.
At first it was nomadic and had at least seven

The Jehovah's Witness organization was started
in Pennsylvania in the 1870s, but didn't become
established locally until the 1930s.
The members use the Watch Tower Bible and

Christian Science
Society and
Reading Room

83

Tract society as their governing body. The Society's magazine, "Watch Tower", first published
in 1879, is printed in some 70 languages and is
distributed in about 200 countries and colonies.
Beginning in the 1930's, the Jehovah's Witnesses first met in different private homes. Later,
from 1945 until 1955, the meetings were at the Paul
Dobbert home. The next place, Kingdom Hall on
north Wisconsin street, was built and dedicated in
1956. The organization, now numbering about 115,
outgrew this building, and in 1975 moved into a
larger Kingdom Hall a few miles northwest of
Elkhorn.
Jehovah's Witnesses are governed by elders,
one of whom is a presiding elder appointed by the
Jehovah Spirit in Brooklyn, N.Y. In each district,
there are home study groups (7 in the Elkhorn area)
for Bible Study on Tuesday. Sunday services are
devoted to public talk and "Watch Tower" study.
On Thursdays the ministry school and service
meetings are held.

Rev. Grant Rice. The church was started as a
Bible class in January, 1965. Pastor Rice taught
the class which was held weekly in the Municipal
building. On Dec. 5, 1965, the church held its first
regular Sunday services in a home on West Walworth street.
Growth necessitated larger quarters so during
these growing years, services were held in the
American Legion hall, a store-front building on
South Wisconsin street, and the lower level of the
Holton Manor Nursing home. On July 18, 1971
ground was broken for their first church edifice on
county trunk H at the southeast edge of Elkhorn
and later dedicated in April, 1972.
The congregation has grown in the decade from
an original 15 persons at the first services to about
100 now. The average attendance at Sunday School
is 120. There are 14 Sunday School classes which
include a class for Spanish speaking people. There
are youth programs for all ages, fellowship activities for adults, and a children's church. A bus is
used to bring many of the members to church and
Sunday School.
Ray Fessman was the lay pastor until Rev. Rice
moved into the area in January, 1966. He served
the church until August, 1968. In September, 1967,
the present pastor, Richard Eckman, came to Elkhorn and worked as an associate with Pastor Rice.
He later continued on as the pastor.

EMMANUEL BAPTIST CHURCH

County Trunk H and MacLean Road
Organized only 10 years ago (December 7, 1965)
the Emmanuel Baptist church is the youngest organization in the city.
The church founder and former pastor was the

Christmas Nativity Scene at Congregational-UCC in 1970s.
84

The City's Cemeteries
MT. OLIVET
It was Oct. 31, 1895 that St. Patrick's Catholic
church decided upon a cemetery for its own parish.
Until that time, the bodies of those who had died,
were buried in the Delavan and East Troy cemeteries.
In 1896, land near Hazel Ridge cemetery was
purchased bordering the west end of Court street.
Labor on the grounds was provided and donated by
the men of the parish, including the landscaping
and the building of an arched stone gateway. In
1956 a new entrance became necessary, but the
stone gateway remains as a memorial to the early
parishioners.
Over the years, additional burial space was acquired and landscaping of these new areas was
carried out.

HAZEL RIDGE CEMETERY
The first small burial plot in the hamlet of Elkhorn was in the neighborhood of Wisconsin street
near North street. This area, however, proved to
be unsatisfactory as the grounds were low and wet
and it was later abandoned.
On May 28, 1850 the inhabitants of the town of
Elkhorn and vicinity met at the schoolhouse for the
purpose of forming a Cemetery association. Temporary officers were chosen until June 10, 1850
when permanent officers were elected. The corporate name, "Elkhorn Cemetery Association",
was adopted, six trustees were elected for two
year terms of staggered intervals and a committee
of three was formed to draft laws and by-laws.
The minutes of all proceedings were recorded with
tbe State of Wisconsin as a transcript, signed, and
sealed for the purpose of incorporation.
Between 1851 and 1854, inclusive meetings were
held regularly as plans were made. By 1855 the
Elkhorn Cemetery association trustees were able
to purchase land and had resolved to print 150 to
200 blanks for titles to the association.
In 1856 a fence was built around the grounds
and burials followed. This second site was at the
eastern end of Court street near the Walworth
County fairgrounds.
This also proved an unsatisfactory location, so on
March 19, 1874, a dozen men met at the office of the
clerk of the court for the purpose offorming a different cemetery association.
Nine trustees were
elected and the organization of this Elkhorn cemetery
association was duly recorded on March 21, 1874.
Plans were begun to secure land located at the
west end of Jefferson street "at the best terms
possible" from Neal Brown. After negotiations,
Brown sold "all land from the corn stubble on the
soutb to tbe road on the north and east to the ditch
or as near that as the Association may determine
for the sum of $150 per acre; the land now occupied
as one-half of the public highway on the north of
the above described lands for $75.00 per acre."

THE CATHOLIC CEMETERY, MI. Olivet, was established in
1896, which included the erection of this arched stone gateway
by paPishioners of St. Patrick's church. A new entrance to
the cemetery in 1956 ieftthis as a memorial to the early workers.

The association was to build all fences. Mr. Brown
would furnish the association trees and shrubs for
cemetery use at wholesale prices for a time of three
years. The deed was delivered on May 1, 1874 and
the trustees hired William Jones to plow and seed
the ground preparatory to platting.
ln the meantime by-laws were drawn up to include election of officers, a minimum price for
lots, no granting of a deed for a lot not paid in full,
removal of bodies to the Potter's field from graves
neglected by their owners, the payment of no
salaries, and the sale of no lots before the dedication of the cemetery.
This dedication of Hazel Ridge Cemetery was
held on the grounds July 23, 1874. The exercises
had been planned by the resident clergymen and consisted of an invocation) four musical numbers, two
addresses, the dedication, and a benediction.
By March 1875 the front entrance had been
graded, the ditch filled, 187 rods of fence built,
2, 700 feet of drive and 300 feet of paths surveyed
and graded, 351 lots surveyed, staked, and numbered, and 285 trees set. Already 37 lots had been
sold at an average price of $30 per lot. There
had been interments, including 30 from the old
cemetery, and it had become necessary to employ
a sexton, but volunteers for labor on the grounds
were used.
In 1876 maples and willows had been planted
on both sides of Jefferson street from Church
west to the entrance, with ornamental shrubs for
the cemetery proper secured from Rochester, N.Y.,
and a landscape architect from Chicago hired to
plan for the beautification of the cemetery grounds.
From 1876 to 1882 there had been 46 interments
and 45 removals from the old cemetery.
In 1875 the indebtedness had been $1408.45,
but in seven years the debt had been decreased to

85

$490.00 by "wise management and frugal spending"
by the officers. At times the year end statement
might show a balance on hand of 41 cents, $1.52 or a
similar small amount. By 1885 all interest-bearing
debts had been paid.
Fencings, plantings, tiling continued in the following years. By 1891 a new gateway to the entrance
was discussed. Also that year a special meeting of
the trustees was called due to vandalism in the
cemetery by two boys. The boys were reprimanded
and a fine of $1 was levied on each parent.
In 1892 it was voted to accept an offer from
Barnum of Detroit to deliver and construct 50
feet of iron fence including posts, gates, and lettered arch for $173 - 5% off for cash.
Need for more land hadbecomeapparentsoacreage to the west of the cemetery was bought from
Edward Amos in 1894. Lot sales increased and by
1896 funds were available to build a summer house
for $141.73 and a tool shed for $27.27.
Additional land was bought in 1896, and the
following year a plat was made of the new ground.
Also the owner of lot 502 was ordered to pay within
60 days or the lot would be resold.
In 1902 the City Council was petitioned for
water mains. A contract was let in 1903 toW. E.
Magill for this work for $197.23. Again in 1908
more land - 25-1/2 .acres - was purchased and
0. C. Simons, a landscape gardener, was hired.
The land not platted during the years was leased
"to the best advantage" or wood and hay were cut
and sold.
By Oct. 30, 1915 Elkhorn cemetery walks were
a reality after years of waiting. The street commissioner and his force of helpers had completed
the walks to Hazel Ridge and to Mt. Olivet.
In 1931 a cannon was given by the Harry Kelly
Post of the American Legion. In 1932 direction
arrows so "certain preachers" could find their

way about the cemetery, were placed. In 1943
it was decided that no Sunday funerals were to be
held, unless it was an emergency.
During these years while the Hazel Ridge cemetery was developing, the Walworth County Agricultural society had grown in interest and needed
additional land. On Feb. 14, 1907 E. H. Sprague
introduced a bill in the Wisconsin Assembly to
vacate the old Elkhorn cemetery for fairground
purposes. On March 21, 1907 this bill, vacating
the old cemetery, was passed making it possible
to turn the land over for fairground purposes.
On May 2,, 1907 Secretary Norris of the Agricultural society was given charge of moving bodies
from the old cemetery to Hazel Ridge. As late as
1911 while excavating for a dwelling, a human
skeleton at the depth of about five and one-half feet
was found. This property was located on the ground
once used for Elkhorn's very first cemetery and it
was believed that all bodies had been removed when
the new plot was opened.
Through three locations Hazel Ridge cemetery
has grown. Women of Elkhorn played an important
role as Mrs. L. W. Swan became Vice President
in 1927, and in 1932shebecamepresidentand served
until 1940. In 1927 two women were also serving
on important committees and in 1929 two were
trustees. Perpetual care dates back to 1891 when
through a will $35 was left for care of the Parmalee lot. In 1895 five dollars were left for the care
of lot 596 for five years (1895-1899 inclusive).
The more generous amount of $100 was also received in 18 95.
As years have passed, the careful management
of the Elkhorn Cemetery association saw Hazel
Ridge cemetery enlarge and improve until it is
now one of the most beautiful cemeteries in Wisconsin. The president presently is Lloyd L. Jensen
and the secretary is George Grundmann, Jr.

OLDEST OF THE TWO cemeteries in Elkhorn, is Hazel Ridge
complex at the end of Jefferson street, which was dedicated

for that purpose in 1874. A cannon
is located in the cemetery at the
base of a flagpole, which was

donated by the American Legion
in 1931.

86

Industrial Growth
Elkhorn as an industrial city might be questioned
by larger cities, but light industry has provided
products needed for consumption and services used
for better living, not only locally, but for far reaching areas. These industries have given labor to its
citizens and to those of surrounding communities;
thus adding to a stronger and richer economy.
One of the earliest enterprises was the establishment of the brick yard in 1856. Tile and Brick
making was a livel:; early mdustry here as bricks
were in demand because of the desire for more
permanent building materials than were afforded
by wood.
Clay for bricks lay in the western part of the
city where Levi Lee opened a pit and produced a
product of fair quality. When railroad prospects
hastened the village growth and men began to add
another dollar each morning to yesterday's front
foot price of their real estate, bricks were in demand.
Nathan Sexton leased some land along west Walworth street about two blocks south of Lee's operation and began his own brick firm. After a couple
of years of operations George Burpee became a partner of Sexton and they operated the yard until 1876.
In March, 1886 George Sprague and his brother, along
with other parties, purchased the Burpee brick yard
and installed the best quality equipment available for
manufacturing bricks and tile. Coal burning furnaces, power mills, sleds and an engine house were
added to the equipment. The production increased
tremendously and within a few months the output
was 10,000 perfect bricks daily. Doubtless most
of the oldest buildings in the community were constructed of brick made by the early firms. Of
interest is the fact thatSunsetParkis on the location

of the Sexton-Burpee-Sprague brick yard.
In 1874 a wind engine mill was erected by D. M.
Stearns and operated for 20 years at the north side
of town.
A. F. Desing (Gus) came from a farm in Geneva
township in 1879 and went to work for Nels Hanson
and Fred Opitz in the blacksmith shop owned by the
two men at that time. He started as an apprentice
in the early 1880's and in 1883 purchased the Oliver
Livingston shop at the corner of Geneva and Lincoln
streets.
In 1886 the 5usiness was destroyed by fire and a
new shop was constructed. He then took Charles
Gaylord as a partner until 1897 when he bought out
the Gaylord interest. The firm branched out into a
woodworking business and was known as the Central
Wagon and Carriage Works. Julius Ninast operated
the woodworking end of the business and all types of
wagons, buggies, and sleighs were manufactured.
In 1939 the shop was sold to Claus H. Ficken Oil
Co. for a gas station! The invention and use of cars
had made the blacksmith business unnecessary.
A silo and tank factory was operated by Arthur
Waterbury in an adjacent building which had housed
the blacksmith shop. That corner is presently occupied by the Consumers Co-op station.
The Elkhorn Lumber Co. has been in business
since 1894, although fire destroyed the elevator and
adjoining buildings in 1897, which led to rebuilding
and the company was soon back in operation providing lumber and fuel. In 1914 the old depot was
purchased and was used as a warehouse. In 1916
a new brick office was erected. The Lumber Co.
was owned and operated by a father-son combination
in Wells and Gilbert Church until 1975 when Gilbert,

AN EARLY INDUSTRY WAS tile and brick making, which was

part of the city. This is probably the slightly later- one established on the location of what is now Sunset park.

started in 1856 and led to two brick yards in the western

87

AMONG THE COMMI..INITY'S early pieltNes is one taken abool
1910, showing the entire crew of the Elkhorn lumber Co. The
building in the picture has since been razed, but those on hand
at that time included (standing from left} John Dunphy, Gene

and Edwin Kinney. E.M. Walfie. Tom Ferg"son. Arthur Burns
and George White. In the wagon at the left is Otto Wol.f and
in the wagon at the right is Carter Grice. while in the doorway
above are Theodore Nuoffer and Jake Bauerman.

now the sole owner, retired and sold the business.
His father, Wells, had died several years prior to
this time. The new owners are David Nickolette
and Wesley Erskine.
Also in the lumber and fuel business was the
Home Lumber Co., which was established by the late
John Harris. It also provided service for grinding
oats and corn for area farmers as cattle feed. Other
commercial feeds also were handled. It operated
until 1963 when the Co-op purchased the property
as a storage area.
The creamery in Elkhorn was started before 1900
by John Harris and was known as the Wisconsin Butter
and Cheese Co. which were the main processed foods.
In fact, Kraft cheese got its start in this plant.
The milk was hauled to the factory by team and
wagon for many years. Gradually the plant was enlarged and evaporated milk preparation was added.
In 1918 the milk was being shipped to Egypt, France,
England, Italy, Belgium and Russia. In 1926 the
United Milk Products Co. purchased the plant and continued processing powdered milk and concentrated

milk until the plant closed in the early 60s.
The Schmidt Brothers Ice Cream factory provided
goodies for many and was notable in 1904 for having
a new gasoline engine to turn the wheels in the factory. The factory is no longer in existence but the
tasty memory lingers on!
The Olsen Cement Mixer Co. was another early
enterprise which served the needs of the community.
Established in 1914 it proved successful and the firm
was invited to a Cement show in Chicago in 1916 to
show its ability.
In 1918 a new venture came to Elkhorn- the Holton
Band Instrument Co. It brought sweet music to town
in the form of cornets, trumpets, trombones, French
horns, baritones, and other brass. These sell under
such trade names as "Holton Galaxy"- "Holton AI
Hirt Special''-~ 'Collegiate''-' 'Holton Artist''-' 'Holtan Virtuoso'' -and ''Holton Revelation''. More than
100 employees produce these fine instruments today
as part of the Leblanc Corp. of Kenosha, and they
are sold and played by musicians throughout the
world. They are used in barlds and orchestras
88

everywhere and many an Elkhornite learned to play
on these prized possessions. In fact, Frank Holton,
the founder of the Co., was a le'lding Trombone
player for John Philip Sousa, Hi Henry, Ellis
Brooks and others, often leading the parades.
In 1928, to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the
company, the workers were paid with silver dollars.
During World War II a base detonating fuse was
manufactured here as a part of the war effort. ln
1945 the company reconverted to band instrument
production.
In recent years a new lighting system has been installed to provide visual depth and to eliminate
shadow, both important in the production of musical
instruments. Temperature control was also added
for greater comfort and improved assembly and testing conditions.
William Bublitz opened a music shop in 1923 and
later a case factory for musical instruments. During
the year of 1949 24,000 instrument cases were produced.
The W. and L. Case company also provides a similar function at the present time. Located on Centralia street it employs seven people. Joe Weber Sr.
was one who worked at Case Mfg. for four decades,
coming liere with the ·Holton factpry. General Wood
Workers Inc. on highway 12 at the north city limits
also manufactures cases of wood, plastics, and fibre
and employs 15 workers. Thus, the valuable instruments made by Holtons are protected by these beautiful cases.
In addition to the founding and operation ofthe factory a beautiful home in which the Holton family resided was built. It is now used as a nursing homeHolton Manor.
In 1920 a pea cannery was built which provided
work for many and encouraged the area farmers to

provide the products needed for its operation.
After it closed, a new market was developed through
the Libby, McNeill and Libby frozen food plant near
Darien.
In 1930 a chick hatchery was in big production
with a 52,000 Smith incubator installed shortly after
the building was started. Four cents per egg was
the charge for the hatching. The project has since
been discontinued.
A factory making candy ·by the ton was started
over the downtown Princess restaurant in 1930 by
Miles Sperry and Ray Pihringer. It was later moved
to the Hanson building; then to Columbus Hall before
it was soldtotheRedeiCandyCo.of Milwaukee. The
Denver Sandwich was a specialty and served many a
sweet toothed citizen!
During the 1940's several new industries were
started including Densewood mallets, made by Alfred
Olsen in the laboratory at the rear of his home.
They were standard equipment for U.S. arsenals.
The Gerlach Manufacturing Co., of Racine and Milwaukee, opened a bowling pin factory. Gerlach
later bought the Wales Paint shop on Adams street
and continued work there for a time.
The Klebe Tool and Dye company opened on
Chur.ch and Centralia streets. James Barr Jr. made
burial vaults which were sold throughout the area.
The Elkhorn Chemical Co. opened a firm which still
makes and sells cleaning chemicals to industrial
plants. Many products are sold in retail stores for
home use under the brand name "Elko".
The Mann Bros. trucking business was established
in this era. It was later expanded and moved north
of the city and does diversified work on roads, driveways, with extensive gravel pits. The firm also developed the Evergreen Golf and Country Club estates
in the mid 1970s.

THE A.O. SMITH CORP. became pad of the Elkhorn industrial scene in 1951 after acquiring
a 10,000 square foot structure from the Sh-Rite Co., of Delavan. The Milwaukee based firm
expanded its welding division in 1953 with this 16,000 square foot addition at its Elkhorn plant
that was completed !ate in the year. The addition more than doubled the size of the plant here.

