363 Burlington the First 150 Years 1835-1990

Burlington 1835-1990: The First 150+ years by Burlington Historical Society. Images, history, names of those of Burlington and surrounding areas. This book was scanned in order to make it a searchable document
and was scanned at the lowest DPI possible. Please refer to the Burlington Historical Society to view the booklet or to inquire about purchase.

52849291

1835

1990

363 Burlington the First 150 Years 1835-1990.pdf

Linda Valentine Snippets

Linda Valentine Snippets

Copyright undetermined

text

eng

Wisconsin

History

Midwest

Pamphlets

Kenosha County, Wisconsin

Burlington, Wisconsin

PDF

Valentine
SNIPPETS of SALEM
363- Burlington 1835-1990
The First 150+ years
by
Burlington Historical Society
Contents:
Images, history, names of those of Burlington and surrounding areas.
This book was scanned in order to make it a searchable document
and was scanned at the lowest DPI possible. Please refer to the
Burlington Historical Society to view the booklet or to inquire about
purchase.

0- 150 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

The late Erwin L. Hess,
a cartoonist for the
Burlington Pictorial in
the 1960's, drew this
cartoon of a Saturday
night of typical home
activities in the 1890's.
The truth of the
cartoon is found in the
memoirs of Urban
Prash (1 894·1955),
son of a Burlington
druggist. He wrote,
"Our bathtub sat in a
comer of the huge
kitchen. On Fridays
and Saturdays, the
cover came off, the
copper boiler went on
the stove, the pump
and pail put to use, the
old wood·coa/ range
stoked up and then the
baths began. The
youngest first."

~~
f¢~

~

I
~r.

R~ .?..
YES, SA"fURDAY NIGH-rS
THESE DAYS BUZZ Win~
AClW r-rv,-roo .•... e u-r,
YEARS A60 SUS"f A60U"f
EVERV"IHING f ool< PLACE
IH ""!HE 0~0 1<1-rC:HION •••.

~-~'I~~

Cover Photo

,- J ~

A parade through downtown
Burlington at the tum of the century.
It is likely it was a July 4th parade,
noting all of the flags in the photo.
Note that all vehicles are horse·
drawn, not an automobile in sight,
on dirt streets. Also note that several
of the buildings in the photo are still
standing, but used for different
purposes. The center of the picture
looks up Milwaukee Ave. The street
laterally through the picture is
Chestnut St. The photo was taken
with an AI Vista camera which was
made in Burlington.

~-~
~~x;

~-~

~

~
·~

~~
~~~

MONDAY, 'T'UE50AV, WEDNESDAY, ·nwR5DAY ANO F'RIDAY WERE J"US'T' SO-SO,
COZY EV ENINGS IN 1).1E 6 1G,OLO KI'T'CHEN •• •8{/7; 5AT"t1ROAY }I//6Nr: ..
"fHA'T' WAS 'THE B USY N IGH-r 6EF'ORE 5UNDAY IN -rHE SAME OL' Kl"fCHEN .'

w~.; ~w~·;if;;, iwt_; 'f5¥ilfi~ ..x'f::W:"/Iil'l

':'ror:?.ku:w:.P.&-~ 1

·

R~ .?..

A BLIZZARD RAGING OU-r51DE" •• :fHf FARM HAND LOOKING OU"fOF THE
Kl fCHEN W l i-JDOW AND SAVING, '' i T'S 6 E1'1'11-.16 WORSE .YOU CI,-V FOLKS
WILL HAVE 1'0 SfAY HERE OVE.RNIGH"f :~.GRANDMA CONS,-ANTL¥ Pl!TTIN6
WOOD 11-.11'0 1'HE SfOV£ •. . HO-r e>RICKS IN 1HE OVE.N F-OR KEEPIN6 F£Ei'
WARM WHEN SLEEPING IN "THE BEDROOMS UPS-rAIRS •... AND ••....••

Erwin L. Hess cartoon
of the Good Old Days.

~~
a)~

_

~_...,

Preface

~~

This book is a labor of love from Glenn Hintz,
Jerome and James Hintz, publishers; Fran Meurer
and Don Reed, writers; Joyce Galloway, artist; and
Craig Middleton, photographer. It was edited,
produced and printed by Hi-Liter Graphics, Inc. All
receipts will go to an endowment fund for the
Burlington Historical Society.

~~

y~

..._~

~a

~~~

~2)A

Copyright© 1991 by the Burlington Historical Society,
Burlington, Wisconsin 53105

Printed by
Hi-Uter Graphics, Incorporated

Foreword
Burlington, Wisconsin- The First 150+ Years
For the Burlington Centennial observation in 1935, Francis Meurer,
with Augusta Zwiebel aiding in research, compiled a history which
has been used as source material for the first units of this book. In
this year of 1990, he has revised and enlarged that history. Don Reed,
then president of the Burlington Historical Society, has researched and
written the growth and development of the city for the period 1935
to 1990.
Material in the book comes from various documents in possession
of the Historical Society, from newspaper accounts and from the
memories of some long-time residents. It is not meant to be an official
historical record, merely a gathering of many of the incidents and
events that took place from the 1830's to 1990 which the authors
hope is informative, has some educational value and is entertaining.
City of Burlington Mayors, the Postmasters, and the church histories
and pastors were updated to 1990. Official census figures since 1900,
when Burlington became a city, were added. Histories of businesses
who submitted information were also included.

Presented by the Burlington Historical Society,
Glenn L. Hintz Family and
Hi·Uter Graphics, Inc.

Table of Contents
Chapter 1
The First Settlers and Before
1835-1840
Pages 1 to 12
Chapter 2
The Area Grows
1840-1850
Pages 13 to 20
Chapter 3
Around the Civil War
1850-1870
Pages 21 to 32
Chapter 4
Development of City
1870-1890
Pages 33 to 38
Chapter S
Industry and Utilities Grow
1890-1935
Pages 39 to 68
Chapter 6
Burlington Modernizes
1935-1990
Pages 69 to 84
Chapter7
Social Ufe Begins
Pages 85 to 94
ChapterS
Lakes Areas
Pages 95 to 98
Church Histories
Pages 99 to 110
Business Histories
Pages 111 to 120
Appendix
Pages 121 to 126
Bibliography
Page 127
Picture Pages
Pages 128 to 138
Index to People and Events
Pages 139 to 142
Index to mustrations
Pages 143 and 144

Chapter 1

The First Settlers and Before
1835-1840
Before telling the hist01y of Burlington proper,
some mention might be made of the Indians who
moved through this vicinity. Although Indian
mounds have been found about the city, there was
no village in Burlington. Several important trails,
however, passed through this section, leading to
Mukwonago which was an important Indian settlement. There was a small Potawatomi village somewhere in the Town of Burlington in 1830 and Big
Foot's village lay at the west end of Geneva Lake.
These are the only known permanent abodes of
Indians near here.
Of the various tribes of Indians which inhabited
the Northwest TerritOJy at the beginning of the 19th
century, we are interested only in the Fox, Sac and
Potawatomi tribes since the area that is now Burlington was a part of their domain.
The Fox and Sac owned the land bounded by
the Wisconsin River on the North, the Mississippi
River on the West, the Illinois River on the Southwest and the Fox River of Illinois on the East. This
they ceded to the United States in November 1804
but were not required to vacate the land until the
whites came to claim it. The land east of the Fox
River was held by the Potawatomi and other tribes.
Their claims were ended, but a treaty made at
Chicago in 1833 allowed them to retain possession
until1836.
In 1831, Solomon Juneau was monarch of all
he surveyed at the mouth of the Milwaukee River,
while at Chicago there was a population of but 200
to 300, living in primitive housing under the shelter
of Fort Dearborn. Scattered between these
settlements were a few widely separated farms,
managed in a crude, haphazard fashion. Squatters
were more numerous than homesteaders, and at
best very little attention was paid to metes and
bounds.
It was not until the Black Hawk War of 1832
that settlers seeking homesites began to come in
any number.
This war was not essential as a way of clearing
the paths of civilization. The frontier settlement need
not have crowded Black Hawk's village for some
years to come. What it did accomplish in the way
of territorial development, was to call national
attention, in a marked manner, to the attractions
and resources of an important section of the Northwest. The troops acted as explorers of large tracts,
nothing of which had hitherto been definitely known
among white men.

During and immediately following the war, newspapers of the eastern states were filled with
descriptions, more or Jess florid, of the scenic
charms of, and the possibilities for industries in
the Rock River valley, the groves and prairies on
every hand, and the park-like regions of the lakes.
Books and pamphlets were issued from the press
by the score, giving sketches of the war and
accounts of the newly discovered paradise. They
thoroughly advertised the area and at once attracted
tides of immigration.
One such pamphlet, titled "The Emigrant's
Handbook and Guide to Wisconsin" published in
Milwaukee, was widely circulated in England in the
mid 1850's.
It read in part: "The State of Wisconsin presents
to the Farmer a combination of advantages in
reference to its productions, which are scarcely to
be met with in any other country. The contrast is
very striking between the farm laborer in England
and the farm laborer in the States. It is well known
what miserable wages the farm laborer in England
receives, ten shilling sterling being the average,
whilst in Wisconsin there is not a single laborer
on a farm who will receive less than from six shillings
to a dollar per day, or twenty-four shillings sterling
per week; at the same time enjoying the advantages
of excellent schools for the education of their
children, gratuitously; the consequence is that the
farm laborers and their families are well fed, well
dressed, well educated."
The early settlers who came to the northwest,
were from two main sources - the nearer South
and New England. Those from the south were
chiefly hardy backwoodsmen who graduated from
the Pennsylvania, Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana
clearings and came west to better their fortunes,
or because neighbors were getting numerous. They
were poor, owning little more than their cabins,
the scanty clothing they wore, a few rough tools,
teams of scrub horses or yokes of oxen and some
barnyard stock They were for the most part, in
the prime of life, enterprising, bold, daring, skilled
sharpshooters a nd accustomed to exposure,
privations and danger.
Those from New England were chiefly farmers
whom the descriptions of clear, fertile prairies and
oak openings had led them to desert their rocky,
hillside farms, sons of mill owners who were seeking
water power sites for their own factories, and land
speculators in search of easy wealth.
1

It was not
until the
BlackHawk
warof1832
that setUers
seeking homesites began
to come in
any number.

New and Revised Map of

THE CITY OF BURLINGTON WISCONSIN
Published by THE F. A. SCHWALLER LAND CO. Burlington, Wis.

~.

PRICE $1.50

<.

\

~\

.\•.

l

_ , .....,

1 .... 'i',•:c:c_' ••

/

"

'···/

j

!\
" ~-·

'

'

•)

i
~ ~~""-~' ----

-

"
"

~·~~~
,

. . ....... '!11.,

I

L

I

<

~·~:·

L __ _

::.

~. .... 'llo

'('

<:. ~

ll-

Overlay on map of Burlington showing cabins and Smith and Peck claims.

2

Who the first actual settler of Burlington was,
is a question that has provoked much discussion.
Some with good reason, believe Lemuel Smith was
the first to arrive, others, with equally good reason,
declare his older brother, Moses, was the first. The
facts are these: Moses Smith and William Whiting
were the first men to stake out a claim upon the
present site of Burlington on December 15, 1835.
On this visit, they made a "jack-knife" claim; that
is, they carved their names and the date on trees
on the land at or near the Standard Press building,
140 Commerce Street. They then left and returned
on December 27 or 28 with Lemuel Smith and
Benjamin Perce.
These four men built a shanty in the little grove
near the river bend on the east side of the Fox
River, in what is now Wehmhoff-Jucker Park Then
they built a claim cabin on the east side of the
river on what is now Bushnell Park where Whiting
decided to locate his claim and spent three days
prospecting and surveying both sides of the river.
Moses located a site where he could obtain water
power for a mill. In May, he built a cabin at the
site of his "jack-knife" claim. Lemuel Smith and
Perce moved farther west. Perce claimed land where
Voree was to be built, Lemuel took up a claim on
the north bank of the White River on prairie land,
rich and level, where there were no troublesome
trees to deal with.
These statements are based on three references:
1. Lemuel Smith's letter to the Burlington
Standard of December 28, 1872, which stated: "Mr.
Editor, Thirty-seven years ago today, myself and
three others arrived at the east bank of the Fox
River, camping out the three succeeding nights in
a dense thicket where Mr. Jucker's house now
stands, weather cold but no snow. We, being the
first comers, no claim marks were to be found.
We spent three days in surveying and locating the
present mill power. Built a claim cabin on the east
side of the Fox River, made several claims, among
them, my farm on Gardner's Prairie. Believing that
I have established my claim as 'The Oldest
Inhabitant,' I remain, L. R. Smith."
2. Judge C. E. Dyer's address at a meeting of
the Old Settlers Society on February 22, 1871
stated: "About the 15th day of December, 1835,
Moses Smith and William Whiting made the first
mark at Burlington. Whiting claiming the east side
of the river, and Smith on the west side, near where
the Perkins' mill stood. They made what was called
a "jack-knife" claim, by putting names and dates
on a tree near where Muth's Brewery later stood,
(that brewery later was remodeled and operated
as the Malt House Theater by the Haylofters little
theater group), built a rude log hut on the present
farm of David Bushnell, spent three days prospect·
ing land, surveying on both sides of the river and
finally constructed a cabin on the west side."
3. The obituary of Moses Smith, written by James

Strang in the Gospel Herald of June 14, 1849,
stated, "in the fall of that year (1835), accompanied
by his brother-in-law, Benjamin Perce, he (Moses
Smith) explored the country on the Fox River and
marked his claim where the village of Burlington
was, it being the first claim on the Fox River."
The discrepancies between (1 ), Lemuel's failure
to mention who accompanied him, and Strang's
failure to mention Lemuel and Whiting may have
resulted from ill-feeling between the men involved
because Moses and Perce were members of the
Mormon church while Lemuel was not.
Moses and Lemuel Smith were descendants of
Samuel Smith, who came to Boston in 1714 from
England. Religious differences led him to leave
Boston and move to Hadsly, Massachusetts. Here
Aaron Smith, the father of Moses and Lemuel, was
born. At the time of the Revolutionary War, Aaron
fought under Washington and was with the army
at Valley Forge that awful winter.
After the war, the spirit of adventure led him to
the frontier of civilization in New York He lived there
for several years and raised a family. Moses, Aaron,
Jr. and Lemuel were born there. The familyfollowec;i
the frontier through Ohio to Wisconsin. In Ohio,
the Smith and Perce families were neighbors and
Moses married a sister of Benjamin. Moses and
Aaron, Jr. and Benjamin Perce were ardent
Mormons and had been since 1832.
As related before, Moses and Lemuel came to
Burlington in 1835. Their parents came in 1836,
probably during the later part of the year, and lived
the rest of their lives here. Aaron, Sr. died
September 23, 1838 and his wife Lydia, shortly
thereafter.
An interesting consequence of their burial might
be told here. At the time of their deaths, Moses
owned land in the area off Milwaukee Avenue and
3

Moses Smith's cabin.
Probably the first post
office. Still in existence
in the 1870's.

During the
summer of
1936, the
arrivals were
more
numerous.
They were
mosUy

"Yankees"
that came for
the most
part from
New England
byway of the
Great Lakes.

Amanda Street. He set aside an acre of ground
for their graves and surrounded it with a wooden
fence. During a later winter, this fence disappeared
up someone's chimney and as time went by, the
acre set aside was forgotten. This caused surveyors
much confusion later when the most careful surveys
would always show an exact one acre error. Finally,
of course, the cause was discovered but the exact
locatiqn of the missing piece of ground was never
found.
Spring brought more members to the incipient
community. Nathan Darling took up a claim for
Nelson R. Norton on what, until recently, was the
Edgewood Farm, at the intersection of Highway
11 and County Trunk W. Bostwick Beardsley is
mentioned as being here, but we have no more
about him. Palmer Gardner established a claim to
the West of Lemuel Smith's land and the vicinity
became known as Gardner's Prairie, and referred
to later as the John Wilson farm. In March, George
Bushnell located on the north shore of Brown's
Lake at the site of the future Hockings Resort. Later,
it became Liggett's Royal Palms, The Antlers, and
more recently, the Stepping Stone. Because of the
lack of excitement and his desire for better lands
and living conditions, he left a short time later, going
to Illinois. In May, James Nelson arrived and built
a cabin and blacksmith shop near the south end
of the Beineman Road bridge on West Chestnut
Street.
During the summer of 1836, the arrivals were
more numerous and you will notice from their
names, they were mainly 'Yankees." They came,
for the most part, from New England by way of
the Great Lakes.
Benjamin Perce moved back to "town" in June
and built a log building for a store (but did not
use it as such) on the site of the Burlington Feed
Company just west of Moses Smith's cabin. Silas
Peck arrived with his family and put up a cabin
adjoining Perce's building. Jared and Charles Fox
arrived. Charles was just 15 years old.
In August, Origen Perkins came to the settlement, made his claims and built a log cabin near
the ball park. He then returned to his house in Joliet,
Illinois for the winter. In the spring, he returned
to his claim. Shortly thereafter, Dr. Edward G. Dyer,
Origen's brother-in-law, arrived at the cabin to help
in the claim development.
In a story of his life, Dr. Dyer recalled: "J arrived
in Foxville about sundown. In (Origen's) rough
shanty, about 10 x 12 feet, made of logs and
pucheons split out of logs as substitutes for boards,
I met the following persons, Origen Perkins and
his hired man, Fletcher Lyon and his wife and small
child, a Miss Barnes, a niece, and a young man
named Mallony, seven persons in all. I made the
eighth.
"There was no chimney, except a hole for smoke,
which most of the time refused to go up through
4

it. The fire was in one comer on the ground, with
a flat stone for a chimney back. There I stayed
about five weeks, getting myself smoked up like
all the rest till we resembled Indians."
The year 1836 was a wild time of land spec·
ulation. Speculators ranged widely, looking for
cheap land to become possible village sites, divided
into lots to be sold at great profits. Claim jumping
was frequent.
Land claims could be made and land claims
could be sold, but no ownership of land could be
definite until that land was bought at the Milwaukee
Land Sales Office which was opened in 1839. In
the three years between Smith's and Whiting's
claims, in December 1835, and the sales at the
land office in January 1839, conflicts could arise.
One such conflict involved Enoch Woodbridge and
David Bushnell.
In July 1836, David Bushnell bought William
Whiting's claim to an area of land east of the Fox
River, known later as the "Canada" section of Burlington. While Bushnell was in the East to get his
family, Woodbridge built a log cabin on the land,
jumping Bushnell's claim. David did not fight it,
but let his claim go and settled a bit farther south
on the land later named Bushnell Park
Another conflict involved Woodbridge and Silas
Peck Daniel Rork, coming to the area in July 1836,
claimed land between Moses Smith's claim and
the west bank of the Fox River. Roughly, this would
be the area from the White River near the dam,
south to the Lincoln monument and east to the
Fox River. In December 1836, Silas Peck bought
Rork's claim to this area for $200. How Woodbridge
managed it, we do not know, but Peck signed an
agreement obligating himself to buy the land at
the forthcoming land sales in Milwaukee and turn
over to Woodbridge 9/16ths of the land or forfeit
the sum of $10,000. Peck fulfilled his obligation
to Woodbridge, but this was not the end of Peck's
dealings in Burlington.
Ownership of land could not yet be recorded
because the land had not been surveyed and put
upon the market But a man could claim up to
a quarter section of land, live on the lot thirty days,
cut so many rails, plow so many furrows to entitle
him to that claim. Since government lines had not
yet been established, it often happened that two
men would locate on the same quarter section or,
on occasion, one man would attempt to take
forcibly a claim already improved and settled upon
by another. Since all the settlers were, in fact,
trespassers, the law of the land could not settle
these conflicting claims. As a consequence, a mass
meeting was held at Racine on June 6, 1838 to
organize the Settlers Claim Society. A constitution
was adopted to settle disputes and protect
legitimate claims.
It provided that if a man claimed one quarter
section, he must improve and cultivate at least three

acres within six months from the time of entering
his claim and within one year, build a house suitable for a family, or, instead of building a house,
cultivate three acres more on his claim. If his claim
was situated in woodland, he must clear off the
down timber and brush and all trees two inches
in diameter and under, and enclose the requisite
quantity of land with a good fence. If his claim
laid on a prairie, he must enclose the proper
quantity with a good fence and plough and put
in a crop or plant in part and make hay in part.
The Society acted against claim jumpers. On one
occasion, they engaged in a skirmish that was long
remembered as the "Battle of Burlington." A dozen
hardy pioneers took part in the fight but no one
was seriously wounded. Timothy Woodbridge
menaced John Bullen with an axe. William Curtis
tried to kill Silas Peck, but firing blindly, shot
Norman Dyer in the leg. Mer the shooting, Curtis
fled to Illinois, where he was captured and held
for trial at Springfield. His trial was postponed as
he gave straw bail, and was never heard from again.
Enoch Woodbridge proceeded to solidify his hold
on the land he acquired from Silas Peck he
engaged E. D. Putnam of Southport (Kenosha) to
supervise the surveying and laying out of lots.
Previous to 1836, a road was staked out from Racine
to the forks of the rivers, but there had been none
from Southport. On one of his trips to the Woodbridge job, Putnam loaded a wagon with stakes
and with a horse and compass, he staked out a
road on a straight line from Southport. (State Highway 142 from Burlington to Kenosha generally
follows Putnam's route.) Putnam also at this time
built a log house nineteen feet square, east of one
Woodbridge built and filled that space between with
framework This made quite a commodious house
for the time and, besides serving Putnam as living
quarters, was used by him as a trading shop. He
lived there until 1838 when he returned to Marshfield, Vermont.
In a letter dated April 13, 1885, sent to the
"Standard," Putnam gave his own account of the
surveying and naming of Woodbridge's village.
"J commenced the work of laying out the quarter
section into village lots. I hired Elder Jason Lothrop
of Kenosha as surveyor and Orson V. Thropp,
Snooh and a young man by the name of Jacquith,
to assist. We laid out the whole quarter section
into lots 5 by 6 rods, I think, and a neat map of
the place was made by Mr. Lothrop after which
the proprietors were notified that the work was done.
The proprietors, among whom were Charles
Durkee, Dr. Walker, Samuel Ressique, Eldridge A.
Ayers, E. R. Huginin (Author's Note: Ressique

and Huginin had been involved in claim
jumping skirmishes in the Kenosha area.) and
others from Kenosha to the number of about 20
came out to see the place and name it. They
brought with them M.G. Tobey and wife, who kept

a hotel in Kenosha, to cater for the company. They
brought with them all the good things to eat that
could be obtained in Kenosha, and with some fine
prairie chicken, which the boys shot, and some
fish caught from the river, Mr. Tobey got up a dinner
that would do honor to any hotel. I had cleaned
out the chips and shavings from the house, built
a table which was loaded down with eatables, and
a company of 25 sat down to the best dinner
probably ever got up in that part of the country.
Mer dinner was over, the subject of naming the
town was discussed and a name proposed. Now
Mr. Woodbridge (chairman) said that inasmuch as
I had done all that had been done there, I ought
to have the honor of naming the place. Mr. Woodbridge's proposition was adopted by unanimous
vote. I was taken wholly by surprise, as I had not
even thought of a name, but after a moment's
thought, Isaid that the State of Vermont, from which
I came, had one town celebrated above all others
for the beauty of its location and scenery. I would
propose the name of the town - Burlington as the name for this new town. The question was
then put, 'Shall this town be called Burlington as
proposed?' It was decided in the affirmative by a
unanimous vote and three rousing cheers were
given for Burlington."
The "neat map" was never recorded, Woodbridge's interest in the land passed on to Samuel
Ressique, Burnam Webster and E. R. Huginin. The
name of the post office remained F oxville until1839
and Mr. Woodbridge fades away from our history.
Previous to this time, the settlement around the
junction of the Fox and White Rivers was called
"Lower Forks" and the area around the junction
of the White River and Honey Creek was called
"Upper Forks."
Mail was taken once a week from Racine to
Mineral Point. Moses Smith, postmaster in 1837,
distributed the Foxville mail from his log cabin.
One can easily imagine how eagerly this service
was welcomed by men so out of contact with their
people "back east." Once in the early days, David
Bushnell received news that a letter from relatives
in Oneida County, New York, had arrived for him.
However, there was a postage of 25 cents due and
with no money in the house, young David, it was
said, immediately went out to get a job and earned
the quarter so he might have the news which the
letter contained. We wonder whether Moses Smith
was postmaster at that time.
Uving conditions during those early years were
far from easy. The winter was bitter cold and
because of the deceptive clarity of the atmosphere,
many a nose was nipped before the men realized
the severity of the cold. Just keeping warm was
difficult. If a cabin had a fireplace that held a good
fire, the air to feed it would come drafting from
chinks around doors and windows.
It was not easy to get an adequate food supply.
5

"From
Vennont,
from which I
came, there
was one
town
celebrated
above all
othel5for
the beauty of
its location. I
would
propose the
nameofthe
townBurlington."
E.D. Putnam

Game was abundant ~ you had the powder and
shot, traps or snares to get it. Prairie wolves roamed
the area. Deer were numerous.ln the winter of 1839,
a hundred and five of them by actual count, forded
the Fox River near David Bushnell's claim.
Squirrels were everywhere. There were wild turkeys.
On frosty, fall mornings, sandhill cranes gathered
in great numbers, preparing to fly to southern
wintering grounds. But staples like flour, salt, and
lard were scarce and high in price. Provisions were
shipped from New York and Michigan through the
lakes in schooners and landed at different Lake
Michigan ports. Merchandise would be brought
from Chicago. Long, slow journeys did not improve
the quality of shipments and some Eastern
merchants were suspected of sending only
provisions that could not be sold at home.
One man of small means and a large family it
was said, bought a barrel of flour in Racine for
$18. He found that a six inch depth of flour had
already been taken out and the rest was dry and
musty. Even after it had been pounded and sifted
before use, the flour made the people ill. Another
account relates how Messrs. Strong and lves of
Racine sent to Chicago for two barrels of pork and
when opened they were found to contain nothing
but brine and pig tails with a section of backbone
upon which was a pound or so of meat.
Prices were high and kept up until the fall of
1837 when crops were harvested. Flour at Southport (Kenosha) was $15 a barrel, pork $25 a barrel,
butter 50 cents a pound, cheese and ham 15 to
30 cents a pound. One must remember that this
was at a time when good pay for a man was $1.50
to $2.00 a day.
Merchant William Meadows exchanged onequarter pound of $1,50 a pound tea for a half cord
of wood that took four men and one axe all day
to cut. To these prices E. D. Putnam, at his trading
shop, would have to add the one dollar per hundred
pounds cost to bring his goods by freight wagon
from Southport.

_/

Palmer Gardner
returning home with
live coals in a leather
bucket to relight his
home fire. Coals
burned through the
bucket which meant a
long, cold return for

;/JJtv

more.

6

In the spring of 1837, Putnam bought seed
potatoes at $1.25 a bushel from Thomas J. Eayers
and Rowland Cook, who had towed a boat load
up the Fox River from Illinois. He planted them
on a small island in the Fox River a little below
the mouth of the White River. Indians had cultivated
the island. Everything went well until almost harvest
time when one day he found about a dozen hogs
on the island. They had harvested the entire crop
and left him nothing but tops.
Those hogs were part of a drove of 300 hogs
bought in Joliet, Illinois, by Ephriam Perkins and
driven up. He let them run on the prairie and in
the oak openings and pick up their own living.
Matches too, we take quite for granted now, but
at the time, the lack of them meant endless trouble.
Moses Smith, one wild, windy night, welcomed
into his farm cabin Gardner and Salisbury, who
had walked over from Gardner's Prairie to borrow
coals. Salisbury, having fallen into the icy river,
remained at Smith's to dry his clothing and Gardner started homeward with a pail of glowing coals.
On his way homeward, he thought the pail seemed .
light. The bottom of the bucket, which had been
made of leather, had been burned through and
the coals were gone. He returned, borrowed more
coals in an iron kettle and succeeded in reaching
home with them, and a good comfortable fire
greeted Salisbury upon his return home.
So far, most of the settlers mentioned, had come
to a land which, although a part of the United States,
was still an ungoverened wilderness. On April 20,
1836, however, by an act of Congress, the
Wisconsin Territory was established. This land
included the area which formed the states of
Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota and much of North and
South Dakota. Counties were defined.
Milwaukee County, at that time, included the
present Racine, Kenosha, Rock, Jefferson, Waukesha, Walworth and Milwaukee counties and portions
of Green, Dane, Washington, Ozaukee, Dodge and
Columbia counties. Racine County was separated
from the rest on December 7, 1836. At this time,
it included Kenosha County.
The years 1837 to 1839 were the years of the
real beginning of civic life in our community. The
first officers for the newly established Racine County
were formally chosen on April4, 1837 and, included
from this vicinity, were Lemuel Smith, assessor;
Benjamin Perce, school commissioner; and Silas
Peck, constable. Our settlement became Foxville
officially when a post office was created on March
21, 1837 with Moses Smith as postmaster.
The next political division occurred on January
2, 1838 when Rochester township, including all of
Racine County west of Mt. Pleasant, was established.
On March 9, 1839, Burlington township,
including what is the Town of Dover and much
of Brighton, was separated from Rochester. For

the precinct of Foxville, the voting place was the
house of Rue! Nims. Election judges were Origen
Perkins, Silas Peck, Stephen Bushnell. Origen
Perkins was the Justice of Peace.
(Author's Note: Charles E. Dyer in his "Old
Settler's Society" address writes: "On one
occasion, a man called on Mr. Peridns for a
warrant with which to make a complaint. He
found Peridns digging a ditch. The complaint
must be made then and there, but the justice
had neither paper, pen or ink. Perhaps Mr.
Peridns did not deem the offense a very grave
one, but in the emergency of the case, he
pulled off one of his boots, took from his
pocket a piece of chalk, wrote the complainants statement on the boot leg, made him hold
up his hand and swear to it, and then told
him he would issue a warrant as soon as he
went to the house.)
Unfortunately, we have no record of the
interesting discussions that must have taken place
at the town meeting when those early townsmen
visualized the growth of their small village into a
large manufacturing city.
With such dreams before them, Moses Smith
and Samuel C. Vaughn began the development
of millsites. They began construction of a dam and
an "up and down" sawmill. Dams then were made
of rocks and logs and were threatened every spring
by high water.
The sawmill is said to have been the first frame
building in the village. The dam and mill were only
partially completed when Vaughn and Smith dis·

solved partnership and Vaughn moved to Spring
Prairie, on Sugar Creek, and erected a sawmill there.
In April or May of 1837, Pliny Perkins and his
father, Ephriam, moved to town from Joliet, Illinois,
and purchased the unfinished dam and mill.
(Author's Note: The Peridns family dates its
history back to the days of the Pilgrim Fathers
in the 17th century and the coat of anns is
still in the family.)
The dam and sawmill were soon completed. They
also built a small, frame, grist mill, known as a

Justice of the Peace
Origen Perkins, too
busy to make out a
legal warrant, chalked
the complaint on his
boot and had the
complainant swear
to it.

Working drawing of an
up and down sawmill,
such as built by Moses
Smith.

't

7

three-run mill, two for wheat flour and one for
grinding corn for feed. That mill probably ground
the first crop of grain harvested in the township,
that grown by Moses Smith in the summer of 1837
in a plot of ground where the Soo Line depot stood.
Also in it was ground the first flour shipped from
Wisconsin to New York The flour was hauled to
Kenosha by oxen for shipment to New York and
European countries. Milwaukee, Raci ne and
Kenosha all depended upon Burlington for their
flour supply.
The wagons used to haul grain were most
cumbersome vehicles. They had wheels of solid
wood with holes bored through the center for the
axles. The floors consisted of rough wood slabs.
Grist was also hauled on stone boats, usually simply
a crotch of a tree with slabs of wood lain across
and held down by pegs. To this was harnessed
a yoke of two oxen. Drivers were clad in blue shirts
and a pair of pants reaching halfway to the ankles,
and a straw hat, minus the brim. They were armed
with a ten or twelve whipstock having a lash
of equal length attached. The man who owned a
wagon was quite a figure in the community and
was always willing to oblige his neighbors by letting
out the wagon for trips to Racine or Kenosha at
25 cents a day, 50 cents for the two days round
trip.

The wagons
used to haul
grain were
most

cumbersome
vehicles.
They had

wheels of
solid wood
with holes
bored
through the
center for
the axles.

Pliny Perkins also had a general stock of
merchandise in the log house Benjamin Perce had
built for a store and continued business there for
about a year. Game was plentiful around the village
and a large part of his trade was in powder, lead
and shot, taking in exhange muskrat and other
skins.
Following the establishment of sawmills and grist
mills, other businesses would be started, catering
to farmers hauling in grain and hauling out sawn
boards. Henry Edmunds opened the first blacksmith shop in 1838. In 1840, John W. Edmunds
settled in town and became its first wagon maker.
Lewis Royce arrived on September 1, 1837, and
soon afterward started a lime kiln to supply the
plaster for chinking logs in those first log cabins.
During his first year, he burned 300 bushels of
lime. Royce was a lawyer but found his lime kiln
more rewarding than practicing his profession. His
house stood west of where the St. Paul Railroad
Depot was later built. Squire Royce, as he was called,
made out all the legal papers of the town, and no
one could read them after they were written. Once
the postmaster showed him a letter he had
previously mailed and asked him to read the
address. Royce asked, "What damned fool wrote
that?"
(Author's Note: A friend wrote of him, "Lewis
Royce was a legal 'dryasdust.' If a person
consulted him on some modem, everyday
question of contract or trespass or mill-dam
rights or any other question, he took you back
8

to the Pundents; brought you down to Coke
on Littleton, then Blackstone; then Lord Hardwicke and finally the Supreme Court of
Vennont, so th-.t at the end of the interview,
a person felt like a man who had lived in the
middle ages and had gone through the
process of evolution that would be new even
to Darwin. He was a lawyer of great learning,
lacking the practical appHcation of his learning
to professional work. He was a legal antiquary
and if we could imagine such a thing as a law
museum, wherein there might be exhibited
personified curiosities of the law, our good
friend would be entitled to a first place among
the most antique specimens.'')

During the first few years of any community's
life, a man's house was not his castle but a tavern
where every wayfarer could expect lodging. The
first established public house for travelers was
opened by Rue! Nims 1837. He brought his family
on January 10, 1837, took over the unfinished cabin
Woodbridge had started. It was a building with a
mud and sticks chimney and a shock roof which
did not completely cover the building, an Indian
blanket being spread over the remaining aperture.
The floor was dirt except one portion which had
been covered with shocks. He kept it only a short
time, however, selling in that year to Stephen Bushnell, a brother of David and George, who continued
in the hotel business.
Bushnell soon had a competitor. In 1839, Pliny
Perkins and Hugh McLaughlin built a frame
structure at the southeast comer of Chestnut Street
and Milwaukee Avenue. The west half of the building
was used for a store and the rest for a hotel which
was for several years kept by McLaughlin. The
completion of the building at the end of the year
was signalized by a grand New Year's Eve baiL
(Author's Note: In later years, the site would
be occupied by the Jones House and the
Badger Hotel.)
During the summer and fall of 1837, the county,
realizing that the development of this region
depended upon opening up of roads, a system of
road surveys was begun. In June, pathmasters were
elected to supervise the care and maintenance of
county roads and Origen Perkins was assigned ·
Town 3, Range 19. The townsmen of Foxville
cooperated in this effort by building a bridge across
the Fox River - the first bridge to span the Fox.
It crossed the river at the foot of Jefferson Street
During the late 1830's, settlers came in great
numbers. Origen Perkins settled here permanently
in 1837, bringing his family to the log house he
had built the year before. Not satisfied with these
accommodations, he soon built a new house near
where the Lincoln monument would be erected.
(Author's Note: The ship monument on the
McCarthy-Koenig Funeral Home property
marks what Origen's son, Frederick, claimed

...

was the site of the first frame house in Burlington.)

In 1837, Daniel and Peter Campbell came to the
area, settling in Gardner's Prairie. They are
mentioned because at the first prayer meeting held
in the vicinity of the Daniel's house on May 27
of that year, Lemuel Smith met Daniel's daughter,
Melissa. It was an immediate romance, but because
Melissa was only 12 then, they waited four years
before they were married.
In 1838, Uberty Fiske, a friend of David Bushnell
arrived. Nelson R. Norton settled on his claim made
by Darling two years before and built a frame house
with lumber brought from Chicago. In Chicago,
Norton had built the first bridge across the Chicago
River.
Ephriam Sawyer came on May 14, 1838, and
made a claim to the land about three miles south
of Highway 83. At the land sales later, he bought
275 acres. He was rather prosperous for a pioneer
and on October 15, 1840, he brought his young
bride, Gustava Cornelia Harrington, to his cabin
which was well stocked with provisions and many
luxuries - real bone handles knives and forks, really
white earthenware dishes for their table, and soft
woolen blankets for their bed. At least it was to
have been so stocked, but it happened that while
Ephriam was away on the important business of
getting married, he was entertaining uninvited
guests at home. A straggling band of Indians
stopped at the lonely cabin, found things to their
liking, and left behind them only those things for
which they had no use. Thus it was a very dirty,

The first Burlington
hotel after it was
moved from the comer
of Chestnut Street and
Geneva Street
(Milwaukee Avenue) to
make way for the
Jones House. It was
then used as a
rooming house.

disorderly cabin to which the bride came. Gustava's
dowry, consisting of a used iron pot and a feather
bed, was very welcome. In 1914, a house was built
on this property made of Milwaukee (Cream City)
brick.
Richard Brown, Thomas Toombs, George
Bachellor and L. 0. Whitman came in 1839. Clark
Norton joined his brother and together they claimed
land on both sides of the road and the shore land
of Norton's Lake, officially called Rockland Lake.
Clark resided in the area of what has become
known as the Uhen farm, while his brother had
his cabin on the Edgewood Farm, at Highway 11
and County Trunk W.

9

The wooden bridge,
the first across the Fox
River at Jefferson
Street, built in 1837.
Picture taken from
atop Muth's Brewel}'.

The first building for
school purposes, on a
Jot deeded by Silas
Peck to School District
No. 1. The Burlington
Historical Society
rescued, moved and
restored this building
in 1986.

Dr. Edward G. Dyer, the first physician to come,
brought his family on the 20th of June 1839.
A noteworthy "first" celebration was the marriage
of Miss AJvira Hayes and William McLaughlin early
in 1837. The guests at the wedding breakfast ate,
among other things, a wedding cake, the shortening
for which was the fat rendered from a string of
Red Horse fish furnished by the groom. The young
couple's happiness was short Jived, however, for
only a year after marriage, Mrs. McLaughlin died
during an epidemic of congestive fever and was
buried west of the village near the Racine-Walworth
county line. This is believed to be the first death
to occur in the community.
There is some controversy regarding the first
birth. To Mr. and Mrs. George Newman, a son is
said to have been born in June 1837. However,
Charles Loomis, born in the fall of 1838, is generally
credited with this distinction.
New Englanders were noted for their keen
appreciation of the importance of education and
the transplanted New Englanders were no exception. Less than three years after the first settlers
arrived, a school was started. In 1838, Lawyer Royce
engaged Miss Sarah Bacon to teach a small group
of pupils in a sixteen foot square log cabin on a
plot of land across the street from the mill site.
Origen Perkin's son, Frederick; Ruel Nim's son,
Franklin; Melissa Campbell (who later became Mrs.
Lemuel Smith) were three of her pupils. Miss Bacon
must have held a summer session, for in the fall,
William Penn Lyon was hired to teach six pupils
during the following winter.
10

Perhaps because the log cabin was too
uncomfortable in winter or because there were
more pupils, the next school session was held in
a building across the millpond. A Mrs. Clark, sister
of Charles J. Jones, aunt of Charles A. Jones, taught
that sesson.
Education advanced in 1839 when Silas Peck
deeded to School District #1, lot five in the block
bounded by Pine, Jefferson, Dodge and Madison
streets for a consideration of $20. In the next year
a fine, new, one-room, 22 by 28 foot brick school
house was built. For fifteen years, it was Foxville's
uncertain seat of learning. Those early sessions
could be quite irregular. Village youngsters might
be faithful in attendance, but country children could
be needed for field work in the fall and spring. In
winter, weather could cut attendance. Teachers
were faced with the scarcity of books and supplies.
Lorenzo Eastman, Amos Eastman, Aniplias
Chamberlain, Mrs. Beveridge, Charles Jones (who,
in 1860, was the proprietor of the Jones House
Hotel) and William Penn Lyons (who became
Justice of the Supreme Court of Wisconsin) were
some of the early teachers.
Harriet Dyer Norton wrote: " This schoolhouse
was simply planned and constructed and tradition
records the discomforts of the long hard benches,
from which dangled innocent, short legs, of
smoking stoves, aching fingers, frozen dinner pails
and discipline as tough as the hickory switch which
embodied authority. Mr. Lyon read law and taught
school simultaneously and was known to his pupils
as an earnest, kind, faithful teacher whose Quaker

dj-

'l'OWXI•IJ' .... .j

1

'/7r.~i-/
?!<A ~-fo
$_.i ~'I
<;?'~~~

vH/f1:

.J

oJ/

~

-

-- j -~
.....

-

</{7r./-/d<I,J, I

c/..~
.Ai:U
,..

-~

J

4s 5f-lt ..

II'Ji

1--

V>r.r--r E-

~7r.t</J--/

If

,,.~,,_

.#,..

(1 4

I .

/)'

(d

, ...

G.jl>. /.6"'
~;i . .9'&;<.
vl'li,i. .;'.m;:,
p'.;~, . .1../;.

I

· 1
-1.11 I

n j
7' / U I

At

I

4r

I.I
o/'H'j. .t.tj. .r&f,<'>.tJ..,,. \s
JJ

"'
', I"''
~,

..,,

J

/9

.h?j

...._

efr/... ttkv ./d.. t!l*""""-

0~

llitu

I ~~,.

'''"

I

I

i

ltt>W
-- -- ioh
M""

.,;,..L Jf'c.l-.

- ·)-..':'::.

.!HC!/t-

I

I

;

--

.1~

TO 11F110M PJ.TPTJD,.

~,L .#J....

l f.&d...J<;/J~,{ /"" p>h
'lfMM f;//Jf ~No

~C II

I "'
~

/A,

/(II

/.lfJO

"'-·' 1· 11?J 9

~. ,.

i

t"' • I

,,

.t;•

..y,.

. I

J'

~'4;,.£- ~

/ I.Jf,U.{,•.d~

~·~r /~4.. .v..£-

. , ;,

7 " ..·.. c.

••

....

j

f ·

•

. '

If

. ""'""'

. .

'
l

t, ..,
~I ff

. .' I•I

Jr
J /J

..

./T

1

·:.. 11" ·""'
..
h

.

. , ;r.

.

.

.,

/on

.

. !!

/rl

.

.,.,
.. ,..

1
..

~. ~ .

. d ~A4-~4·""'-t-,
~~ if<>4
lt-.a- IP7 .

.1~.£..6 £._:.,.,(-.~

~<'h / /t, u

/

/q(/

/

/.Ut

-1/ ,0J

¢: /l.rJ 1./'1,?,

,r...
• \ '4 •

-k/ 1£u-.,......, _/.
.. ... *~·

,, /l.{t. , .._ __ • ' •

~./4

1 ~J-

f-...,

-~~

. i-t~.-9' 4. ."

1 -7 ' ..?J I/(.
/ } . /i+ ~

/1"4[

~ ::IT:

~-~Jj.t
J.2~ 1:

.Jz.7'
/.I~I

"-'"" ,,h 11""' .?r ..r_ •.1.. .,.~_jhl.C..L.
« ;V.J.i>//qt ~,q
2 J NJT

~...,t: /~ .

J'TJ't

/l<fl.l

~ ;r !Tu3

/oPA..t /h,

J

/£ ~31~

/tip,

tZ.;~".r N#.r / h /J

. "· .

..¥~ ~..v

...

.D-.- viU ~
.

parentage and training led to justice tempered with
mercy to which a trembling culprit seldom appealed
in vain."
The most exciting event of all this period, was
the land sale held in Milwaukee in 1839. It is said,
the City of Racine was practically deserted, and
undoubtedly, the same was true of Burlington. Men
were eager to purchase land and clear their titles
or to supervise the actions of the men who were
representing groups of purchasers.
One man was selected from each township to
bid off the lands for all at $1.25 per acre, the
minimum government price. He had a list, with
descriptions, etc., and when a tract was called by
the registrars, he would answer, "Settler, a dollar
and a quarter." "Gone," would be the response
of the registrars.
The room was crowded to suffocation and when
a speculator undertook to bid on a settler's home,
he was lifted above the heads of the crowd and
man-handled into the street, after which he was
very glad to make himself scarce.
Silas Peck cleared his title to the claim he bought

/#,..

/ 14 / f /.(.~

(!;: I

J... .{J._

~,_...~..

J Ar~ ~ ~J

~~..-.
~ .h
'r . 1~-u
• ,; .z.IJJI

L...~ -<'J._,4 ~.h•.;.t'dt;;f;r'
'

c./,.... ...__

eJA....Y .r //v•

Jr'Jt::
'
-. ,/u .J

-«- Yt{;;._,

d~ ... l

f .Z.J f·V
/by .foh _:,;,,_ ~~

17Ce F, / (J ""L
,/Sn..

L~

{.-, , .• •-' _.//,.-,/..

;n<?-o
»<>

k......t J J.

.112 ,If,.• ~~'-'·,_
, '"; ' ••
( rh~

;r;
o/YJ

~

z,.,... .1~ 1 ,,

4 .-...... ,;J,_.J./{;
If ~

.u

/~· -

,. .,.. • ~" l!lt ~
( }..... . ..-. . ,..;, •

-

·

,a_,.

' ' " ·· . ''"

.

.

....cA r

r• ~A'dd,(,.a:,-4:-,4 ,"'/

I'

y./,

~.....l'"//'1:~

4.----< /-~

,., 11

..

uJe -.! /C:. "'l ·''

~ ,A./.,J

-

I

I JU

.I"P

,,

~,(41/,/JJj- 7''

~t" '"~ .&:..~

/"1"" '!&~

~- .

#
I

hli.

. r &., .A""&;,
'/"•· v?>~

/u

- ' /<

/j' l(,' l" /IZr i
/f

.;si

,-J./ • ~

J~

/_7

• fl'(., ./<!'~

/Fr

' "'

j

~

" "o~•j,
' • .,1{0
""'!.~'

·

J

A»-J. JTr!.
,/Jfj. -1E.i
.4'tfi..

~I

/ii i .Z~ ~ / .u- ~

1.1

... ~,.. . Jlf'~

.{, }.. .f,
.6-1-J,./

I

Jq

"

la,1,•

t;, _,,..

---

...,..,,......

Jf•••.r

- - ~~I?

I

II ' - -

~hr-~~

jJr

F~ ,;, rru

~.......<..~./~
~

&....., ~. ,e:..

1,

.I<>
Jr,~

Jl!

«-A'~
~

~...¥...N....

t r

/~;-;. . ,'Ofi

' , j',d< ~

'i

19

-

..u l

JrJ'. /1'.1

./..+ ...,., , J

-

,

-

~=

-n~

I~

' JI I u

-1 n7.

1/.,~,hfi

6

:..I ~~·

¥P6~

/7S,i.d'~

~ ~

lb.

/~

IPtJ
/c?if

OF TBE ,.CILUD.

.A"~
Y:::iPf
~rU/?a-.

/'.J Jr

J

- -

"?17'

vf..ux'~~/r"'-/~ JJ I ·'

t;:;{t'.:; .. _.,.. ·.:
.. Jtl/; . . ...?"~

--

rr ---::

I? I //,l u '
j.,<l
I
/.I/

../..IJ!J.~ IJJ H~J

Y~/.

/.J

.:._

-.n

.n<f'aiO'r OP~a,Jt,.o.-.

........
......
.......... ............... , ,:..,

( ~t.~• pe•-'-TP-~ ~~"''

c--

DaclJnloN or TM.I nuCT.

·---------.-.__
- .---,"_
............
-+~--,..-_ ,--~- -~<1

a&•o• .... ,..,.

//'Jo,

F.,., J r.
'f'-'7/
~ ~ lf. /fJJ Jrr7

V~tt"'; 'P

of Rork and had it surveyed and platted by A. W.
Doolittle. The Fox River was, at that time, a navig·
able stream and was not included in the sale. It
is still government property. Peck generously
donated a square of his land, which would be
bounded by Pine Street, Washington Street, Dodge
Street and Jefferson Street to the city for a park,
but the gift was neglected and some time later a
petition was made by W. P. Lyon, H. A. Sheldon,
Orson Sheldon and E. G. Dyer to the town to vacate
Peck's park site because the neglect by the town
was making it a nuisance to surrounding property.
The land reverted to Mr. Peck.
An interesting story comes down to us regarding
street locations. Silas Peck and Pliny Perkins
recorded their street surveys at the county clerk's
office on the same day. Peck's survey was a
complete street map of his quarter section: Perkins'
detailed only two small areas of his quarter section
adjoining Peck's. It seems they agreed on the
extensions of Jefferson Street and Washington
Street into each other's property but disagreeed
about Chestnut Street The direction Perkins
11

Excerpt from the 1839
land sale at the
Milwaukee land office,
showing the quarter
sections bought by
Silas Peck and Moses
Smith on which
Burlington now stands.
(Note entries
bracketed.)