89

OAK MANUFACTURING CO. CAME TO ELKHORN IN 1953

Another trucking business hauling milk to several
nearby states was started by William O'Donell and
is still in operation under the new management of
LCL Trucking Co.
In 1955 The Duo Paint company was launched on
south Church street. It mixes and sells paint and
varnish products wholesale and retail.
A. 0. Smith Harvestore Co., a subsidiary of the
A. 0. Smith Corp., manufactures glass lined farm
storage units which have become an important facet
of the Milwaukee firm's product lines. It recently
added a 45,000 square foot building to the Elkhorn
plant where Harvestore unloaders are made. This
increase makes a total of 125,000 feet of space and
will raise the labor force from 200 employees to a
potential of 350 persons.
Another large industry which added to the city's
growth is the Oak Manufacturing Co., headquarters
in, Crystal Lake, Ill., which came to the city in !953.
This Company produces basic converter products for
use by the cable television market, an important and
growing segment of the communication industry. It
produces equipment especially designed for European
cable systems. The Elkhorn production facility uses
a completely conveyorized operation including sub
and final assembly, tracking inspection, quality control, and packaging. It. has provided employment for

as many as 500 southeastern residents during its
peak production periods.
Another aspect of Elkhorn's industrial development is the father- son heritage of several enterprises.
The Reed Mink ranch on the outskirts of the city
was originally started by Harold Reed and later
operated by his son Robert.
T. J. Getzen, a former employee of Holtons until
1939, opened his own band instrument factory in the
barn back of his home in 1940 with two employees.
In 1946 it had increased its employment to 30. The
firm was later moved to a building on Centralia
street where more than 80 workmen manufacture
trumpets, French horns, cornets, baritones, fluegelhorns, and tubas.
Its products also have gained national and international recognition, with many drum and bugle corps
having a complete line ofGetzen instruments. Harold
Knowlton has been president of the firm during much
of the recent growth period.
The firm has a full clinician program with a
number of well-known instrumentalists, headed by
Doc Severinsen~ a television entertainer who gained
fame as featured trumpet player and then band leader
on the Johnny Carson NBC "Tonight" show. Severinsen is now a vice president in charge of research

GETZEN CO. WAS THE 2ND BAND INSTRUMENT PRODUCER HERE

90

ALLIED MUSIC CORPORATION'S growth into the nation's largest band instrument repair and
parts facility resulted in several expansions of the plant including the latest one in the 1970s.

and development for the firm, which features a horn
under his signature.
The firm now operates out of new facilities,
following a disastrous fire on Oct. 14, 1963, which
leveled nearly two-thirds of the old building. In
April of 1973, a second Getzen Co. plant was opened
in Marengo, Ill., which was of some help when a fire
on May 23, 1974, destroyed a third of the roof and
part of the production facilities. But again, the firm
bounced back in meeting the back orders that had
accumulated during the repair period.
Robert Getzen, who worked with his father for a
period of time, launched the Allied Music Corp., in
1959. His sons also are affiliated with him now in
the instrument repair and parts business, which is
the largest in the nation with a growing international
scope.
·
Earl Olsen opened his own business in 1946 with a
project of tooling for the development of the first
Getzen trumpet. Today the West Side Tool company
operates at 21 Adams St. where they moved in 1958.
The building contains various types of machines such
as turret lathes, engine lathes, automatic screw
machines, milling machines, grinders, drill presses,
and welders. The basic line of work is machine

tooling and manufacturing of higher precision parts.
Olsen helped to develop the first Helio-Arc
welding guns for A. 0. Smith Co. and later for the
Harnischfeger Co. and Campton Co., of Charlotte,
W. Va. His son, Don, is vicepresidentof the organization and has been working with his father since
high school.
There are 7 full time employees
rounding out the work force.
The A. K. Rubber Products Co., Inc., came to
Elkhorn in 1956 from Walworth where it was started
in 1952 by Victor G. Fiegel. Located at 248 West
Centralia st., the company specializes in producing
high quality custom-molded rubber parts for other
manufacturers, ranging in size from tiny clock.
gears to large gaskets, which are shipped throughout the Midwest. The officers are Fiegel, president and treasurer; his son, Kirt, vice-president;
and Mrs. Helen B. Fiegel, secretary.
Besides giving employment to many citizens in
the city and surrounding communities one could find
services an'd products available in the following
sources of recently developed industries:
Bea Industries, Inc., on east Centralia street
employs 12 persons and makes kitchen cabinets
and bathroom vanities under the trade name of
91

A-K RUBBER PRODUCTS CO. PLANT

"Lady Bea Kitchens".
Elkhorn Plastics, Inc., is a larger operation,
over 50 employees, making golf cart bags, hair
dryer hoods, silencer pads, sound blankets, and
other plastic articles. It is located at 315 South
Church st.
In the metal finishing business - in order to
keep things bright and shiny - one finds Elkhorn
Metal Finishers Inc., which provides electropolishing, chemical polishing, electro plating, and special
metal and surface treatment. The plant is located
at 205 Centralia st.
Midwest Polishing and Buffti>g Inc., at 219 South

r

Broad st. provided similar work.
At 431 East Geneva st. one may go to either RiteMachine and Tool Co. for dies, jigs, and fixtures or
to Walworth Industries Inc., Electric Coil Division
for materials needed in this line of work.
Other new light industries are being developed
in the city and outlaying areas, such as LRP, Inc.,
one of the largest van conversion firms in the
nation, offering luxury living on wheels along with
unique paint jobs on the vehicles. It all adds up to
an industrial growth for the Elkhorn area with a
broadening economic base.

i

ELKHORN PLASTICS, INC. FACILITY
92

Businesses And Stores
Business in Elkhorn began with the store of
LeGrand Rockwell in 1838, followed in 1842 by
Bootb B. Davis and James 0. Eaton who opened
stores.
John Matheson came from Scotland and set up a
tailor shop, followed in 1850 by his brother Finley
Matbeson, who besides caps and hats, could supply
port wine and brandy ''for medicine only.~'
Reuben Harriman was making boots and shoes,
Walling and Son advertised harness makers goods
and Levi Lee supplied bricks. In 1851 Otis Preston
went into the general retail business with Horace N.
Hay as a partner.
The stores and businesses of the early years
were those that met the demands of the settlers,
with many of them changing hands frequently as
business was influenced by the war, the gold rush
and the financial panics.
The records of the early business firms were
recorded in the 1882 Butterfield and Beckwith histories of Walworth county, which remind one of the
many milestones passed since buggies and wagons
were manufactured at Court and Washington streets,
or flour was ground across from the fairgrounds,
when bricks were made in the city, and leather was
tanned on East street, between Court and Walworth
streets. Perhaps no one remembers that Lincoln
was East street and Geneva was South street.
In 1975 it is difficult to trace the proprietors
and buildings through the many changes in manage-

ment and businesses, but it is interesting to see
how the changing times have made a far different
society. The livery stables of those early days
have been replaced by garages selling and servicing
our means of transportation, the automobile. The
friendly grocery stores and meat markets have felt
the pressure of big business and have given way to
the supermarkets in supplying many needs for daily
living.
MUNICIPAL BUILDING
Corner Walworth and Broad St.
ln 1874 the old Courthouse, which had served from
1842 to 1874, was moved to the south side of the park
to make way for the new building. It was purchased
by Col. Elderkin "for little more than the price of
two sparrows." Elderkin moved it across the street
to this location, where it was used for an implement
business. When Mr. Sprague bought the lot it was
being used for sale of second hand lumber and
kindling.
Edward Harvey Sprague erected the Sprague
Opera House Block on the corner in 1898 and operated until it was destroyed by fire in July 1925.
The corner of the building was used by the U.S.
Postal Service as Elkhorn's Post Office. Of course
the mail also burned in the fire.
The July 2, 1925 issue ofthelndependentincluded
this item. "A fire which started through the ex-

A PENNY POSTCARD mailed in 1907 includes the old Sprague Opera House at the corner of
Walworth and Broad streets, where the present Municipal building is now located. The plush Opera
t:iouse upstairs with a sloping seating arrangements and a ba!cony, was the scene of many traveling
shows that came Ao E!khorn including Elkhorn high oper.eUas and graduation exercises before it
burned on July 3, 1925. Also destroyed was the postoffice and dime store on the first floor of the
Sprague building, but the building next door, now the Lehman and Seymour law office, was saved
by firemen. The vacant lot in the block was where Dan Kelliher later built the Sprague theater in
the 1930s after obtaining the !and from E.H. Sprague, a prominent lawyer and city benefactor of
the time. For three years, Kelliher operated ihe Princess movie theater in what is now the Arnold
building, before seeking a larger theater that he named after Sprague. The present Elk restaurant
was formerly the Princes restaurant for many years and upstairs was the site for the start of the
famous Chicken Dinner nut bars, started by Miles Sperry and Ray Pen·inger.

93

WALWORTH STREET HASN'T changed too much since this early picture was taken looking west,
probably around 1913 or 1914. The old Loraine hotel and now a restaurant on the right. is just
about the same except for some new siding and the removal of the top porch. The buildings across
the street received new fronts except for the one on the corner. which was the Flack and Miller
drug store. It burned in 1915 and was later replaced with the State bank building. now part of
Park. view Drugs. Of course the Sprague Opera House in the next blo~ also burned and was
replaced with the municipal building. The only additions were the paving of streets and elimination
of the horses and hitching rails.

ploding of a cap pistol in the Elkhorn Variety Store
here Thursday evening destroyed the E. H. Sprague
Opera House Block which housed the City Library,
Post Office, Elkhorn Variety Store and Christian
Science reading room. The loss is estimated at
nearly $100,000. You will discover the inside of
your paper is blank. Your original paper was burned in the fire that destroyed the post office. In
order to save time, we have run just the final
press run of the paper in order to get the more
important news to you as quickly as possible.
We trust you will bear with us this week and pardon
this half edition. We may give you two papers next
week "if the Lord is willing and the weather
permits."
The portion east of the Post Office occupied by
the Elkhorn Variety Store and operated by Oleson
and Last, had previously been occupied by the Brown
Bros. and Co., a variety store, who came in January
1916 with a 5 year lease. Before that it had been
the L. Clifford Howe Jewelry Store.
The blackened and scarred walls of the Opera
House were later broken down to a height where
there was little danger of their being a hazard, and
they stood as a stark and silent memorial to the
fire for some time, until the city bought the property
and erected the Municipal Building. The Independent at the time said: "The new Municipal Building was dedicated Friday, Oct. 9, 1931. Elkhorn is
justly proud of the building complete in every detail.
Quarters are on the third floor for the American
Legion; the Light and Water Commission facing
Walworth street and to the rear of the Commission
office, the Fire Department has a three stall truck

space, with firemens quarters in the basement.
The main entrance is on the west facing South
Broad street. The Council Chambers, Committee
Rooms and Mayor's Office are on the first floor to
the south. Across the hall is office space for city
officials: treasurer, clerk:, street commissioner
and engineer, with a room for the police department.
The second floor has a municipal auditorium seating
600 and a lounge with a kitchen between the two."
NEW FIRE HOUSE
23 So. Broad St.
In May 1969 the city bought the Fred Schmidt
property at 23 South Broad street, including the ice
cream factory, house and garage for $30,000 and
the 1969 taxes; possession being given Sept. 1.
In December the buildings were removed from the
property preparatory to construction of the new
building to house the fire department. This was
built and occupied in 1971.
LEHMAN AND SEYMOUR - Attorneys
17 W. Walworth St.
This building was erected by E. H. Sprague for
his law office at the time he built the Sprague Opera
House Block, and he occupied it until the time of his
death in December, 1930. This building was saved
from the blaze that destroyed the Opera House by a
fire wall that existed between the two. The second
floor was the Charles E. Sprague Library, a memorial to his son whodiedattheage of 19, in 1892, a
victim of tuberculosis. It served the city as the
94

A NUMBER OF BUSINESS PLACES on west Walworth street can be seen behind the piles of snow
that were left after the unforgettable storm during the 1946 winter. Included in the scene was the
Chicago Store, Fleming's Drug Store, Spragia's lee Cream parlor and Kandy Kitchen, National
Tea Co. food store, Elkhorn Independent newspaper, Princess restaurant, Sprague theater and
Production Credit Association office.

public library until the Matheson Memorial Library
was erected in 1931.
The building was purchased by D. F. Kelliher
and the Production Credit association occupied the
first floor from 1933 to 1951; at that time they needed a larger office and moved to 108 W. Court St.
At the same time the office rooms at the rear of the
first floor were occupied by John Voss, Attorney,
from 1946 until the time he became judge.
After PCA vacated their offices, the building
was purchased by Thorson, Lehman and Seymour
in 1951, and they moved their offices to this location
in February, 1952. The upper floor has been used
as offices since it was vacated by the library.

grand opening and dedication of the Sprague was held
May 30, 1928. Installation of "talking pictures"
came to the theater a few months later, and the first
talkie shown was "Broadway Melody" shown on May
8, 1929.
Mr. Kelliher always had a soft spot in his heart for
children and gave them a party at Christmas and at
Halloween each year, and often invited the school
children to a special showing after school, if he had
a unique or historical attraction he thought would be
of interest to them. The Kelliher's pledge was
''never to permit anything shoddy or cheap within the
walls," which he always maintained. He sponsored a
safe driving program for young people and was affectionately known as "Danny."
In January 1969 Dan Kelliher was honored by the
Lions club for having been owner of the Sprague Theater for 46 years and for his service to the community.
The Kellihers sold the theater to James K. Anderson and gave possession Nov. 1, 1968. In May 1975
the business, now known as Elkhorn Cinema, was sold
to Towne Theaters, who have theaters in other places
including Walworth, Watertown and Milwaukee.

SPRAGUE THEATER

15 W. Walworth St.
Mr. and Mrs. D. F. Kelliher came to Elkhorn in
September, 1922, after purchasing the Princess
Theater of Charles C. Hotchkiss. They made many
improvements in the operation; the first was a pipe
organ, that could be played either manually or from
rolls and controlled by the ticket taker at the rear of
the show house. (Remember those were the days of
silent pictures. Chester Bickle played the organ
here.)
Six years later the Kellihers erected the Sprague
Theater on the lot they purchased from E. H. Sprague.
It had previously been vacant with a board fence along
the sidewalk, known as "The Billboard" because it
was posted with signs and handbills for auctions, circuses, meetings, road shows and coming events. The

ELK RESTAURANT

13 W. Walworth St.
A March 14, 1912 Independent item - Mrs. E. C.
Austin purchased the Wales building occupied by
Sperry Bros. and the State Long Distance Telephone
Company, consideration being $6,000. In the deal
Mrs. Austin turned over her place of 6-1/2 acres in
the west part of the city for $4,200. The Austin place

95

for 40 years, but not all of them in Elkhorn. He sold
to Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Kennedy, in 1946, and they
continued until Dec. 1951, whentheywerefollowedby
Mr. and Mrs. Wendell Bagnall who remained until
Dec. 31, 1953.
At that time Mr. Kelliher who owned the building,
remodeled inside and out, and Mario A. Christiano
came as the proprietor. At this time the name was
char1ged to The Elk. He was followed by Mr. and
Mrs. Carl Boutelle who remained until 1964, then
Albert Koshudy took over until April 1971. Mr.
and Mrs. Darrell Wales were the latest operators
after remodeling the building and have conducted
the business since that time.

will be occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Wales.
A July item says Sperry Bros. did over $100 worth
of business the Fourth, a large part of which was
through the sale of ice cream. Mention was made in
January 1914 of the installation of candy manufacturing equipment and an expert candy maker from Chicago coming to instruct them in candy making. Sept.
2, 1915 the Independent carried an ad: "Sperry's
the home of good eats. Have you tried our dinners
or lunches, if you have never eaten with us, you have
missed many a good meal. Dinners, hot and cold,
lunches, ice cream, confectionery. At Sperry's the
home of good eats."
In November 1918 Sperry Bros. sold their restaurant to Webster and Minett and in June 1919 when
Webster and Minett dissolved partnership, Percy G.
Webster continued in the Princess Annex with Miles
Sperry, and George Minett took the Princess Theater.
In 1921 George Salimes purchased the property,
which was occupied by Gus Leeman who ran the restaurant. Mr. Salimes came to Elkhorn in 1925 and
continued the restaurant business until his retirement
in September, 1946. He had beeninthatline of work

THE ELKHORN INDEPENDENT

11 W. Walworth St.
The Elkhorn Independent was established in 1853,
and is now in its 123rd year of publication. It was
then that Edgar J. Farnum, from a farm in the town
of Geneva, put out the first number of the Independent.
The first paper published in Elkhorn and in the

operated upstairs above the restaurant for cooling and forming
of the candy, and then in Columbus Hall for a period of time.
Those working in the restaurant at the time included {from left)
Henry Breidenbach, Jean Ketchpaw, Dude O'Keefe, George Ward
and Nora Costigan (Mrs. Anthony Burns).

THE FORERUNNER OF the Elk restaurant had a different type

of soda fountain and a much larger candy counter, along with
a magazine rack back in 1921. The Princess annex restaurant
had its booths on each side in the rear along with tables and
chairs in the center area. It was also the site for the start of the
Sperry Candy Co. and their famed Chicken Dinner bars, whiah

96

county was the Western Star, first issued August 8,
1845; edited by George Gale and Francis Utter. Gale
later founded the city of Galesville and a college in
that community. The Western Star was absorbed by
the Independent, and the paper was at one time known
as the Walworth County Independent.
In 1896 Francis H. Eames, from a farm in Spring
Prairie, came to work on the Independent and became
a part owner in 1899 with John Snyder. He became
sole owner in 1912 and incorporated the business as
F. H. Eames & Company. At his death in 1918, J.
Walter Strong, who had been a newsman on the paper
for six years, became the editor.
In January 1921, Clifford and Claude Eames took
charge; Claude became editor in May of that year,
and he purchased his brother's interest in 1928.
Frank Eames, son of the Claude, became editor of the
paper in 1960, and still holds that position along with
presidency of the corporation.
The paper was published from 1865 to 1913 in the
building at 35 North Wisconsin street; before 1865 it
had been published in the second floor rooms of the
Bradley building. The building on north Wisconsin
st. was built in 1855 by Samuel Baird, a grocer, and
in 1859 he sold to P. C. Gilbert who continued the
grocery store. In 1861 Gilbert sold to Isaac Terry
and in 1865 Frank Leland bought the property for the
Independent. While the ownership changed several
times, the location remained the same until the Independent moved to its present building on West
Walworth street on Nov. 13, 1913.
In 1909 Benjamin B. Kraus bought the Freeley
Hardware store, which occupied this lot; then on
Dec. 12, 1912 it was destroyed by fire, causing an
estimated $7,000 loss. B. B. Kraus moved his business to the T. W. Morefield building, which in 1976
is the A. C. Oleson building on South Wisconsin street.
George Cain cleared the lot and built a new structure to specifications for a modern printing plant,
which has been and still is the home of the "Letter
from Home.''

were provided by: Piano-Pearl Knobb, Mrs. Francis Cory, Mrs. Harry Wright, Mrs. Harley Wales,
Mable Hare, Julia Wales Kenney and Mrs. William
Kallenberg; Drummers -George Mitchell Sr., Glenn
Sweet.
After remodeling, the National Tea Company occupied tbe building in 1928.
PINK POODLE GIFT SHOP
7 W. Walworth St.
This location contains much history for it was
Orlie Carswell's Store, which was established in
1862.
An item in the Nov. 13, 1913 Independent says:
"Extensive improvements are being made in the
pioneer store of 0. Carswell. The old telephone
booth which contained the first public telephone to
be installed in this city is to be taken out. ln
March 1883, the county seat was connected by
phone with the outside world. Mr. Carswell was
manager of the exchange which started out with
Dr. Young and the Lumber Company as subscribers.
Waukesha relayed messages to this city, and that
exchange repeated each conversation to Milwaukee,
which was at the end of the line.
The excitement of election year in '84 kept the
line busy as local voters were on edge with interest
in presidential candidates Cleveland and Blaine.
The exchange was maintained in the store until
1903, when rapidiy increasing business made larger
quarters necessary.''
Carswell was willing to trade in running his
business. Mrs. Nettie Ohl said when she was a
child she traded Indian arrow heads to obtain a
piece of dress material to give her mother at
Christmas. The Oct. 14, 1915 Independent issue,
reported that Carswell is selling out his stock
after 53 years in business.
In 1915 Alex Spragia came to Elkhorn and bought
the building, establishing Spragia's Kandy Kitchen,
where he made his own candy until 1926, but stayed
in business until 1946. His son, Alex Jr., and Mr.
and Mrs. John Spragia did some remodeling and in
January opened a delicatessen and gift shop, with
the addition of a snack bar operated by Darrell
Dunbar and Ray Dooley.
In 1958 the store was taken over by Mr. and
Mrs. William Wolf and operated as a fine card and
gift shop, with the business being sold in 1967 to
Mary and Dean Matthews, who have continued with
an assortment of gift shop items.