'"'""' I:J.-A ~ \:k '"- --~ -~-·.....A· ~ .,1 ,)V,.,.
~ •~-;~- -U.~••_•..... .....L.., '._ \-~·

y.....,.
1

cc

~~~ ''~ }.1...._ I ~~- l• - \,~_.1 ·'-~
l _,..__..\ t~ \..., --.A.J. \l.... ..! - "' ~ ~ ~ ..~..._ • •<\
..._... ~ t~ •• ~ ~ !. ;-). . l .,... ~
c;..tJ~k ~ - -~h ··- -1'-..

IITID~DIIJ ,qm~
I

%~

. ~ l'.i.~·· ·
'' 1 ,

'>.}i

'

UftJ

;ITiq'~ DTIJ~DTIJ
LliiJ OIL [C]_JLWJ ~LLJJ.LUlJ [[[JJJIIIJ
- .---.---.--.

~/

4- ••

~~ -I •. ~

,:::

I

.A

I

1

1:

ST1\E.S'T

i1 I

1

I

:a.

...

I .t!ri-;;•ri:C::c'T'f';",rl~.I

,.·t.L,J.1 0.. Y\'

Original plats, recorded
in 1839. Peck's, on the
right. completely
platted. On the left, the
partial platting of the
land purchased by
Pliny Perkins from
Moses Smith.

intended to project it did not suit Peck, so, the story
goes, Peck put up a stone building at 164 Chestnut
Street to prevent the extension and thus caused
the distinctive Chestnut Street bend.
From an examination of the map, a simpler
explanation seems likely. North-South streets on
Peck's plan ran parallel with the Fox River. Perkins

Three unidentified
women fishing on the
"Mill Pond."

12

planned to have his main East-West streets parallel
to the White River. The point where the two portions
of Chestnut Street meet was probably a compromise and set for all time, the bend in Chestnut Street.
Pliny Perkins' father, Ephriam, was concerned
about another road plan. When the Spring Prairie
Road, Highway 11, was laid out, the supervisors
favored its running directly into town over the steep
hill on Ephriam's land, contending it was shorter
than running around the base of the hill. Perkins
was strongly opposed to this plan cutting into his
property and carried the point by saying, "1 do not
find the bale of a kettle measures any more lying
down than standing up." So Chestnut Street goes
west around the base of the hill.
Another interesting note about our streets. None
of them in the original quarter sections south of
the rivers run true north and south. Only when the
village extended beyond Liberty Street (State
Street), were they laid out in line with the compass
points. When Pliny Perkins brought in his third
addition south of Uberty and his nephew, Frederick
Perkins subdivided his farm south of Chandler
Boulevard, the pattern was set for streets square
with the world. Frederick named streets after his
children, Robert, Edward, Henry, Alice and Mary.
Mrs. Perkins' maiden name was Wainwright.

Chapter 2

The ·Area Grows

1840-1850
The years 1840-1850 are marked by the coming
of another group of people. This was the decade
when German immigration was largest. Those
coming to Wisconsin were mainly from the Rhine
provinces where political discord was rife and
industry at a low ebb. Books and pamphlets written
by Germans here, were widely read in Germany
and influential in bringing immigrants here. The
land, climate, and products of Wisconsin were so
similar to those in Germany that those people found
no difficulty in adjusting themselves to their new
environment. Another incentive was the liberal
constitution of the state. Only one year's residence
was necessary before voting. To the politically
oppressed people, this seemed a great opportunity
for political freedom.
Joseph and Francis Wackerman were the first
Germans, arriving in 1841. They were followed in
a few months by Leonard Schmitt and his family.
They were the first of a great number of genial,
music-loving, socially-minded people whose spirit
dominated the city for many years. These Germans
were mainly Catholic but there was no opportunity
for them to hear Mass until Rev. Thomas Morissey
came here from Milwaukee and said the first Mass
in the tavern of Rue! Nims.
This brings us to the another great influence upon
the character of the town which was felt during
this decade, namely the organization of religious
life.
The German Catholic element banded together
under the leadership of Rev. Father Kundig, and
in 1844, built a small stone building on a rise of
ground south of the village and near it put up a
large cross. This was the first Catholic church
building (the first stone house, in fact) in the village
and formed the nucleus of the St. Mary's holdings.
Around this church, dedicated to St. Sebastian, the
German Catholics built their houses.
The Baptists were probably the first religious
group to organize. In 1843, fifteen people, with W.R.
Manning as their pastor, held services in the small
brick schoolhouse (see page 10 in Chapt. 1) later
known as Whitman School. They used this build·
ing on Sundays for eight years.
In February 1843, another group of people met
in the schoolhouse to form the Presbyterian Church.
They held services there also until 1852, when they
erected a building of their own on Geneva Street
near Dyer (Milwaukee Avenue and Kane Street).
Rev. Milton Wells was the first minister, presiding

here and in Rochester on alternate Sundays.
In March 1852, the small group of Baptists,
Unitarians and German Methodists joined in
erecting the Union Free Church which would serve
as home for all of them. It was a beautifully designed
stone building and stood yet in 1990 at the
northeast corner of Kane and Jefferson Streets. The
first pastor was Elder Van Amaridge.
In 1843, James Jesse Strang came with his wife,
Mary Perce, the sister of Benjamin Perce, who had
explored the area with Moses Smith in 1835. The
Strangs joined Perce at his homesite where county
line road (now Mormon Road) reaches present
Highway 11. Here migrating Mormons gathered,
and here Strang's interest in the Mormon faith grew.
In the spring of 1844, he visited Joseph Smith,
head of the Mormon church at Nauvoo, Illinois,
and was baptized into the faith there.
Later that year, on June 18, 1844, Strang claimed
he received a letter from Smith in which Smith
said a revelation had come to him that Strang
should form a settlement of Mormons at a site to
be called Voree and that Strang should become
Smith's successor in church leadership. When
Smith was murdered on June 27, 1844, Strang
returned to Nauvoo, produced the letter and
claimed leadership. Those who believed in the
letter's authenticity followed him back to Voree;
those who did not believe (and they were the greater
number) followed Brigham Young to Utah.
By 1849, most of Strang's devotees followed him
from Voree to Beaver Island, Michigan, and in 1856
13

St. Sebastian 's, the first
Catholic church, built
in 1847. This small
stone building
represented three years
of effort by a
committee of
volunteers who dug the
stone, hewed the wood
and prepared the lime
to create the church. It
was demolished in
1965.

The first Protestant
church, built in 1852,
on the northeast
comer of Kane and
Jefferson Streets as the
Union Free Church. In
1990 its beauty was
preseiVed as the
Church of the
Nazarene.

he was mortally wounded there by two of his former
followers who shot him. He made his way back
to Voree where he died from those wounds 19 days
after being shot. He is buried at the Burlington
Cemetery.
While he was at Beaver Island, on July 8, 1850,
he was crowned "king" by his followers, the only
American ever to be so proclaimed.
The fusion of the Yankee and German characteristics, shrewdness, restraint, and severity on
the one hand, and a love for music, art and general
conviviality on the other hand, produced a blend
that gave Burlington a distinct personality and was

Plaster cast of the
bronze plaque erected
by the Burlington
Historical Society,
marking the site of the
Voree settlement.

14

reflected again and again, as we shall see, in the
social life of the people.
A more material effect upon the village growth
was the establishment of roads. In 1841, the Perkins
felt their milling, mercantile and other business
interests demanded a thoroughfare from Burlington direct to Lake Michigan. The road to Southport,
staked out by E.D. Putnam in 1836, was selected
as the most feasible route. On this road, they spent
about $1,200, $200 of which was contributed by
outside parties. At this early period, this was very
properly regarded as an important and enterprising
undertaking and it remained an import thoroughfare for many years. In 1844, Racine, irked by the
amount of goods that was traveling the BurlingtonSouthport road, raised a subscription and built a
road direct from Racine to Burlington.
Easier access helped bring more people. Joseph
Rooker and James Thompson arrived in 1841 .
George W. Gregg opened a brick yard on the north
side of the mill pond and his business in later years
grew into a large brick and tile factory. The pit from
which he dug clay later was used as a baseball
diamond and became known as Beaumont Field.
From this yard came the bricks with which
Benjamin Forbes built the first brick house in 1843.
Caleb Barns had already established a law practice
and was permanently located in Burlington in 1844.
In 1846, Amos Phelps came to town. Ebenezer
Heald settled here also, together with many others.
A census taken in June 1842 showed a population
of 483.
Living conditions in the 1840's and 50's became
a little more secure. Fish and game were abundant
and furnished the main part of the meals. Deer
were to be had. David Bushnell could dine on

One of the remaining
few Mormon houses
remaining at Voree,
reportedly the home
where James Jesse
Strang died.

venison and on com meal cakes from com of his
own planting. Locally-grown produce became more
available and cheaper. Flour was priced at $2.50
per hundred pounds, beef 3 cents per pound, pork
4 cents, mutton 4 cents, and potatoes $1.00 a
bushel. Surplus produce could be sent to New York
through the Great Lake route in 13 days.
Occurring during this decade, was the winter of
the "big snow." It was the winter of 184243.
Thomas H. Marsland describes it in a letter to the
editor of the Standard Democrat of November 5,
1908. He wrote, "Mr. Editor: Sixty-six years ago
today, it commenced to snow and it snowed some
every week up to January 1, 1843. By that time,
there was 20 inches or more of snow on the ground.
The second week of January the south winds
melted the snow off and for about two weeks, the
weather was warm and pleasant - no snow and
no frost in the ground, grass bright and green, which
was beautiful to behold. In the latter part of January
it commenced to snow and kept it up more or
less 'til we had 20 to 24 inches of snow on the
level. Snow did not drift any on account of the
dense forests of timber. April 9, the snow began
to melt and in four or five days it was all gone
- no frost in the ground. The settlers, by the 1Oth,
got out their oxen and started to break up a few
acres of the virgin soil to raise something to eat,
such as potatoes, wheat, com and garden truck."
In this decade, Burlington's earliest industries
started up and would become the firm foundation
for its future growth and prosperity. Pliny Perkins'
grist mill was doing a greater and greater business

as the area settlers-turned-farmers brought in
greater harvests of grain. In 1846, he built the first
large mill in this section, a four-story, stone
structure, 40 by 60 feet. He turned his old mill into
an oil mill. His property then was rumored to be
worth $50,000, a great sum in those years. The
grist mill ran at full capacity for eighteen years until
it was destroyed by fire in 1864. It was rebuilt, and
burned again in 1874. Not discouraged, Perkins
erected an improved mill on the ruins of the old
and continued his profitable business. At times it
was kept running at utmost capacity night and day
all week by the farmers who brought in large grists,
some coming from many miles. The men had to
wait two days or more before returning with their
flour and their patronage of taverns, stores,
blacksmith shops and wagon makers made them
an important factor in the growing village business.
In 1843, Mr. Perkins built a large woolen mill
across the river in what became Echo Park, opposite
the grist mill and had another mill race dug to
run the water wheels there.
He leased this to James Catten for five years
at $1,000 a year. In this factory was made the first
roll of cloth turned out in Wisconsin. In a short
time, the excellence of the cashmeres, tweeds,
flannels and yarns became known far and wide.
Quite a large custom business was done for the
farmers, carding their wool into reels for the thrifty
housewives to use in their domestic manufacturing.
About 1850, Catten, having made $15,000 profit,
withdrew, moved his machinery down stream to
erect another woolen mill there. In 1853, John
15

The kind of
stagecoach that came
flying through the dust
from the Fox River
bridge to the Aiken
House.

Appleyard formed a partnership with Charles Jones
and Benjamin Fox to buy Catten's factory to turn
into a grist mill as the Fox River Milling Co. The
project probably didn't mature, for Appleyard died
in July, 1854.
After Catten vacated the Pliny Perkins mill,
Ephriam Perkins and Fiske of Kenosha took
possession of it. Times grew hard, debts came on
and Fiske was obliged to take it over alone. He
ran the mill, mortgaging it for the means of
continuing. Finding he couldn't pay the mortgage,
he sold it to a Mr. Thompson of Connecticut for
about $6,000. After two years, Ephriam re·
purchased it for $12,000.
Among the other industries were Sawyer and
Barns in their plow shop, John Edmunds, George
Stohr, and McCumber and Williams, wagon
makers, Hobart Wagner and Anton Zwiebel, who
owned a foundry and machine shop on Chestnut
Street, F. Keuper, J. Wambold, and William Rein,
blacksmiths. (The latter shop was located on a
portion of what is the Commerce Street parking
lot.) A cooper shop on West Pine Street made
barrels in which flour and pork could be shipped
out.
Then there were Simon Kempf, F. Schemmand
and T. J . Thompson, shoemakers, and M. T. Hayes,
harnessmaker. Ephriam Sawyer started a sawmill
in September 1841, moving into town from his
farm south of the city. These are but a few of the
men who sought their fortune in Burlington.
The merchantile business was carried on mostly
on the corners of Milwaukee Avenue and Chestnut
Street, and Pine and Chestnut streets. Among the
sellers of general merchandise were Gammeal and
Phelps in the Reuschlein block (above this was the
post office), Mr. Clark, where the building at 100
West Chestnut Street stands, and Clark Norton and
Orson Sheldon, the leading merchants, who bought
the building on the northeast corner of Milwaukee
Avenue and Chestnut Street.
Many of the things they sold are almost unknown
to the modern generations. Fish oil, Camphine
burning fluid and candles were sold for lighting

16

purposes. In the drug department were some small
bottles labeled "Petroleum or Rock Oil, for external
use as a remedy for cuts and bums." That was
all that was known of kerosene. Yellow sugar in
mammoth hogsheads, loaf sugar in conical shaped
loaves, grain cradles and flails, etc., all in one
emporium. Anything could be had from a silk dress
and bonnet, to axle grease and tar.
Francis Meinhardt, Sr. operated another such
store. It stood on a piece of ground about 12 feet
wide by 24 feet deep on the site of the former
Bank of Burlington at 500 North Pine Street. The
store occupied the front half of the building, living
quarters the rear half. It was ostensibly a grocery
store but in that little room, 8 by 12 feet, were
packed an unbelievable variety of articles. To test
the popular opinion that anything asked for could
be provided, a man once went to the store and
requested "goose yokes." The old gentleman
fumbled over some dusty packages on the top shelf
and, sure enough, produced them.
In Walworth County, just west of the White River,
began an enterprise that was for years intimately
connected with Burlington. in 1847, Lemuel Smith
built a large frame house on what is known as
the Wilson Farm and brought to that place the
first flock of sheep in the vicinity. Here was one
source of wool for Perkins' woolen mill.
On the corner of Pine and Chestnut streets, stood
Dr. Lewis' drug store, W.C. Grassie's grocery in
Barns' bank building, and the H. Newhaus jewelry
store. Silas Peck's house stood a hundred feet east
of the corner of the north side of Pine Street. The
land from there to Washington Street was vacant.
The parkland in the next block, donated by Peck
to the community, was still unimproved.
A road ran across this land of Peck's from the
Fox River Hotel, near the Jefferson Street bridge,
to the Aiken House, at the corner of Milwaukee
Avenue and Chestnut Street. The Fox River Hotel
was run by W. H. Addington. The Aiken House
was formerly Perkins' "Burlington Hotel." Another
hotel in town was the Kossuth House, operated
by William Wetroth.
The Aiken House was the station for the John
Frinke & Company stage line that ran from Racine
to Janesville, beginning in 1845. This line was taken
over by Beswick and Jones after 1848. A large
tree stood on Chestnut Street next to the hotel and
near it was a big wooden pump and watering trough.
The shade of this spreading tree made the spot
a favorite place to watch the excitement, incident
to the arrival and departure of the stage coaches.
"A thrilling thing that was! All heads would turn
when the horn sounded on the other side of the
Fox River bridge. Next, would be heard the hoof·
beats and the rattle of wheels on the bridge. Then,
flying through the dust, would come the horses
and the bright red and yellow coach, and proudly
erect in the driver's seat, John Emmerich, the idol

of every youngster in town. A pull on the reins,
a sharp word of command, and Emmerich would
pull up before the door of the hotel. Of course,
there would be a time, while horses were watered
and passengers and mail cared for, for a recital
of the latest news and a few flashes of John's
renowned wit. Then a blast of the horn, a crack
of the long whip and the stage coach was off again."
Yes indeed, thrilling it was for the spectator, but
even more so must it have been for the passengers,
who for the modest $1.50 fare from Racine to Bur·
lington, could have the life jounced right out of
them on those remarkable plank roads.
Among the six doctors here in 1850, was the
good, but at times gruff, old Doctor Dyer. An oft
told story illustrates his character.
It is said, he had come home late one night from
quite a drive and was in a sound sleep when a
loud knocking aroused him. Putting his head out
of the window, he asked in no amiable tone, "Who's
there?"
The knocker said, "It's Steve Houghton. Come
out and see my wife. She's awful bad. Come as
soon as you can, for God's sake."
The doctor said, "I can't Steve, I just got back
from a hard jaunt. Can't turn out for another long
drive tonight. Get some other doctor, I won't go."
He slammed down the window.
Houghton, in his perplexity, thought of Caleb
Barns. He would get him to go and use his influence
with the doctor.
So another sound sleeper was rousted out,
another window raised: "What's wanted?" asked a
voice.
"Oh Barns," Houghton said, "go with me to
Dyer's and see if you can't get him to go to my
poor wife. He's always attended her, no other will
d0."
Barns, knowing the doctor's characteristics better
than Houghton did, said, "Get into your wagon
Steve, and drive home as fast as you can. You'll
do well if you get there first." Houghton took the
advice and found the doctor there before him.
A doctor's life was not an easy one. In the reminis·
cences of his life, Dr. Dyer recounts, "There were
hardships to be borne. I was gone much of the
time during the sickly season, often getting home
when my wife and children were asleep in bed,
at all hours of the night. Early in the morning, my
wife would quietly arise to make breakfast - by
the time I was ready, the breakfast was also ready.
I ate hastily, went out and saddled my horse, to
begin another day's ride. This was our daily life
the whole sickly season.
Charles Foltz tells in Old Timers Night, that in
1850, the lawyers in town were Lewis Royce, A.
F. Cole, J. C. Culver, C. W. Bennett, John F. Potter,
W. P. Lyon and Caleb Barns. Compare this with
the 1850 census in the Appendix.
Most of the banking was done in Racine. However,

Burlington had at least one banker, lawyer Caleb
Barns. Dr. Edward Dyer, making his rounds, saw
young Barns with his law books under his arm,
coming to Burlington from Milwaukee on foot and
invited Caleb to join him. The two returned to Bur·
lington together, taking turns riding Dr. Dyer's
horse.
In 1847, Barns built the building on the southwest comer of Pine and Chestnut streets in which
to conduct a banking business. Here, on the second
floor, he had his office and bank until his death
in 1866.
Fallowing the usual practice of the early days,
he paid as high as 10% interest on deposits and
loaned money at 15% or more.
The first floor, Barns leased to William Grassie
for a grocery store. It is said that long after Antony
Meinhardt started the Meinhardt Bank in those first
floor quarters in 1891, the somber smell of ledgers
and lock boxes was sweetened with a faint whiff
of molasses.
Most of the farms in the vicinity were heavily
mortgaged, as the settlers had brought little money
with them, and the farmers, as always, worked hard
for the income. Wages for the hands were $13 a
month, less board. At the lake ports only, was cash
paid for grain; oats bringing 10 to 20 cents, barley
30 to 40 cents and wheat 40 to 50 cents a bushel.
Consequently, these products were carried to
Racine or Kenosha to pay the more pressing debts.
The ordinary marketing was carried on by barter
and trade. Cord wood for the local market brought
75 cents a cord, while tea cost $1.50 a pound.
Thus a day's work cutting and hauling a cord of
wood, could be exchanged for half a pound of tea.
Eggs brought five cents a dozen and butter seven
cents a pound.
Ufe, however, was not all hard labor. Merrymaking was not unknown. "I believe," said William
17

This building, built by
Caleb Barns in 1847, is
the oldest bank
building in the state of
VV~consin, continually
used for banking
purposes throughout
the years to 1990.

Many people
in Burlington

were
connected
with the
"underground
railroad"
despite the
fact that
such a
connection
was
exceedingly
dangerous.

Meadows, "our satisfaction was greater because of
the fact that all our pleasures have been secured
by hard individual effort." Highlights in the fun, were
oyster suppe rs at W. P. Storms of Vienna, or at
Campbell's at Rochester. Com husking parties,
spelling contests and picnics with music furnished
by Professor Wald's town band, were very popular.
Street parades too, were numerous. Those in masks
rebuked in pantomime anything that had given
offense. Once for instance, a masker sat astride
a miniature schoolhouse, grasping it with long,
black fingers, to deride the fact that a school
building on a town farm had been taken for some
other use.
Fourth of Julys were always occasions for an
explosion of spirits. Farm boys made a bee-line
to town with two pounds of butter or three dozen
eggs which they could exchange for one package
of firecrackers and a cannon cracker or two. One
can easily imagine how carefully these were shot
off one at a time to make them last as long as
possible.
So far, town life had been developing in a land
still under territorial government. On May 29, 1848,
the Wisconsin territory became the State of
Wisconsin and Nelson Dewey was elected governor.
The polling place in Burlington was Klingele' s
saloon and grocery store, about where Pieters'
Brothers used to be in the 100 block of East
Chestnut Street. The store windows were the typical
small-paned ones of that period and at election time,
one pane was removed so people standing outside
could pass their ballots through the opening.
The fact that Wisconsin had no territorial debt,
while Michigan, lllinois and Indiana had contracted
large debts through projects for internal improvements, attracted large numbers of immigrants to
Wisconsin and helped to explain the rapid increase
in our town's population during this decade.
In 1848, when Wisconsin became a state, it was
organized into military divisions, each division into
two brigades and each brigade into as many regiments as there were counties in the brigade. Racine
County was the Fourth Regiment of the Second
Brigade of the First Division, each ward in Racine,
and each township in the county having a company
enrolled.
The men in charge of these military units were:
Philo White, Brigadier General of Second Brigade;
Seth Johnson, Colonel - Fourth Regiment; Orson
B. Sheldon, Lieutenant Colonel; Martin Clancy,
Major; Nathaniel Dickinson, Captain of Company
G (Burlington); Charles Jones, First Lieutenant;
Liberty Fiske, Second Lieutenant.
The people of Wisconsin, perhaps more than
any other group in the Northeast Territory, had a
strong aversion to the idea of slavery.
As early as 1845, a memorial was sent to
Congress asking that body to free whatever slaves
were then in the territory and to protect it from
18

ever becoming a slave state.
Many people in Burlington were connected with
the " underground railroad" despite the fact that
such a connection was exceedingly dangerous. The
route came through lllinois (avoiding Chicago),
Racine, Burlington, Gardner's Prairie, Spring Prairie,
Troy, Mukwonago, Pewaukee, Waukesha and
Milwaukee.
Dr. Dyer, C. P. Barns, R. C. Brown, John Aiken,
John Hockings, Elder Cheney, John Bacon, P. M.
Perkins , O rigen Perkins, Lemuel Smith and
Ephriam Perkins, were some of the altruistic men
of this town. The house of Dr. Dyer, of Lemuel
Smith, Origen Perkins and Silas Peck all are known
to have sheltered fugitive slaves.
That these men were "conductors" on the road,
was not widely known. If caught in such "subversive
action," they could be subject to penalties under
the fugitive slave law of fines of as much as a
thousand dollars, imprisonment of six months and
damages of a thousand dollars to the slave owner
for each slave so lost. Utmost secrecy was
necessary.
The first passenger on the "road" through Burlington was Caroline Quarrels, a young mulatto
slave. She was successfully "conducted" on this
trip by Lyman Good of Waukesha, and it was a
journey full of hardships and peril lasting five weeks,
during the summer of 1842. They were hunted
and followed all the way by United States officers
and other slave chasers, but eluded them all. Dr.
Dyer was one of those who helped the girl along
on her way to freedom. He gave a sack of provisions
and raised a purse of $20 to speed her journey.
Another time, Lemuel Smith acted as "conductor" on the road. He went to Waterford to get a
young slave and conduct him on his way. He
brought him , under the cover of night, to a home
west of Burlington, which was at that time the homestead of G. W. Ames. In this house, the Negro was
sheltered during the night. The next morning those
at the house, including the frightened fugitive, saw
the sheriffs posse searching for the escaped slave,
passing by on its way to Elkhorn. The Ames house
was a little off the highway and fortunately the sheriff
did not stop, much to the relief of those anxious
watchers.
The last passenger on the "road" was Joshua
Glover, a n escaped slave who had been working
at a sawmill near Racine. On March 10, 1854, his
owner, having discove red his whereabouts,
kidnapped him from there after severely beating
him. A great hubbub arose when the people of
Racine heard of Glover's imprisonment in Milwaukee. They held a mass meeting (the largest ever
before held in that city), and sent a hundred men
to Milwaukee to effect his release.
There th e hundred were joined by other
abolitionists, the jail was stormed and Glover
released. He was spirited away to Prairieville

(Waukesha), then to Spring Prairie. He remained
in the house of Deacon Britton about a month until
the excitement quieted down. Then he was taken
by the "underground" to Canada.
Mass meetings were held here at the Free Church
and the Congregational Church (one of whose
tenets was that no slaveholder or apologist for
human slavery need apply for membership), and
at Congregational churches at Union Grove and
Raymond. All sent resolutions of thanks and
sympathy to the citizens of Racine and Milwaukee.
A liberty meeting at Syracuse, New York also sent
greetings and thanks.
It was a daring act in support of an unpopular
cause, especially so when one remembers that it
was a criminal offense to give a fugitive money,
food or lodging or aid him in any way.
Sherman Booth of Milwaukee, who led in the
freeing of Glover from the Milwaukee jail, was sent
to a federal penitentiary and his effigy was publicly
burned by pro-slavery men. Such punishment in
no way deterred other men from furthering their
mission of humanity. How initially unpopular the
abolitionist movement was and how abolotionists
were insulted, despised and sneered at, called
"white nigger," "nigger stealers," and how they were
mobbed and persecuted, their meetings broken up;
one must stand in admiration at their courage in
supporting their cause.
Two agencies for the spreading of the gospel
of the abolitionist locally, were the "American
Freeman" and the "Burlington Liberty Association."
The Freeman was a newspaper in which Dr. Dyer,
Caleb Barns, R. C. Brown, the Perkins, John Aiken

and John Bacon had invested money solely to keep
the paper going, with no expectation of a financial
return.
The Burlington Liberty Association was organ·
ized in 1844 by Dr. Dyer and some of his friends
and had about 40 members. In the election that
year, their candidate on the Liberty ticket polled
33 out of 108 votes. It was a cause of great rejoicing
since they had expected no more than a dozen.
It should be noted here that it was because of
Dr. Dyer that "Liberty Street received its name."
(The street, which was between Milwaukee Avenue
and the Fox River, was later named State Street.)
At that time there were 1,629 persons in the Town
of Burlington. There were no separate figures for
the unincorporated village of Burlington. Burling·
ton was incorporated as a village in 1886 and the
City of Burlington incorporated as a fourth class
city in 1900. Of the total, 585 were born in Germany
or were children of German parents, 281 were
English, 118 were Irish, 20 were Scots, 9 were from
France, 1 from Denmark, and 6 15 came from the
Eastern states or Canada.
The following occupations were listed: Farmers
289; Laborers 62; Shoemakers 9; Carpenters 19;
Merchants 11 ; Tinners 2; Masons 8; Blacksmiths
7; Physicians 6; Tailors 6; Clerks 5; Lawyers 5;
Sailors 3; Coopers 3; Teachers 3; Cabinetmakers
3; Stagedrivers 3 ; Millers 2 ; Chairmakers 2;
Clergymen 2; Bakers 2; Gunsmiths 2; Basket·
makers 2; Manufacturers 2; Tavemkeepers 2; Sil·
versmith 1; Millwright 1; Postmaster 1; Butcher 1;
Broommaker 1; Student 1; Pumpmaker 1.

CAUTION!!
----ce9~~=----

GOLORED PEOPLE
01' BOSTON, ONE

ALL,
Ion are hereby respectrully t;AlJTIONED and
advised, to avoid conversing with the
&

Watchmen and Police Otlicers
of Boston,
KIDNAPPERS ,
Slave Catchers~
For slnee the reeeot ORDER OF THE l!IAYOR &
ALDERMEN, they are empowered to aetas

AND

And they have already beeu adually employed 1111
KIDNAPt•ING, CATCHING, AND KEEPING
SLAVES. Therefore, If you Ynlue your LIBERT¥,
and the Welfare of llae FugUi-eetl among you, Slaun
them In every possible manner, as so many HOUNDS
on the traell. of the most unfortunate of your race.

Posters such as this
were circulated across
the nation by
abolitionists and
abolitionist sentiment
was spread throughout
an ante-bellum nation
by drawings such as
this.

Keep a Sharp Look Out for
KIDNAPPERS, and have
TOP EYE open.
A.P IUL

~4,

J85L

19

I

J·,_ '"

'\ p·.J

·w

\1 ...

The home of Dr.
Edward Galusha Dyer
was one of the houses
where a fugitive slave
could find refuge. It
was the first frame
house built in
Burlington. Note the
path which he named
Liberty Street and is
now State Street in
front of the house and
old St Mmy's church
on the horizon.

20

I

Chapter3

Around the Civil War
1850-1870

-- ··- - ....
About 1850, the rapid growth of the village
reached a plateau. During the next three decades,
it was much slower but still increased steadily.
The years 1850 to 1854 were prosperous ones
for citizens of the state, but from then until after
the Civil War, our town experienced a state of
depression. In 1857, a disastrous monetary panic
sweeping the country, was felt here as well as else·
where. A more immediate cause was paradoxically
the coming of the railroad in 1855.
The first to reach Burlington was in later years
known as the Milwaukee Road. This company,
which was the largest company building roads in
southeastern Wisconsin, had been organized and
renamed several times since it incorporated in 1847
as the Milwaukee and Waukesha Railroad Company. When the line was built through Burlington
to Savannah, Illinois, in 1855, it was known as the
Racine, Janesville and Mississippi Railroad Company. In 1866, it became the Western Union and
later became the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul
Railroad.
The City of Racine was almost bankrupted by
its eagerness to encourage the building of this
railroad. It floated stock to the extent of $350,000
or more and realized only a loss on its investment.
In the sale of railroad stock, the farmers along the
line of the road were not overlooked. Glowing
prospects, descriptions of the good times sure to
come with the operation of the railroad were spread.
Nearly every farmer along the line mortgaged his
farm to aid the building of the railroad. That railroad finished the stage coach business west of
Racine.
In 1856, Burlington also became interested in
the projected Fox River Valley Railroad of Wiscon-

sin. It was to begin in Milwaukee to connect with
the Racine and Mississippi at Burlington and
continue on the Fox River Valley Railroad of Illinois,
at the state line.
On September 6, 1856, a board consisting of
John Biersback, Francis Meinhardt and Johan
Boub was elected to consider the town's participation, and on November 1, they were authorized
to subscribe to $35,000 worth of stock.
In 1857, the state of the company was as follows:
resources in round numbers, $540,000, including
$38,000 in farm mortgages. The estimated cost
of completing the road was $730,000. Some
$32,000 had, at the time, been expended in building
the road. They had graded the roadbed and built
some bridges, but had laid no rails. No rails were
ever laid, the company failed.
One can still see, here and there, the roadbed
of this line. It runs due south from Burlington, skirts
the east end of Bohners Lake, continues through
farmland and passes east of Slades Comers and
Powers Lake. South of Powers Lake, the roadbed
was used by the Jefferson Ice Company of Chicago
for a spur line from the Chicago and Northwestern
Railroad to its ice house at the lake.
During the 1850's and 60's, Burlington was still
an unincorporated village, but it had grown into
an important m erchandising center for the
surrounding area. It was losing its pioneer
appearance. More merchants were coming in
because of the increasing population which had
reached a number of almost 2,000.
There were: 9 merchants selling dry goods and
groceries; 8 selling boots and shoes; 2 hardware
stores; 11 saloons; 2 druggists; 2 jewelers; 3
milliners; 4 tailors. The Chestnut Street bend and
21

Engraving of an old
"iron horse" pulling
cars, such as was seen
on the Wisconsin
Central when the
railroad first came
through Burlington.

Stores in the 1850's
were wood frame.
Notice these street
scenes of old
Burlington, Chestnut
Street on its way to the
river.

wheels was bad for the driver, worse for anyone
crossing such streets. Think of the women with
those long, heavy skirts that reached the ground.
Only important corners had wooden cross walks
(on which loaded wagons sometimes got "hung
up" halfway across). Sidewalks were a sometime
thing. It was up to each merchant to decide how
he wanted to convenience his customers. Some
would build a wooden walk just in front of his place.
Another faced his store with a brick area.
On these were displayed the barrels of apples
or potatoes, boxes of garden vegetables, brooms,
buckets, coal scuttles, milking stools, etc... all
subject to the dust from the street. Sometimes there
were only planks paralleling the streets. In winter,
darkness came early. After dusk, the village lamp·
lighter made his way through the streets and in
his wake, the oil lamps sputtered. In 1888, John
Schumacher was paid $7 a month from village
two blocks of Pine Street were the heart of the funds for tending to this important job. There was
business district.
some light from stores that stayed open late; still,
The "downtown" was so different from the way streets were dark and forbidding. People lit their
it appeared in the 1990's. Most of the stores were way carrying hand lanterns.
wood frame one or two story buildings, some more
This was the time, too, when homes were lit with
substantially made of brick or stone. Some kerosene lamps, Saturday night baths were taken
merchants sold their goods on the first floor and in wooden or zinc tubs, with water pumped by hand
lived above their stores. Streets were unpaved and and brought in by pails full, hauled from an outside
it is not too difficult to picture what that meant. well and heated on the kitchen stove.
In the summer, dust was insufferable even though
There were signs of progress, H. W. Smith, the
a sprinkler wagon made futile attempts to keep barber, advertised that a "long needed want is now
it down. There were no street sweepers. Horses supplied - a bathing room at my barber shop,
added their waste to dry and be churned up with where the public can have hot and cold baths at
all times. Price only 25 cents a single bath, or six
the dust.
In the winter, the snow was moved only by hand for a dollar."
The Jones House Hotel (Charles Jones, propshoveling. A heavy snow could paralyze business.
rietor)
on the comer of Chestnut Street and Geneva
Even a moderate snow would keep wagons in the
shed and bring out bob sleighs and cutters. Without Street (Milwaukee Avenue), was still the frame
snow, traveling over the frozen ground could be building constructed by Pliny Perkins in 1839. It
the easiest of the year. Spring traveling could be was known as the Aiken House until 1860. Along
the worst. Deep ruts, slush cross-furrowed by wagon side was still the vacant store-site where the pump,

North side of Chestnut
Street from Geneva
Street (Milwaukee
Avenue) west, showing
Rose's Bakery, the
Burlington Steam
Laundry, P. P.
Armour's Harness
Shop, among others.

22

the watering trough for horses and the shady oak
tree stood and where there was a driveway to the
hotel livery stable. John Emerich was the chief
hostler there, lording it over the 20 head of horses,
the fine carriages, eleven buggies and an elegant
hearse. It was the best outfit of its kind in the county
outside the City of Racine. Jones also had charge
of two buses which were at the disposal of those
who spent the summer season at Brown's Lake.
On the comer across Chestnut Street in H. A.
Sheldon's wood frame hardware store, one could
buy cutlery, tinware, nails, glass, putty, paints and
oils, whitewash brushes, agricultural implements,
well and cistern pumps, stoves and all kinds of
house trimmings.
Next to Sheldon's store (proceeding toward the
bend) was Jacob Gill's saloon; then George
Verhalen's dry goods, groceries and farm implements; Eugene Wehmhoff,jeweler; and Mrs. Wehmhoffs millinery shop, in the same building. Five
other stores and we come to Francis Reuschlein's
notion store on the corner of Chestnut and Pine
Streets. For sale at his store were cigars made by
him, imported tobacco and pipes, liquors and glassware, all kinds of stationery and greeting cards, wallpaper and lace paper doilies. It was best to visit
him at Christmas time when the store was filled
with dolls, all kinds of toys, evergreen wreaths and
tree candles. Mr. Reuschlein was an active man.
In his time, he was also postmaster, the first town
clerk, Justice of the Peace, court commissioner,
choir singer, president Teutonia Society, and the
father of thirteen children.
Across Pine Street was Laskey's saloon (Bank
of Burlington site). Back of it, on the continuation
of Chestnut Street, was George Bradshaw's saloon.
The Laskey building was moved down Chestnut
Street in 1909 to become part of the tin can
manufacturing plant at the milk condensery and
eventually to become a part of the Hi-Uter Graphics

--

~

•

'

::0--11

-=

~

~

Charles Mole's Barber
Shop on Pine Street.

~

~

~

~

.
:

~

u£~

E

[j

-

~

I. .
~

l'

-'llll
~

-

..

--

.=~
-~
..,."'...
----· --~- -·

...' •·1

..

i

~

......

~
:Iii

~ --

'' ..
=' .
;
~

~

'

;;;~::ii:=l
- ~

'

,

printing establishment (producer of this book).
To make way for the construction of Laskey's
saloon, Anton Meinhardt had moved across
Chestnut Street to 492 Pine Street. The variety of
goods in his store was still limitless: "dry goods,
groceries, hats and caps, crockery, hardware, paints
and oils, wallpapers and window curtains, farming
implements, kitchenware, etc., etc., etc." (see page
16). South of Mr. Meinhardt's store, M. Schaffer
owned a furniture store, selling tables, chairs, bed·
steads and having ready-made coffins on hand.

23

Dennison 's Drug Store,
Henry Pregger Boots
and Shoes,
Reuschlein 's Notion
Store and Laskey's
Veterans' Saloon. Note
the dirt streets and
especially the mortar
and pestle, a drug
store sign. This mortar
and pestle is in the
collection of the
Burlington Historical
Society.

Store Locations
At One Point In Time
In The Mid-1850's

Fr(·Jt. 1Ck Keoper

107

. aJC::Jn

Charte:. Keupef
black.sm•lh

109
1111

ChariPs Beller

- 113 I

.aroon

-

Exch~oge Horel

- -Latson & Dard1S
hardware

109

Franc1s Bankes

107

_g Implement

---;-;e~a;:~~,

1o1

I \

201

I

Antonq~;hard1

203

1

F ~ Sct~warre·

• s

l'l
M

. - CJJ

,.._

~

N~

~

~

11'1

~

N

M

re

c

~ ~~.§~~,~H~~ ,~~~
~I~ ~~

02

eDen

wto~~~<
(.)~ ~" 2

=
? -~
"Sanborn Maps"
detailing the structure
of the buildings, were
used by fire insurance
companies. Successive
maps show changes of
store owners.

0

N

.r:.-

~

~a

~.?.

i! ;~.l

<5Jj ~
S:a. =
:.=u

205

1

mus•C

t.i

sn~_'fer

lurnJi ure

Dr. H. D. Knight had his dentist office at his home
where one could have, according to his newspaper
ad, "sets of teeth inserted in Vulcanite Rubber base.
Also teeth extracted with or without chloroform."
Across the street from the Meinhardt store, C.
P. Barns carried on his banking business on the
second floor of the building he built in 1848 (see
page 17). In 1860, he was doing a yearly business
of $300,000. William Grassie still operated his
grocery on the first floor.
Adjacent to Barns' building toward the Jones
House, was John Haitz, tailor, then came A. Helfrich,
jeweler and John ltzin, harness maker. The double
store was the first location of B. Foltz & Son dry
goods, etc. Then came the building (#161) that
Silas Peck put up to thwart Pliny Perkins' plan (page
12).
Around the bend stood the Klingele building, a
large frame structure with a hallway through it from
front to back, business places situated on either
side: Mathias Klingele, grocer; Joseph Klingele,
harness maker; Godfried Klingele, gunsmith; and
Kautsky & Ganz, boot and shoemakers.
Between it and the Jones House were Dr.
Cooper's drugstore, Jacob Crane's variety store and
in 1872, the First National Bank.
A few places on Pine Street west of Laskey's
saloon were The Exchange Hotel, owned by J. P.
Mather, a frame building until 1902 when it was
replaced by a modern Hotel Burlington and across
from it, Andrew Sawyer's plow factory. Charles
Keuper had a blacksmith shop between the two
saloons of Frederick Keuper and Charles Beller.
With five saloons plus bars in the two hotels in
this small area, village men need not have gone
thirsty.
24

Of the manufacturers of this period, the Perkins
and Phelps flouring mill and Perkins woolen mill
(page 15), were the largest and, despite some
devastating fires, the most prosperous. During the
Civil War, innumerable skeins of blue yarn for the
uniforms of Union troops were spun. The yam was
made into cloth at the mill and shipped to other
plants to be made into uniforms. The mill ran 24
hours a day to meet the demands of President Uncoln's war board.
Hubert Wagner, with his sons Hubert, Jr., and
John, was doing a good business in his machine
shop and foundry across Pine Street from the
flouring mill. Years later, the first electricity in the
town would be generated here.
Antone Zwiebel, on Chestnut Street (at 135) west
of Geneva Street, with his sons Joseph and William,
manufactured steam engines, windmills and did
general machining.
F. H. Nims and E. F. Voorhees operated a steam
sorghum works with cane mills and evaporators
on Conkey Street. This site was later used for St.
Charles Church. They were also house builders,
ran a planing mill and manufactured doors and
window sashes.
Across the river near the woolen mill, Rudolph
Wald and Sons (Rudolph A. and Arnold) operated
a tannery, ("leather tanned by Hemlock bark"),
bought and sold hides, and made and sold boots
and shoes. They also had a store very near the
Barns bank building.
A bit further north, Emory 0. Cole operated the
Burlington Brick and Tile Company, first begun by
George W. Gregg in 1843. An extensive and long
lasting business manufacturing primarily drainage
tile for farmers' fields. The baseball field along
Milwaukee Avenue is in the depression made by
the removal of clay for tile and brick manufacturing.
Jacob Muth's brewery, the first in town, had been
built in 1852 on Main Street on the east side of
the Fox River. It was a large frame building costing
$2,500. He did a good business for the time, turning
out twenty barrels of quality brew a day. His
newspaper ad read:
"I recommend my product as a first rate
remedy for the preservation for health. Do
away with patent medicines, pills, etc., and
drink MUTH'S BEER and you will feel as well
as a muskrat, as strong as a lion, and as happy
as a man with the best feelings toward his
fellow beings."
In 1872, he replaced the frame building with a
very large brick and stone malt house. During the
season of ten months, Muth used to malt 60 to
80 thousand bushels of grain.
Mr. Muth was interested in a group of young
people who put on plays in a little house down
by the river and, it is said, the curtain never rose
before Mr. and Mrs. Muth had arrived and were
seated. It is the Muth malt house in which the Hay-

Jacob Muth 's second
brewery, built in 1872,
replacing his 1852
frame building. This is
the building reduced in
size, that became the
Malthouse Theater.

lofters operate the Malthouse Theater. Mr. Muth
would be pleased.
In 1877, he sold out to the People's State Bank
of which he was a director. That bank folded in
1878.
Banking business in Burlington came to a halt
when Caleb Barns died in 1866 and it was not
resumed until1872. Racine again became the place
for Burlington's farmers and businessmen to do
their banking. The business of Mr. Barns' estate,
which was considerable at the time of his death,
was carried on in his offices for 19 years by his
nephew A. E. Wells, Anthony Meinhardt and Judge
Charles Dyer. Mr. Wells learned the banking
business from his uncle and later operated a bank
in Nebraska.
The first agricultural fairs in Racine County were
held near Yorkville in 1850, moved to Union Grove
in the early 1860's. As Burlington increased in size
and importance, its citizens wanted the fair to be
held here. A fairgrounds was developed on 14 acres
of land rented from Pliny Perkins on the north side
of Chestnut Street east of Conkey Street. Later, the
Wisconsin Central (Soo Une) depot and railroad
yard would occupy the site. Sulky racing was a
popular sport and the main attraction on the halfmile track. Fairs were held here for some twenty
years, but about 1893, they were discontinued. It
was a time of tight money nationwide and funding
was just not available. No fairs were held until 1922
when E. A. Polley, a faculty member in the county
agricultural school, and other interested citizens
formed the Racine County Agricultural Society to
revive them. The first new fair was held in Burlington. Later ones were moved to Union Grove
where they continue to be held.
It is said a Mormon newspaper was published
in Burlington previous to 1858, but the first town

newspaper was put out April 8, 1858. It was called
the "Weekly Burlington Gazette" and was owned
by that ardent Republican, H. W. Phelps. It ran a
little more than two years, ending on December
11, 1860 when Phelps went to Houston. Sometime in 1860, M. Bachmayer began another paper
in the village and called it "Political Judge." Since
he had no type, he was obliged to copy each paper
as many times as he had subscribers. The paper
was devoted mainly to the "calling out of the
Catholic Church building committee" and to local
news. It was circulated free. From the time of Phelps
leaving until 1863, there was no paper issued in
Burlington.
The establishment of a permanent basis for an
education system in Burlington was not easy. The
rudimentary instructions available in the little brick
schoolhouse (page 10) did not satisfy many of the
village citizens who wanted the kind of studies
common to schools in the East.

25

This private residence
at 116 Jefferson Street
was built in 1844 to
house the Burlington
Academy.

In 1844, a private school, the Burlington held on the second floor of the Matthias Klingele
Academy, was incorporated by an act of the building on Chestnut Street. Mr. Samuel Lockwood
legislature. Pliny Perkins, Origen Perkins, Dr. E. G. was the principal and Mrs. Lockwood and Emily
Dyer and Nelson R. Norton were the incorporators. Dyer were his assistants. When the new school
A building to house it was built and is standing opened, Lockwood remained as principal.
at 116 East Jefferson Street. Mr. R. D. Turner was
Despite the fact there was now a fine, new, large
the first teacher. John F. Potter, before he became stone building in which to carry on, things did not
Wisconsin's Attorney General, was another teacher. go smoothly. Dissension arose about the way
It was a fairly prosperous learning center under a school was run and about costs reflected in taxes.
Dr. Lewis' leadership. At one time there were 25 A serious quarrel resulted in the formation of two
pupils and two teachers.
school boards, each claiming to be the legal board.
Soon after the academy was established, a Young School meetings were held, resolutions passed and
Ladies' Seminary was opened in a building erected ignored, appropriations made and rescinded and
for its use on the grounds of the then Presbyterian school was closed for a year. The new board finally
Church at the corner of Milwaukee Avenue and gained control in April 1861. Mr. Lewis Benedick
Johnson Street. Miss Calendar and Miss Selleck was hired as principal and retained the following
were teachers there.
year. New principals came in rapid succession. In
More progress was made to establish a public 13 years, there were 13 principals, each new one
school system when the Legislature in 1857 passed introducing a new course of study, teaching
an act incorporating the Burlington Union School whatever he pleased. The tenure of the women
District of Racine County. Under the chairmanship teachers was briefer still. Records show that in a
of Charles J. Jones, a district school board was certain year, the two lower rooms had seven
elected on April 15, 1857. Members: Pliny M. teachers, their terms of service ranging from three
Perkins, William Johnson, Wolf A Raps, J. H. to 33 weeks.
The high school section included grades A, B,
Cooper and C. P. Barns.
On July 31, 1858, the district was authorized by C, and D, with about 30 pupils in each class. Henry
the citizens to build a schoolhouse on the selected Allen "Little Hal" Cooper was a member of the
site at the corner of Dyer and Uberty Streets (Kane C class. He later represented the first district in the
and State). William Johnson was chosen to build United States Congress. The Civil War interrupted
it; Joseph Wackerman, Sr. to do the mason work classes since most of the A class boys enlisted
Only the lower floor was fitted up for school use in the service. Many of the underclassmen left
when the building was accepted on September 19, school, too. The Sawyer and Cooper boys from
1859. The upper floor was not furnished until 1870. class C played drums for the older boys as they
During construction of this building, classes were drilled in their impromptu camp on the banks of

This is the second
school building built in
Burlington, in 1859
and the upper floor
finished in 1870, later
named the Uncoln
School. Notice the one
story addition on the
back. This at one time
was used by the
Multiscope Film
Corporation.

26

the White River. When the time came for graduating
the first class, July 3, 1863, only one girl received
her diploma, Miss Harriet Dyer, signifying the
completion of the four year course. After another
small class was graduated in 1865, the high school
was abandoned until 1872. Some students
attended various township schools.
Real stability and character came to the school
in 1872 when Edwin Ruthven Smith was installed
as principal. Edwin was the grandson of pioneer
Lemuel R. Smith. He had been a member of Mr.
Lockwood's high school A class who had, all as
a body, answered the call to arms during the Civil
War. After three years honorable service in the army
and after taking an advanced course in education,
he was hired to bring order to the Burlington system.
It was completely reorganized by him, thoroughly
graded and placed on a permanent basis.
The school was divided into four divisions:
Primary, Intermediate, Grammer and High School,
which were severally presided over by Mrs. Ellen
Montgomery, Miss Christie Munroe, Miss Susan
McBeth and Miss Frankie Cass. The high school
course Mr. Smith established admitted graduates
to the University of Wisconsin. Women teachers,
more happy in the new atmosphere, stayed longer:
Miss Frankie Cass-8 years, Miss Susan McBeth-11
years and Miss Christie Munroe-1 7 years.
With the public school now running on an even
keel, Mr. Edwin Smith reluctantly resigned in 1883
to accept the position of Superintendent of the Manitowoc County schools.
As a sample of the courses of study private
schools were offering, this circular issued on
February 14, 1885 could be included.
CIRCULAR
The Burlington Education Society
Has opened an institution designed to teach
pupils from the rudiments of education, to the
completion of a thorough high school course, and
also for training prospective teachers.
The institution is now in its infancy and under
the charge of MISS MORREL, a well qualified
teacher.
PRIMARY, MIDDLE AND SENIOR CLASSES
Primal)' Class · Reading, Spelling, Primary Geography, Mental Arithmetic.
Middle Class - Written Arithmetic Commenced,
Geography, English, Grammar, History of the
United States, History of England, History of Rome,
History of Greece, Ancient Geography, Physiology,
Natural Writing, Vocal Music, Botany, "What's on
the Mind?"
Senior Class ·Arithmetic finished, Algebra finished,
Chemistry, Astronomy, Moral Philosophy, Rhetoric,
Political Economy, Constitution of the United
States, Ecclesiastical History, Wayland's Moral
Science, Geology, French.
The principals of Morality and Religion will be
STRICTLY inculcated.

Little Hal Cooper (later
to become
Congressman Henl)'
Allen Cooper) was the
drummer boy while the
rest of'/\" class was
drilling for Civil War
action. Little Hal, who
Jived directly behind
the school house, was
a m ischievous lad who
was sometimes sent
home by his teacher.
He climbed on the roof
of his barn, and beat
on his drum, until the
annoyed teacher Jet
him back in.