ARNOLD, ARNOLD AND KNIGHT - Attorneys
9 W. Walworth St.
In February 1954, Lyman K. Arnold purchased
this building, which had been vacant after the National
Tea Company moved to the larger building at the
corner of East Walworth and North Lincoln streets
in 1949. Knowp now as the National Food Store, it
had been in Elkhorn for 21 years. Mr. and Mrs.
Tracy Davidson of Chicago were the owners who sold
the property to Mr. Arnold. He completely remodeled the building and added a second floor; the front
rooms are used as the law offices and the rooms at
the rear on both the first and second floor are occupied as rental units.
For many years this building had been occupied as
a bowling alley by Phil Stewart and he sold it to Percy
Webster and George Minett.
They started the
Princess Theater here and opened itinl915, discontinuing the use of their Family Theater at 18 South
Wisconsin st. Later they sold the business to Charles
C. Hotchkiss, who continued until D. F. Kelliher came
to Elkhorn and purchased it in September of 1922.
The Kellihers continued the theater here until 1928,
when they moved to their new Sprague Theater. In
the old theater the Sound effects for the silent pictures

FARM BUREAU SERVICE CENTER
5 W. Walworth St.
This structure was operated as a grocery store
many years ago by C. N. Byington, and later by
George Coombe. In 1914 Mr. Coombe soldthestock
and fixtures to William Howe and his son, Harry,
they remaining at this address for three years before moving to the 25 North Wisconsin st. location
they occupied for a much longer time. Webster and
Minett, owners of the Family Theater, bought the
building in September, 1915 from the Byington estate.
In April, 1918 Flack and Mi!lermovedtheirbusiness from the Corner Drug Store to this location;
later George Miller sold his interest to W. E. Flack

97

AERIAL PICTURE OF DOWNTOWN IN 1966 LOOKING SOUTH
Mr. Johnson had operated the store first as the
manager and then the owner from the turn of the
century, after taking over from Harry Hemb, who had
called it the Cash Saving store. H. Dobbins had
operated the store many years prior to selling to
Hemb, and Dobbins had taken it after C. E. Wing
moved to his new store at 39 North Wisconsin st.
now the Gambles store.
While the Shaffers owned the building they did a
great deal of remodeling both inside and out. At one
time the store had been only one story, but later it
was given a second floor and an addition was built at
the rear that eliminated the alley.
Elliott's of Janesville, bought the store in 1975 and
called it Elliott's Chicago Store. They, too, carried
out some remodeling and are selling ready-to-wear
merchandise.

and he continued as sole owner. The Fleming and
Arnold Drug stores in 1933 took over the bus;ness
from Mr. Flack, and in 1939 Garrett Fleming continued it alone as the Fleming Drug store. This
business was followed Aug. 1951 by the Park- View
Drug store with Jim Hayes as manager. In 1969
Arne Stensby bought the business and incorporated
it into his present Park- View operation.
The Farm Bureau Service Center then moved
in after extensive remodeling, holding an open house
and ribbon cutting ceremony in August, 1969.
ELLIOTT'S CHICAGO STORE
1 - 3 W. Walworth St.
Dry goods and ready-to-wear have been sold from
the southwest corner of Walworth and Wisconsin
streets since the business was established in 1838.
The Chicago Store was established in 1927, when the
Elkhorn Dry Goods Co. owned by A. J. Johnson was
purchased by Louis Shaffer, father of Harry Shaffer,
who was with th~ store until it was sold in 1975.

DYKE SEWING CENTER
10 S. Wisconsin St.
Frank Kurick came to Elkhorn as a young man

98

ducted a shoe store business in this building for 10
years. In 1905, F. J. Parliament of Chicago, rented
the store in the Bentley block for a variety store
which he continued until his death in June, 1917.
In September, 1919, the business was closed out and
the store was vacated in October.
It wasn't until 1922 that the A & P Food Store
company moved into the building, remaining until
1946. They needed larger quarters and since none
were available they left town. The first manager
was Elmer Ridgway, who remained with them until
1939, then Valley Blakeley until1941, Harvey Meyer
for a few months and finally Harvey Welch from
1942 until the store closed in March, 1946.
This is the north part of the Bentley block that
L. H. Buchholz bought in 1917. The store sometimes called 16 and sometimes 18 So. Wisconsin st.
was combined with the building to the south, and with
the partition removed, made the Schultz Bros.
Store.
In 1970 the Sears. Catalog Order Store, operated by Mr. and Mrs. Gail Platts, moved here from
26 So. Wisconsin st. and they still serve the public
at this location.
The Oct. 22, !925 Independent reported an incident about the Ridgways returning from Milwaukee
to their home at 921 W. Walworth Street and
finding that someone had been eating lunch at
their kitchen table. They searched the house and
found a man, rolled in quilts sleeping in the attic.
When Mr. Ridgway wakened him and told him
to get out, the man pulled a gun and shot him,
sending him to Mercy Hospital in Janesville for
treatment. After a search party failed to find
the tramp and bloodhounds lost the trail at the
railroad tracks west of town, it was concluded
the man had made a get-a-way on a freight train.
PLANTS AND THINGS &
LAKES HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING
18 & 18-A S. Wisconsin St.

from Czechoslovakia, and repaired shoes in 1913 in
the Marty Shoe Shop. In 1918 he started his own
business ill the back room of the Slattery Shoe Store.
September, 1925, he bought this building from T. W.
Morrissy and conducted his business at the same location until his death in January, 1956. He had remodeled the building and added a line of shoes for
sale in June 1953.
Before Kurick bought the building it had been the
American Express Office, and also C. W. Reeth's
tailor shop in 1906.
Mr. and Mrs. T. F.McArdleoccupiedthebuilding
as a surplus store known as Mac's Surplus Store in
October 1956, followed by Elmer Scheiby with
Elmer's Clothing Store in the 1970s. In March 1971
Dyke Sewing Center moved to this location with a wide
variety of sewing machines and sewing notions and
continues to serve the public here.
DAVIES, THORSON, O'BRIEN AND
JOHNSON LAW OFFICE
12 S. Wisconsin St.

The Howard and Buchta Drug store was established in the Elkhorn Hotel block in January, 1896,
and moved at the turn of the century to this building
known as the Huntress building.
After Carl Buchta left the business, T. A. Clark
came as a clerk with Peter Howard and then bought
the business in May, 1903. In April 1915, after 12
years as the third drug store, Mr. Clark sold to the
Flack and Miller DrugstoreandtheWoelmDrug Co.,
and they divided the stock between them.
Aug. 26, 1915 advertisement: "Wehaveopeneda
restaurant and ice cream parlor on South Wisconsin
street and are now readytoserveyourwants, meals,
short orders, confectionery, ice cream and soft
drinks. Everything is cooked and served to please.
J. A. Robinson, Elkhorn, Wis." In April the following year J. A. Robinson, who has been conducting a
lunch room in the former T. A. Clark Drug Store,
was closing out his goods and fixtures, and the building was rented to W. K. Suliver and 0. H. Lee for
jewelry and pianos, who moved in May, 1916.
After being in business for 37 years, Mr. Suliver
died in July, 1953; his obituary said he had started
his business in 1916 in the Warriingbuilding, possibly
with 0. H. Lee, for Mr. Lee had a store there a
short time before the two of them moved to this
building in 1916.
Mr. and Mrs. William Wolf purchased the business after the death of Mr. Suliver in October, 1953
and took possession Nov. 1. In 1960 they moved
across the street to 11 S. Wisconsin st.
The building was extensively remodeled and given
a new front and used as the City Traveler restaurant
from March 1964 to 1972. At first it was managed
by Gordon Kennedy and Darrell Wales, later John
Mauer joined Kennedy in the operation with Wales
leaving. Mauer then acquired the business when it
was moved to larger quarters at26 East Walworth st.
The building was again remodeled and taken over
by the firm of attorneys now occupying it: Davies,
Thorson, O'Brien and Johnson.

"Plants and Things" opened in November 1975,
with Jean Wright selling plants and pots and things to
go with them.
But back in January, 1912 Harry Wright made
elaborate plans for the opening of the Family Theater
here, andinApril1913hehadanew arched front constructed "Giving Elkhorn's popular picture showhouse one of the most modern entrances in the locality." This was in the days of silent pictures and
Mabel Hare played the piano and George Mitchell,
father of the present George Mitchell, played the
drums and devised many exciting sound effects.
Later Webster and Minett bought the theater, and
moved the business to the Princess Theater they constructed on West Walworth st.
In September, 1917, L. H. Buchholz bought the
Bentley Block. Mr. Buchholz came from Fox Lake
to Elkhorn in 1897 and bought the one chair barber
shop of J. C. Ford, whohadpurchasedthe Tamblingson barber shop May 21, 1896. A couple months later
Mr. Buchholz bought theM. W. Bovee barber shop that
had been established by the Bovee Bros. Dec. 16,
1886. Mr. Buchholz operated his barber shop at the
rear of the Corner Drug Store facing Wisconsin
street, and when that building was destroyed by fire
in 1913, he conducted his business for a short time in
Gus Gall's tailor shop, until it was possible for him
to return to his place of business. Gus Gall's tailor

SEARS
18 S. Wisconsin St.

In 1895 W. 0. Coombe came to Elkhorn and con-

99

shop was the location where years before the Bovee
Brothers had started their barber shop.
In purchasing the Bentley Block the Parliament
Variety store was occupying the no;th half and continued to do so; the southhalfwhichhad been vacated
by the Family Theater, became the Buchholz Barber
Shop. It also served the men of the community as a
bath house (remember this was in the days before
everyone had a bath room at home). Mr. Buchholz
worked at his trade until 1936.
An item in April I, 1948 Independent tells about
the alligators in the window of the L. H. Buchholz Barber Shop, which had been brought from
New Orleans in 1922. The three were a few inches
long when they arrived here; one died soon after
coming; "Rudolph" had died earlier but "Adolph"
had just passed away when the article was written, after attaining a length of 4-l/2 feet. After
the barber shop closed, the alligators were kept
at the Clarence Buchholz home, in the basement
in winter and in the yard in summer. One could
never know how much interest those alligators
gave the passersby, both young and old.
In October 1936 The Mason Supply Co. opened a
store carrying automobile supplies. It was followed
by a variety store. The Elkhorn Variety Store which
began business with C. S. Kidd's Variety Store in the
C. P. Hanson building in 1937, was sold to Kenneth
Seeley, and he moved it to this location. Phil O'Neal
purchased the business and then sold it to Eugene
Mink in 1940. In April, 1946, Schultz Bros. bought
the business of Mr. Mink, and leased the store next
door, which had been the A & P Store for 24 years.
The partition between the two was removed to enlarge the Schultz Bros. floor space; and the business was carried on here.
The Lakes Heating and Air Conditioning have an
office in the same building at the rear and also use
the basement for their business.

(In the 1920's when the Bayard Lyon family
moved to Elkhorn, Mrs. Slattery displayed and sold
Chinese merchandise that Mrs. Lyon imported.)
JOB SERVICE
22 S. Wisconsin St.
This is now the Wisconsin State of Industry,
Labor and Human Relations, Department of Employment, Security Division, Job Service Office.
Years ago Edward Amos had established a billiard hall at this location, which he later sold to
Albert Schroeder, who in May 1915 sold it to Webster and Minett. Then it was occupied by Glen
Sperry, as Sperry's Pool hall, until May, 1935,
when W. F. Dixson opened a 5¢ and 10¢ store at
this location, which he sold in October of the same
year to Fred T. Clifton. Mr. Clifton conducted his
business here for many years, selling after 19
years to Elzy Cooper, Jr., in 1954. In a short time
he sold it to Joe Bernhart who stayed only to the
end of the year, selling to I. D. Pior in January.
Mr. Pior held a grand opening event in April of
1956.
Since that time the building has been occupied
by Western Auto, Robert's Second Hand Store, again
by Western Auto, and had also been vacant for some
time. In the summer of 1975 the Job Service Office
moved here from its second floor location at 9-1/2
West Walworth st.
(In 1939 a girl who graduated from high school
was employed at the Clifton's Variety Store for
18-1/2¢ an hour and was justthrilledtohave the job.
Sometime later the pay rate was raised to 21-1/2¢
an hour, and Mr. Clifton assured the employees that
it was unheard of to pay anyone such a wage.)
PAT'S PAINT STORE
24 S. Wisconsin St.

ELKHORN APPLIANCE AND TV
20 S. Wisconsin St.

In 1899 Frank and Fred Schmidt came to Elkhorn and bought the bakery of Otto Boloch, which
they operated not only as a bakery, but also as a
restaurant and ice cream parlor for six years in
the building. At that time the baking was done in
the basement. They sold the bakery to A. W. Robinson.
In 1911 Robinson's Bakery made 12,000 buns,
240 dozen doughnuts, 450 pies, 800 loaves of bread
for County Fair business, all this in addition to a
greater than usual town trade. In 1914 Robinson's
advertised Extra fancy California Navel Oranges
20¢ a dozen.
In March, 1918, A. W. Robinson enlisted in the
British Army and sold the bakery to John Meyers.
ln 1919 Mr. Meyers bought the Bauerman building
that housed the bakery, and continued the business
as the Elkhorn Home Bakery until he sold to Martin
Peterson.
In January 1953, Robert Bolton purchased the
bakery from the Petersons and changed the name to
Bo-Dot Bakery. The Boltons stayedinbusinessonly
two years and sold it to Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Kaplan,
in 1955. The Kaplans remained in this location for
five years before moving to 29 No. Wisconsin st.
They changed the name to the Elkhorn Pastry Shop.
June 15, 1961 Pat's Paint Shop, owned by Mr.

From Harness Shop to TV the most modern means
of communication, within the space of 93 years.
Pett's Harness Shop was operated by Harry and
Walter Pett who sold harnesses, horse and cattle
feed, whips, trunks, bags, and fur lap robes in this
place from early 1886 until it was leased by Mike and
John (Flicky) Slattery in 1915, with John buying out his
father's interest in 1917, which involved a full line of
footwear. In June 1936 the Kroger grocery occupied
the building until Sept., 1949. In 1954 Frank Vavra
moved the Gamble Store from the Warning Building
and conducted the business until he sold it in 1956
to the John Johnsons. In 1959 the Johnsons moved
to the A. C. Oleson building across the street.
After the Gamble Store moved out, H. L. DinkheBer moved his business from the Melcher building
into this location. It was known simply as the Electric Appliance and TV, Inc. When Mr. Dinkhe!ler retired in June, 1974, he sold the business to Donald
and Richard Bushey, who still call it Elkhorn Appliance and TV, Inc.
Frank Kurick conducted his shoe repair business
in the Back room ofthe Slattery Shoe store, before he
purchased his place of business at 10 S. Wisconsin
Street.
!00

RICHELIEU FOODS WERE featured at tho Miller Grocery store on south Wisconsin street back
in 1920. Ready to serve customers were (from left} George Miller, Glenn Sperry, Colon McKenzie
and Hal Hubbard. The store was located where the Elkhorn Shoe Store is doing business.

and Mrs. Charles Koglin opened at this location
where they still conduct the business.

until 1970, when they moved to 18 So. Wisconsin st.
They were followed by the Donnelly Shoe Store.
(An item in the Dec. 13, 1917 Independent tells of
an automobile collision Monday at the corner of
Wisconsin and Walworth streets. The Miller Grocery Ford delivery car driven by Will Rafferty and a
car driven by L. F. Dennis of Millard collided at the
corner. Both cars were traveling faster than 12
miles per hour, when Dennis failed to pass to the
right of the traffic post. No one was hurt, but the
cars were badly damaged. Miller's car had a crushed radiator, broken windshield, cam, fenders, light,
body front, and bent axle. The damage is estimated
at $50 to $60.)

DONNELLY SHOE STORE
26 S. Wisconsin St.
The Donnelly Shoe Store moved here in 1970 from
the next door south, where they had been since 1962.
Before that time Mr. Donnelly had occupied one of the
shops in the front ofthe bowling alley, which had been
at 47 So. Wisconsin st.
In the early days this was the grocery of W. C.
Rosenhauer, who sold it toWilliamOhl, who had been
in charge of the grocery department at the Wing
store. In April, 1915, Miller and Horch became the
proprietors, but dissolved the partnership in April,
1917, afterwards being known as Miller's Grocery,
phone number 66.
In April, 1935, Francis Cory became the owner
and called it the Elkhorn Grocery Company, selling
it in November, 1938, to Elmer Ridgway, who had
been the manager of the A & P Store. The name
was changed to Ridgway's !GA. In 1945 it became
the Rubach Grocery, until Roger Rubach returned to
Burlington to open a grocery store there.
Then Miss Elizabeth Burns moved from next door
south, and after she bought the property from the Chet
Williams estate, she enlarged and remodeled the
store in 1948. She remained in business until 1964.
The (J.) Brewer Dress shop occupiedthebuildingfor
one year, then the Sears Catalog Order store moved
in April, 1965, and conducted their business here

JIM'S KARPET KORNER
28 S. Wisconsin St.
This location was the Harriman(R.D.)MeatMarket, neighbor to theW. C. RosenhauerGroceryat the
turn of the century. Harriman had operated the
business since 1876, then he sold it to Mike Welch,
who in turn sold in 1904 toR. A. Widmayer. Widmayer had been in business 26 years, when he sold
in 1930 to 0. W. Kettlehut, which made the market
at least 50 years old at that time. When Kettlehut
left the market, it was taken over by Wesley Babcock from 1934 to 1938.
In 1940, Elizabeth Burns moved her dress shop
to this building from the second floor of the old
City Hall, which she had occupied from 1934. Miss
WI

MELCHER AMC JEEP INC.
32 So. Wisconsin St.

Burns started her millinery business in the A. J.
Johnson's Store, Feb. 14, 1924, when she rented a
corner and bought a stock of hats. She stayed two
years after Mr. Shaffer purchased the business. In
1929, she moved to a shopintheLoraine Hotel, after
it was remodeled by Mr. Nick Sklavenitis, and remained there five years before moving to the second
floor of the old City Hall and then here in 1940.
After she bought it in 1944 from the Chet Williams
estate she remodeled, moved next door and continued business there.
In July 1954 Mr. and Mrs. John Rohleder opened
a Children's Wear Shop here, andcontinuedforsome
time, followed by Jacobsen's Teen Store. While the
old courthouses were being torn down and the new
one built, county offices were housed in buildings
around town. Stanley Ihlenfeldt's University Extension office occupied this location. They moved from
temporary quarters at 34 &:>. Wisconsin st., and were
here from June, 1959, until August, 1962.
In 1962 Donnelly's Shoe store moved here from the
repair shop across the street and remained until
1970, when they moved next door north. After the
Donnellys vacated the building it was occupied by
Jim's Karpet Korner through the present time.

In May 1906 H. E. Hartwell sold his livery barn
and business to Lund Land Co., who must have sold it
to C. F. Graff, because he solditin January, 1907 to
the Fay Brothers, Michael and James. Fay Bros.
Livery ran the omnibus that transported passengers
from the train to Lauderdale Lakes. This was in
the days before the road between Abell's Corner and
Bethel had been built and it was necessary to go by
way of Tibbets or Foster roads. Mike Fay also carried the mailfrom the post office to the depot and met
the morning and evening trains for the incoming mail.
An item in the April 1913 Independent says that
"Mike Fay and P. S. Stewart went to Chicago this
morning for the new car which Fay Bros. have purchased for their livery. They will drive the car out,
expecting to reach home tonight unless bad roads are
encountered.)'
The livery business was sold about 1917 to Ed
Hicks, and in 1922 he went into the garage business.
The Ralston Chevrolet Sales, Inc., Tom James, manager, occupied the location from 1925 until1933 when
Henry H. Melcher took over the business. In 1934
he was named the Nash-LaFayette Agency in Elkhorn. Mr. Melcher has continued the business and
added two lots on South Broad street to his property,
thus expanding his area for used cars. The name
of his operation has been changed since those early
days to Melcher AMC Jeep, Inc. Mr. Melcher has
been in business 41 years, longer than any other
merchant in Elkhorn.

TOM PINTAR - ROY THOMS
30 So. Wisconsin St.