The second quarter will commence the 2nd
Monday in September, third quarter 2nd Monday
in December, fourth quarter 1st Monday in March.
Good board may be obtained in PRNATE
families at reasonable rates.
Tuition · Primary Class, per quarter $}.50; Middle
Class, per quarter $2.25; Senior Class, per quarter
$3.00.
David Wiltse, Sec'y
Orville Stevens, President
TRUSTEES
Orson Sheldon, N. R. Norton; Orville Stevens; N.
Dickinson; Zibino Bliss; D. Wiltse; Albert Thurston;
N. McLaughlin.

Edwin R. Smith as he
appeared in 1872
when he was the
principal of Burlington's
Public Schoof.

27

Conkey Street School,
built in 1895, renamed
Cooper School in 1940
in honor of the late
Congressman Henry
Allen Cooper.

As the number of Burlington citizens increased,
so did school population. At the annual meeting
of the District School Board in July 1895, it was
generally agreed that a new and larger school
building was sorely needed. Resolutions were
adopted and funding approved. A little more than
a year was required to complete the $35,000
building. Named the Conkey Street School, it was
built on one of the high spots in the city at the
corner of Conkey and Amanda streets.
It was an excellent structure of Racine white
pressed brick, trimmed with Lake Superior brown·
stone, with a galvanized iron cornice and a roof
of the best quality slate. The basement, extending
above the ground, contained all mechanical
equipment, restrooms and showers and a large
room for a boys' gymnasium. The first floor was
devoted to the rooms for the elementary grades,
the second floor held the specialized rooms for
the high school and a large assembly. The third
floor (the attic) was fitted up for a girls' gymnasium.
It contained several swings, a croquet ground (full
size with sand bed) and a set of ten pins. The
capacity of the school was 600 pupils. AJso on the
grounds was a home converted into a kindergarten
with room for another 100 children. It was dedicated
with great ceremony on February 20, 1897.
Its name was later changed to Cooper School
to honor Henry AJien Cooper, a Burlington lawyer
who became a United States Congressman from
this district, an office he held for 3 1 years.
Since the population during this period was

Henry Allen Cooper as
he appeared in the
1900's when he was a
U.S. Congressman.

28

predominantly German, sociable, agreeable,
gregarious, it was inevitable that a social club would
be formed.
On the evening of May 9, 1853, the Teutonia
Society was organized at the Catholic School on
the hill. The object of the society was to be "the
elevation and refinement of the popular song and
recreation of social life." The charter members were
Joseph Block, William Riel, Henry Martensen,
Francis Reuschlein, Jacob Muth, Julius Lueck, Dr.
Francis Kords, Joseph Wackerman, Sr., John Ries,
Richard Weygand, Conrad Bosshard, William Funk,
Charles Wagner, Frederick Keuper, Matthias Bach·
mayer, Henry Burhaus, Casper Scheidt, and William
Rein. Jacob Wambold, Martin Schafer, Ciriak
Prailes, Frederick Wilhoft and Jacob Oelten were
enrolled a few evenings later.
Until 1870, the society experienced financial
difficulties. To rent a meeting room, plus furnishing
a stove and wood and other necessities were
matters of great concern. It was even difficult to
obtain candles to light up the old school where
meetings were held. However, the result of a few
public concerts and a grand ball later swelled the
treasury so they were able to buy a club flag and
a piano.
In 1871, the German Dramatic Society and the
Tumer Society joined Teutonia and as one club,
planned to erect a hall. The building of the hall
was done most enthusiastically by the members,
some of whom borrowed sleighs and hauled stones
for the foundation whenever they had time. The
hall was erected at the corner of what is now Kane
Street and Milwaukee Avenue on a lot bought from
Peter Forbes for about a thousand dollars. The lot
and building cost $5,221.50.
On October 8, 1871, "Teutonia Hall" was to be
dedicated and a sumptuous feast was prepared,
but, the society members never ate a bit of it. For
that night Chicago was burning, and hearing about
the destitute, the society packed the big roasts and
everything that belonged with them and sent them
to the sufferers.
Now that the hall was finished, theatricals, music
and athletic sports flourished in the community.
There was now a place where concerts could be
given, plays produced and where men could
exercise on the turning poles and bars.
In May 1877, the society started a park project.
It purchased land for $1,216.50 west and opposite
Durgins Bridge (now the Airport Road bridge), overlooking the White River. The cost included the cost
of trees, labor and for the drilling of a well. The
next year, the land was sold again for about $1,000.
A feature of the park was the Brownson Cornet
Band which gave summer concerts there.
Another social group in town was the Burlington Lyceum Club, organized by citizens in 1859.
A weighty question discussed at one of the first
meetings was: "Resolved: That the taxpayers of the

Town of Burlington are justified in repudiating their
taxes as assessed for 1859." Whether the affirmative
won the debate and carried out the resolution isn't
known. A special notice was made that the ladies
as well as the gentlemen, were expected to attend.
Social groups also met at Schaeffer's Garden,
located near the mill race, in what is Echo Park
It furnished a place for bowling and dancing. During
the Civil War, soldiers drilled on the grounds. Hal
Cooper, a lad of 11, played the snare drum for
the drilling soldiers. At the east end of the Fox
River bridge, stood a building where concerts and
plays were given. This was probably the building
mentioned before in connection with Jacob Muth.
The Odd Fellows Lodge was the first fraternal
society to organize a lodge in Racine County. As
early as 1843, ten Odd Fellows got together in Burlington and formed a lodge which was subsequently
chartered by the Grand Lodge of Wisconsin. Fred
Loven of Kenosha was the first noble grand and
Jame Catton, vice grand. Others in that first lodge

29

Teutonia Hall, originally
built in October 1871,
shows an addition at
the rear, built for a
stage and loft.

Photo of cast iron sign
which can be seen in
the above photo above
the door of the
balcony.

An advertisement, in
German, for a
performance at
Teutonia Hall. Notice
the names of the
substantial
businessmen in the
cast.

A an u~cnacn ts.

~~eater!
in bet

x~atton.itt

4) ttlle !

tf

-I~-

Btn•li ng·ton, llris.
~outftttfl,

ben 20trn

~ou.

------n- - - - -

~itt ®liicflid)~r

~amtlien\)ater
~ujtjpiet

in !-} lllui.) ii ncn uon GlortH'r.

- -o-- -

\'rrfoncn:
~dcttnonn, ...... .
~mar, >.!l'id)H;i n, jcin

l}lojcnbcrn, mcnlcr,

0

. .... . . . . S,)~rr .(~on fL

91cifc, . . .. -,
0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

lllcuictJ(l'irt.
~~nrf)c.

"

'll'tldr, 'tlciicn nrnu, . ....... . Brf. ~mn>nnnb .
(tlnrn, if)rc EidJhlcftn, ....... , [1.\n l'b.
~ricfd, nnr6mrci(lct,
-~err ~- 6tnng.
(~Hf!c, .ninbnmiibd)cn, ... ... . - - · - - <tin 1)rojd)fcnfuijd)cr, ..... ...~err ~(nit.
0

91ocf) 'i>rr

0

0

°

0

0

~orjtdf tt nn

:

Xttn~frttttldJctt!
T eutonia Park looking
down from the top of
the hill and showing
the junction of the
White River and Honey
Creek

Q:intritt 25 (lt£1.-Stinbcr 15 (Itt\.
n'njjcncriiifnnnn 7 llf)r, - -

~lnfnnn

30

8 llfJ r.

were James Edmonds, Richard Weygand, Thomas
Marsland, J. W. Edmonds, and E. S. Voorhees. In
a few years after 1843, it was able to acquire a
good hall over Kantz' hardware store on Geneva
Street.
Masonic Lodge No. 28, F and A M was granted
a dispensation of February 7, 1849 and was
instituted under a charter dated December 15,
1849. For a time, the lodge met in the Odd Fellows
Hall, but later secured a hall of its own.
One of the most interesting characters in the
history of the town, was John Potter, "Bowie Knife
Potter" as he was known. He received nationwide
renown as a member of Congress representing this
district. In 1850, Potter practiced law in Burling·
ton. In 1856, he was a member of the Wisconsin
legislature and the same year was nominated and
elected to Congress. It was Lemuel Smith who
started Potter on his political career. Smith was to
have been sent to the state legislature, but the duties
of his farm and growing family seemed to make
his presence at home imperative.
Young Potter was a clerk in a grocery store at
the time, and Smith went to him and proposed
that he should go instead. Potter was reluctant. He
believed that Smith should rightfully have the place,
but Smith urged his acceptance and offered to
throw his influence behind Potter if he accepted.
Potter finally agreed to do it. He entered the
legislature in 1856. In the same year, he was
nominated for Congress and elected.
He was subsequently re-elected for the following
term. Potter entered Congress during what was
probably the most turbulent period in the history
of the body. It was a time when personal assault
took the place of dignified argument. It was while
he was there, the "Bowie Knife" incident took place.
A quarrel had arisen when Potter accused Roger
A. Pryor of erasing from the records some of the
remarks Potter had interpolated in another man's
speech. Pryor challenged Potter to a duel. "I was
not a good shot with a pistol," he said, "and I did
not propose to have any hair-trigger business. So
I proposed to bring the combat down to the first
principles of human butchery. I saw no reason to
accommodate him by going out of the District to
fight, therefore, I accepted his challenge with the
stipulation that the weapons should be Bowie
Knives and the encounter should take place in a
dosed room in the District of Columbia, each of
the principals to have two friends, both armed, and
the fight go on until one of the other of the principals
fell," Potter is quoted as saying.
The terms were refused by Pryor, who called them
barbarous. That Potter would stand by his offer and
fight on the terms proposed, no one doubted, and
Pryor knew it, too.
Pryor became the butt of ridicule everywhere,
even in the South, where for a time, he was almost
afraid to appear on a public platform because of

jibes from the audience.
The original Bowie Knife which Potter would have
used if Pryor had not declined to fight, was
presented years ago to Lawrence College at Apple·
ton, where it is preserved and treasured as a relic
of permanent interest.
On April 12, 1860 C. E. Dyer wrote the following
letter to Potter. "My dear sir: I have just read, with
great delight, the New York Tribune account of
Lovejoy's speech and your participation in the
proceeding that occurred during the delivery. Your
courageous and manly conduct on that occasion
in vindicating the freedom of debate, will receive
the warmest approbation of your constituents.
Thank God for such men as you and Lovejoy."
Later in a letter dated April 15, Dyer wrote; "A
dispatch has just been received informing us that
Pryor has challenged you and it causes not a little
excitement. As you are the challenged party, I
suppose you have a choice of weapons and if you
would accept, name as weapons those that God
has given you, your own strong arms and fists,
it would be a long time yet before you would be
out of Congress."
Potter was well liked in Washington. He was a
close friend of Uncoln, Chase, Sumner and others.
Lincoln appointed him counsel general to British
America at Montreal. He served in that capacity
for three years, then retired to his farm at Potter's
Lake where he lived until his death on May 18,
1899.
When the Civil War broke out, there was much
excitement here as well as in other parts of the
country. Two groups were organized in Burlington.
The Utley Guards (Company C of the First Infantry)
and the Burlington Rifles (Company E of the Fifth
Regiment).
The guards took their name from William L. Utley
who was Adjutant General of the state. He was also
head of military affairs during the first nine months
of the war. On September 18, 1861 there were
110 men in this company.
In the Rifles were enlisted the German men of
the community, 60 of them on this date. Into those
two companies went the men who answered the
first call for volunteers at the beginning of the war.
All young men of Class A of the Lincoln School
enlisted. The Cole brothers, Edwin Smith, Asa and
Frederick Wells, William Sheldon, John Sawyer,
Royce Partridge. Hal Cooper (drummer) and A. E.
"Eddy" Wells were younger, Iower-classmen. Just
boys, they were too young to serve, but could play
the drums for soldiers drilling in Schaefer's field.
(The last four men were not mentioned in the list
of enlisted men in the Racine County Militant.)
Officers were Robert Hill, captain; William E.
Gibbons, first lieutenant; and H. A. Sheldon, second
lieutenant.
On September 25, 1861, the Guards left Bur·
lington for the war, escorted to the train by the

German company, the German Brass Band, and
a great crowd of citizens.
Later volunteers joined various other companies,
including the 22nd Regiment of Infantry, organized
at Camp Utley at Racine, under the command of
Colonel W. L. Utley. They were mustered into service
on September 2, 1862. The 9th Battery of the Ught
Artillery, organized at Burlington under Captain
Cyrus Johnson, were mustered in on January 17,
1862.
An additional 253 men, mostly volunteers, went
to the war from Burlington. Of the total, 23 were
either killed in battle or died at home from wounds
received in the war.
The list of Burlington men who gave their lives
during the Civil War is as follows:
Henry E Benson, Company F, 2d. Wis., killed
July 21, 1861, Bull Run, VA.
Glaucius Royce, killed May 5, 1862, Williamsburg, VA.
Frank D_ Cole, Company F, 2d. Wis., killed Aug.
28, 1862, Gainsville, VA.
Julius Lueck, Company C, 1st Wis., killed Oct.
8, 1862, Chaplin Hills, KY.
John Weinborn, Company C, 1st Wis., killed Oct.
8, 1862, Chaplin Hills, KY.
31

John "Bowie Knife"
Potter

Designed by Jim
Bowie of "The Alamo"
fame to stab like a
dagger, slice like a
razor and chop like a
cleaver. A Bowie knife
such as this would
have been used by
Potter had he dueled
Pryor.

Soldiers' Monument,
located in the town
cemetery, was erected
in honor of those men
who died in the Civil
War. Their names are
inscribed on the
monument over the
words, "Our Fa/len
Heroes".

Dennis Callaghan, Company D, 20th Wis., killed
Dec. 8, 1862, Prairie Grove, AR.
August Schultz, Company H, 9th Wis., killed April
30, 1864, Jenkins Ferry, AR.
George Martin, Company E, 9th Wis., killed April
30, 1864, Jenkins Ferry, AR.
William Madama, Company H, 22d Wis., killed
July 20, 1864, Peach Tree Creek, GA.
J. Landgraf, Company H, 22d Wis., died May
19, 1864,Chattanooga,TN.
Gustave Hueblin, Company E, 9th Wis., died July
9, 1864, Uttle Rock, AR.
Joseph Brainard, Company C, 1st Wis., died July
1, 1863, Nashville, TN.
M. L. Crane, Company C, 1st Wis., died Bur·
lington from wounds at Chaplin Hills, KY.
Christopher Haas, Co. E, 9th Wis., died at Bur·
lington.
Henry Martensen, 35th Wis., died at Burlington.
Charles Neep, 2d Wis., died at Burlington.
Peter Wackerman, Company E, 9th Wis., died
at Burlington.
Charles May, 39th Wis., died at Burlington.
John C. Richards, 2d Ill., died at Burlington.
0 . Norris, Illinois Reg.
Herman Erdmann
E. Watteroth
Henry J. Kies
Of Civil War letters in the files of the Burlington Historical Society, two concerning Edwin E.
Smith and Lemuel Smith are especially interesting.
One, written by Edwin to his mother, Mrs. Lemuel
Smith, tells of a visit by President Lincoln and
Secretary Seward to Ft. William, Virginia, where
Smith was stationed.

The Matt Cunningham
Dry Goods Store on
Chestnut Street in
downtown Burlington.

32

"The President and Secretary Seward paid us
a visit at Fort De Russey and I had the honor of
giving them both a drink of water from my canteen.
The President looks poorer than when I saw him
last summer. Seward is not a very smart looking
man, he looks like a great many farmers I have
seen. Uncoln was dressed very shabbily, his coat
being split quite badly at the elbow. He evidently
does not intend to put on such style, especially
among soldiers. He would not allow any fuss to
be made over him, no guard turned out, no salute,
nor demonstrations of any kind. At the time of the
heaviest fighting, Tuesday evening, Uncoln and wife
were on the parapet of the fort next to us. A shot
from the Rebs struck a surgeon standing within
a very few feet of Old Abe. I guess that if the enemy
had known who he was, they would have tried
harder to hit him."
The second was a letter written by J . F. Potter
to Secretary of War Stanton. A copy reads:
East Troy, Wis.
August 18th, 1863
Hon. E. M. Stanton,
Secretary of War.
Dear Sir:
The bearer of this note, Mr. Lemuel Smith, visits
Washington for the purpose of seeing his son,
Edwin R. Smith, a private in the 1st Wis. Art., now
at Fort Worth. Mr. Smith is one of our most Joyal
and respectable citizens, whom I have known for
many years. Any facilities which may be extended
to him in the furtherance of his object, will be most
gratefully acknowledged by him as well as by me.
Yours respectfully,
John F. Potter

Chapter4

Development of City
1870-1890

~J I
,_

The Civil War brought dull times. A lull in the
growth of the village lasted until 1881 or 1882.
Trade and commerce were at a low ebb, especially
following the monetary crisis which swept the nation
in 1873. It was a time of scarce money. Money
around Burlington was tight. Local trade was
reverting to out·and·out bartering as a way of life.
In 1872, the Burlington Woolen Mills, trying to
preserve its funds, offered no cash whatever for
100 cords of wood needed to fuel its boilers but
was willing to give "cloth, flannels, yarn, etc., in
exchange for same." Stores offered 10 percent
discounts on merchandise to customers who would
lay hard money on the counter. It was not the best
of times.
There were changes in the Perkins' mills. In 1871,
Pliny retired due to ill health and rented his woolen
mill to his sons, James and Edward, who took in
a brother·in·law, Andrew Lawton, with them in the
management of affairs. They kept it for five years,
then lost it in the 1873 crisis and the failure of
state banks. E.N. White, a local dealer in wool,
bought it and kept it running, using 75,000 to
100,000 pounds of wool a year.
When the oil and grist mills burned in July 1864
only the flouring mill was rebuilt, grinding again
in February 1865. On September 5, 1874, the grist
mill burned again and the walls were so severely
damaged that they had to be razed. Undaunted,

Pliny and his sons had a more substantial structure
erected at a cost of $20,000, then sold it to Elliott
Benson and Maurice L. Ayers. Mer a time Benson
retired and Ayers ran it successfully alone.
As an instance of its world·wide renown; in 1878,
500 barrels of flour were shipped to Glasgow,
Scotland and 3,000 barrels to Hamburg, Germany.
Some years the mill had to run day and night to
process 300,000 bushels of wheat. Ayers owned
it until changing conditions put it out of business.
Wheat was the leading farm product locally
through the Civil War days when livestock and
dairying, which had made inroads by 1860, became
the major farm industry. M er the war, wheat fell
from first place. Growing it on the same soil year
after year and shallow cultivating exhausted the
land, blight and cinch bugs caused increasing
damage. Wheat growing moved west to Minnesota
and the Dakotas. Oats and barley were still grown
here to supply the malting towers of Jacob Muth
and the new Finke·Uhen brewery, but they needed
no mill.
By 1920, the renowned Perkins/Ayers mill was
no more. It was only a hole in the ground and
only basement walls bore witness that it had existed.
A change in the downtown building occurred
in 1874. Charles J . Jones moved the wood·framed
"Burlington Hotel" that had been built by Pliny
Perkins and Hugh McLaughlin in 1839, to a .site
33

In the 1870's, the
stores to the left of the
Jones House housed a
millinery shop, the
Bank of Burlington,
Cunningham's
Clothing Store,
Prasch 's Drug Store
(Notice the mortar and
pesUe.), both Foltz Dry
Goods and Buell
Hardware in the Buell
Block, and Stang's
Enterprise Store.

(Ayers Mill) ·flour sack

The Exchange Hotel
run by John Mather on

the north side of Pine
Street, west of
Chestnut Street

half a block south on Milwaukee Avenue, where
it was used many years as a tenement building
until it burned. In its place he built a fine, new,
three-story brick hotel and the opening of the Jones
House was marked with a great celebration.
Adjoining it he erected a brick store building called
the Jones Block which eradicated the vacant lot
where stagecoach watchers had gathered for years.
No sooner did he have the hotel built when he
retired from the business and sold it to A.J .. Hannas,
who now owned both the Jones House and the
Exchange House on Pine Street.
Despite the fact that this was not the best time
to open a new bank, Jerome I. Case, a wealthy
threshing machine manufacturer in Racine, thought
the time had come to open a bank in a growing
community. Burlington had about 1,200 people in
the village and more on the numerous surrounding
farms. He formed a group of monied men of Racine
(Stephen Bull, Robert Baker, Massena Erskine,
Chauncey Hall) wealthy enough to put up $50,000
cash. For a local connection he persuaded
Burlington farmer Luther C. Anderson and mill
owner Maurice Ayers to join them. Chauncey Hall
was sent by Case to scout the village to learn of
any possible opposition to outside capitalists setting
up shop in the village. He found there was.
When word of Case's intentions got around, a
group of Burlington men quickly organized a local
34

bank of their own. E.N. White, HA Sheldon, P.M.
Perkins and Jacob Muth were a part of the group.
They were capitalized at $50,000 of which only
$}5,000 was in cash, the rest in bank notes.
Both groups sought a charter for a national bank
and the prestigious name of The First National Bank
of Burlington.
Enoch Squires in the Standard Press related this
account of the rivalry:
"As soon as the Case crowd learned that
the rival local group was after a national
charter, Ayers volunteered to make a late·
night dash by horse into Milwaukee to catch
the ear of U.S. Senator Matt Carpenter. The
senator apparently had enough power to
swing the charter one way or the other.
Whichever group got it would be given the
right to the imposing name, "The First
National Bank of Burlington."
As a result of his midnight mission, Ayers
was assured the senator would endorse the
application of Case, et al. The victory was
theirs, but it was close. On leaving the
senator's house Ayers came face to face
with an emissary from the all-Burlington
group. Under the circumstances, all
Senator Carpenter could do was suggest
the second group apply for a charter as
the Second National Bank of Burlington.

Instead, they decided to operate with a state
charter, under the name of "The Peoples
State Bank"
After six years of having no local bank, Burlington
for a short time, had two.
The First National of Burlington opened on Feb·
ruary 26, 1872, with Jerome I. Case, president; M.
L. Ayers, vice president; Chauncey Hall, cashier.
Luther Hall was on the board of directors. Case
left the management of the bank to Chauncey Hall,
seldom appearing in Burlington. As evidence of
Hall's good management, the bank weathered the
1873 monetary crisis with no serious problems and
by 1883 had deposits totalling $160,000, high for
those days.
When Chauncey Hall died in 1890, his son
Eugene succeeded him and when that young man
was killed accidentally, Mrs. Chauncey Hall carried
on the business successfully into the 1900's.
In 1891, nineteen years after its founding, the
bank was reorganized from a national to a state
bank, same officers, but the name was changed
to the Bank of Burlington.
The first home of the bank was a vacant store
building on the south side of Chestnut Street
adjacent to the Jones Block which adjoined the
hotel. It remained in this building for 38 years. In
all that time the only improvements needed were
a new glass front, new red oak flooring and a brick
pylon in the basement to support a new vault on
the first floor.
The Peoples State Bank did not fare well. When
it opened in 1872 it had only $15,000 cash in its
capitalization. With the stiff competition of the other
bank, it could not survive the crisis following 1873.
It lasted only six years, going into receivership in
1878. (Author's note: An indication of the
strong ethnic element in Burlington at the
time; the instructions in the pass book were
printed in German as well as English.)
These years saw the erection of several new
churches. St. John's Evangelical Lutheran congre·
gation had been organized in 1858 and had
met in the brick schoolhouse and in members'
homes. In 1874, the congregation built a fine, new,
frame church on the corner of Pine and Madison
Streets. A parsonage was built in 1887 and a school
building in 1895. German was the main language
of the church in its beginning until 1930 when
English began to be used in services and gradually
replaced German which was discontinued in 1950.
Another Lutheran congregation was formed as
the Holy Cross Evangelical Lutheran Church on
May 5, 1883. Acting without delay, they laid the
cornerstone for their new church on July 11th of
that year. Built of brick instead of the usual wood
frame, it was erected on the corner of Jefferson
Street and North Perkins Boulevard. Here, too,
services were conducted exclusively in German until
1916 when English began to be introduced.

The first Episcopalian service was held in the
old Union Free Church in February 1859. Although
the congregation adopted the name St. John the
Divine, they had no home of their own, meeting
in a store building or a borrowed church until 1884.
In that year they bought a lot at the intersection
of Edward Street and Perkins Boulevard and held
the first service in the new church on June 19,
1894. It is interesting to note that the bricks were
donated by Edward Brook, part owner of the
Burlington Brick and Tile Company, who also
hauled stone for the basement from the quarry at
Voree.
The Plymouth Congregational Church's 18
founding members were made up of Methodists,
Baptists and Presbyterians and held their meetings
in the little brick school house on Madison Street
in the 1840's. They bought the wood Presbyterian
church on Milwaukee Avenue and improved it with
a new front and a new spire. Fire damaged it in
1895. By 1900, it was razed and in 1902 a
cornerstone was laid for a new brick church to be
dedicated in 1903.

35

The first of three
homes for the Bank of
Burlington, used by the
bank from 1872 to
1909 when it moved
into the new building
built by C.B. McCanna
on Pine and Chestnut
Streets. The final move
was made to the
location on South Pine
Street.

A Holy Cross Lutheran
(old), (Historical
Society Museum)
B. German Methodist
C. St. John's Episcopal
D. Plymouth
Congregational

The German Methodists formally organized
about 1862. Their church was built on the corner
of Perkins Boulevard and Washington Street. As
the younger generation of German Methodists grew
up in an English speaking environment they came
to prefer the English church service and conse·
quently formed their own group in 1899, calling
themselves the First Methodist Church. Both
groups used the German church building unti1 1902
when the English group erected their church at
the corner of State Street and Perkins Boulevard.
In 1922, the two congregations united into one.
The church building the Germans had built was
sold to the Town of Burlington for use as a town
hall.
St. Mary's Roman Catholic congregation had
greatly outgrown the small St. Sebastian's Church
on the hill by the year 1854. After five years of
fund-raising and two years of hauling stone from