This property, as well as the double store building to the north, belonged to Chet Williams. In the
early days there was just a small wooden building
here.
In October 1921 Mrs. Elizabeth Sperry and Mrs.
Roy Mahoney moved the "Hat Box" here; with Mrs.
Mahoney later selling her interest to Mrs. Sperry,
who continued for a time and then sold to Mrs. Kenneth Lean Sr. Mrs. Lean added needlework to her
merchandise stock. A radio shop run by a Mr. Currie used it once and Charles Kreitman cobbled shoes
here.
Merrill Ketchpaw ran a lunch room until October,
1933, then Burr Little moved from across the street
and conducted his tailor shop until 1941 when Mr.
and Mrs. Little and Mrs. R. F. Thoma~ were killed
in an automobile accident in Greenville, Miss. The
building was vacant for a time, and H. H. Melcher
bought it, tore it down and erected the new one to
replace it.
This new building was used as an appliance shop
and Carl McCartie was the first manager followed by
Ray Dooley in 1948 and Allyn Strong, who was the
manager at the time of his death in March 1954.
Dale Cullen and his brother had opened Cully's
TV and Appliance Shop in the Old Hanson Oil station
building at the corner of South Washington and East
Geneva streets in November 1953, and that business
moved to this location in August of 1954 and was
joined by H. L. Dinkheller. In 1959 they moved to 20
&:>. Wisconsin street.
Then the Fashion Flair Beauty Salon moved in and
conducted its business here until 1962. The Westphal Pet Shop followed it, remaining until 1970.
Tom Pintar and Roy Thoms moved their insurance
business here in 1970 and continue to share the office.

GENE'S HOBBY SHOP
34 So. Wisconsin St.

August 1885, the City of Elkhorn bought this location from the Congregational Society to erect the
City Hall and Engine House as they called it then.
Through the years it served faithfully, until the city
offices were moved to the Municipal Building in 1931.
It was here at first that the City Council met,
the elections were held and the taxes were paid.
The Elkhorn Cornet Band., also practiced in these
quarters. After the school house burned in 1887,
some of the classes were held in the building.
In May 1933 Nick Burns purchased the City Hall
building for $1,800, with his daughter, Elizabeth
Burns, using the upper floor for her millinery shop
and dressmaking parlor. Mr. Burns used the first
floor for the Burns Transfer Co.
Jack White started his barber shop here in 1938
in the front of the first floor of the building, and
Albert Mentz joined him in 1940. On the evening of
March 27, 194 7, Mr. White failed to return home to
the Nickel Plate hotel and his wife became concerned
about him. They discovered he had died in the shop
after locking up for the night. Mr. Mentz continued
the shop alone until November, 1974, when he retired.
Jack White's name really was Edwin J. White; the
White family had four sons, and they all had names
starting with the letters Ed.
Emmett's (Woodford) Office Supplies occupied the
cement block room in the rear from September 1948
to 1952, when he moved from 105 So. Broad street
102

1974. He had previously had an office in the Elkhorn
West Side Clinic.
Years ago thishadbeenanalleyway, then a building was constructed with a wall dividing the front
room used by the Western Union and the back room
used for playing cards. The back room could be
entered only from the rear.
When Hilmar Desing returned from military service, he opened a radio shop in what had been the
Ficken Oil Station at the corner of South Lincoln and
East Geneva streets, about 1945, before buying the
property at 45 South Wisconsin street in June, 1945.
This was remodeled and the wall between the front
and back rooms was removed to enlarge the shop.
The front room was being used by the Thorpe Finance Company which moved to Elkhorn from Lake
Geneva, Sept. 15, 1943 to be more centrally located.
William J. Carroll was the manager.
The Desing Radio Shop was operated here until
Mr. Desing retired in 1965; then Perry Spencer, who
had been associated with him, took over the business
in the same location, until he moved in 1974 to
7-9 N. Lincoln Street where his son has joined him in
the business.
Before Mr. Desing went into service, he had been
in the radio business, which he started at 14 East
Walworth st. in 1925 and later moved to 35 South
Wisconsin st.

where he had conducted his business since November, 1946.
From 1952 to 1955 the milk inspectors laboratory occupied the middle rooms of the building and
the inspectors used the back room for their sleeping
quarters. After they left, Gene Meadows moved into
the back room with his hobby shop for a time, then he
occupied the middle room and rented the back rooms
to the Farm Bureau from1961-1963. They were followed in the rear rooms byEvelynn's Sewing Machine
Center, which moved in 1971 across the street, and
at that time the rooms were rented by Quinn's
Aquarium, for two years. Now in 1976Gene'shobby
shop occupies the entire building.
OUR OWN HARDWARE
47 So. Wisconsin St.
In August, 1915, Smart Bros., of Eagle, bought the
Graff residence on the corner of Wisconsin and Park
(now Geneva) streets, and moved it to West Rockwell
street where they sold it after remodeling. Smart
Bros. occupied the corner for the Ford Garage with
Roy Gillette as local manager.
In April 1916 they were advertising Ford touring
cars for $440. Before this Ford Agency was established, Ben Bachhuber had been selling Ford cars
at his farm implement business on East Walworth
street.
E. A. Spinner took over the Ford Agency from
Roy Gillette and was in the Spinner Ford Sales and
Service for 18 years before it became Elkhorn Motors, Inc., in October, 1934. The business of the
Elkhorn Motors, Inc. remained at this location until
it moved to East Walworth street in February, 1937.
In June 1938 E. A. Spinner's garage building was
leased for one year to I. L. Cutting for a garage
business, possession given June 25.
In 1939 Kenneth Seeley remodeled the building
into the Elkhorn Bowling Alleys, which were popular
during the winter months. The business was conducted first by Kenneth Seeley, then in 1944 by Harold Mishler, two years by Thorson and Seymour,
sold to Clarence Hanson in August, 1946, and then in
February 1947" to Edwin H. Kerl. The Verne Evans
took it over and ran it for six winters, selling it to
the Harold Mishlers in 1954. It was closed as a
bowling alley when the Two Seasons, lnc. opened
in November, 1963. Mr. Mishler worked with the
new establishment for a time.
Shops had been built on the Wisconsin Street side
in what had originally been the lobby, and they were
occupied at different times by Kramers Real Estate,
Donnelly's Shoe Repair shop, Jaynes Childrens Wear
shop, Brebers Music Co., and the Donabedian Weber
Expert Shoe Repair shop.
In 1964 The John Johnson's took over the building
for the Gamble Store moving here from 23 So. Wisconsin st. They did a great deal of remodeling and
continued as a Gamble Store for some time before
changing to the "OUR OWN" brand of merchandise.

WISCONSIN SOUTHERN GAS COMPANY INC.
41 So. Wisconsin St.
The Wisconsin Southern Gas Co. Inc. opened its
new office here in the springandheldits grand opening May 17, 1968, in the new building they erected
that replaced the restaurant that had been destroyed
by fire in 1964.
The earlier building had been the Graff Shoe Store,
whose owner, Anthony Graff, had been a shoemaker
for the Harriman Shoe Store, and then had his own
business for 51 years. He sold to F. H. Marty, of
Madison, March 1912. In February 1917, when the
Graff Jewelry Store moved to its new building, Mr.
Marty moved his stock of shoes to the vacated store
at 21 South Wisconsin st. after being here for 5
years. In December, 1919, George Fuller bought this
Graff building and Ralph MacDonald was in charge of
a tire shop.
The Villa Restaurant, owned and operated by
Norman Valentine for three years, was sold to
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Jensen, who took possession
November 1, 1933. The Jensen's conducted the
business until October, 1934 when they sold it to
L. H. Thomas of Antigo. In 1939 Mr. and Mrs.
Harold Mishler took over the ownership until 1943.
In June 1945 Clarence (Pete) Langley bought the
Villa from Ralph Jacobs of Verona, and he sold it
a year later in July 1946 to Henry D. Mullen. The
Mullens kept it until Septem!Jer 1947 and sold to
Alfred Brill who operated the restaurant for a
longer period, selling it after 'ix years to Gordon
Saunders of Chicago. March 15, 1956 Mr. Saunders sola the business to Fred Clausen, who later
sold it to Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Payne who were
the proprietors at the time of the fire in 1964.
The lot was vacant until the Gas Company purchased it and constructed the new building.

CARL IVERSON - Consulting Civil Engineer
45 So. Wisconsin St.

Carl Iverson has occupied this location since
Spencer TV and Appliance Inc. moved out on Feb. 1,
103

RENOVATED STORE FRONTS greeted visitors to downtown
Elkhorn in the fall of 1976. Businesses along South Wisconsin
street included Park View Drugs and liquor store, Wo!f Jewelry,

John's Bootery, Kullberg Jewelry, Dailey Clothing, Dooley
Clothing, Fashion Flair beauty salon, Recreation center, Nickel
Plate hotel and Fossum Photography studio.

Elkhorn Case Company used the hall for their case
manufacturing factory for musical instruments.
The early high school classes held their graduation programs in the hall, and the Elkhorn Cornet
Band practiced here for a time.
The north side of the building was occupied by
Mr. Warning's grocery} crockery and glassware
store. In 1911 the Ideal Cafe managed by a Mr.
Quigley occupied it, followed by 0. H. Lee in February 1913 with a music store and piano business,
which he moved May 1, 1916 to the building at 12
South Wisconsin st. Anderson Brothers came from
Racine in 1926 and purchased the Walter Stark
Tire and Battery Shop in the Warning building and
operated it for five years. Hilmar Desing and
Arthur Davis opened a Gamble Store in the early
1930's and continued until Mr. De sing went into
service in 1943, when it was taken over by T. H.
(Harvey) Lee, then closed for a time, and reopened by Frank Tooke in February 1944. Mr.
Tooke became a radio operator with the County
Sheriffs office in 1946, and finding it difficult to
conduct the store too, sold the business to Julius
F. Wetsch in 1947. Mr. Wetsch sold it to Frank
Vavra in 1954, who moved the Gamble Store to
20 South Wisconsin st.
Then Emmett's Office
Supplies moved in until they moved to the Lorraine
Hotel. It was then that Mr. Lynch took over this
side of the building.
The south side had been occupied as a saloon
with different managers, from time to time. John
Plamondon was the manager who on July 1, 1913
sold to John Roach. In 1922 Alex Palenshus came
to Elkhorn and established a meat market here
known as the Model Market, which was run after
his death by his wife until 1955. She sold the
business to Walter Ferguson and Florence Schultz,
a partnership, and it continued under the name Model
Market. Florence Schultz sold her interest to Mr.

WRIGHT WAY .DETECTIVE AGENCY
39 South Wisconsin St.
This office is one of the newest in Elkhorn
occupying a former stairwell to Warning Hall in
1964. It was first occupied by Tom Pintar's Insurance office at that time and until 1970, when he
moved across the street. The Carpenters Union
Local 290 occupied it until the fall of 1975, and the
Wright Way Detective agency followed them, moving
from 25 South Broad street, when that building was
sold. The office is part of the building to the north
owned by James Lynch.
LYNCH INTERIORS
35 So. Wisconsin St.
James Lynch came to Elkhorn with a cattle business in 1949, and in 1954 he established his interior
decoration business. First he used only the north
half of the Warningbuildingandlater, after the Model
Market vacated the south half, he incorporated that
into his carpet show room.
Fred A. Warning came to Elkhorn in 1855, built
a wooden structure and brought his family from Racine in 1856, where he conducted a barber shop and
a grocery in that building until 1873, when he built
the substantial and spacious building at the present
site.
The upper floor known as Warning Hall, was the
recreation center and dance hall for the community
in those early years, and later a roller skating rink,
which recall happy times for many older residents.
At 11 p.m. it was customary to adjourn to the Nickel
Plate Hotel for dinner. Mr. Warning's daughters,
Louise and Mrs. Lindow, played the piano for much
of the entertainment. The piano is now a cherished
possession of the Warning's granddaughters, Misses
Anna and Leona Lindow. In the 1930'sandlater, the
104

Ferguson in 1960, and he continued as sole owner
until 1963.
When the market closed, Mr. Lynch tookoverthe
entire building for his business.

home his wheelbarrow loaded with dirt from the
excavation to spread as fill in his back yard. For
several years afterward that part of the lawn was
sprinkled with lovely poppies, which came in seed
from the lot at South Wisconsin Street.

PARADISE BARBER SHOP
32 So. Wisconsin St.

Walt Krueger worked in the Behlmer Barber
Shop, and continued for a time after it was taken
over by Pete Kelley. In 1956 he left and started
his own shop at this location and called it the Paradise Barber Shop.
In April 1958 Mr. Krueger sold the business to
Kenneth J. Johnson, who ran the shop until the time
of his death in 1961. He was followed by Lowell
Halvorsen who sold it to Robert Shepard who continued in the shop until 1971, when it was purchased
by Charles Koerner, the present proprietor.
This had been a part of the Schmidt Garage and
later the office of the Dun Well Cleaners, before
becoming the Barber Shop.

NICKEL PLATE HOTEL
29 So. Wisconsin St.

An item in the July 30, 1885 Independent said
"New Hotel called Nickel Plate House opening
September 1." lt was built by P. H. O'Brien, who
built the Elkhorn House and also the Chet Williams
block across the street from the Nickel Plate House.
William O'Brien owned the Nickel Plate Hotel
20 years, operating it with his son Wallace, when
he purchased the Elkhorn House in 1920, which he
and his son, George O'Brien, operated. Before
1900, and that was before he bought the Nickel
Plate, William O'Brien had operated both hotels
at the same time for three years. Wallace O'Brien
did some remodeling on the Nickel Plate building
in 1928. He operated the hotel until 1955, when he
sold it to George Breber, which was for 34 days
only. • In July 1955 Ed and Thelma Tillerts bought
the hotel, but ran it only until 1956. The Nickel
Plate, Inc. took over the hotel until August, 1973,
when it was purchased by three brothers, D. - D. R. Johnson, who still own it.

FOSSUM STUDIO OF PHOTOGRAPHY
33 So. Wisconsin St.

This building was erected many years ago by
Charles Lindow, who operated a furniture store
here and later it was taken over by A. Neuman and
Son, who advertised in June 1913 a going out of
business sale.
In the August 7, 1913 Independent, the following
item appeared: "Dreamland" appears to be a new
amusement institution for Elkhorn. Frank Schmidt
has turned the double store recently vacated by
Neuman & Son into a dance pavilion and last night
the initial party was given. The music was provided by Glenn Sweet and Mabel Hare.
In the January 1, 1914 issue: The Auto Show
with many exhibits and promoted by Frank B.
Schmidt, will be held in the Schmidt building.
Opens at 7 Monday evening with a concert by the
Elkhorn Cornet Band, then will be open all week.
Cars on display include Mitchell, Detroiter, Ford,
Cadillac, Cleveland, Chalmers, Reo, Hudson, Buick,
Studebaker, Crow and Paige.
Later in January Mr. Schmidt opened a garage
in the building and overhauled and repaired cars
and carried a stock of accessories. When Frank
Schmidt died in August, 1947, he had been the
Studebaker dealer for 34 years. He also had sold
real estate in 1905 and for a short time after, before becoming a car salesman. He was a bachelor
and lived in the same room at the Nickel Plate Hotel
for 48 years.
Frank Bonebrake, who had been associated with
him, continued in the garage for a shorttime, selling
Kaiser-Frazer cars. Then the building was vacant
when Harold Fossum came to Elkhorn in April,
1950, and took over the location for his studio.
The Fossums remodeled the building and gave it a
new front, making it hard to believe it had ever
been a garage.
It was in the days before modern excavating
machinery that Mr. Lindow constructed the building -- back in the days of picks, shovels and wheelbarrows. Each day when Mr. Lindow went home
to dinner and home from work at night, he pushed

HERE'S A Winter Scene from a much earlier era in Elkhorn's
history, sometime prior to the turn of the century. The most distinguishing landmark on South Wisconsin street is the Nickel
Plate hotel with its vast expanse of porches on the second
and third floors and a "widow's watch" on the roof. Other
remaining buildings include part of the structure housing Lynch

Interiors at the extreme right. A building that disappeared
around the turn of the century and later became the site for
Fossum Studio and Paradise barber shop is next in line. On
the left side of the Nickel Plate is the building owned by Andy
Oleson and formerly the Sewing center. The former State
bank and now Park.view Drugs and the other former hotel are
in the distance. Although a bit difficult to see, a pair of bobsleighs sit in the middle of the snow-filled street, but without horses.

105

from across the street in 1962, being operated
originally by Mrs. Phyllis Spangler and now owned
by Mrs. Carol Latta.

Many years ago the Nickel Plate was famous
for the fine food served in its dining room. When
there were social gatherings, dances and entertainment in Warning Hall, dinners were served at eleven
o'clock to those who attended the events.
BUILDING

DOOLEY'S CLOTHING STORE
19 So. Wisconsin St.

- PROPERTY OF A. C. OLESON
23 So. Wisconsin St.

This store is located on the land where Elkhorn's
first clothing store for men and boys was established
124 years ago.
"The Shanty" was established by Otis Preston
when he went out of office as sheriff of Walworth
County in 1851. Preston later built a block of three
stores which were destroyed by a fire in 1869.

In August, 1870, Thomas W. Morefield established his restaurant and store selling fancy groceries, gloves and mittens, and notions at this location.
An item in the May 14, 1896 Independent reports
that: "T. W. Morefield has been in the restaurant
business 26 years and has not been closed a day."
He continued in business until December 1912, and
when the B. B. Kraus Hardware Store burned, at
11 West Walworth street, Mr. Morefield altered his
store to accommodate the hardware stock. Plate
glass windows and a new brick front were installed
soon after that. Ben Kraus continued in the store
until he went to work for the lumber company, and
he sold his business in September, 1919 to A. C.
Oleson, who continued the hardware business until
1941, when he retained the building but sold the business to the Elithorpe Hardware Co., of Delavan.
They employed Don Pett as manager until February,
1948, when Mr. Petttook over the business and called
it the Community Hardware Company.
In September, 1952, Richard and Lucille McCormack bought the business and operated it as Mac's
Hardware for two years, selling to Curtis and Dana
McKay, of Lake Geneva, in September, 1954; who
kept the Mac's Hardware name and employed Alan
Vogel as manager.
In 1959, the Gamble Store, managed by the John
Johnsons, moved into the building from across the
street where they had taken over the Gamble business in 1956. The Johnsons ran their business here
until 1964, when they moved to their present location
at the corner of Geneva and Wisconsin streets
Since the building was vacated in 1964 it has been
occupied by Sperino's Recreation Center, a discount
store, and in 1972 by Evelynn's Sewing Machine
Center which closed in May, 1975. Anew recreation
center is being planned at the present time.

He rebuilt "The Shanty" and operated it with his

son, Clark Preston, until it was purchased by J. J.
Slattery, in about 1890.
Mr. Slattery built the present building in 1904.
After his death the business was operated by his
son, Frank "Toby" Slattery, until 1929, when it was
purchased by Fred Opitz and Colon MacKenzie. It
was subsequently owned by George Groesbeck until
1947, when George "Shorty" Cain and Elmer Nelson
purchased the store. Cain later purchased the Nelson
interest and formed the Cain Clothing Store. After
the death of Mr. Cain, the business was taken over
by Ray Dooley, who had been employed in the establishment.
DAILEY CLOTHING STORE
17 So. Wisconsin St.
This location has seen 88 years of business in
men's clothing. The building in which Dailey's
Clothing Store is located, was built by C. F. Graff
at the same time that J. J. Slattery built the building
to the south, accounting for their architectural
similarity.
The store has always been a clothing and/or dry
goods store. The earliest was established by a man
named Fischer. Then came A. C. McKinstry in 1888,
was followed by Costello & Slattery in May 1915.
Later Slattery sold his interest to Costello who continued the business alone until he sold it to C. F.
Graff in January, 1916. Mr. Graff then sold to
Lynch Bros., of Delavan, who conducted the business
only six months before selling it back to Costello in
July, 1916. Costello formed a partnership with Fred
and William Opitz, with the firm known as Costello
and Opitz. Fred Opitz Jr. had been associated with
Mr. McKinstry in the clothing store before it was
sold to Costello and Slattery.
The business was sold to George Cain and Homer
Grant, and Grant later bought out Cain's interest
when Cain went into a partnership with Nelson in the
store next door in 1947.
In 1951 Mr. Grant sold the business to Howard
Dailey who has continued the Men's Clothing Store
at this location.