the farms of parishioners the Church of the
Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
was dedicated on December 5, 1859. This
impressive stone structure probably will stand
forever on its site on McHenry Street, just south
of State Street. St. Sebastian's was converted into
a two-floor school, classes in German taught on
the first floor, classes in English on the second.
It was Burlington's first parochial school.
During the next 32 years, the congregation grew
as the village grew. Again a larger church was
needed and a magnificent new St. Mary's Church
was built on the corner of State and McHenry streets.
Dedication ceremonies were held on December 10,
1891. Again the old church, the stone church, was
remodeled into a school, replacing old St.
Sebastian's which was taken over by the St.
Eustachius Benevolent Society and named St.
Eustachius Hall.
One remarkable happening may be mentioned
here: Reverend Michael Wisbauer was the first and
only priest at St. Sebastian's Church and served
all during the time the stone church was active

36

F

E

-~~­
~ ~ f •

. . . a tenure of 42 years.
The earliest newspaper in the vicinity, the Voree
Herald, was published by James J. Strang in
January 1846, to keep the Mormon congregation
in touch with events in the rest of the church. The
first issue dealt mainly with Strang's own account
of receiving a letter from Nauvoo, Illinois from
Joseph Smith, the founder of the Mormon church,
appointing Strang to take over the leadership of
the church.
For one year, beginning in December 1846, the
paper, still owned by Strang, was edited by John
Greehow, mainly to report on the growing
controversies within the church.
In September 1847, Strang resumed editorship
and renamed the paper the Gospel Herald. It
continued an active life into 1850 when Strang took
his church members to Beaver Island in northern
Michigan seeking a more peaceful haven.
The first Burlington newspaper was the short lived
Burlington Weekly Gazette put out by H.W. Phelps
in 1859. Financial problems brought it to an end
after only a year in existence.
In 1863, a long lasting newspaper business began.
Despite changes iri ownership and in name, it
remains the oldest business in Burlington, a
prosperous enterprise from the day of its founding.
Lathrop E. Smith, editor and part owner of a
newspaper in Beloit, Wisconsin, was induced by
a group of Burlington people to aid President
Lincoln's war effort by putting out a paper here
with strong Republican sentiments. The first issue
of his Burlington Standard came out on October

14, 1863. His paper was a success but his last
issue was printed August 15, 1866. Smith was not
a robust man and ill health caused him to sell to
another staunch Republican, Henry S. Devereaux.
Devereaux's successful career extended from
1866 to 1881 when ill health again made a change
in newspaper ownership. Two of his employees,
Michael Wagner and C. Eddie Sawyer, bought the
paper to keep it alive and continued to publish it
on a nonpartisan basis. At this time the paper had
a healthy circulation of 800 copies.

37

E. St. John's Lutheran
(old}, Pine and
Madison Streets
F. St. Mary's old stone
church

Strang house.

Standard Democrat
when it was owned by
Henry E Zimmermann
in the 1900's. It was
located on the west
side of Geneva Street
(Milwaukee Avenue),
riorth of Chestnut
Street.

In April of 1886, Wagner and Sawyer sold the
paper to James Stoner. A great change took place.
Stoner was an ardent Democrat. The editorial policy
changed "to keep alive the true principles of
Jeffersonian Democracy" and the name was
changed to the Standard Democrat.
During the 1800's "big city" newspapers did not

The interior of the
Standard Democrat
office. In the photo,
from left to right, Louis
Zimmermann, Henry
Bollow, Warner
Zimmermann and
Theodore Kom.

38

reach small towns. Local papers then devoted more
of their space to national and state news. Local
happenings rated second page status. In a small
town everyone knew everyone and news went by
word of mouth faster than the paper could print
it. It wasn't until after 1900 that much local reporting
made the front page.
When Henry E. Zimmermann bought the
Standard Democrat from Stoner in 1889 he began
featuring local news prominently and for the benefit
of the many German people in the village printed
Der Standard Demokrat in German from 1896 to
1911.
In 1880, Henry Devereaux's Republican paper
encountered competition from the Burlington
Democrat founded by Levi Alden. That paper's
democratic leaning did not last long, for Alden soon
sold the paper to William A. Colby, who changed
the name to the Burlington Free Press. He also
changed its allegiance to the Republican party just
at the time when James Stoner changed Devereaux'
Republican paper to the Democratic banner. So
here now were two papers representing both
political parties, but in opposite camps.
When William Colby retired in 1891 to become
postmaster of the Burlington Post Office, W.R.
Devor became publisher and editor of the
Burlington Free Press until 1920 when he sold the
paper to Kirchner and Koch.

Chapter 5

Industry and Utilities Grow
1890-1935
During the late 1880's, great strides were made
in the growth of the village. In November 1886,
the settlement reached the status of an incorporated
village and in February 1900 it became a city. The
modern amenities of water, sewer system, electric·
ity, telephone, gas for heating and cooking came
in to being.
A second railroad laid its tracks through
Burlington. The Wisconsin Central arrived in 1884.
Coming from the south it followed the east bank
of the Fox River, into the downtown area, crossed
the White River west of the millpond and continued
north.
The two rail lines had a great effect on the growing
prosperity of the city. It is hard to believe there
were as many as sixteen trains a day entering and
leaving the city. Mail, milk, grain, wool, flour, sheep,
drain tile, blankets, foundry products going out; all
kinds of retail merchandise coming in and a
constant stream of passengers. More business and
industrial life followed than was ever known before
in the history of the place.
From the time in 1839 when the Town of
Burlington was formed in Racine County, Burlington village was an unincorporated unit within the
town and was governed by town laws. When in
1886, population in the area to be incorporated
had increased to 1,744 residents, it was eligible
to be incorporated.
A petition was filed with the circuit court which
granted the petition and ordered an election to be
held in November of that year at which the
proposition for incorporation was passed. The first
officers elected on November 30 were: E. Merten,
president, F. Reuschlein, clerk, Eugene Hall,
treasurer, and George Norton, police constable.
Within three years the town fathers and the new
village officials had a large brick building built on
the corner of Pine and Washington streets. This
would replace the old church/town hall on Perkins
and Jefferson streets. Beside the municipal offices,
the building had room to store the fire engine, a
hook and ladder truck, a jail cell and a tower for
the fire bell. In succeeding years at various times
this interesting building held a library, a chocolate
factory, a creamery, book store, drapery shop and
more.
Burlington became a city on February 27, 1900,
when the population had increased to 2,256
residents. First officers were: G.C. Rasch, mayor,
George Waller, clerk, L.J. Brehm, treasurer, L.A.

WESTERN

UNION~

R-A-1-L- R-0-A-D-.

Western Union Train
Schedule. It was hard
to believe there were as
many as 16 trains a
day entering and
leaving the city.

T I~E : TABLE_
Trains Going East.
PaR~enger J)epa.rt$ .....•..• . . . . ... ..... 7
A.M.
Arrives at Milwaukee ...... . .. .....•... 9:25 A.M.
"
Rllcine ...................... 9
A.M.
"
Chicago ..................... 11
A.M.
4: Freight Departs ............ . ......... 3:10 ·p, M.
l'assenger Depar'ts ....... . ..... ........ b :15 P. M.
Arri'Ves at Racine ....................... 6:45 P. M.
"
Milwaukee .. ... . .. .. .. .. .. . .. 7 :20 P . M .
:j: The only •rrain in P. M. making connections for
.Chicago.

,..I:'rains Goi ng

~Nest.

1:

Pa~senger Depart~ .. ......... . .... .. . .. 9:18 A. lit.
lrreight <J.nd Accom modations Depar t, . .. U :30 A. J\L
l'a.~seuger Departs . . . .. . . .. .. . . • .. ..... 8 :36 P. M.
:): M11.ke connection~ at Clinton , Beloit, Freeport,
l<'ulton and Rock-Island.

+

'! 'rain leaves Milwau kee at 6:20 fo r Burlingtnn,
Leaves Racine at. ................... •. .• 6:45 P. M.
" Ch ica~~;o at .. .. ..................... 5
P. 1\'1.
Three trains only each way carr y Pas>enger8.

Reuschlein, assessor, and Louis H. Rohr, attorney.
The city officials with a new spirit carried on the
improvements started by the village government
and added new ones: Paving of streets, a waterworks, a sewer system, a real fire department and
city-wide postal service. Now the city could lift itself
out of the mud and provide a more comfortable,
a safer and healthier environment for its citizens.

Old City-Town Hall at
the comer of Pine and
Washington streets.
Note the tower for the
fire bell and the
entrances for the fire
equipment.
/

39

Burlington streets
came out of the mud
when the brick paving
of the streets was
begun in 1909. Vitrified
red brick was laid on
Geneva Street
(Milwaukee Avenue)
and Chestnut Street.
Only the downtown
area was paved then.

The first waterworks
station was built in
1890. It was located on
Commerce Street. The
well is still in the
basement, but capped.

The coming of the railway was the incentive for
the initial paving project. In 1909, the Milwaukee
Electric Railway and Ught Company was franchised
to build an electric rail line from Milwaukee to
Burlington. In the city the line followed the Fox
River to Geneva Street (Milwaukee Avenue) and
continued south to St. Mary's cemetery. The terms
of the contract provided that the company improve
the street between the rails, at crosswalks and on
either side of the rails. That offered the opportunity
to complete paving Geneva Street along the railway
to the McHenry Street intersection. Paving with
vitrified red brick (with "Purington" [sic] impressed
on it) continued around the bend of Chestnut Street
and the business section of Pine Street.

.,. .. .
· i ...

'~~~-~"~~--:g~
40

By September 1909, the downtown had come
into the modern age.lt wasn't long before the paving
on Pine Street was continued to Madison Street
and that Jefferson Street was paved to the
Wisconsin Central railroad tracks. Next came the
defining of widths of residential streets for
construction of curb and gutter.
Previous to this, the village had ordered sidewalks
of wood or cement be constructed throughout the
downtown area. At last people could move about,
walk and drive without suffering the mud and dust
and ruts and debris of those former dirt streets.
A city wide water system began to be possible
when in April 1889 the Burlington Artesian Well
and Water Company was organized with a capital
of $5,000 to drill a well at a site on the north side
of Pine Street near Mill Street. The company was
formed by George Wilbur, C.B. McCanna, Eugene
Hall, Charles Foltz, Matt Cunningham, E. Merten
and George Verhalen. At 1,008 feet an abundant
supply of excellent water was found. The next year
a total of $28,000 in bonds was issued to build
a pump house and a reservoir adjacent to it, a
water tower and more than five miles of pipe. The
tower was built on the hill at the west end of Lewis
Street on a piece of land donated by Arthur Smith,
who was the son of early settler Lemuel Smith.
The project was completed during the spring and
summer of 1890 and there was a large celebration
on August 18 when the water was turned on for
the first time. "This begins a new era in the history
of Burlington," said the Standard Press of that date.
In 1890, when the waterworks was established,
the fire department was reorganized. An item in
the Racine newspaper, dated April 14, 1890, printed
this account of Burlington.
" The Village of Burlington is reaching out toward
metropolitan propensities and for her size and
population is getting there at a more rapid pace
than the Belle City (Racine). Long ago a fine electric
light plant was put in; They have a couple of
railroads, and now a waterworks plant is being built.

Many large buildings are in course of construction
and new houses are dotted here and there."
In 1909, the waterworks was improved and water
mains extended. Water meters were installed to
charge customers more fairly for service. By the
end of 1914 all who wanted could be served. Not
all did. Some considered "hooking up" too costly
and stood by their hand pumps in the back yard
and the rainwater cistern pump in the kitchen.
In this modern age of luxurious bathrooms, it
is hard to realize that up to 1895 and beyond, all
downtown stores and all residences had outdoor
privies, homes had chamber pots under the beds.
That situation began to be alleviated when in 1895
a sewer line was dug in from Milwaukee Avenue
around the bend of Chestnut Street to and along
Pine Street to Jefferson Street to empty into the
Fox River below the bridge. However, it wasn't until
May of 1908 that city officials voted to provide an
adequate sanitary sewerage system for the whole
city and at the same time voted to install storm
sewers to take care of surface water. Raw sewage
was still dumped in the Fox River until 1934 when
a sewage disposal plant was built on a site south
of the city along the Fox River near the intersection
of the Sao Une and the St. Paul railroad tracks.
In the early 1800's, fire fighters were handicapped
by lack of water and sparse equipment. Cisterns
were dug in strategic places and kept filled with
water, but never enough for a big fire. Equipment
would consist of leather buckets, a hose cart with
a hand pump and a few hundred feet of rubber
or canvas hose. Most often a burning building would
be doomed and efforts made just to save nearby
ones.
In 1877, E.S. Vorhees was foreman of a 20 man
company and J.E. Faitoute and Charles Keuper
were assistants. The next year a hook and ladder
company of 35 members was formed headed by
Louis Konst. In 1879, there were 80 men in both
companies.
"The men take great pride in their organization
and have carried off a number of prizes for
exhibitions of skill, including one from Freeport of
$250 and a silver pitcher obtained at the Chicago
tournament last September (1878)", a report of
the time stated.
In 1890, improvements were made to Burlington's fire system. Equipment was updated, a new
hose wagon and 1 ,000 feet of hose was added
to the 300 feet then on hand and a $100 fire bell
was hung in the village hall belfry. A building on
Uberty Street (later to be renamed State Street),
at the Hillside, (the area around the junction of
Uberty and McHenry streets), was leased to store
fire apparatus for that end of town. Included in the
equipment was the remodeled old manhandled
hose cart. Even to the present day, the department
is manned by volunteers.
In 1907, a fire alarm system was installed with

This water tower was
built in 1890 and
served the city until it
was no longer used
and became a historic
monument.

alarm boxes placed in each ward. Citizens could
tell where in the city the fire was burning by the
number of blasts from the steam powered whistle
at the waterworks.
The police department in 1907 consisted of
Marshal Frank Beller who had served as Village
Marshall since 1896. When the office of Chief of
Police was created in 1908, he became chief. Beller
had a couple of policeman to help him. He held
that office until 1934 when he retired on a pension.
Chief Beller never carried a gun. A "billy club" (now
among the artifacts of the Burlington Historical
Society), and his two brawny fists were all he needed

41

The steam operated
pumps in the water
station.

Frank C. Beller as he
appeared midway
through his long career
as Burlington's first

to the force. Squad cars were bought and for a
time there was a motorcycle traffic patrol.
It is interesting to note that utilities such as
electricity and telephone, and the coming of the
automobile, came into this city while inventions
were still in experimental stage. Newer cities from
their very beginning took such things for granted.
In 1879, Thomas Alva Edison had perfected the
incandescent lamp and the generating equipment
to supply it with current. Soon he had men traveling
through the country promoting the establishment
of more generating plants using equipment
manufactured by his company.
One of these salesmen aroused the interest of
Leonard J. Smith and C.D. Hubbard Jr. William
and John Wagner owned a machine shop on Pine
Street across from the Ayers (formerly Perkins)
flouring mill. Steam power was already being used
there and there was a small building available at
their plant.
The four men, in 1888, formed the Burlington
Electric Company. They installed two 12Y.! kilowatt
Edison, bi·polar, direct current dynamos and a 60
horsepower boiler and a 40 horsepower Atlas Automatic steam engine to drive them. Electric current
was first produced on November 22, 1888.
Now came the opportunity for lighting up the
village. Twenty-four street lights were strung
through the village, mainly at the center of street
intersections. One light bulb with a white reflecting
shade was suspended in the center of each crossing
from a cable reaching from street corner to street
corner. They were 32 candlepower (equivalent to
a 100 watt bulb) incandescent bulbs and cost the
village a rental fee of $1.50 each month. The lights

police chief.

to keep law and order.
As Burlington grew, the need for an expanded
police department also grew. In 1934, Lawrence
Grossman succeeded Frank Beller as Chief of
Police. Hubert Schenning, Roy McCourt, E.J. Alby,
Art Rein, and Charles Wilson were policemen added

MYw ....w..~I~

krr. ... /.~ ........ . ............ 189 i

Burlington, Wis.,

.................
IN ACCOUNT WITH

HALL & SMITH ELECTRIC COMPANY.
All ln~andesce nt Lamps R.enewed Afte r 6oo Lamp Ho:trs at Company's Expense.
Lamps are the Proporty of the Compa ny . Changes o f Wires, Et~., at Consumer'.< Expense.
On Meter Bills of $5 Per Month and Over, 10 per cent . Discount for C2sh. On Bills of $10 a nd Over, 20 per cent . Discount.
All Bills Due on the 1oth of Ea c h Mo~th.

Tim~ of Scnice ~~~'1'--o-!l~o..:.'~·-lc~>C_k. ~To 12o'l"fo("k.l

-("Ul_l<_
ll~-1'o-"·-pr~

-~~ 2:_

_ (i

_-

l_i

All :\ight . l

l'ont1 !ll"t

~~-~2~_ ~-1i _- ,-](-;_-,!j-:l

l"

--

Pl'il'{'

P rou!'lt In t u

uf Met r

... ..... .. ....... ... .... .....

___:__r~--~- ~~ - ----~-! --~ ~;:;~;~-~;.:
}'l·irt?

]IN'

:\font h

I .,.

•ld

i

"II

·I

I

'Ill
•

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

- 11
·>

I --

I•)

I

1.,.
.,..)

-f,l
c

l(JO 1.,
fl)

P~>" Month.

I I I (f-

t"'if~

For the Month Ending ..... ~ ............... 1oth, 189 ¥.
An 1898 electric bill.
Notice the various
options for ordering
electric service.

~

-

/~ ~

_ 1 •

~

~

.

~-

A.

~r

·,

\

1

6lv-v'
I

II

Received Payment,

'

• i..__ ;

· I'

1

· ·

.... ...Y.?r.Atl.'/. ..J.t.1-.:1dJ//;. ....t~.{_/..(!;j_j__(..........c•..
'.)

\

42

$

;1

,_. .._

1-j.-c..

l'- J..,f \'\. , 1\'<'...C.J\"'.). •

'
:;_t;'l.

.~? /

·

., ,

I

v.

:• _. /

~ · '; ,

· .

..

were first lit on August 5, 1889, probably to the
cheers of delighted spectators.
Lamplighter John Schumacher did not cheer.
The old oil lamps were no longer needed nor were
his services. His $7 a month job no longer existed.
Stores used the same size bulbs, rented at $1.00
a month. Homes used 16 candlepower (60 watt)
bulbs for 50 cents a month. The homes of Leonard
Smith, Eugene Hall, Fred Wilhoft, C.B. McCanna,
C.A. Jones, Anthony Meinhardt, Matt Cunningham
and Andrew Patterson were the first residences
wired.
Electricity was such a maiVel that the man who
installed it into his home rated an item in the local
newspaper. An 1889 news item reported, "The
Edison incandescent electric light system is in
practical use. All business houses, the Teutonia
Opera House and many of the private dwellings
have discarded petroleum and adopted the electric
current. There are at present nearly 300 lamps in
use."
Service was not always constant: Sunday was
a day of rest for the men at the plant and current
was available only from dusk until 11 p.m. In
churches the organs were pumped by hand for
morning services and could use the electric blowers
in the evening only. If a Teutonia Society dance
was still going strong at shutting-off time, someone
would quickly pass the hat, then run down to the
plant to persuade the operator to keep the
generators going until 3 a.m.
Late in 1892, Eugene Hall and Leonard Smith
bought out the interests of Hubbard and the
Wagners and renamed the company the Hall &
Smith Electric Company. Pliny Perkins had built
a woolen mill in 1843 on a site later used by the
Veterans Memorial Building in Echo Park. There
he used water power in its operation. It had burned
in 1878 and had not been rebuilt. The site suited

Hall and Smith. The sluice, flume and wheel
chamber were still in fair condition so in 1894 they
acquired the property and put up a building on
the old foundation and installed new water wheels
to drive two 30 kilowatt Seaman & Halske
generators. To back up the sometimes erratic water
power they also installed boilers and a steam
engine.
The new company furnished all-night service,
with men on duty around the clock. Shifts were
divided among T.E. Hanson, John Roper, and
William Leach. For a 12 hour day, six day week
the pay was $40 a month. For four years these
three men not only ran the plant, (remember both
steam engines and waterwheels were to be tended),
but did all the res~dential and commercial wiring
as well as regular line maintenance work.
As time went on more men were added, still,
when companies are small any job is inclusive in
its duties. When William Leach became manager
of the Burlington Electric Light and Power

The Hall and Smith
electric company plant,
built on the remains of
Perkins burned woolen
mill.

Interior of the electric
company plant
generating room.
Water came through a
sluiceway from the mill
pond to tum the waterwheels that powered
the generators.

43

William Leach became
the manager of the
electric company in
1902.

Company (formed when Leonard Smith acquired
sole interest in 1902), he stoked boilers when he
was needed, read meters, figured bills and sent
his children, Richard and Edith, to deliver them.
Bills not paid at the office he would collect, keeping
the money overnight in a sugar sack under his
pillow.
He was also the promotional department.
Sometimes he would carry a few flat irons on his
meter reading rounds and induce housewives to
use the iron until he came around again the next
month. No obligation, of course, but if she liked
it, she might buy it, (and increase the use of current).
(Author's note: Mr. Leach must have been
a colorful man, for at a late age he received
an airplane pilots license and was known to
fly in almost any weather. He was one of the
early licensed pilots from Burlington. He
housed his airplane and flew from a small
triangular field located at Highway 142 and
County Trunk J. He also played the flute, and
sometimes was featured at concerts spon·
sored by various organizations.)
The electric company was manufacturing and
sending out direct current. This does not travel well
for long distances. There is a severe voltage drop
and the longer the distance, the heavier the wire
needed. C.B. McCanna had his own generator at
his milk condensing plant and was attempting to
supply current to the Brass Works without much
success. In 1907, he and William Leach bought
an alternator and installed it at the electric company
plant. This not only solved the power problem
downtown, but also could brighten up the whole
city to the very fringes.
The distribution system was the province of
William (Pete) Johnson and his line crew. Probably
the most faithful member of the crew was Tessie,
an unpredictable horse, that pulled the wagon
loaded with line material. It must be remembered
44

that streets and roads were not paved and the
wagon was an iron wheeled affair. Tessie was ready
and willing to start at seven in the morning
(everything had to be loaded and ready to go by
then), and she would work like a trouper without
complaint. But she would not overtax her strength.
If, on a soggy day, the going got too tough, Tessie
would stop dead until the load was lightened or,
as far as she was concerned, that was the end of
the line.
In 1918, Leonard Smith sold the local company
to the Wisconsin Gas & Electric Company of Racine
with the provision that William Leach was retained
as manager. Electricity now came from Milwaukee
through a sub-station at the east end of Congress
St. to the switching equipment at the "woolen mill"
plant where the current was synchronized with the
generator there. The water wheels were still being
used but the boilers and steam engine had been
removed. It was a rather unorthodox arrangement
and B.C. Evans, looking at it, remarked, "This
operates only by the grace of God!"
The old plant kept on supplying some power
until 1933, by which time the water wheels were
shut down and all power came from five transmission lines coming into the Congress Street
substation from an outside source.
In 1950, the Wisconsin Gas & Electric Company,
by order of the Public Service Commission, became
the Wisconsin Natural Gas Company. Its electric
utility property was bought by the Wisconsin Electric
Power Company with headquarters at Milwaukee
and Burlington became a part of the extension
system of that company.
The first telephone line in Burlington was put
in by George Wilbur, founder of the Wilbur Lumber
Company, in 1886 to connect his Burlington and
Lake G~neva offices. It was a private line and worked
so well that other businesses became interested.
George's son, Ross, set up a "central office" to
accommodate 12 other business houses. The W.J.
Finke, brewery, Jacob Gill's Red Fox Inn, Dr. Hicks,
The Jones House, were among them. Ross was
trouble crew as well as "central." When there was
line trouble he donned his spikes, climbed poles
and fiXed it.
There were a couple of other private lines before
Ross Wilbur extended his little company. There was
one between the Meinhardt Bank and the Meinhardt
residence, another between the Foltz and Chandler
homes.
By 1899, the Wilburs had sold their lines to the
Wisconsin Telephone Company. In 1890, the
telephone directory listed 19 subscribers: Dr. J.H.
Bower, Burlington, Blanket Company, Burlington
Brick & Tile Company, The Central House Hotel,
C.M. & St. Paul Depot, W.J. Finke, Jacob Gill, Dr.
LN. Hicks, Kearney & Rohr Lawyers, Dr. H. LaHahn,
F.G. Klein, Lincoln Ice Company, Nic May, C.B.
McCanna, McDonald· Brothers, St. Mary's Island,

Wilbur Lumber Company and Wisconsin Central,
Depot.
In 1897, the office was located in the Miller block,
the second floor of Joe Miller's barber shop at the
bend in Chestnut Street (#140). To many people
the invention was a marvel. One newspaper
reported that a number of villagers in Mr. Harrises
Rochester store were "gasping in wonderment,
almost unbelieving when Mr. Harris announced he
could hear them talking from Burlington five miles
away."
By 1900, telephones had become familiar objects.
The golden oak case with the crank handle on the
side appeared on many kitchen walls. One alerted
Central by whirling the crank, then telling her to
whom you wanted to speak. There may have been
eight or ten customers on the same line, each with
a distinctive ring, i.e., three longs, two longs and
a short, etc. All people along the line could hear
these rings and being familiar with them would
know who was being called and when a call was
not for them. How often though, could one hear
the clicks of receivers being picked up by listeners·