THE FASHION FLAIR BEAUTY SALON
21 So. Wisconsin St.
The Independent for February 15, 1917 states
that F. H. Marty moved his stock of shoes into new
quarters vacated by the Graff Jewelry Store, so this
is where the jewelry business started in 1885, and
then moved to the new building in 1917.
After the building had been cleaned and proper
shelving added for shoes, the Marty Shoe Store
moved into it in February, 1917 . .In October, 1920,
Mr. Marty sold his business to R. 0. Thomas, who
operated it until 1924, when Mr. Marty returned to
the city, from Baraboo, and purchased Mr. Thomas'
stock and conducted the business until 1936, at which
time he sold it to Mr. and Mrs. Lee G. Welsh.
In September, 1948, Mr. and Mrs. Louis Kobelman purchased the Welsh Shoe Store and changed
the name to Elkhorn Shoe Store.
The Fashion Flair was moved to this location

WALTER 0. KULLBERG, JEWELER
15 So. Wisconsin St.
From its beginning, this store has been a jewelry
store. Frank C. Graff established his jewelry business in his building at 21 So. Wisconsin St., in 1885,
and continued there until 1917, when he moved to
this new building.
!06

EARLY SELF-SERVICE WAS a t ..ture of the Marl Christensen grocary storo with a sign to the
effect h.e was glad to have patrons wait ·on themselves. The !GA store with its famjliar Heinz,
Swans Down, Jell-0, Cream of Wheat andRy-Krispbrands, was located on south Wisconsin street.

now the site of Wolf Jewelry.

His son D. D. Graff took over the business in 1919,
and when he retired he sold it to Walter 0. Kullberg
in 1945. So the store has a reputation through the
years for quality jewelry and repair work.

took over the restaurant from Mr. Kargas and
conducted the business through 1960, when they
leased it for one year to Ron Schmidt.
In February, 1962, Mr. and Mrs. John Griebel
took over the store and it has been John's Bootery
since, carrying a top line of footwear.

JOHN'S BOOTERY
13 So. Wisconsin st:

WOLF'S JEWELRY
11 So. Wisconsin St.

This is the building that C. F. Graff sold in 1895
to William J. Bray and Edmund J. Hooper for the
State Bank and was used for banking until 1919.
The Elkhorn Light and Water Commission later
moved in for a short time.
Ernest Daskal came to Elkhorn in 1920 and
established his Eat Shoppe here, which he ran for
25 years, until 1945, when it was closed because
of his illness.
An item in the Independent of December 9, 1926
tells that Ernest Daskal, armed with a disguise,
dark glasses, a cup and with a hand organ, started
making the rounds of the businesses in his neighborhood to check on the Christmas Spirit, in which he
was quite successful.
After the death of Mr. Daskal early in 1946,
Mrs. Daskal and her son, Jerry Konst, opened the
restaurant after a year's closing. ln December,
1946, they sold the business to John Atkinson, of
Antioch. After Atkinson, Clarence (Pete) Langley
took over the business until February, 1952 when
the Langleys sold the business and fixtures to
Peter Kargas. A July, 1953 ad in the Independent
read: "Now open 24 hours a day. Langley Cafe,
13 S. Wisconsin St.
Pete Kargas, Proprietor."
In January, 1954, Wendell and Vada Bagnall

Food was sold at this address for 80 years or
so, before it became the Wolf Jewelry Store, in
1960.
In the early days it was the Finch and Ellsworth
Grocery, and later the E. P. Ellsworth Grocery.
!n June, 1925, E. P. Ellsworth sold to Mart Christensen, who moved his Mart's Grocery to this location from 5 East Walworth street. In 1931 Roy
Cory took over the building for his IGA Store and
continued until he sold it in 1946 to John Roherty,
also a grocer.
In 1960 William Wolf purchased it, and after
major remodeling opened the fine jewelry store of
the present day. Mr. and Mrs. Wolf had come to
Elkhorn and purchased the Suliver Jewelry store
in November, 1953, and continued the business
there until moving across the street.
PARK-VIEW LIQUOR STORE
9 So. Wisconsin St.
Arne Stensby established tbe liquor store when
he enlarged the Park- View Drug Store in April,
1969. It had been a tavern, and restaurant.
!07

Mr. L. H. Buchholz came to Elkhorn in 1897
and to begin his business here, starting with the
one chair barber shop of J. C. Ford, who had purchased the Tamblingson Barber Shop on May 21,
1896.
In June Mr. Buchholz bought the M. W.
Bovee Shop that had been established by the Bovee
Brothers in 1886 at the rear of the Corner Drug
Store. When the drug store was destroyed by fire,
he moved his business to Gus Gall's Tailor Shop
for a short time until his building was ready for
occupancy again. It was in that building occupied
by Gus Gall that the Bovee Brothers had operated
their barber shop before the turn of the century.
Mr. Buchholz continued his shop here until he
bought the building across the street vacated by
the Family Theater, and moved there in 1917.
In July, 1917 Charles W. Reeths received a
liquor license for a saloon here.
Pat Garvin came to Elkhorn and began business
in a cigar store here, later adding a restaurant,
and after prohibition was repealed, he changed his
business to a tavern, which he ran for many years.
It was later taken over by Bruce Lannon, but continued under the name Garvin's Tavern. In June,
1956, it was moved to 27 No. Wisconsin St.
The building was vacant for a time, when in
November, 1958, Angelo and Tony's Little Naples
restaurant was established in the building, serving both American and Italian foods, including
pizza. Angelo and Tony were the Odierno Brothers,
who were followed by Mr. and Mrs. Gerard, with
Casey's restaurant.
Then the building was vacant again before it was
taken over for the Park- View Liquor Store.

of 1954, after they had been partners for 10 years,
Mr. King sold his interest to William Morgan.
February 9, 1957, Arne Stensby bought the
drug store business, and in April, 1968, he purchased the vacated State Bank Building. He also
purchased the Park-View Drug Store at 5 W. Walworth Street and merged the operations under
the Park- View name, owned by the Stensby Co.,
Inc. He also incorporated into his business the
building south of the drug store, and it functions
as the Park- View Liquor Store.
GEORGE R. BREBER MUSIC CO., INC.
5 E. Walworth St.

This business has been serving the community for
the past 30 years as a retail music store. Brebers
first opened over the Chicago Store in 1945, and
later moved to the bowling alley building when that
was remodeled and shops were built on the Wisconsin
street side. In 1947 the Music Co. moved to their
present location, which they remodeled and modernized in 1962.
The original building and the vacant property of
E. B. Dewing had been purchased for$4,000by C. P.
Hanson in July 1895. Mr. Hanson had a shoe store
here for many years, until October, 1919. Then
Mart Christensen came in 1920 and established
Mart's Grocery which occupied the building until he
moved around the corner after purchasing the E. P.
Ellsworth grocery.
In September 1925, the Boyle Sisters ran an ad in
the Independent announcing the grandopeningoftheir
new Variety Store. C. S. Kidd came in 1937 and
took over the Variety Store and later sold it to
Kenneth Seeley, who moved to 18 South Wisconsin
Street. The building was then occupied by the-Elkhorn Auto Parts until they moved to their new building in 1947 after being established in Elkhorn by Leo
Lanser in 1937.

PARK-VIEW DRUGS
1-3 E. Walworth St.

This property has had two different histories
as the west or corner half served as the State
Bank for many years, while the east half involved
a long lineage as a drug store.
In the very early days, there was a small frame
structure where Henry Eldred ran a fruit and
confectionery business. That stock was later sold
to Or!ie Carswell and was the beginning of his long
business career in Elkhorn. That old building was
later torn down and a brick structure replaced it,
built by Jacob H. Young, brother of Dr. George H.
Young, and used as a drug store. Later it was
called the Corner Drug Store and owned by W. E.
Flack and still later by Flack and George Miller
as partners. It was they who sold the building to
the State Bank, and moved the business to 5 W.
Walworth Street. The State Bank had originally
started at 13 South Wisconsin Street.
The east half was the drug store of Camp and
Isham in 1857, dealers in drugs, medicine and
books. When Mr. Isham left the business to go to
the First National Bank as cashier in 1890, he
sold his business to Will Lyon and his father,
W. D. Lyon. Later after the father retired, William Woelm became a partner of Will Lyon, and
in 1903 Mr. Woelm became the sole owner. At
one time Mr. Woelm sold the business to the
Krahnke Brothers, but after six months, they sold
it back ·to him, and he remained in the business
until King and Morgan bought it in 1944. In May

KETCHPAW'S BARBER SHOP
7 E. Walworth St.

Years ago this was the Brown Mqsic Shop, as
well as the drop-off station for a laundry.
The Elkhorn Light and Water Commission Office
moved here from 13 South Wisconsin Street, when it
was vacated by the Music Shop. In 1931 with the
Municipal Building completed, the Light and Water
Commission was moved to new offices there.
Fred Behlmer came to Elkhorn in 1920 and ran
his Barber Shop at 14 East Walworth Street, until
this building was vacated, moving across the street
for the period of 1931 to 1956. He sold his shop in
June, 1956, to Harold (Pete) Kelley, who moved to
this shop from the Loraine hotel Barber Shop where
he was associated with Albert Nicolai. Wallace
Angus, who had been associated with Mr. Behlmer
in his business, started a new barber shop at 33
North Wisconsin Street, and Mr. Behlmer worked
for him until the end of the year. Walt Krueger, who
had been employed by Mr. Behlmer stayed on in the
shop with Mr. Kelley until 1956, when he left and
started the Paradise Barber Shop.
Mr. Kelley continued the business at this location
until1974, when he lefttojointheEvergreen Country
Club operation, and sold the barber shop to Gerald
108

since 1945. It was being operated by Joseph and
William Ward in 1917, who were granted a city license
in July of that year.
During the "Prohibition Years", 1919-1933, the
building was used as a paint store by Hugo Bell; a
Wear-you-well Shoe Store and shoe repair shop by
HDad" Hamilton, and as a Stevens Plain Price Store.
After 1933 the tavern was opened again by the
Ward Brothers, and operated later by Will Ward
and his son, Maynard, who were involved in the
business at the time of the father's death in July,
1937.
Later Maynard died and the tavern was
taken over by Maynard's brother, Hollis Ward,
who in 1974 sold it to Riese.

Ketchpaw, the present proprietor.
As with other services and merchandise, costs
have risen a bit since 1934 when Barber prices were:
Hair cut, 50 cents and Shave, 25 cents. Electric
razors also began to diminish the demand for shaves.
DUNHAM'S TAVERN
9 E. Walworth St.
An item in the July 15, 1917, Independent notes that
liquor licenses have been granted to five saloons:
Ward Brothers, George Welsh, Charles W. Reeths,
William O'Brien for the Nickel Plate Hotel and Mrs.
M. C. Amos for the Elkhorn House.
So George Welsh was in business in 1917 and how
long before that is uncertain. Mr. Welsh, who was
known as Bully Boy Welsh, may have acquired it
from Mike Slattery. Just before "Prohibition" the
Wilcox Brothers, Gene and Allie, purchased the
saloon of Mr. Welsh, and they conducted it as a pool
hall until 1933, when it went back into the tavern
business. They sold the business to Elmer Evenson
about 1935, and Jack Dunham purchased it in 1962,
who is the present proprietor.
In those early days of the 1920's and 30's Gene
Wilcox drove the grocery delivery wagon on a route
through town delivering vrders of meat and groceries
to the housewives.

BEN FRANKLIN FAMILY CENTER
17 E. Walworth St.
Early in Elkhorn's history, this site was the
Henry McKay Livery Stable with the livery facing
Walworth street, the corner being a lawn and the
home to the south of that, facing Washington street.
In December 1907 F. C. Wiswell traded a farm
in LaGrange for the livery stable, lot and dwelling.
After a few years Mr. Wiswell was dealing in automobiles and in the fall of 1916 was building a garage.
The January 18,.1917 issue of the Independent ran
an item, "Livery stable quits business. Automobiles are forcing livery stables out. Fred Wiswell is selling all the livery stock on Saturday and
will devote all his time to the auto business. Leaves
only one livery in Elkhorn."
After 11 years in the Elkhorn Automotive Garage
with Harold Opitz, Hugh Squires sold his interest
in that garage to his partner Mr. Opitz, and pur-

FUZZY'S PLACE
11 E. Walworth St.
Carl Riese Jr. purchased Ward's Tavern in 1974
from Hollis Ward, who had been in the business

train at the depot, is at the l~ft. The young girl with one leg
over the hitching rail at the right, is in front of Ward's tavern.

WHEELS OF SOME TYPE WERE associated with !his building

on east Walworth street for many years. One of the early
owners H. McKay, with his livery for the Elkhorn House hotel,
as well as offering feed and stable for traveler's rigs and
horses. The Elkhorn House carriage, which always met the

The livery was owned by Fred C. Wiswell after McKay. The
building later became the Ford garage of Elkhorn Motors

before being razed to make way for the new Ben Franklin store.

109

Iiams Bay in April, 1968, and in the Tibbets area in
February of 1974.

chased the Badger Garage, building and equipment
at this site in January, 1930. The Badger Garage
had been named the Chrysler dealer in Elkhorn in
1926.
After two years at the corner of Geneva and
Wisconsin Streets, Feb. 1, 1937, Elkhorn Motors,
Inc. moved to the Badger Garage, at which time
the building had been used by the Elkhorn Shoe
Manufacturing Co., but they ceased operation after
the fire in July.
Mr. Squires remodeled the building for the
Ford Agency and retained the second floor and 27
feet at the east for his repair and motor boat business. Erv Last came to Elkhorn in 1939 to run
Elkhorn Motors, Inc. here until the need for expansion caused them to build and move to the north
city limits, in September, 1971.
It was in the fall of 1971 thatthe new Ben Franklin Family Center construction was begun and erected
facing on both Walworth and Washington Streets,
which they opened to the public in March, 1972.
A smaller Ben Franklin Store had previously been
at 11 North Lincoln Street, which was closed when
this one opened.

ELKHORN TRUE VALUE HARDWARE
1 - 5 No. Lincoln St.
The Harris V & S Hardware business was the
first to occupy this building, built in 1960 on the
Harris property, that had long been vacant. James
Harris operated the store here until he sold it on
February 1, 1971 to Mr. and Mrs. Lyle Thomas,
who continued the business as owners until November, 1974, when Mr. and Mrs. Robert Woller purchased it. Thomas stayed on as manager.
Many years ago, in about 1860, the old tannery
building had been moved from half a block away to
this site and fitted for use as the Catholic church.
This building served that purpose until 1880, when
their new church was erected at the corner of Walworth and Church Streets.
Then the building here was used as a shop by
William Allen Barnes until it was destroyed by fire
in 1902. The area was vacant until this building
was erected.
NATIONAL FOOD SUPER MARKET
110 E. Walworth St.

ELKHORN AUTO PARTS INC.
23 - 25 E. Walworth St.

The National Tea Co. store had been in Elkhorn
21 years before it moved to this newly constructed
building location in 1949, coming from 9 West Walworth Street.
Years ago this had been the east part of the Muzzy
property, which stretched across the south side of
the block. It was occupied by a hitching barn that
could accommodate 300 horses at fair time. Andrew
McCabe used it as a livery stable and sold hay and
grain from the building. In the early days of his
practice here, Dr. Ridgway kept his horse in McCabe's Stable for those times in winter when it was
impossible for him to drive his Ford.
In January, 1922, Chase and Daniels established
the Elkhorn Monument Co. where the Post Office
now stands, and in February, 1925, the Jackson
Monument Corporation, of Beloit, purchased the
Elkhorn Monument plant and Arthur Jones took
charge of it. It moved to this location in June,
1936, when the government took over the other
corner for the Post Office.
In January 1954 Mr. Jones, who had come with
the business as manager and part owner in 1925
and had been associated with it continuously, took
over the Jackson Monument Company, and the name
was changed to Jones Monument Co. Later the business was moved to the West city limits.
The parking lot to the north was the home and
garage building for the Wheeler trucking business
conducted by Howard (Sprint) Wheeler.

Ground was broken for this new building on the
corner of East Walworth and South Washington
Streets on Aug. 14, 1947. It was built on what had
been a part of the Wiswell property, by Leo Lanser.
It was for his Auto Parts business, which he had
established at 5 East Walworth Street in the C. P.
Hanson building in 1937.
Joseph Lanser worked in the store during his high
school days, and returned to the business after his
years in the navy.
STATE BANK OF ELKHORN
101 E. Walworth St.
The new building that houses the State Bank
now, followed two others -for the banking institution, the first at 13 South Wisconsin Street, and
the second at the corner of Walworth and Wisconsin Streets. The former was occupied starting
in 1895 and the latter in 1919.
When the site across the street from Courthouse
park was outgrown, bank officials purchased the
Opitz Garage site, razing the old building and erecting a large spacious one-story structure with a
large public meeting room downstairs. In moving
from the old bank, a block away, in 1968, the money
was trundled down the street in wagons and wheelbarrows.
The first building on this corner had been built
in the early 1840's and was one of the oldest businesses in Elkhorn - The Fred Opitz Shop - a landmark, when it was razed in 1912 to make room for
a two story structure that Robert Opitz built. This
was first the Elkhorn Automotive Garage and later
it was called the Opitz Chevrolet-Buick Garage.
And it was the building that was torn down to make
way for the bank's new facility.
The bank also added a branch facility at Wil-

POST OFFICE
The first Post Office was at 23 North Wisconsin
Street where Morrissy, Morrissy and Race have
their law offices. From there it moved in April,
1896, to the building T. H. O'Brien built to house
it at 10 E. Walworth St.
In 1908 a 10-year contract between the Post
Office Department and Edward H. Sprague moved

no

the post office to the corner of Walworth and S.
Broad Streets, where the Municipal Building now
stands. The Post Office remained at that location
until the fire of July 2, 1925, destroyed it, as it was
part of the Sprague Opera House Block. Columbus
Hall served as the office until the building James
Harris erected on the northwest corner of Washington and Walworth Streets was ready for occupancy
on January 1, 1927. It remained at this location
until 1937 when the present building the government
constructed across the street was ready for
occupancy.
The present building was erected on what was
known as the Muzzy property, which Mrs. Alex
Kniskern inherited from her family. It stretched
all the way across the block and had a scale for
weighing wagons and their loads built at the roadside. The Jackson Monument Company later occupied the corner.
In 1916 the City Council started preparations
for mail delivery in the city and street signs had to
be erected at all the intersections, and the houses
had to be numbered. When these projects were
completed, delivery was established in November 1,
1917. Two carriers covered the city twice daily.
When they were planning the street signs, the "City
Fathers" changed the names of East, Park, South
and North Streets.
In 1914 patrons on rural route streets had free
delivery if they erected a regulation mail box.
The December of 1933 had unsealed Christmas
cards being mailed for 1-1/2 cents. Penny post
cards were raised to 2 cents at the end of 1951.

lN THE 1940s and ear-ly 50s, the City's Service station on the
southeast corner of Wisconsin and Geneva streets was quite
a bit different and much smaller than the present Firestone
and Area service station at that location. The Elkhorn Cab
service vehicle was at the station near the Geneva street
entrance when the photo was taken.

by using a stout ramp, and the rigs were kept on the
first floor. He advertised that he had horses safe
enough for women•to drive. In January, 1906, R. H.
McDonald bought the monument business of Charles
Ohlendorf, of Burlington, which occupied the front of
the lot. In May, 1920, F. W. Dailey opened a produce establishment in the stable building and in December, 1921, he bought the lot and erected a new
building, where poultry was slaughtered, cleaned and
shipped to the city.

TOWNE HOUSE
26 W. Walworth St.