in!
It was a great time for neighborliness. Central
(whether she was Myra or Ellie or Gerty) became
the friendly hub of information. She would know
all of the news that passed through the lines. She
would know by voice who the frantic caller was
who shouted, "Oh Ellie, call me a doctor quick!"
and hung up. Ellie would call the doctor, then call
a neighbor to run over and help. She could inform
one caller that the called party was not at home
but visiting elsewhere and would call that number.
In times of fire or storm her switchboard, which
often was in her own home, could be busy 'round
the clock.
In 1913, the magneto system was changed to
a common battery system. No longer was the hand
crank needed to generate current to signal the
operator, nor was periodic replacement of worn
out batteries in each phone needed. The source
of all current was in the central office. This was
the year when the office moved from the second
floor of the Miller block to more spacious quarters
in the first floor rear of the new Bank of Burlington
building.
Telephone use spread rapidly. In 1945, there were
1,920 phones, in 1956, 3,360. There were more
telephone operators too, a chief operator and a
number of switchboard operators, still furnishing
the helpful, personal service phone customers
depended on.
That changed in 1956 when dial service began.
Through an intricate system of electro-mechanical
switching devices a user could connect directly and
almost instantly with any telephone he chose to
call without any other human being involved.
To house that switching equipment, a new
building was put up at the corner of Washington

/ltJGJ11,1/t:You 7

lJo Y~cl IJ.+~TD "r.tt..<t,

Tot:mm~? I~L ~/N(T

Ovr TO 1?111Al}lll's HtJVSc,
3/IE WeiiJr riiEAcFo!Q
A W.S/T: ITScCAIS 1ifll1i
I1?19ATH19:S 8cc1J

~'-MJ' Poo~<..'l
'-A7Ct..'l •..

Street and Perkins Boulevard. The German Methodist Church which later became the first town hall,
was razed to make room for the telephone building.
Besides the equipment, the business office was
located there and a station for a truck and two
men to take care of maintenance and repair work.
But no operators! That function was moved to the
Lake Geneva office where an operator was on duty
to handle trouble calls or help anyone unfamiliar
with the dial operation.
In 1906, H. W. Lawton, Albert Bushman and Dr.
W. A. Prouty felt there was a need for a gas plant
in Burlington to possibly replace coal in stoves and
furnaces, even to compete with that new electricity
in stores, houses and street lighting. They first tried
to interest outside companies to locate here. Since
no interest was shown by outside capitalists who

Country telephone
operator at switchboard.

Wall telephone.

45

Citizens Gas Company
plant, erected in 1907
on Calumet Street.

The coming of the

T.M.E.R. & L. cars on
July 1, 1909, was
marked by a great
celebration, speeches,
bands and banquets.

felt Burlington was too small for a gas plant to
be profitable, those three men organized and
incorporated their own Citizen's Gas Company and
in 1907, erected a plant at the south end of Calumet
Street to manufacture gas from coal. Their's was
a popular product. Mains were laid throughout the
city and gas was turned into them for the first time
on February 1, 1907.
In August, 1908, as a result of the experimental
lights placed on Lewis Street, the city council
awarded the gas company a contract to put in 100
street lights in the city at an annual cost of $35
per lamp. They were to be 200 candlepower which
should have been considerably brighter than the
1 00 watt incandescent bulbs of the electric
company. That project may not have been
successful as there is no more mention of it.

46

In 1927, Citizen's Gas Company was sold to the
North American Utilities Company and the name
changed to Wisconsin Southern Gas Company,
with local headquarters at 349 Pine Street. The new
company added to the plant and acquired new
equipment to take care of expanding operations.
Mains were extended to Lake Geneva, Elkhorn,
Delavan, Williams Bay, Darien and Walworth. Both
locally manufactured gas and liquid propane gas
brought in, were distributed to these communities.
Gas seiVice was very reliable and only a few days
were missed in 1930 when a cyclone damaged
the plant. In 1946, the company began distributing
natural gas brought up from Texas through a pipeline system.
The Milwaukee Electric Railway & Ught Company's Rapid Transit Une was a wonderful addition
to the community. The city granted a franchise to
the company in January, 1907, to construct and
operate an electric street railway on Geneva Street
(Milwaukee Avenue) as far as St. Mary's Cemetery.
(The intent of the company was to eventually extend
this line to Lake Geneva.) The laying of the line
was begun in March, 1909, and the first car rolled
into the city on July 1.
A formal opening was marked by a great celebration. City officials and businessmen from Racine
and Milwaukee came "to extol the glory of the
accomplishment and the prosperity to follow."
Brass bands played and speeches were made. The
visitors were entertained by city officials at a banquet
held in the Hotel Burlington. Only one incident
marred the occasion: The car ran off the track near
the William Leach home and the visitors had to
walk to the celebration site.
The "Interurban" was a successful operation for
almost 30 years. Cars left Burlington every second

These cars were
comfortable, luxurious
and dependable
transportation between
Burlington and
Milwaukee and points
in between. Notice the
vintage automobiles on
the left.

--:----__-------~
~--­
."

,.

hour from 6:20 in the morning to 11 :00 at night,
arriving in Milwaukee two hours later. Intermediate
stops were Rochester, Waterford, Norway, Wind
Lake, Durham and St. Martins. A one-way fare in
1914 was 66 cents.
The first waiting room was in the Badger Hotel
building. In 1926, the electric company built a new
office building on Pine Street on the foundation
of the old Perkins/Ayers feed mill. Tracks were re·
routed from the river crossing to circle the building
into a "car barn," a roofed-over space adjacent to
the office. A more spacious and comfortable waiting
room was a part of the office lobby.
Shoppers, students, businessmen were the main
passengers. In addition, the company encouraged
pleasure seekers to use the line "to reach lakes
and hills and vales within easy reach from
Milwaukee for all people at all hours - endless
opportunities for picnics, from big shop outings
to small family gatherings." Cars could be chartered
by large groups and the only cost would be the
$1.30 per person round trip fare.
The increasing use of automobiles and the
improvement of roads between Burlington and
Milwaukee created too much competition for the
line to continue. Passenger use declined, profits
fell off and the decision was made to cease
operations. The last car left Burlington on May,
1938, never to return.
The Burlington Post Office was established as
Foxville, Milwaukee County, on March 21, 1837 with
Moses Smith the postmaster receiving and
dispensing mail from his Jog cabin. The name was
changed to Burlington, Racine County, on July 15,
1839 with Steven Bushnell as postmaster. Other
early postmasters, changing with the political
changes in Washington, were Orson Sheldon 1848,

Anthony Meinhardt 1857, J. Henry Cooper 1863,
F. R. Reuschlein 1887, William Colby 1891. All
familiar names in the city's history.
The office was housed in only a few locations
in its existence. Space was rented in the Colby
building in the bend of Chestnut Street (#151) in
1892 and in 1909 the old Western Union Hotel,
400 South Pine Street. In 1918, a federal building
for its exclusive use was built on the corner of Pine
and Jefferson streets. It was, and still is, a beautiful

The post office in what
had been the Western
Union Hotel at the
comer of Pine and
Washington streets.

47

Built as a modem post
office in 1918, there is
no evidence in this
photo of hidden stairs
and passages between
walls for postal
inspectors to observe
employees.

Colonial style building and was used as a post office
until 1961. When it was remodeled into the city
library, the public became aware of hidden stairs
and passages between walls from which inspectors
could obseiVe working employees.
On September 15, 1961, the move was made
to the new post office, built by private interests and
leased to the federal government. This was built
at the corner of Pine and State streets.
Free rural, route seiVice was begun in 1902. Free
city delivery started in 1908 when stores and
residences were properly numbered and street sign
posts were erected. First class letter rate was 2 cents
an ounce, postcards, 1 cent.
Mail came into and out of Burlington by train.

Frank Martin, rural mail
carrier of the past

48

In the 1890's, as many as twelve trains came
through a day. Men in the mail cars would pick
up pouches of mail at the station and sort it on
the train to be dropped off at the next stations.
Sometimes Hugo Raettig, agent at the Racine
and Southwestern railroad station at McHenry
Street, would distribute mail right there as soon
as it was dropped off to impatient businessmen
before sending the rest to the post office "downtown." If a train had no other reason to stop, the
pouch would be snatched by a swing out hook
at the station from an extended arm on the mail
car. Emmett Raettig, who occasionally helped his
father at the station, recalled one time when the
hook ripped the canvas pouch and a hundred little
sample boxes littered the ground.
The industries that began in Burlington and made
the city prosperous had their basis in the agricultural
products of surrounding farms. Pliny Perkins' feed
mill processed the wheat and com from farmer's
fields, his woolen mill the fleeces coming in from
sheep farms. Both led to the influx of blacksmiths,
wagon makers, harness shops and taverns.
Jacob Muth's brewery used locally grown barley.
In 1856, Anton Finke founded another brewery on
a site on McHenry Street near St. Mary's Church,
which ran until his death in 1873. At that time,
his son William Finke, took over and changed the
name to the William J. Finke Brewery. In 1896,
he formed a partnership with his brother-in-law,
John H. Uhen and incorporated the firm as the
Finke·Uhen Brewing Company. The plant was
enlarged and bottling equipment installed. Their

The arrival of a carload
of agricultural
implements delivered
to Joe Wackennan,
implement dealer, was
the reason for a
celebration. In this
picture, left to right, is
shown the Ayers
(formerly Perkins)
Feed Mill, Mutchler
Grocery, the Rein
Brothers blacksmith
shop, and Joe
Wackennan's store.

fleet of big beer wagons with their spans of
handsome draft horses, were familiar sights. Finke·
Uhen beer was distributed throughout this territory
for many years, almost to the exclusion of other
brands. In 1900, the company bought Jacob Muth' s
malt house on the east side of the Fox River, enlarge
it and manufactured their own malt there.
The company continued to thrive until prohibition
days. On November 30, 1918, brewing stopped.
According to a newspaper prediction of that time,
60 men would be thrown out of work and 18 store
buildings would be vacated when the 18th
amendment would go into effect. Nothing quite
that drastic happened. The only recorded change
was the passing of J . F. Gill's famous Red Fox
Inn at 112 Chestnut Street, which became a clothing
store.
In 1923, the company was sold to the Burling·
ton Cereal Products Company which made malt
cereal products and "near beer" during prohibition.
Among other things, that malt liquid was used by
individuals as a basis for making "home brew."
Evidently the company made some illegal brew of
its own, for on March 30, 1925, Federal
authorities dumped 1,300 barrels of beer into the
sewer which emptied into the fishing ground south
of the Fox River Bridge. The plant was padlocked
for one year.
After the repeal of the 18th amendment, the
business was bought by Chicago interests headed
· by A. C. Ketler and the new concern was named
the Burlington Brewing Company. Again the plant
was enlarged and new equipment installed. In 1939,
45,000 barrels of beer were brewed. Bottled beer
was sold under the names of Burlington, Chester·

ton and Van Merrit. Mr. Finke lived to see the day
when beer made in Burlington was again famous.
The Burlington Blanket Company had an
interesting origin. The story goes that Colvina
Sprague, a race horse, a little soft eyed beauty,
owned by Frank Ayers, had the bad habit of chewing
up all blankets placed upon her back. A.F. Ransom
devised a new blanket that would fit in such a way
the horse could not pull it around. Thus was born
the "Stay-On" blanket, the first and principal
product of the new company.
Mr. Ransom managed to interest L.J. Smith, G.C.
and W.G. Rasch to furnish the capital to form a
company, buy equipment and create a factory that
was to become the Burlington Blanket Company.
In 1891, three lots were purchased at the west end
of the old fairgrounds on Pine Street and a large,
two-story building erected thereon.
The product was an instant success. Collar pads
and carriage robes were added to the product line.

49

The first bottle of beer,
brewed by William
Finke, with some beer
still in the bottle. This
artifact is owned by the
Burlington Historical
Society.

Finke.(Jhen brewery
building on the west
side of McHenry Street
near St. Mary's Church.

The plant of the
Burlington Blanket
Company in 1898.

From the original30 employees, the number grew
to 200 in 1902. There was a continual expansion
of buildings. It became and remained for many
years the largest manufacturing plant in the city.
As times changed, new lines were added; linings
for Mackinaw coats, saddle pads, felted carpeting,
linings for auto trunks. One time G.C. Rasch came
back from Detroit with an order from Henry Ford
for 30,000 Ford carpets a month, a $198,000 order.
The new lines created more business and more
help was needed. The blanket company was the
one place where women in numbers could find
work. Women came from Rochester, Waterford and
the surrounding area. The company built a
dormitory building on Chestnut Street to house
those who could not, because of distance, travel
back and forth to work.

The Stay-On Blanket,
which was the start of
the Burlington Blanket
Company.
'\

The Burlington Blanket
Company was an
employment
opportunity for women.

50

World War I brought the company its fi rst
government contract for great numbers of horse
blankets and collar and saddle pads. World War
II brought other contracts for other war materials,
cartridge and pistol belts, canteen covers, camou·
flage material. The service and quality of the
products earned for the company the coveted
Army-Navy "E" citation.
New inventions and new businesses required new
products. Sound absorbing and insulating felts to
be used in auto bodies, in air conditioning
installations and on brine pipes in refrigeration
equipment were needed and were developed by
the company.
William A. McMillan of Milwaukee became
interested in the insulation material and the future
possibilities of that product. When G.C. Rasch died
in 1932, W.G. Rasch carried on the business. In
1934, Mr. McMillan bought from him the controlling
interest and proceeded to develop the insulation
phase of the business by adding more buildings,
more machinery and more modem production
methods. He carried on a successful business into
the 1940's. After he died, his son-in-law Richard
Kinzer took over the helm. The ship did not weather
rough seas well. The firm was sold in October of
1967 to Standard Cotton Products Company of
Flint, Michigan, with the manufacturing plant set
up in Danville, Kentucky.
C.B. McCanna helped develop intensive dairying
in southeast Wisconsin and northern Illinois by
providing a ready market for milk from farm herds
and shifting emphasis from wheat production to
cattle raising.
In 1887, he organized the McCanna Cheese and

Mr. C.B. McCanna.

Butter Manufacturing Company. In surrounding
villages of Honey Creek, Spring Prairie, Waterford,
and Kansasville he established creameries to which
farmers could bring their milk, and in Burlington
built a small factory where Chestnut Street ends
at the Fox River as a central processing and
shipping point for the cheese and butter products.
The quality was high, the market widespread,
reaching as far as Scotland. There R.G. Frazer of
Glasgow, an importer of dairy products, was so
impressed that he came to Burlington to see Mr.
McCanna. The meeting resulted in Mr. Frazer

Wisconsin Condensed

Milk factory.

51

An employee is
checking labels or
seals on already filled
cans of Uon Brand
condensed milk
This print
was made From an old
glass photo plate
which was damaged by
water.

~

~~7--'

UJO~. ~£?AND

1;tfi
konnEnsEn

MrL'I:

The Uon Brand
condensed milk

Horses and winches
were used to move the
Veterans' Saloon
building From its
location to the
Wisconsin Condensed
Milk Factory site.

joining the business in 1893 when it was reorganized and renamed the McCanna and Frazer
Company, still processing butter and cheese.
The chief source of money for farmers in 1891
was wool, some fattened cattle, barley grown to
supply malt houses and the brewery. When the
McCanna milk factory began operation, money
became more plentiful in farmers' pockets, herds
could be increased and the milk supply became
more plentiful. To use the increased supply Mr.
McCanna devised a new product in 1898 condensed milk Southern states had not developed
dail)'ing. There were no refrigerated trucks to
transport fresh milk Here was a market for canned
condensed milk and Mr. McCanna supplied it. He
formed the Wisconsin Condensed Milk Company.
A large factory replaced the old one, appropriate
machinery was installed and the product, Uon
Brand Milk was on its way. The demand in the

52

South was tremendous: dozens of carloads a week
were shipped. A weekly payroll of $2,600 helped
keep the city's prosperity on a steady course and
there was a steady supply of milk checks to farmers.
Condenseries were built also at Pecatonica,
Grayslake and Valders to which milk was brought
directly and creameries began to be closed. At one
time there were thirty of them in Wisconsin and
Northern Illinois.
As an adjunct to the milk plant, a building in
which to manufacture cans was built across
Chestnut Street to the north. A familiar sound in
the area was the clatter of cans rolling through
an over-the-street conveyer rack from the can shop
to the milk plant. Cans were also sent by box-cars
full to other company condenseries - millions of
cans annually.
For a lot of the "small-fry kids" of the community
it was a pastime, standing by the open box-car doors
and watching the cans come off a conveyer at the
can plant, be picked up by hand with special forked
tools and loaded neatly into the box cars.
A remarkable moving job added to the can shop
in 1909. When Mr. McCanna planned to build the
grand Bank of Burlington building on the corner
of Pine and Chestnut streets, the two-story brick
Veterans' Saloon had to be moved. By means of
wood beams, wooden rollers, ropes and horses
turning winches the building was moved out onto
and down Chestnut Street, across the railroad tracks
and onto a location adjacent to the can shop. Since,
it has become a part of Hi-Liter Graphics.
C.B. McCanna was still the president of the milk
company when the architectural plans of his bank
building were being drawn. To symbolize his Lions
Brand product the architect was instructed to
include lion's heads in the decorations at the top
of the two large pillars at the bank entrance. They

still can be seen.
In 1920, the condensery and the can plant were
sold to the Nestle Company who renamed it Nestle's
Milk Products, Inc. and continued operations.
Burlington became the division headquarters for
Nestle plants in the mid-west. There was a flurry
of activity during World War II to supply the armed
forces with canned and powdered milk, but with
the war's end and with the growth of dairying in
the South, demand dropped precipitously. The
Nestle Company kept the operations going in
Burlington until October, 1959, when the con·
densery closed. The can shop was kept going by
the Phelps Can Company to supply other conden·
series until closing in 1966. Those were sad endings
to one of Burlington's earliest industries. But a glad
beginning was made when Nestle returned to
Burlington in 1964 to start construction of their
newest, largest, most advanced chocolate factory.
The Burlington Brass Works began in 1902 when
D.O. Storie developed an industrial steam valve and
with John Gill built a small factory at the south
end of Pine Street to manufacture it.
In 1906, C.B. McCanna and C. Roy McCanna
bought out Storie and Gill and added new products
such as the "Kant·Leak" valve for sink faucets for
the growing plumbing business that flourished after
the establishment of public water works. There was
stiff competition from factories in other cities and
for awhile there was a lull in the factory's operations.
About 1910, plating and polishing departments
were added to the machine shop. Copper and brass
valves and faucets were the main product.
Steam was the power source for the machinery
with all its requirements of coal, bunkers, boilers,
manpower and the constant attention, the ineffi·
ciency, and the danger. The McCannas looked for
another power source.
The McCannas had their own direct current
generator at the milk plant and attempted to serve

the Brass Works from that, without success. It was
too far for a direct current line. C. Roy McCanna
and William Leach bought an alternator and
installed it at the Electric Company plant. Unes
were run to the Brass Works and thereafter electric
motors powered the machinery.
When C.B. McCanna died in 1913, C. Roy
continued the business until he brought in the
Harper brothers. George A. Harper bought into the
firm in 1914 and was appointed manager. Harry
E. Harper, brother of George, joined the firm in
1921 as assistant manager. A general reorganiza·
tion took place. Additional buildings were put up,
the work force increased and a new foundry was

Mr. McCanna's Bank of
Burlington. Notice on
the top of the pillars
the lions ' heads,
symbolizing the Uons
brand condensed milk.

The Burlington Brass
Works as it appeared
about 1908.

53

Artillery shells were
manufactured during
World War II and the
Korean conflict. The
manufacture of the
shells during World
War II earned the Brass
Works the coveted
Army/Navy"£".
During the Korean
conflict, 1.5 m illion 90
mm shells were
shipped.

built to meet the demand for bearings, hub caps
and other parts for the thriving auto industry.
The company could process any brass product
from start to finish. The item could be cast in the
plant's foundry, machined in a complete machine
shop, assembled, polished and plated under one
roof at the firm.
During World War II, the company began making
a variety of wares for the military - 75mm and
90mm shells for the army, detonator parts for anti·
submarine mines, bushings for aircraft engines.
The company was awarded three Army/ Navy "E"
citations.
Increasing costs and declining profits brought
on the sale of the company in 1975 to Century
Brass Products in Waterbury, Connecticut. The
plant was closed in phases during the last months
of 1979.
The Sec urity Lightning Rod Company was
founded in 1892 by Harvey Simpson, a man who
from his earliest youth had been intrigued by the
phenomenon of lightning and by Benjamin
Franklin's experiments with it. He chose as his way
in life improvement of his invention of lightning
rods and the manufacture and sale of protective
lightning rod systems. Born in Glasgow, Scotland,
he moved by stages through Chicago and Kenosha
to settle and begin his manufacturing business in
Burlington. His first residence was on the east side
of Pine Street in the middle of the block between
Jefferson and Madison streets and in the bam
behind that dwelling the manufacture of copper
rods and fittings began.
54

A company was organized with a capital of
$100,000 by local men including William J. Finke,
John H. Uhen, Leonard J. Smith, Bernard Brehm
and T.M. Kearney, men of substance and influence
in the community.
His invention had brought him honors previous
to his coming to Burlington. The French College
of Science and Art awarded him a gold medal and
an honorary membership, he was issued a
certificate by the Academy of Inventors and
Industrialists and, more financially beneficial, the
Edison Electric Company ordered installation of
his system on its buildings in several different cities.
Even a speaker from the Underwriters Laboratory
at a meeting of insurers acknowledged the debt
insurance companies owed to the Security
Company, saving them an immense amount of fire
damage claims.
Nevertheless, it took Mr. Simpson's greatest skill
of salesmanship to overcome ignorance and
superstition and prove his product would afford
protection from fires started by lightning. The
Burlington Blanket Company could not be
convinced in 19 years until in 1912 a $100,000
fire loss from a lightning strike induced them to
install rods on all their buildings.
Companies world wide were not that stubborn.
Early installations were made on the 200 foot
chimney of the Horlick factory in Radne and on
the seven foot bronze casting of "Old Abe," the
Civil War eagle on top of the 100 foot marble
column in the National Cemetery at Vicksburg,
Mississippi. Farmers' barns and houses all through

the Midwest and Northeast were wired. In modern
times the company concentrated on large industrial
and commercial and public structures, state office
buildings and the county coliseum at Madison, the
Domes in Mitchell Park and the Greek Orthodox
church in Milwaukee, the Performing Arts Center
in Oshkosh. Overseas installations included the
16th century cathedral in Bogota, Columbia. In its
most prosperous times, 30 to 60 large projects
a year were installed.
Mr. Simpson was aided in the operation of his
business by H.A Runkel and Louis Brehm. Mer
his death in 1912, control was carried on by Francis
R. Bieneman and Louis Brehm. Raymond D.
Bieneman, brother of Francis, became secretary
and general manager in 1937, and Elwood Roosa,
vice president and plant superintendent. In 1972
Raymond's sons, Philip and Denys were president
and general manager respectively.
The barn where the first manufacturing took
place was replaced by a concrete block building
at the same location in the early 1900's and further
rebuilt and enlarged in 1939. Here were installed
the spinning machines for weaving together as
many as 40 strands of copper wire into cable, other
machines for swadging copper rods into points,
for assembling the ornate weather vanes once in
favor. Wintertime was the time for fabricating
materials; summertime was the busy time for
installation in the field.
Raymond Bieneman, after a career of 47 years
as an officer of the company, retired in 1972. His
sons resolved to sell the manufacturing equipment
of the firm to the Hargar Lightning Protection
Company of Maryville, Missouri, but to continue
the sale and contracting end of the business in
Burlington. The name was changed to that of the
new owners and there was no longer a Security
Lightning Rod Company. One more old, established business absent from the scene.
An interesting note concerning the death of
Harvey Simpson: At the cemetery at the moment
the casket was being lowered into the grave, a
severe storm let loose from the heavens. The
remains of Mr. Simpson were buried to the "roll
of thunder and a clap of lightning". The bereaved
widow was heard to remark, "How appropriate!"
In 1886, a partnership of Dr. John H. Bower and
Francis G. Klein, to be known as the J. H. Bower
and Company, began the manufacturing of
carbonated beverages. The most popular of these