SCHOENBECK AND DE VRIES, INC.
E. Walworth St.

In 1928 John H. Harris purchased this lot at the
northwest corner of Washington and Walworth streets
and erected a building to be used as a post office
since the post office in the Sprague Opera House
block had been burned in the historic fire that destroyed that building, July 2, 1925.
Until these new quarters were completed Columbus Hall served as the post office. This building
was used for eight years until the new government
building across the street was completed and ready
for use.
In March 1939 the former post office was remodeled and rented to the county for the use of the
County Agricultural Agent, Soil Conservation, and
County Surveyor offices, which had been in the Loraine Hotel building. These offices remained here
until 1943 and then returned to the hotel.
Charles Smith leased the building for an electrical appliance store known as Smith Home Service, and he did business until the time of his death
in September 1958. Wally Babcock, who had been
associated with him, bought the business the following June and carried on until ill health forced his
retirement. Since that time the building has been
occupied by Hagen's Sewing Basket, and two restaurants: first the Traveler and now the Towne
House.
More than 60 years ago, 0. H. Doolittle operated his livery stable on this corner. The horses
were stabled on the second floor, which they reached

Ben Bachhuber sold Ford cars and International
farm machinery at this location for several years
beginning in 1911. At first he shared the building
with MaGill Brothers, plumbers, as they kept their
equipment and supplies in the back of the building
and Mr. Bachhuber used the front.
After he had been in business for 14 years, he
went to the State Bank as cashier, and sold the business to Paul Schinke, who had been an employee
since 1920, and to James Henderson. They became
partners in the implement business known as Schinke
and Henderson, in 1926. Later Mr. Henderson sold
his interest to Mr. Schinke and he was sole owner
until June 1954, when he sold it to Lloyd Fish,
his son-in-law and to Karl Schoenbeck.
Mr. ~Schinke continued to work in the shop setting
up the new equipment when it was delivered. In
1929, the sale of John Deere equipment replaced the
International machinery with which Mr. Bachhuber
had started the business.
ln May, 1968, Mr. Fish sold his interest in the
business to Frank De Vries and in March, 1969,
Mr. Schoenbeck sold his share to James Jacobsen,
who later sold it to De Vries. In March of 1973
the business was closed and the building is now
vacant.
When the Band concerts were held in the Courthouse Park, one could find the farmers at Schinke
and Henderson's looking over the new farm rnalll

the Palace Market. Groceries were added to the
store in 1920, and in 1937 the Royal Blue line of
products. In 1944 he sold it to Midwest Markets,
and in 1947 Martin Brothers, Reuben and Lyman,
purchased and conducted the business until 1954,
when they opened the super market at the north city
limits. This store was sold to Albert Voelkel and
George Weitzer in April, 1954, with Wesley Babcock
staying on in the meat department. Aland Bud's, as
it was called, closed out the business in 1972, when
Dr. and Mrs. Stenstrom purchased and remodeled
the building.

chinery. It was one of the few places that had service for wells and pumps, with Mr. Vant operating
that department for 24 years.
LAKELAND BAKERY
18 E. Walworth St.

For many years this was a laundry, which was
noted in an item in the May 21, 1896 Independent,
reporting that the roof was going on the new laundry.
Henry Brandt purchased the Elkhorn Laundry in
1909 from W. H. Goodrich, after he had worked with
Will MaGill as a plumber. In 1916 an item said that
H. J. Brandt installed a Troy Washing Machine that
washed 150 shirts. In March, 1926, the Elkhorn
Steam Laundry was sold to Fred Ellsworth, and Ed
House took charge of the business.
In March, 1937, Peter Messe of Lake Geneva
purchased the Elkhorn Steam Laundry with immediate possession. Mr. Messe also was the owner of
Pantorium Cleaners and Dyers. The laundry was
remodeled, and the Pantorium Cleaners office in the
hotel was discontinued and the business was shifted
to this location, and later sold to Albert Barth. In
January, 1939, modern equipment was installed, and
in 1949 the LaFrance Laundry was purchased by Joseph Reilly, of Williams Bay, from Stephen Borke,
who had owned the laundry since 1944, when he had
purchased it from Mr. Barth.
Mr. and Mrs. Walter Smalter established the
bakery here and opened for business July 6, 1951,
and in August, 1954, they sold to Mr. and Mrs. Herman Meyer. Mr. and Mrs. David Nettekoven purchased it from the Meyers January, 1958, and sold
it May 1, 1961 to Robert Kowalski, of Waukesha, who
had been in the baking business for 9 years. Mr.
Nettekoven stayed in the bakery until the first of the
year. In 1963, the Nettekovens returned to Elkhorn
and to the bakery where they are still furnishing good
things to eat.

PFEIL AND HARDT - Attorneys
14 E. Walworth St.

This was called the law office building, when
Kenney, Korf and Pfeil took over the building and
moved their offices here in January 1949. This
new building had been started by John Hughes, but
he never occupied it.
Dr. R. Anderson, Optometrist, used the front
office for his business, until he sold the business
to Dr. Edward Slattery, who remained until 1968,
when he bought and remodeled the unused filling station at 419 North Wisconsin Street; where he now
conducts his practice with Dr. John Hall. The The!
Travel Agency conducts its business from the front
office, and the law offices of Mr. Richard Pfeil and
Mr. Hardt occupy the rear.
The Welch Brothers, Peter and John, operated
their barber shop here for some time before selling
it in 1914 to C. Day,ofBeloit, with he remaining only
three months, as the shop then reverted to the Welch
Brothers. George Finley served his apprenticeship
here beginning when he was 17. In1917when Albert
Nicolai came to Elkhorn he started work in the Welch
Shop.
Fred Behlmer came to Elkhorn in 1920
and operated the barber shop at this location until he
moved across the street to 7 East Walworth Street
in 1931.
The old white frame building not only served as a
barber shop for many years, but the East part, or it
may have been a narrow separate building was the office of Wells Fargo, a tailor shop, and at one time a
restaurant. lt may have been the "Hat Box" which
moved to 30 South Wisconsin Street from somewhere
east of the hotel. When the building or buildings
were torn down no one remembers, but the lot was
vacant in 1937 because Elkhorn Motors, Inc. was
using the vacant lot for their Trading Post in that
year.

COLONY REALTY- STATE FARM INSURANCE CO.
16 E. Walworth St.

In 1972 Dr. and Mrs. A. K. Stenstrom bought this
property and remodeled the former meat market into
offices, which at the present time house the State
Farm Insurance Office of David Anderson, as well as
their own Colony Realty office, which has been located here since they moved in May 1973.
Amos Brothers had a meat market here, which
they sold in October, 1905, to George W. Groesbeck
and Son. It was continued by the Groesbecks until
they sold it in March 1915 to E. C. Buehler, who a
year later in July, sold the business to Ed Amos,
who advertised that he would conduct the business on
a strictly cash basis and that telephone orders would
be collected on delivery. Because of ill health Mr.
Amos sold the market back to Mr: Buehler. In February, 1917, the Independent says that E. C. Buehler
was filling his ice house with ice from Corbett's
Pond. In 1918 the market was sold to Charles
Wales and in 1919 to L. H. Kurtz and Son.
Howard Pfaffenberger, of Racine, came to Elkhorn in 1919 and worked in the Robert Widmayer
meat market. On February 1, 1921 Mr. Pfaffenberger bought the Pleat market and store fixtures
of Kurtz and Son, and he operated the business as

STRONG AGENCY
12 E. Walworth St.

This is the office towhichJ. WalterStrong moved
the Strong Agency in 1958 when he left the Walworth
Col!nty Abstract Company location, where he had conducted the insurance business first for them and then
as his own agency. The business grew so that it requires the additional office space of the 10 East Walworth Street location which was incorporated into the
office in 197 4.
From 1918 to 1933 this was the office of the Wisconsin Drainage Company which was the business of
J. L. Stokes, and his associate Vibert Gunyon.
James Mason established his insurance and real esll2

tate business here in 1933 and continued at the location until he bought the 13 North Wisconsin Street
building.
In March 1937 Lawrence Mason opened a typewriter service in the rear of his father's office;
which he called Walworth County Typewriter and
Supplies. He ran this for a time and then went to
college, while the business was taken over by Azel
Morris and later by Robert Hampel, before it became
Emmett's Office Supplies.
About 1940 George Finley and Albert Nicolai
moved into this building and operated the Loraine
Barber Shop. Mr. Finley was taken sick in the spring
of 1949, died in September, and the following year
Harold (Pete) Kelley joined Mr. Nicolai in the shop
and they continued at this location until July 1956,
when Mr. Kelley purchased the Behlmer Barber Shop
and moved across the street.
In 1956 and 1957 Milton Zwiebel had an electrical
appliance shop here, and his business was followed by
the Strong Agency.
STRONG AGENCY
10 E. Walworth St.

This is the office taken over by the Strong
Agency in 1974 to enlarge their office space because of the increase in their business. The Army
Recruiting office occupied it up to the time Strongs'
occupied it.
In 1937 Mr. and Mrs. Harry Karp came to Elkhorn and established The Mode, a dress shop, at this
location, which they had for several years. They
were followed in the business by Mrs. William Gloede,
who continued the business for a long time, and then
left the store to Mrs. Elmer Hansen, who had worked
for her in the shop. Mrs. Hansen continued until
about 1970. After The Mode vacated the building,
the Recruiting office moved in.
This is the building that was built onto the hotel
by T. H. O'Brien in 1896 to house the post office,
which remained until 1908 when the post office
moved to the Sprague Opera House Block.
Independent item Nov. 1913 Wells Fargo will not
occupy a portion of the old post office quarters in the
Elkhorn Hotel Block with the Light and Water Commission. The hotel management has leased the north
room for a barber sbop. The quarters which were to
have been used for the Wells Fargo will now
be reserved for a sample room.
PENNIE'S TOUCH OF BEAUTY
8 E. Walworth St.

This location has been Pennie's Touch of Beauty
only since 1973, the year Dr. Sabin moved his dental
office to the Elkhorn Clinic building after he had been
here since July, 1959.
From 1929 to 1934 Elizabeth Burns had occupied
the building with her hat shop, after she left the Chicago Store and befo.-e she moved to 34-1/2 South
Wisconsin Street.
The Walworth County Agricultural Stabilization
and Conservation offices occupied the building from
1936 to 1939, and then was moved to the old post office
built by James Harris, when the post office was
moved to its new building across the street. The
county offices remained there only until 1942 when

THE FIRST FLOOR of the Elkhorn House was already up with
the second floor underway in the 1893 street scene of unpaved
north Wisconsin street. The Elkhorn House, which replaced an

earlier Central House, was to become one of the city's imposing
landmarks. later in 1929 the facility was known as the Loraine
Hotel untit its rented rooms could no longer be used in the mid
1960s which was followed by a string of solely restaurant

operations.

A CREW OF MASONS were at work on the third floor on the right
side of the building. while a couple of men on the left operated a
block and tackle arrangement for hauling supplies to the floor.
A couple of other men stood in the doorway and a front window
of the lobby entrance on the corner.

they came back to this location until1956. They were
moved to the second floor of the First National Bank
Building until moved to the new Gilbert Building at
the corner of Court and Washington Streets, where
they are now located. While the offices were located
in the former post office, this building was occupied
by the Elkhorn Beauty Parlor.
In 1956 Lawrence Baxter moved his Sport and
Camera Shop to this location from 17 South Washington St. and remained in business here until 1959. It
was then that Dr. Sabin took over the office.
113

PART OF THE HOTEL
6 E. Walworth St.
From 1929 to 1932 this was the Loraine Dress
Shop with Marguerite Dickens as the proprietor, she
lived in Delavan.
In 1933 the Krakofskys came to Elkhorn and they
started their beauty parlor at this location, called
the Vanity Beauty Parlor. Then they built the building at 25 North Wisconsin Street.
The shop became part of the hotel afterwards.
THE FORMER ELKHORN HOUSE- LORAINE HOTEL

WORK ON THE ROOF still needed to be completed olong with

placement of windows as Several women carrying parasols
w·alked by to the left of the main entrance. Scaffolding surrounded
the tower, which crowned the new hotel being built for l.H.

O'Brien.

April 10, 1913 Independent item: J. H. Snyder
was reminded that it was 44 years ago (1869) that
he moved here from Mukwonago as the owner and
proprietor of the Central House. He was living in
the hotel again as he had broken up housekeeping.
The Central House was later razed, as T. H.
O'Brien built the Elkhorn House in 1893 and operated it 4 years, then leased it to his brother William
O'Brien for 5 years. He sold it in October, 1901,
to Mr. and Mrs. Edward Amos who owned it until
1920. The Amos family conducted the business most
of those years, though they did lease it for a part of
the time.
Edward Amos had been killed by a train on the
Eagle track, and Mrs. Mary C. Amos sold it in 1920
to William O'Brien who was also the proprietor of
the Nickel Plate Hotel, which he operated with his
son Wallace. He with his son, George, then ran the
Elkhorn House also. In April, 1929, George (Pat)
O'Brien sold the hotel to Mr. and Mrs. Nick Sklavenitis, who changed the name to the Loraine Hotel,
honoring his wife. Mr. Sklavenitis completely remodeled the building, followed in 1931 by the private
dining room construction, and in 1940, the remodeled
and modernized coffee shop.
July 1, 1946 James Leeson purchased the hotel
of the Sklavenitises and operated it for 4 years. He
continued to own the building but sold the business to
Mrs. Allie Hoye in December, 1950. She was followed
by Mr. and Mrs. Bob Clarke, then Charles Jahr Jr.,
and laterbyLexSamaras. Andthenamewas changed
to The Coach House.
In August, 1969, "Nine Inc." was organized and the
building underwent major remodeling on the first two
floors; the upper floors were no longer being used.
The name was changed to Court Yard Inn for a time,
until it became Bob Long's restaurant, a former
Green Bay Packer player, and then Mandell's Steak
House until it closed early in 1976 and is presently
vacant.
WALWORTH COUNTY ABSTRACT COMPANY
ADDITION
7 No. Wisconsin St.

IN ABOUT 1925, automobiles, primarily old Fords, were on the
scene downtown. but held up at noon by a band performing in
the main interset.tion for a road show that was probably playing
the Sprague Opera House that evening. A number of persons
stood at the Elkhorn House corner to watch~ while others stood
near the park, where there also appears to be parl of a popcorn
wagon. Other buildings now stood to the east of the hotel.

Years ago this was the Ellsworth Jewelry Store,
and in 1896 it was leased for a drug store to Peter
Howard and Carl Buchta by T. H. O'Brien the proprietor of the Elkhorn House. They operated their
business here until just after the turn of the century,
when they moved to the Huntress Building at 12
South Wisconsin Street. In 1898 they were advertising hammocks and croquet sets, largest stock in
114

the city.
George Finley and Jack White took over the building in 1913 as a barber shop, with the partnership
dissolved by mutual consent in 1916 and Mr. Finley
continuing in the barber shop. In 1919GeorgeGoodrich, of Walworth, bought a half interest in the shop
and stayed until hesemi-retiredin1933. The barber
shop moved around the corner on East Walworth
Street.
The building was occupied by James Beattie when
he was the Walworth County Agricultural Agent, and
later it was a shop called Jaynes, in which Mrs. Krueger featured yarn and knitting supplies for five years
in the 1940's.
Emmett's Office Supplies moved here from 35
South Wisconsin Street in 1955, and Emmett Woodford continued until Mr. and Mrs. Bob Clark bought
the business in 1960. They remained here until the
hardware store was vacated and moved to that location in 1965; where they are still in business.
The building was fitted for a beauty parlor and
was occupied by at least three different managements. It was also a Wig Shop. Then it was vacant
fo.r a time, until the Walworth County Abstract Company expanded in 197 5, and after extensive remodeling
incorporated it into their office next door.

1870; sold out to C. A. Noyce; continued to 1873 and
then sold to Humphrey.
GODFREY,NESHEK,WORTH,HOWARTH
AND LEIBSLE - Attorneys
11 No. Wisconsin St.
September 1, 1954, this building was sold to
A. L. Godfrey.
The Slattery Grocery Store had been in business
here, owned by the same family for 66 years. When
it was sold to Mr. Godfrey, it was just 40 years to
the day since the store moved to the 11 North Wisconsin Street location.
J. J. Slattery and T. E. Slattery established the
grocery business in 1888, and a few years later J. J ..
sold out to his brother T. E. Slattery. In 1954 the
third generation was active in the business. The
business began in the days when "cracker barrels
and pot bellied stoves were the favorite gathering
places for the town historians." The first store was
at 25 North Wisconsin Street in the building that formerly stood where the Walworth Security Title and
Abstract Company is now located. September
1, 1914, T. E. Slattery moved the business to this
location, and it was operated by his sons William T.
and Charles and in the latter years by his grandson,
John Slattery.
The old timers were mad in the 1920's when the
stores began closing at eight o'clock. Slattery's
Grocery was the first to deliver by truck, starting
in 1914. In the early days deliveries were made by
pushcarts, and later by horse drawn vehicles.
The E. C. Hubbard Store had been here before
the Slattery Grocery moved in.
In 1955 the Godfreys remodeled and changed the
old building; making it impossible to recognize it as
the former grocery. Mr. A. L. Godfrey started
practice in Elkhorn in 1922 and his son, Thomas,
carries on the firm, both have had other attorneys
associated with them. At the present time the firm
is made up of Thomas G. Godfrey, Richard A.
Howarth, Milton Neshek, Harry Worth, and Robert
C. Leibsle, who joined in 1976.

WALWORTH COUNTY ABSTRACT COMPANY
9 No. Wisconsin St.
The Abstract, Title and Guaranty Company was
founded by W. J. Tubbs in 1899, in the C. P. Hanson
building at 5 East Walworth Street.
In March 1915 he sold it to Henry D. Barnes and
his sister, Miss Lavinia Barnes, and they continued
in that office until the First National Bank vacated
this building at 9 North Wisconsin street so that in
May, 1916, after the rooms were cleaned, they moved
to this location. In August of that year, Mr. Barnes
became the sole owner, and then in November, 1921,
Miss Barnes took possession of the business.
In 1898 Smith B. Morrison purchased the abstract
books of Samuel Breese and continued the business
of the Walworth County Abstract Co. at 23 North
Wisconsin Street. He was joined in May 1915, by
his son-in-law Paul Hughes, in the same building
until the two abstract companies merged. Morrison
and Hughes moved to the 9 North Wisconsin Street
location, took over the business and retained the
name Walworth County Abstract Company.
In 1932 a corporation of local people took control
of the abstract company, and in 1935 J. Walter
Strong became the manager of the insurance department and rented space in the office for the
business. In January, 1958, the corporation sold
the abstract business to Robert Lehman and William
Seymour, who own both the building and the business
now. At the same time the Strong Agency moved its
business to the 12 East Walworth Street location
where they are presently located.
In the fall of 1975 the offices were remodeled and
enlarged by the addition of the north room of the
hotel, and at the same time the building was given
a new brick front.
An item of interest: B. B. Humphrey, proprietor of abstracts of title of Walworth County. First
Abstracts by Henry Adkins and kept up by him to

MASON AGENCY - Insurance
13 No. Wisconsin St.
John Hughes built this office in what had been
an alley way at 13 North Wisconsin Street for use
as his insurance office. He and his mother had
occupied it for a short time, until he sold to the
Abstract company next door.
The Abstract company kept the insurance business and sold the building to James Mason for his
office about 1940. Mr. Mason had established his
insurance business in 1933 at 12 East Walworth
Street.
When Lawrence Mason returned from the Navy
in March, 1946, he became associated with his
father in the office and has continued the business
at this location since his father's death.
CLARK OFFICE SUPPLY CO.
15 No. Wisconsin St.
Hardware had always been sold at this location,
until the store was occupied by the Clark Office
ll5

AT THE TURN OF THE CENTURY, the E.C. Hubbard grocery store was located in the present
Godfrey building, 11 North Wisconsin st. The business continued to operate at that location until
1914, when another grocer, T. E. Slattery, moved his food store business to the site. Note the
bowler hat apparently worn by the customer.

Supply Company in 1965.
The store was established hy John Meigs, and
he sold it to J. S. Norris in 1867. Harley Norris
took over from his father in 1884, and at different
times had A. Spoor and Will Cobb as partners. Mr.
Charles Hotchkiss bought the business in March
1904, and continued with it until he sold it to Harry
Cain and Charles Johnson in January, 1916, so that
it became known as the Cain and Johnson Hardware
Company. Cain purchased the Johnson interest in
1918 and operated as the sole owner until he sold it
to the Platts Brothers in December, 1945.
Gail Platts sold his interest to his brother, Fred,
in 1963 and they divided the business. Fred retained
the hardware store and continued the business with
his son, James, until the business was closed in
1965. Gail took the Sheet Metal Shop and moved it
to the cannery building.
Then in 1965 the Clark Office Supply Company
moved their business from 7 North Wisconsin Street
to this location, and stocked a wide variety of office
furniture and equipment as well as an assortment of
office supplies.

with a card table at the rear where J. Walter Strong
collected the bills for the Elkhorn Light and Water
Commission. W. C. (Dad) Norton had law offices in
the rooms at the rear of the building.
The Real Estate and Insurance office of Glenn
(Peggy) Vaughn occupied the building from 1924
until his death in 1938, when his wife operated it
until 1944. Harold Dailey took over the agency and
for a time sold real estate and insurance from this
location.
Morrissy, Morrissy & Zastrow moved to the remodeled Edwards block, purchased from the Walworth County Abstract Company on January 1, 1945.
At that time they used the front of the building and
Mr. Norton continued to use the back rooms. The
Walworth County Agricultural Offices and Dr. T. B.
Kurtz, dentist had the upper floor. The agricultural
offices later moved to the fairgrounds and Dr. Gerald
Richards followed Dr. Kurtz as dentist.
The Morrissy firm has had several attorneys associated with them at different times. Beside Erwin
Zastrow, there has been Lowell Sweet, Ralph Stowe,
and at the present time, John Race.
THE WALWORTH SECURITY TITLE
AND ABSTRAtT CO.
25 No. Wisconsin St.

MORRISSY, MORRISSY AND RACE - Attorneys
23 No. Wisconsin St.
This site was the Edwards block and was built
by Julius Edwards with brick from the old Sprague
Brick Yard on West Walworth Street.
It has seen a lot of history and given a lot of service. The first post office was here, also the Stone
General Store; then serving as the Walworth County
Abstract Office conducted by Morrison and Hughes,

This business was started by Robert Kenney and
his father, John P. Kenney, with the copying of all
records for the area. It began on the second floor
of the building owned by Mr. Graff in what is now the
Park- View Liquor Store and later was moved to this
location which they now occupy.
The location had been occupied by th~ T. E. Slat-

!16

"LOTTIEu PULLED THE i.E. Slattery Groceries delivery wagon at the turn of
the century from the location on North Wisconsin st, now home of the Walworth
Security Title & Abstract. William (teft} and Charles Slattery stood in front of the
store from which the business was later moved to the present Godfrey building.
Next door was the Charles P ieplow Harness &: T ruM business.

tery Grocery Store until it was moved to 11 North
Wisconsin Street, and then the plumbing firm of
W. C. Nuoffer and E. R. Keuper leased the building
and occupied it for a short time. Later Mr. Nuoffer
went to work as a tinsmith for the Elkhorn Hardware
Co. In February, 1916, the Howe Grovery Store
moved here from 5 West Walworth Street and Will
Howe and his son Harry ran the business here, with
Harry Howe continuing in the store after his father's
death, until May 28, 1936, when he gave up the grocery
business to concentrate on the floral and greenhouse
business at 302 West Walworth Street which he operated until 1963.
The building was sold to Mr. and Mrs. Roy Krakofsky (who later shortened their name to Kray).
They build a new building for a beauty parlor, which
they occupied for a short time. In June, 1948, they
sold it to D. F. Kelliher and it was occupied by the
Priscilla Beauty Salon for a short time.
In 1950 Robert Kenney purchased the building for
his abstract firm, and in 1972 he built an addition
on the rear to enlarge the office.

for three years.
The Walworth Security Title and Abstract Company moved to 25 North Wisconsin Street, which had
been the beauty parlor, and remodeled it for their offices. They later divided the front of the building
leaving an office that the Dailey Agency now occupies.
Originally Mr. Dailey sold both real estate and insurance, but in April, 1973, he sold his insurance
business to the Strong Agency and now concentrates
on real estate.
TOY'S TAP
27 No. Wisconsin St.

ln June, 1956, Garvin's Tavern moved to this location; it was operated by Bruce Lannon until he retired in 1971. Then it was taken over by Robert
Shepard and the name changed to Shep's Tap. He
continued the business here until 1975, when he sold
it to Shirley Richardson and the name was changed to
Toy's Tap.
Charles Pieplow came to Elkhorn in 1895 and
worked for Russell Brothers and Curtis in the harness
part of the business and moved next door to 29 North
Wisconsin Street in what is now the Pastry Shop. He
operated there for one year, thenpurchasedthepresent location and ran his harness shop here. In 1915
he added shoes to his stock. In 1919 Breck Henderson
became his partner until1938, with Mr. Pieplow continuing alone until he retired March 1, 1945. He had
been in business for 50 years when he sold the building to Thorson and Seymour.

THE DAILEY AGENCY
25 No. Wisconsin St.

In 1943 Harold Dailey became associated with the
Vaughn Agency, which was located at 23 North Wisconsin Street, and after he took over the business, he
moved to 27 North Wisconsin Street, into the remodeled building that had been the Pieplow Shoe
Store. He conducted his business from this location
ll7

Later in the year, Harold Mishler ran the restaurant as Mishler's Grill. He sold the business to the
Hanny Brothers in 1953, and Fred Clausen managed
it for three years to begin with, then Mr. and Mrs.
Louis Karbowski took over the management until
three years ago, when they purchased the business.
In July, 1974, they bought the building from Mrs.
George Ward. The Wards had bought the building
from the Adkins daughters, Jessie and Jean, after
the death of their mother. lthadpreviouslybelonged
to Mrs. Adkins' parents, the Congers.

October 26, 1911 ad in Independent: Horse
blankets. Every horse should have one, all wool remember $1.50. Chas. Pieplow.
The Vaughn Agency with Mr. Harold Dailey as
manager moved here from 23 North Wisconsin St.
for a short time before going another door north,
where the business is now located.
ELKHORN PASTRY SHOP
29 No. Wisconsin St.
Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Kaplan bought the Bo-Dot bakery from Mr. and Mrs. Robert Bolton in 1955, and
continued at the 24 South Wisconsin Street location for
five years before moving to this building, where they
continue to serve the public with good things to eat.
They moved in 1960, after Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence
McCall sold out their stock and gave up the grocery
business.
This had been a grocery store for quite a long
time. In 1926 the Nevins Company established a
Nevins Store here, which was managed by George
Meyers. In February, 1945, Mr. Meyers bought the
business and operated it as Meyers' Grocery until he
sold it to Mr. and Mrs. McCall.
In 1913 this was Gus Gall's Tailor Shop. When
the Corner Drug Store was destroyed by fire in that
year, and Mr. Buchholz' Barber Shop suffered from
the disaster, he moved his business to the Tailor
Shop, until his place was ready for use again. When
Mr. Buchholz came to town in 1897 he bought the
M. W. Bovee Barber Shop which had been at this location in 1893 run by the Bovee Brothers, and owned
by W. W. Byington.

ANGUS BARBER SHOP
33 No. Wisconsin St.
Donald Angus, a third generation barber, is the
proprietor of this shop. In July, 1956, his father,
Wallace, opened the barber shop at the location,
after being employed for many years in Fred Behlmer's Barber Shop at 7 East Walworth Street, which
Mr. Behlmer was discontinuing.
Mr. Behlmer came here to work for Mr. Angus
until the end of the year. January 2, 1957, Donald
Angus came to be associated with his father, and has
continued the business since his father's death in
March, 1971.
This location had been Maurie Hazard's Camera
Shop, and before that it was Doe bert's Shoe Repair
Shop.
Many years ago it had been an alley for vehicles;
but when George Ward did the extensive remodeling
on the 31 North Wisconsin Street building, this new
shop was built in the alleyway. The second floor of
the building had been built over the area, which provided a shelter in a sudden shower.

KAYLOUS RESTAURANT
31 No. Wisconsin St.
REDENZ TV, INC.
35 No. Wisconsin St.

It was here that Mrs. J. F. Jenkins established

her millinery store in 1908, which she ran until
March, 1917, when she sold it to Mrs. J. M. Wells,
who continued at this location until November 1919,
selling it to Mrs. S. J. Carlson.
It appears that Mrs. Carlson must have sold the
business to Mrs. Besecker, because an item in the
May 6, 1926, Independent records that Mrs. A. J.
Murphy bought Mrs. Curtis B. Besecker's stock of
millinery and took possession on Monday. Mrs.
Murphy had an art shop on East Walworth Street for
nearly a year and moved that stock to 31 North Wisconsin Street, where she combined the two. Mr. and
Mrs. Besecker moved to the farm.
In the early 1930's Lawrence Mason and Ollie
Herr were operating the White House Restaurant
here, and Mr. Mason sold his interest to Mr. Herr
who continued alone. A good plate lunch was 35 cents
and hamburgers were 5 cents and coffee 5 cents.
In March, 1941, George Ward bought Mr. Herr's
business and he and his brother, Harry, managed it
at different times. According to the Independent,
Harry Ward resigned as chief of police to take care of
the White House Restaurant in the fall of 1945. In the
fall of 1948, George Ward carried out a major remodeling project on the building, and at the same time
built the shop next door to the north in what had been
a driveway for vehicles; The White House opened January 16, 1949, completely remodeled.

At this location in 1855, Samuel Baird built a
grocery store, which he soldin1859toP. C. Gilbert,
who continued the business. Gilbert in turn sold it to
Isaac Terry, who was the owner when Frank Leland
bought it for the Elkhorn Independent, which was published here until 1913.
In March, 1914, Bert Beach and Harvey Wolf
leased the place for their windmill, pump, plumbing
and tinsmith business and occupied it for a short
time.
The MaGill Brothers Plumbing and Heating business took over the property, after they had been using
the back part of the building in which Ben Bachhuber
conducted his implement business. For many years
William and Fred MaGill took care of the plumbing
and heating work for a good part of the ,city and the
surrounding area. Later Will and his son, Clayton,
carried on the business, and after the death of his
father, Clayton continued until his death.
Because the first floor was three or four steps
above street level, extensive remodeling was required and both the ceiling and the floors had to be
altered. Since then the building has been occupied
by the Redenz TV, Inc. Glen Redenz moved into the
building in 1959, after having worked for the Smith
Home Service for twelve years as service manager.
!!8

v "'"

mnd pumps, along with the Phone number, '172. The window

THAT'S A VERY EARLY vintage !ruck used by !he Magill Bros.
Heating and Plumbing firm around 1916, Seated on the Winton
panel !rock were Lou Button (left) and William "Billy" Magill,
while Fred Magill stood on the sidewalk and Myr!le Ellsworth
and Charles Johnson were in the doorway of the shop. The tatter
two later mwried. The truck, about. a 1916 model, had hard
rubber tires and the steering wheel was on the right side. It also
carried advertising of the firm's specialties. including windmills

thspl,ay mc1ude6 (from left) d water:_ closet, sink, tub and another

sink. The store had previously been the Independent Office until
1913 after starling as a grocery store. It is now the Redenz TV
store, 35 North Wisconsin st. Next door to the shop was the
Calvin Barnes Insurance offiCe and Hoffman's Dry Goods and
MH!inery store (respectively Modern Realty and Gambles now).

Thi! alley at the right was later turned into a barbershop.

MODERN REALTY
37 No. Wisconsin St.

building as a drop-off station for several years.
ln September, 1958, John R. Hughes opened an
insurance office here, and in November, he was
by John A. Spragia as a partner in the insurance and real estate business.
Since March 17, 1966, William Brownlie has
occupied the building with the Modern Realty Office.
From February, 1968, to September, 1974, Harley
Rouse was associated with him in the business, but
since September 1974, Mr. Brownlie has conducted
the business alone.

Calvin Barnes had operated his insurance business here from sometime in the 1890's until his
death, and Mrs. Barnes carded on after that. In
December 6, 1945, an Independent item noted that
Mrs. Calvin Barnes, 84 years old, sold the business
to J. Walter Strong of the Walworth County Abstract
Company. Mrs. Barnes then ran the business from
her home during the few remaining years she
operated it.
ln the early 1940's Howard Webb had a music
store at this location. He paid the clerk 15 cents
an hour for a 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. day with an hour off
at noon and again at supper time, which made her
pay $1.50 a day. For the time she played the piano
to accompany music pupils she received 25 cents
an hour.
The Modern Cleaners, of Lake Geneva, used the

GAMBLES OF ELKHORN
39 No. Wisconsin St.
In October, 1886, C. E. Wing bought the Stafford
lot, building and storE: and took immediate possession.
Mr. Wing's new building replaced two old landmarks those occupied by the "Little Market" and O'Brien's

!!9

A. J. Reed conducted his undertaking business (as

Barber Shop. In February, 1887, the new store was
completed and the stock was transferred from their
former store on the corner.
In July of 1896, R. G. Hoffman became a partner
of Mr. Wing and the business was known as Wing and
Hoffman. Later Wing sold his interest to Mr. Hoffman and it was known as the Hoffman Dry Goods
Store. In June, 1928, the store went out of business
and Shaffer Brothers in the Chicago Store purchased
the stock and fixtures.
The building became the Grand Leader Store and
was operated from about 1930 to November, 1937,
under that name, with Boris Kahn running it until
October, 1934, and then Morris Begun, brother to the
Mr. Begun, in Delavan, who was in charge until the
store was closed
The store was vacant for quite a long time before
Montgomery Ward occupied the buildiug from 1940
to 1953, after which it was vacant again.
The Barton Store was established here in July,
1954, and after major remodeling occupied it with a
department store which made use of all three floors.
Bartons continued their business at this location until
the fall of 1975, when they moved to the new building
they erected in the Lal<es Area Shopping Center on
East Geneva Street.
In November, 1975, the Gamble Store operation
was returned to the city and moved into the building
with a large stock of hardware and furniture.

it was called then) in conjunction with his Reed

Furniture Store in the early days when hearses were
horse drawn vehicles and funerals were held in
homes or in churches, and a black crepe was hung
at the front door to signify that there had been a
death in the house. It was not until the 1930's
that the practice of having funeral homes came to
Elkhorn.
The Fred Isham home was purchased by the Reed
firm in 1933 and was known as the Reed Funeral
Home. Birde!l Reed took over that part of the business with his father, and later Parnell Fredrickson,
was associated with him from 1951 to July 1, 1954.
At that time Mr. Fredrickson took over the Rohleder
Funeral Home. In January 1956 John Wolf became
associated with Mr. Reed and continued until Nov. 1,
1966, when Mr. Charles Murray purchased the busi-

ness.
DERKSEN FUNERAL HOME
103 E. Rockwell St.
The Elkhorn Funeral Home was first opened in
Elkhorn in the former Smith B. Morrison home at
110 North Broad Street. This was leased in 1931
to McCarthy, Reuter and Haas of Burlington, undertaker and furniture dealers and to John E. Rohleder
of East Troy, licensed embalmer and funeral director.
In September, 1938 John Rohleder purchased the
John H. Harris home at the corner of Washington and
Rockwell Streets and took possession Nov. 15, 1938.
After the building was altered and remodeled it served
as the Elkhorn Funeral Home, conducted by Mr. Rohleder until 1954, when Parnell Fredrickson took over
the business. Mr. Fredrickson came to Elkhorn in
February, 1950 and was employed by the Reed Funeral Home and Furniture Store until he made the
change.
Beginning July 1, 1968 Gary Derksen of Red Wing,
Minn., took over the Fredrickson Funeral Home and
continues to serve at that location as the Derksen
Funeral Home.

KUNKEL'S PHARMACY
41 No. Wisconsin St.
This was the location of the Reed Furniture
business, which had been established in 1865 and
is one of the oldest businesses in Elkhorn - the
fourth generation of Reeds remain in the business,
Albert and B. R. (Mike) Reed. Harold and Birdell,
third generation, are semi-retired.
The store was started by Albert Reed in a building on West Walworth Street near the location of the
Pink Poodle Gift Shop. Several years later the
founder and his son, also named Albert J. Reed,
built the two story building here. At that time
workmen were paid one dollar a day, but a dollar
and a half if they also furnished a team. The business was situated here until it was moved to spacious
new quarters it occupies now on Highway 67 at the
north city limits. The Reeds also did undertaking
(as it was called years ago) and later established
the funeral home at 16 North Church St. which is
currently the Murray Funeral Home.
When the building was vacated by the Reed's, it
was taken over by Robert Gaiser in October, 1960,
and operated as a drug store and pharmacy by him
until his untimely death in April, 1968.
Then in August 1968, the business was sold to
Donald Kunkel, who has continued in the same line,
calling his business Kunkel's Pharmacy.

STATE LONG DISTANCE TELEPHONE COMPANY
216 W. Walworth St.
Elkhorn telephone service started before the turn
of the century when the community was served by the
Walworth County Telephone Co. and the Wisconsin
Telephone Co.
These companies served only people within the
city; so on October 15, 1900 a number of farmers
gathered and formed the State Long Distance Telephone Company for the purpose of serving the rural
areas. Charles H. Wiswell was one of the organizers. The Walworth County Telephone Company
was purchased in 1903 and the Wisconsin telephone
Co. in 1912. There was steady progress in the company and it outgrew its space, requiriug new additions.
In March, 1955 the dial system went into effect
after a large addition had been built the previous
year to house the added equipment. In the early
70s a satellite office was built at Lauderdale and a
spacious new building at 216 W. Walworth Street.
The company moved into this facility in July of 1973

MURRAY ELKHORN FUNERAL HOME
16 N. Church St.
The inscription on the bronze plate on the wall
says "This building was constructed by Fred !sham
and later dedicated to funeral service by A. J. Reed
who founded the funeral home in 1865."
!20

and at that time the single-party lines carne into use
as well as extended toll free service to Lake Geneva,
Delavan and Williams Bay.
Second and third generations ofthe Wiswell family
are in active management of the utility.
In 1911 the local exchange had 565 subscribers
and residence 4 party phone rates were $1 and one
party phones were $1.25. The business has grown
so that in 1975 there were 2,920 subscribers in
Elkhorn and 1,080 at Lauderdale. The rates for the·
private phones were set at $6.20.

THE PRODUCTION CREDIT ASSOCIATION
Highway 67

This farmer-owned credit organization which
started with seven incorporators, each putting in $5
and with A. C. Peters as manager at a salary of
$50 a month, has made great strides since its inception on December 26, 1933.
Sept. 1, 1951 it moved into larger offices at
108 West Court Street, which had been the horne of
former Sheriff Joseph Dorr.
The business continued there until additional
space was required, and the association built a
larger facility on highway 67 at the north city limits
and moved there February 2, 1973. Originally subsidized by the government, the organization had paid
back its loan by June 30, 1950.
Lester Johnson, Elkhorn, is now the general manager, with William Baker, Delavan, as chairman of
the board of directors. The association also has
branch offices in Wales and Union Grove.

ONE HOUR MARTINIZING DRY CLEANERS
Corner E. Geneva and S. Washington St.

This dry cleaning establishment is owned by
Robert Wahlstrom, who became the proprietor
July 15, 1975, following James Harris who had
operated it from 1971.
The corner has served many businesses through
the years; some may remember it as the Hansen
Oil Station, others may recall when Joe Dorr sold
trailers here about the time he took over the
Land 0' Lakes Mobile Horne park. Still others
will remember it in connection with food or refreshments, as it was once Dante's Pizzaria.

OPITZ CHEVROLET-BUICK GARAGE
Highway 67

May 23, 1912 Independent item: "One of the
oldest businesses in Elkhorn, the Fred Opitz shop
is being razed this week to make room for a two
story structure which Robert Opitz, the new owner
of the property intends to build. The old building
was one of Elkhorn's "landmarks" having been built
in the early 1840's. It was the factory in which
wagons were being made in 1856, and maybe in the
1840's.
The Opitz Brothers opened their new garage

LYLE'S TV & APPLIANCE INC.
17 S. Washington St.

Lyle's TV & Appliance Inc. has been at horne
at this location since Lyle Schinke moved his
business from his horne, in 1956. The building
had previously been occupied by Lawrence Baxter
with his Sport and Camera Shop.

here in 1954 at 39 North Wisconsin st., where it remained
until the new construction was completed in the fall of 1975.

INTERIOR CONSTRUCTION was being completed on the new'
Barton's department store, located in the new Lakes Area
shopping center. The Barton store had first been established

12!

here in 1914.
An item in the August 12, 1948 Independent notes
that Harold Opitz had been the Buick dealer for a
quarter of a century, starting in January 1923, when
he purchased the Howard Wheeler interest in the
Elkhorn Automotive Garage and became a partner
of Hugh Squires. In 1930 Mr. Opitz purchased the
Squires interest, and in 1933 he began selling Chevrolet as well as Buick cars. Mr. Opitz was in the
business at the time of his death and since then
his son, Fletcher, and his brother, Wilfred, have
carried on the business.
The garage on E. Walworth Street was vacated
when it was sold to the State bank and razed to
make way for their new facility. A new building
was erected on highway 67 (N. Lincoln Street)
and the business was moved to this location, in
1967.

of the Ben Franklin Company and occupied by them
for a time, until a new Ben Franklin Family Center
was built at 17 East Walworth Street.
This store was closed until John Nigbor moved
from next door after some remodeling in June,
1972. He calls it "Family Pride" Laundromat.
His former location was sold to Perry Spencer,
when it was vacated.
RAM BEVERAGE SHOP
41 N. Lincoln St.
The Ram Beverage Shop was established in May
1970 by Robert Marks, after he and William Carroll
closed out the chick hatchery they had been conducting at this location. They had purchased it
from L. Henry Noble in November, 1955, where Mr.
Noble had been in the business for ten years after
purchasing it from Ernie Mount in 1945.
The chick hatchery had been started sometime in
the 1930's in the Morrissy Building, which occupied
the corner lot where the Gilbert Realty business
office is now located.
This building at 41 N. Lincoln Street was built
by Charles Wales as a paint shop; later it was used
as a garage by Merlin Fiske.

ELKHORN MOTORS, INC.
Highway 67
The Elkhorn Motors, Inc. moved to this location
after the building was completed on September 1,
1971, and held an open house October 1st.
The sale of Ford cars in Elkhorn had started
with Ben Bachhuber's implement business.
ln
1915 the Ford Garage at the corner of Geneva and
Wisconsin streets was built by the Smart Brothers,
of Palmyra, and managed by Roy Gillette. E. A.
Spinner bought the business and conducted it as
Spinner Ford Sales and Service for 18 years.
Taken over by Elkhorn Motors, Inc. in 1934
it remained at this location until it was moved to
17 East Walworth Street in February, 1937 under
the management of Roy Kurtz, who with Leonard
Keirn, of Milwaukee, owned the business after buying out the interest of Charles Dunham, of Delavan.
Mr. Kurtz had worked in the Ford garage for 19
years.
In 1939 E. F. Last returned to Elkhorn and took
over the management of the corporation and is now
associated in the business with his son, Gerald.
When the building on Walworth street was no longer
adequate for their expanded operation, they built
and moved to this new location.

B & B LAUNDROMAT
32 S. Washington St.
July 12, 1953 Lester Cole opened Cole's Laundromat here, after extensive remodeling. This business continued operation until 1959, when it was
sold to Mr. and Mrs. George Hart. They operated
it until 1964 when they sold it to Mr. and Mrs.
Robert Ingram, who changed the name to B & B
Laundromat.
The Ingrams later sold the business to Gerald Deabel, of Delavan, in 1971, and
he sold it in July, 1973 to Mr. and Mrs. Archie
Sanford who are the present proprietors.
Years before the cement block building had been
used by Donald Burns and Stanley Wilson as a dry
cleaning establishment called Dun Well Cleaners,
and they had their office where the Paradise Barber
Shop faces Wisconsin Street. It had been constructed
just before the death of Frank Schmidt, who planned
to use it for a body shop for his Studebaker garage.

SPENCER TV AND APPLIANCE
7 - 9 N. Lincoln St.

ROY'S SERVICE, INC.
324 N. Wisconsin St.

Perry Spencer has long been associated with radio
and TV work, starting with the Desing Radio Shop
on South Wisconsin Street. On Hilmar De sing's
retirement, he took over that business and remained in that location until he moved to this building February 1, 1974. His son James is now associated in the business with hi)11.
This new building was the "Quick Clean Center", the laundromat which John Nigbor started
here in 1962, conducting business here until 197 2
when Mr. Nigbor took over the building vacated by
the Ben Franklin Variety Store next door to the north.

Roy's Service started on March 14, 1940, when
J. L. (Roy) Henderson opened a two stall Shell Service station. The business grew rapidly and in 1945
he expanded the station to six stalls, and at the
same time acquired the franchise for DeSoto and
Plymouth automobiles. A year later he added the
GMC truck line.
As the business grew there was need for additional
space, so in 1955 the former dairy property across
the street was purchased and remodeled to serve as
a showroom. An addition on the back of that building
serves as a body repair shop. With the increase in
business it again became necessary to enlarge the
service station, and a major remodeling in 1968
expanded the service station.
The business has developed into a corporation

FAMILY PRIDE LAUNDROMAT
11 N. Lincoln St.
This building was constructed in 1962 for the use
122

with several members of the Henderson family involved in the organization. Henderson's son, John,
now heads the firm.

occupied this office until June 1974, when the First
National Bank bought the property and used the area
for a parking lot. The building was given to the city
by the bank and moved to 109 N. Wisconsin st. to be
used as a Community center.
The 1916 building of the National Bank was razed
except for the pillars, which were left as a landmark, with the construction of a mini-bank and a
mall where the building had stood.
The Bank also has a branch facility in Williams
Bay.

OLESON MAYTAG AND APPLIANCE SALES
411 N. Wisconsin St.
This business was established by A. C. Oleson in
1945, after he sold his hardware business in 1941.
When his son, Donald, returned from service he
joined his father in the store and they continued together for some time. Then Andy Oleson retired
and Donald has continued to serve the community
with electrical appliances, with his son, Jack, helping him part of the time.

FORT SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATION
17 N. Washington St.
The Fort Savings and Loan Association opened
offices in Elkhorn Aug. 1, 1968, in a new building
constructed at 17 North Washington st. The area
they occupied had formerly been the site of two
homes. The first manager was Richard L. Gilkey,
who helped plan the grand opening on Sept. 7, 1968.

SKELLY'S SUPER MARKET
422 N. Wisconsin St.
In October 1936 the James Campbell family came
to Elkhorn and Mr. Campbell purchased the grocery
business of the Churchill Brothers, Herman and
Loren, which they had established in 1928.
In 1942 L. K. McVicar took a three year lease on
the North End Store, as it was called at the time, but
he chose not to renew it, and Mr. Campbell was back
in the business in March 1945.
James Cost bought the North End Store in March
of 1946 from the Campbells and in January 1955 he
remodeled the building and built an addition. Mr.
Cost continued in the business until he sold it to
AI Monson in May 1966, and the store's name was
changed to Maral's.
Monson later sold it to Paul Skelly in May 1968,
who continued in the business until December 1972,
selling it to Robert Girard, the present owner. Mr.
Girard had earlier established the Super Valu grocery
at 15 N. Lincoln street. The name has been continued as Skelly's Super Market.

GILBERT REALTY
101 E. Court St.
George Watson in 1852 built the brick shop at the
corner of Court and Washington streets and made
wagons and buggies. About 1855 Josiah W. Gaylord
and Isaac Stoner, wheelwright and blacksmith respectively, occupied the building.
The panic of the period dissolved the firm and
reduced successor Edward McDonald to repair work
until 1870. Nelson Hanson then resumed wagon
making with Fred Opitz, at first as his blacksmith
and later as his partner. The firm passed away
and the blacksmithy remained.
In 1884 John Morrissy bought the Old Hanson
Shop and the family lived in the second floor until
their home next door was completed. In November,
1887, George Scanlon, John Miller and Moses O'Connor fell from the scaffold and were injured while preparing to shingle the shop.
In the early morning of June 1, 1913: "Two
horses were burned and Dan Ward's house on North
Washington Street had a close call. The Ward barn
burned and the house was heavily damaged; the second barn belonging to the John Morrissy estate
was being used by T. W. Morrissy and it was his
two valuable horses that burned."
John Morrissy continued the blacksmith shop until
his death March 26, 1912, and then his son, Thomas
W. Morrissy, took over the business and operated it
as a blacksmith and wagon repair shop until 1920,
followed as a Chevrolet Agency and filling station
with the Westphal Hatchery in the rear.
T. W. Morrissy and Harold (Bing) Gilbert started
in the real estate business in 1941 and then in 1953
Harold Gilbert took over that operation and in 1967
built the new building which houses not only the real
estate office but other offices as well. After Mr. Gilbert's death the business was continued by Mr. Peter
Kouzes who joined the firm in 1963.

FIRST NATIONAL BANK
N. Washington St.
This bank was founded in January 1865, when it
purchased the building, business and good will of
the Elkhorn Bank. There are only 12 First National
banks that are older in the state of Wisconsin. This
first bank building still stands at 9 North
Wisconsin st.
In 1916 the business moved to a new building three
doors to the north, which the Independent referred to
as its ''palatial new home.'' This building was built
where a frame building originally housed the Edwards
and Preston Dry Goods store. The wooden building
was purchased by George Amos, who divided it into 2
duplexes and moved them back onto lots facing Washington Street, which Mr. Amos bought from J. E.
Wheeler. This Wheeler property had garden plots
and an area where traveling tent shows were operated
at times. Years later the bank bought one piece of
property and razed the structure for a parking lot.
Later they bought and razed the other, using both lots
for their new bank building which opened in December 1974.
In 1959 Jensen and Johnson had built their office
on the corner of Washington and Court streets, after
purchasing the Arp blacksmith property and the
homes of Lloyd Arp and the Morrissey sisters. They

OTHER PLACES OF BUSINESS
The Two Seasons Lanes opened November, 1963
on highway 67. This new recreational facility was
operated by Robert Reed and Philip Welsh until
123

ing, Washington and E. Centralia Street; Bud Nass
Tree Service, 229 Randall Place; Walbrandt and
Associates, 433 E. Geneva Street; Sweet and Eberhardt, 114 No. Church Street, Attorneys; Land 0'
Lakes Mobile Home park, 473 E. Geneva Street,
and Lakeland Motel, 450 E. Geneva Street.
Powell's Antiques and Collectibles, 14 W. Geneva, was started in July, 1945, by E. A. Powell
and continued by his sons Allen and Howard.
"The Garden", Florists, 119 So. Lincoln Street,
began in 1956 by Mr. and Mrs. Mike Hilton, and
continued by Joyce Hilton after her husband's death.
Hedlund Realty, 461 E. Geneva Street; Kramer
Realty, 303 No. Lincoln Street; Schulz Realty, 433 E.
Geneva Street; E. Lunde & Chess, 314 W. 2nd Avenue.
East Side Repair Shop, 213 N. Lincoln Street, 24
hour wrecker service; Hansen's Garage, 304N. Lincoln Street, operated for many years by Svend Hansen; Schultz Como Motors, 910 W. Walworth Street;
Albert's Friendly Oil, 432 E. Geneva Street;
Carl's Service, highway 11; Cheker Service Station,
627 W. Walworth Street; Kickapoo Gas Station, highway 67; Consumer's Co-op Station, E. Walworth
Street; Keith's Standard Service, No. Wisconsin
and E. Court; Ketchpaw's Shell Service, E. Geneva
and S. Lincoln Street; Superamerica, 109 E. Geneva Street; Cerwin's Firestone Inc., 3 E. Geneva
Street; Conoco Service Station, W. Court and No.
Wisconsin Street 1938 - closed now.
Ellsworth Electric Inc., 107 So. Getzen Street
and Ward and Amann, 211 Van Buren.
Harkness and Hoxie, Inc., Plumbing and Heating,
highway 67; Elkhorn Heating and Sheet Metal Co.,
213 S. Broad Street; Thomas and Beaver, Plumbing
and Heating, 314 E. Court Street; Newell Meadows,
325 W. Jefferson Street, Swanson's Pump and Plumbing Service, 521 Sunset Drive.

sold in December, 1975 to Norbert Landreman
and his son, David.
720 N. Wisconsin St. In September 1967 this
eating place was taken over by Sperino Maiale
to become "Sperino's Spaghetti House", specializing in Italian foods. It had been operated by
Mario Christiano as the "Slide Inn" for 3-1/2
years until he went to the Elk Restaurant in 1954.
At that time it was sold to Martin Farrell. Mr.
Maiale also conducts Sperino's Sandwich Hut on
East Geneva Street which was opened in September, 1975.
635 N. Wisconsin St. The Martin Brothers,
Reuben and Lyman, erected this building for a
super market, which started here in 1954. Since
then an addition has enlarged the area to accommodate all the items supplied for the Sentry Food
Company store.
419 N. Wisconsin St.
Dr. Edward Slattery
and Dr. John Hall, optometrists, share the building
where once the Sinclair Oil Station conducted its
business. Dr. Slattery bought and remodeled the
building, along with purchase of the lot to the
north, and moved to this location from East Walworth Street in September, 1968.
401 N. Wisconsin St. The Spragia Agency and
the Plaza Cleaners share this building, which for
many years was a garage occupied by Benning
Motor Sales. In succession, Wales and Klitzkie,
Wales Motor Sales, Alex Johnson and Dean Matthews, Pope Overland Co. located there. Then it
was used as a cleaning establishment by the Modern
Cleaners before the present businesses occupied
the structure. The Spragia Agency also conducts
the H. & R. Block business in Elkhorn at this location.
640 N. Broad St. In August 1953 the Holton
Home was sold for a nursing and convalescent
home to Janet Ylvisaker, of Waupaca, and Mr.
and Mrs. Walter Kohl, of Burlington. Open house
was held on October 18 and 25th. Then in April
1970, the Elkhorn Nursing Home was sold to Mrs.
Marion Mickey, James Michey and Stanton Sornson.
After the death of Stanton Sornson, the Charles
Murrays owned the business for a year, before
it was sold to Harold Woodhouse February 1, 1973.
It is now known as Holton Manor.
In April 1954 the Thomas Motel of 8 units was
opened by Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Thomas. They sold
it to Mr. and Mrs. Turner Wilcox, who in June
1961 sold it to William East, who conducted it for
some time. George Waholz, the present owner,
purchased it from East's widow.
Kelly's Elkland Flowers and Greenhouse on
Highway 67 were started in March 1951 by Mr.
and Mrs. Gordon Giddings.
Elkhorn Equipment, Inc., No. Wisconsin Street;
Vets Steam Carpet Cleaning, No. Lincoln Street;
Lakes Area Locksmith, 310 No.,Jackson Street; Pump
Drives Inc., 516 No. Lincoln Street; Dog N' Suds
Drive In, 645 No. Lincoln Street; Elkhorn Webpress Inc., 550 E. Centralia Street; Modern Cleaners, 219 S. Broad Street; Consumers Co-op of Walworth County, So. Wisconsin Street; Elkhorn Locker
Service, Inc., 406 So. Wisconsin Street; Schwans
Sales Enterprises, 515 Getzen Street; Lakeland
Studios of Fine Photography, 473 E. Geneva Street;
Gosch's Cafe, 316 S. Church Street; Elkhorn Roof-

BUSINESSES LONG GONE
Feb. 1, 1917 A. Dostalek,proprietor. Groceries
and Meat. Thomas Howard house, No. Wisconsin.
Jan. 19, 1939 Tony Dostalek came to Elkhorn in
1918 or 1919 more than 20 years ago. Worked for
Widmayer - then operated a grocery.
March 14, 1946 Harry Enloe bought West End
Store, 438 West Walworth Street, from Reiner Hinrichs, had been started by Mort Savory several years
ago.
Sept. 1918 C. M. Cranesoldthedrayline to Nick
Burns.
March 9, 1939 (Harold) Reed Mink Ranch in operation north of city on Highway H.
July 19, 1917 M. H. Booth succeeds John W.
Hayes, who retired after long service. Mr. Hayes
retired July 1, after more than 52 years of service.
He took charge of the local Milwaukee office (Railo
road) April 1, 1865.
June 25, 1925 Curio Collector, N. E. Carter.
Feb. 17, 1955 Justice Belton deadat82. Justice
more than 30 years.
June 15, 1922 Dallas Davis took over W. H.
Smith's milk route. Later joined Alder and was
called Urbandale Dairy.
Besides the blacksmith shops mentioned in connection with the businesses that replaced them, there
was the Julius Opitz blacksmith shop, which occupied
the lot to the east of "Our Own Store", which is now
the parking lot. This smithy operated until about
1914.
124

A SPECIAL PROJECT BY Elkhorn women was the Bicentennial Quilt, which was finished and presented on the 1976 Fourth
of July weekend of activities .. The presentation of the quilt
was made by Mrs. Marianne Cannestra, who coordinated the

project, during the intermission of the Holton-Elkhorn Band
concert. At the band shell in Sunset Park to accept the Bicentennial project for the city on the nation's 20oth anniversary was Mayor Gerhardt lmmega.

SCENES DEPICTED in the quilt on stage and those responsible
are in order of left to right starting with the top row: Sugar
Creek Church, Va!enda Jacobson; Tubbs House, Marie Kenney;
Elk Head, Bonnie Borkhuis; Steele House, Jeanette Kudick;
1887 School, Mar!yne Seymour; (2nd row) Jackson Creek
Bridge, Phyllis Olson; Gillogly House, Merr-y Kay Opitz; Band
Shell, Marianne Cannestra; Holton Co., Rita Barron; Funeral
Home, Kathy Murray; (3rd row} Matheson Library, Elfrieda
Matheson; Bethel Church, Anne Simpson; St. Patrick's Church,
Dorothy Sprow!; Octagon House, Marie Neuman; First Evangelical Church, Hazel Borkhuis; (4th row) First Baptist Church,
Della Isham; Wa!-Co Rodeo, Delores Lundgren; Postoffice,
Minnie Jacobsen; Old Lutheran Church, Barbara Walbrandt;
UCC-Congregational, Marthe Mol; (5th row) Swimming Pool,
Harriet lmmega; Webster House, Helen Kluge; County Fair,
Kathy Wedige; St. John's Lutheran Church, Helen Swan; First
Methodist Church, Eldred Anderson; (6th row) Jackson School,
Edna Olson; Old Milk Factory, Sophia Reinke; Old Courthouse,
Myrtle. Hoover; St. John's in the Wilderness Church, Doris
Watson, and Sears Store, Millie Platts.

125

-~----~-------~------------

-----

<""''!l"'f¢,Jii~;Hjf~,Hf!~-c

THE CITY OF ELKHORN received its official Bicentennial
designation on Feb. 16, 1976 during a brief ceremony at the
recently opened Community Center, which was later another
Bicentennial period project. State Sen. Tim Cullen {left} represented the Wisconsin American Revolution Bicentennial Commission as the designating agency. He presented the special

flag to Mrs.

Helen Swan and the official charter to Herb

Moering, Elkhorn Bicentennial Committee co-chairper~ons.
They in turn passed on the flag and charter to Mayor Gerhardt
lmmega (right}, who accepted on behalf of the city's citizens
and council. The posters behind them were created b'y art
students at the Middle School as another Bicentennial project.

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