were German birch beer, ginger ale and cream
soda.
The firm actively promoted their product as made
from the "Celebrated Burlington Rock Spring
Water," containing a list of salts and chemical
elements "that are most excellent for the bowels
and the skin, throw off stomach gas, and act directly
in the blood. In this water there is not a trace of
anything disagreeable to the taste." The product

HaiVey Simpson, the
founder of Security
Lightning Rod
Company.

An advertisement
extolling the benefits of
the Security copper
tube lightning rods.

$500 REWARD
OUR GUARANTEE
We will refund all money received
for the rods and pay $500 reward to
find a building burned by lightning
with our rods on.

The Securiiy Copper
Tube Lightning Rod
has never failed to afford perfect
protection from lightning, and
gives general satisfaction in every
respect.
It is the only Lightning Rod
patented in the United States with
Automatic Water Supply insuring
a Perfect Ground Connection at
all times, which is the most important part of any rod.
Our object is to furnish a rod that we
can guarantee to b e a full protection
from lightning at the LOWEST POS-

SIBLE PRICE.
Send for Catalog.

The Securiiy Lightning
Rod Co.
Burlington. Wis.

55

F.G. Klein Company
bottling works.

Klein Company

officers.

1<"". 6. l~L~IN'. PRE~.

F'. X.

I<LEIN.TRl!:A ~.

OTTO A .• KLEIN . S&o•y.

Peter Angsten, the
inventor of the AJ-Vista

camera.
56

drew glowing testimonials. Birch beer by the barrels
was shipped to the U. S. Ambassador in Peking,
China for use at official functions.
Three years after the beginning Mr. Klein bought
out his partner, who thereafter, would devote all
his time to the practice of medicine and continued
the firm as the F. G. Klein Company until his death
in 1924 at the age of 91. His sons, Francis Xavier,
treasurer, and Otto Anthony, secretary, kept the
business going.
In 1890, Mr. Klein bought the building at the
comer of Pine and Mill streets and enlarged and
improved the manufacturing equipment. Five years
later he added a new product, white beer, which
required more remodeling. A cooling cellar was
placed under a building next to theirs where large
vats were set up. Brew kettles were installed on
the first floor, malting tubs and cooling pans on
the second floor. The brew passed from these
through a large cooling machine on the first floor
into the fermenting tanks in the cellar. The plant
had a capacity of about 20 barrels a day.
As in all businesses, changes occurred. Andrew
Adams purchased the company in 1934, changed
the name to Klein Beverage Company and
continued the same products into the 1940's.
Burlington had one unique but short Jived factory:
The Multiscope and Film Company, manufacturing
the AI-Vista Panoramic camera, the world's first
camera of that kind.
Peter N. Angsten invented the camera in 1896
but had problems exploiting his invention until
George Eastman of the Kodak company put an
emulsion covered roll film on the market. Then
he began making the cameras in Chicago. The
unique feature of the camera was a spring·
propelled, pivoting lens that would rotate in an arc
from left to right, exposing the image onto a curved

film along the sides and back of the interior of
the camera, resulting in a sweeping 180 degrees
wide angle photo.
Leonard J. Smith, already involved in several businesses in Burlington, met Angsten in Chicago, was
impressed with the possibilities of the invention and
invited Angsten to Burlington with the idea of
producing it. Smith persuaded G. C. Rasch, W. A.
Bennett, Edward Caldwell, William N. Selig and
Clarence E. Partee (his son-in-law) to furnish capital
to promote Angsten's patent, to form a company
to be called the Multiscope & Film Company, and
begin production. The firm was incorporated in
1897.
The first factory location was in an addition to
the Uncoln School (vacant at the time after the
construction of the new high school). To handle
increasing production, the company leased the Burlington Novelty Company building at the northwest
corner of Kendall and Amanda Streets until that
building burned on January 12, 1900 and they
returned to the school.
The early years were struggling years, but when
a new two-story (with third story added later), brick
factory was built for them during the summer of

1900 by the Burlington Advancement Association,
output increased greatly, keeping 85 employees
busy. The plant was ideal, located along the Wisconsin Central railroad tracks on a site south of
Jefferson Street and equipped with vast floor space,
an elevator, steam power, etc. Thousands of
cameras were produced for domestic and overseas
markets between 1897 and 1908. Branch offices
were opened in New York, Chicago and Portland,
Oregon. There were outlets in London and Berlin.

: '-'-~......

One model of the AI-

Vista camera.

VerstraeteFyfe
Manufacturing
Company, where the
AI-Vista was made.

-......,., '

--.;::·---

~ ,~~-:­
'
\,

Trick photography.
The same two men
appear repeatedly.
Figure out how this
picture was taken.

57

An A/-Vista view taken
from the top of the
Finke.{Jhen malt house
on Main Street.

In the Chicago office, Clarence E. Partee conducted
a large photo supply business and was a main
outlet.
Honors came to the company in 1898. A gold
medal was awarded at the Industrial Photographic
Exposition in Berlin, Germany. It received an
Achievement Award from the Photographer's
Association of America.
At least seven models were made, Baby AJ-Vistas
taking 3Y2 by 10 inch pictures and selling for $5.00,
to large models for 7 by 21 inch pictures and selling
for $80.00. Quality was very high; lenses were the
finest. Modem prints from old negatives show
remarkable sharpness.
Despite the fact that their excellent product was
attracting buyers world wide, the company had
difficulties. It was well known that George Eastman
did not like competition and made it difficult for
Multiscope & Film to sell film in competition with
Eastman products. There is a popular belief that,
because M & F refused Eastman's offer to buy

The Burlington Brick
and Tile Company
factory, which was
located on the comer
of Highway 36 north
and Grove Street Mer
the kilns were filled
with unbaked clay tile,
soft coal fJies
surrounded the outside
of the kiln. The large
chimney to the left in
the picture drew the
heat and smoke from
those fires into the
kilns, thereby baking
the tile. The other
chimney vented the
steam boilers that
operated the
machinery.

58

the patents and rights to the AI-Vista camera, he
stopped making the film the AJ-Vista required.
Added to this problem, there were personal differ·
ences within the company.
By 1908, Mr. Angsten had sold his entire interest
in the company for $3,400.
G. C. Rasch had left the company to devote time
to his other interests. William Selig was more
interested in developing a motion picture camera
and left for a career in Hollywood. Leonard Smith
and the Partee family became sole owners and on
January 22, 1908, decided to sell everything to the
Verstraete & Fyfe Company of Milwaukee. This
company manufactured auto parts but contracted
with M & F to build $50,000 worth of cameras
here, thus relieving M & F of having to do the actual
manufacturing. After selling to Verstraete-Fyfe, M
& F leased the new building M. P. Petrie was erecting
on the northwest comer of Pine and Washington
streets. Here they would continue a business of
wholesale dealing in cameras and photographic

supplies. They moved in on July 11, 1908.
On Janual)' 18, 1909, disaster struck Fire gutted
the Yerstraete-Fyfe factol)'. It was a total loss of
building and contents. Several carloads of finished
products ready for shipment were destroyed.
Verstraete-Fyfe cancelled its contract. Multiscope
& Film had no way to fulfill its many orders. Clarence
Partee took over controlling interest in the firm in
1910 and operated from his Partee Photo Supply
Company in Chicago, selling AI-Yistas that were
left in the company's wholesale inventol)'. Partee's
catalog of photographic items did not list Eastman
Kodak cameras or film products.
Now Multiscope & Film existed only on paper,
kept alive with a faint hope for the future. On April
30, 1915, after five non-productive years, at a special
stockholders' meeting, it was decided that "the
corporation known as the Multiscope & Film
Company of Burlington be and same hereby dissolved." The sad end of a grand product.
Enoch Squire, in a tribute in the Standard Press
wrote, "Though the AI-Vista venture failed
as Burlington's bid to become a permanent
producing center for cameras, while it lasted, it
added width and depth to this community's
panorama of historic interest."
The Burlington Brick & Tile Company, under the
management of William Meadows, was an important Burlington industl)', again one that was tied
to agriculture. Drainage tile was its main product
to be used to drain wetlands to increase crop
growing acreage. There was a demand not only
locally, but in the surrounding states of Michigan,
Illinois and Minnesota. In 1911, as many as five

carloads a week were shipped out. That year
1,500,000 feet of tile of varying sizes ranging from
2\12 to 12 inches in diameter were made by a crew
of25 men.
Brick was a secondal)' product but still an
important one, as 35,000 a day, 500,000 in a
season, could be turned out. It is assumed that
many of the houses in the city were built of the
local brick A special eight inches square by 2\12
inches thick was made for sidewalks but none are
known to still exist in the city.
Two other factories connected with farming are
included here. The Burlington Canning Company
was devoted to processing locally grown corn and
tomatoes. At its peak production in 1897, it put
up 70,000 cases of tomatoes and 90,000 cans of
corn. Busy as it was during the harvest, much of
the year it was idle. Never a paying proposition,
it died out when its buildings, located on Calumet
Street near the gas plant, were destroyed by fire.
In 1911, John J. Wolf built a sauerkraut factol)'
on South Pine Street on a site where a malt house
had stood, near the Brass Works, after he had
secured contracts from farmers to assure him 70
to 80 acres of cabbage. It was a good outlet for
a cash crop. There were in the plant 42 fermenting
tanks of three sizes that could hold 800 to 1,000
tons of cabbage. After Mr. Wolf died in 1940, Mrs.
Wolf continued the business, aided by krautmaker
Clarence Richter until 1949.
The Badger Basket & Veneer Company did not
have a long life, but it produced a vel)' high quality
product, samples of which are still in existence 85
years later. The company had a rocky start. T. Y.
59

The Badger Basket
and Veneer Company,
built in 1918.

This shows the variety
of baskets made by the
Badger Basket and
Veneer Company. The
individual basket is in
the collection of the
Burlington Historical
Society.

McGovran, a Milwaukee manufacturer who had
been persuaded by G. C. Rasch and George Waller
to begin a basket making plant in Burlington, lost
interest when he found out how high the railroad
freight costs would be for the logs from which the
basket veneers would come. Also, there were long
delays in the construction of a factory building that
the Burlington Advancement Association would
build, financed by a sale of shares, and leased to
the new company. However, the plant was built,
freight rates adjusted and production did begin in
August, 1918. The slow pace of incoming orders
discouraged McGovran and he left the business.
Herman Wegwart, a Chicago man more experi·
enced in the manufacturing business, took over.
Organizing skills and an aggressive sales manner
got the company humming. Baskets of all sizes
were made, from small market baskets to the largest
with a 20 bushel capacity. Bushel baskets, coal
baskets, clothes' baskets ... all were very well
made and long lasting. They sold for $1.75 to $81.75
a dozen.
Large elm, hickory, ash and birch logs were de·
barked and soaked in tanks of hot water to soften
so large, thin sheets of veneer could be shaved
off on huge lathes. Thin flexible strips would then
be woven into sturdy baskets.
During the peak years of production, around
1918, six or seven carloads a week were shipped
out by train. Seventy or more men and women
were employed, earning as much as $}.50 a day
for eleven hour days, five days a week.
Although the quality was extremely high, demand
for the baskets dropped steadily. Perhaps others
were making cheaper ones, perhaps the growing
use of corrugated cardboard containers caused the
decline. In its last months, only veneer for furniture

60

manufacturers was produced. In 1925, the business
closed. The Bernard Ferring Company, manufac·
turers of church furniture, used the buildings until
1934 when the business folded. Eventually, the
buildings were torn down, only the cement block
main plant remains, used by a local firm for storage.
One Burlington industry that was most closely
allied to agriculture was Murphy Products Company, specializing in a mineral concentrate to be
added to livestock feed. From studying causes of
problems farmers were having with their beef and
dairy cattle, James H. Murphy created combinations
of protein, vitamins and minerals to supplement
homegrown livestock feeds. Results on farms that
tried his products encouraged him to put them
on the market His brother, Lawrence, joined him
in the venture.ln 1921, manufacturing licenses were
obtained and production began in converted army
barracks at Delavan.
It was a good product, the Murphys were good
managers, advertising campaigns were successful.
The young company soon outgrew its first plant
Burlington had a vacant milk plant on Dodge Street
that suited their purpose. It was acquired in 1925.
New product lines for hogs and sheep were added
and sales grew. The Murphy's brought talented men

The Murphy Products
Company plant prior to
the fire on Christmas
Eve, 1951 .

into their business: Leo J. Warren, general sales
manager; Roy Hoffman, corporate secretary and
treasurer; Ed Furman, sales analyst; Robert S pitzer,
research and technical director.
A stroke of genius was the decision to advertise
heavily on radio. In 1926, the firm sponsored the
WLS Barn Dance, a very popular radio program
with a devoted Saturday night following. J ames
often mentioned, "The WLS Barn Dance did as
much to build this company as any other single
thing."
The line of products grew. By the 1940's, a
complete line of Murphy Cut·Cost Concentrates for
all classes of livestock and a complete line of starter
feeds had been developed.
In 1951, business was booming, the outlook for
the future very bright. On Christmas Eve, fire struck
the plant. A lifetime of work went up in flames.
The manufacturing plant was destroyed and a part
of the warehouse facilities. Using borrowed
equipment, milling resumed at a smaller scale until
a new, more advanced automated plant arose. A
farm west of Brown's Lake was bought in 1954
to be developed into a research farm to test new
products and methods.
When James Murphy died in October, 1960,
Robert Spitzer became president. For 17 years , he
and the management team behind him, promoted
the company's growth nationwide. Plants were set
up in North Carolina, Mississippi, Texas and
California.
In the 1970's, the feed industry changed. The
beginning of the end of Murphy Products occurred
whe n, in 1971, it was bought by the J oseph Schlitz
Brewing Company, oste nsibly to stre nghten the
local company with a major corporate partner.
However, a change in that company's objective

came about following the death of its president,
Robert Uihlien. Schlitz sold all Murphy manufac·
turing and sales operations except the making of
Maltlage, cattle feed processed from spent brewer's
grains.
The end of Murphy Products came when Schlitz
was sold to the Stroh Brewing Company with head·
quarters in Detroit. In October, 1983 , offices here
closed and the Murphy name was seen no more
on the building on Dodge Street.
The growth of industry and the growth of the
banking business were very closely related. Working
capital could be borrowed from banks; deposits
would come from profits a nd wages paid.
When Caleb Barns died in 1866, his banking
and real estate business was carried on by his
nephew, A. E. Wells, who learned the banking
business from his uncle. Wells ' friends, Anthony
Meinhardt and Judge Charles Dyer, aided him until
Wells closed it to move to Nebraska and open a
bank of his own there. Anthony Meinhardt
continued his grocery store (page 23) from the
year 1866 , carrying on an investment business on
the side. By 1891, he was prepared to open a private
bank on the lower floor of the Caleb Barns building,
the area Barns had leased to grocer William Grassie,
and opened for business on J anuary 2.
Only a few months later, his health failed and
he died in June of that year. His widow, Mrs. Eliza
Meinhardt, had the strength and the wisdom to
assume the presidency and carry on the new bank
through the money scare of 1893. Daughter, Eda,
after training with her uncle, Mr. Wells in Nebraska,
returned to become the bank's cashier. Son Albert,
upon graduating from college, joined the bank as
vice president.
The Meinhardt bank operated as a private bank
61

(

/1~
CONCENTRATE
f Oil

I>AIRY CATTLE
One of the varieties of
Murphy Products
Company's products.

Meinhardt Bank in
1935 before the
extensive remodeling.

until 1896, when state law required it to be
incorporated as a state bank In people's minds,
it always remained a family bank with family
members through three generations holding office.
A story is told to illustrate the trust people had
in the bank During the panic of 1893, banks were
required to pay certificates of deposit when due,
but no one could demand payment for one that
was not due. One loyal depositor presented a
certificate saying, "This one is due." When asked
how he wanted the money, he said, "Well, make
it so it ain't due!"
Another story tells us: Francis Meinhardt, son
of Eliza, had a dentist office upstairs. A speaking
tube connected the 1st and 2nd floors. Occasion·
ally, Dr. Meinhardt would call down for someone
to help tamp gold into a patient's tooth.
A private telephone line and alarm system was
installed between the bank and the residence on
Kane Street. The late Robert Bayer reported, "The

Interior of the bank
with Miss Eda
Meinhardt behind the
desk

62

heavy gong was truly alarming, usually sounding
on stormy nights, and always requiring the hurried,
exciting midnight trek through unlighted streets,
with a dreaded burglary in view.lnvariably, the storm
had merely crossed the wires, but it had to be
investigated.
The Bank of Burlington (page 34) which had
been formed by Racine businessmen, became a
purely local institution when in 1902, a group of
local businessmen, believing that a local institution
should be owned and managed by home people,
purchased all of the stock owned by outside parties.
Officers elected then were G.C. Rasch, president:
Rev. Theodore Jacobs, vice president: E.H.
Schnederman, cashier.
C. B. McCanna was elected president in 1906.
Three years later, he erected the three story, sand·
stone building on the comer of Pine and Chestnut
Streets for use as a new home for the bank Bank
offices occupied the first floor, the Wisconsin
Condensed Milk Company and Attorney L. H. Rohr
the second floor, and the Businessman's Associ·
ation club room and gymnasium the third floor.
For a time, the Wisconsin Telephone Company had
its offices and equipment in rooms on the first floor
rear.
The even course of the day's work was inter·
rupted on February 25, 1931, when six bandits
robbed the bank at the height of the business day.
No one was hurt and the amount taken was never
revealed. The robbers were never caught. This was
the first time the bank was robbed, but not the
last. On February 15, 1934, two Illinois youths
thought they had succeeded in a robbery, but were
caught the next day at their homes.
When C. B. McCanna died from heart failure in
December, 1913, his son C. Roy McCanna took
over the responsibilities. At age 32, he was the
youngest bank president Burlington ever had, up
to that time. The new bank building was used for

The Meinhardt home
on Kane Street, which
was connected to the
bank by one of the first
private telephone Jines
and alarm system.

Eda and Albert
Meinhardt, president
and cashier.

58 years until a newer one was built at 200 South
Pine Street.
A third bank, the Burlington National Bank,
opened on April26, 1920. Well funded with a capital
of $125,000, it began and continued to be, a
substantial and well managed financial institution.
The first officers were: H. A Runkel, president;
George W. Waller, vice president; William G. Rasch,
cashier. Other directors were Albert Bushman,
William S. Wilson, Joseph H. Toelle and Leroy L.
McDonald.
The first home was the turreted building on the
northeast comer of Chestnut Street and Milwaukee
Avenue, leased from William and Albert Bushman.

Bank of Burlington in
the 1930's. Note the
overhead wires in the
downtown.

63

When Prohibition
came in 1918, Albert
Bushman retired from
the saloon business.
That made this
building available when
the Burlington National
Bank (later named
First Banking Center)
sought its first home.
Also note the street
being paved.

"-.
>\~
.~·

1 -n-

.

.
,
I

'-,

·

It continued in this location until 1959, a period
of 39 years. The second and last move was made
one long block south to the site on Kane Street
and Milwaukee Avenue where the Knights of
Columbus hall had stood.
By 1935, the bank had weathered the difficult
times of the depression and was the first to open
after the state-ordered closing in 1933 enc;led.
The late Robert Bayer, a noted Burlington banker,
once said, "The banking stability in Burlington was
evidenced during the depression of 1929·1935
when there was no panicky withdrawal of funds
and at no time were depositors unable to withdraw
their money from local banks. After the moratorium
of March, 1933, all of Burlington's banks were
reopened immediately, which was a further
indication of a sound and stable community."
The Spanish American War in 1898 raised little
excitement in Burlington. One military company,
Company D 45th Volunteer Infantry, was formed
with a full quota of 65 names. Among the volunteers
were Andrew Haas, Adolph Plate, Charles Teut,
Robert Brodda and Rheinhold Weyrough. Brodda
and Weyrough saw actual service in the Philippines.
The men drilled every evening in Schaefer's Garden,
near the mill race, under the direction of Corporal
John T. Rice. Thomas T. Henison was elected
64

~

~

captain; Charles Bullock, First Ueutenant; and Louis
W. Rohr, Second Ueutenant.
The distant rumbling of war guns was again heard
in 1914, and in German communities like ours,
feeling ran high. But the loyalty of the Burlington
citizens to their United States was not to be doubted
and the roll of the enlisted men who promptly
answered the call of 1917, shows their patriotism.
The selective draft law required that on June 5,
1917, every man between the ages of 21 and 31
must register and in Burlington, 265 men entered
their names. Many of these, of course, were
excepted or ineligible because of physical handicaps. The first eight men left on September 6 for
Camp Custer near Grand Rapids, Michigan, to help
prepare the camp for the greater influx of soldiers.
The first large contingent of 60 men left home
September 22. They were cheered on their way
by a grand "Au revoir" party at the Orpheum
Theater (Teutonia Hall). On November 21, the
second draft of 48 men left for camp.
A chapter of the Red Cross was organized in
the latter part of May, 1917, shortly after America
entered the war. The membership consisted of 68
persons. The officers were Mrs. H. E. Zimmermann,
chairman; Mrs. Louis Rein, vice·chairman; Mrs. G.
A. Harper, secretary; and George W. Waller,

treasurer. The Chapter was asked to raise $5,000 of important buildings. The Burlington High School,
toward the national fund, but more than doubled located where Cooper School now stands, was
its quota by collecting $10,258.24. Burlington dedicated in February, 1917. Other buildings under
citizens were also more than generous in their construction during 1917 were the Soo Line Depot,
subscription to the Liberty Loan drive. They the Nestle can shop and additions to the Burling·
ton Feed Company plant. The new post office, now
subscribed $139,000 in the very first drive.
Burlington, in common with the rest of the nation, the Burlington Public Library, in 1928, the Electric
had its sugar cards, flour substitutes, meatless days Company's new office building on Pine Street, St.
and gasless Sundays. No one was allowed to Mary's High School. The old city hall on Pine and
operate a car, without good reason, on Sundays Washington streets was bought by Joseph A. Bazal
and a road patrol out of Racine saw to it the edict in 1927 and remodeled into a modern dairy plant.
The Klingele building at 133 East Chestnut Street
was enforced.
As a further conservation measure, all industry had been replaced by the brick Buell Block which
was stopped for five days, beginning at midnight became the second home of the B. Foltz & Son
Thursday, June 17, 1918, and remained closed until dry goods store. In April, 1927, the Pieters brothers,
the next Wednesday morning. War taxes were levied Albert and Joseph, twins, leased the building,
on telephone and telegraph messages, tobacco, remodeled it to suit their purpose, and opened a
club dues, life insurance premiums, amusement dry goods store of their own. The store expanded
admissions and postage rates were increased. into one of the area's most complete department
During the fall and winter of 1918, a severe influenza stores and operated there for years.
Some people still remember the store's trolley
epidemic raged, necessitating a ban on all public
meetings, schools, etc.
system for purchase payments. The cashier sat at
There was feverish activity with clubs and a desk on the balcony. Wires ran from her station
councils being organized, poster contests being to several counter locations on the selling floor.
sponsored, and women's clubs lending their aid, When a purchase was made, the clerk put the
but the war drew to a close on November 11, 1918, money and sales slip into small container, pulled
and the general hysteria could spend itself in the a cord to release a spring, and zip! The container
welcome of returning soldiers. They began coming would shoot up to the cashier who would make
soon after the Armistice, but it was many months correct change and zip it back to the clerk.
before they were all home. Of the 213 who left Fascinating to watch!
for battle, six failed to return. On May 15, 1919,
The prosperity felt throughout the rest of the
the Lyceum Club sponsored a public reception for world in 1928-29 was reflected in Burlington by
Burlington's soldiers and sailors.
The year 1919 saw the death of one veterans
organization and the birth of another.
The Luther Crane Post, No. 201, Grand Army
of the Republic, held its last meeting in the post
hall on December 21, 1918 and voted to surrender
its charter on January 18, 1919, It had been
organized in 1885 with 32 members, through the
efforts of Theodore Riel, A. A. Sheldon and G. C.
Denniston. At one time, it had a membership of
160 but at the time of disbanding, there were only
18 members remaining.
On September 24, 1919, an organizational
meeting of the local post of the American Legion
was held. It was voted to name the post after Ross
Wilcox, who was the first Burlington man to lose
his life (August 7, 1918) in the war. The first officers
were commander, Aloys Vos; vice commander,
Alfred Andres; adjutant, Louis Renschlein; finance
officer, Harold Runkel; historian, Frank Tobin and
chaplain, Frank Christian.
In January, 1919, Florence Patterson was
awarded the French Medal of Honor for her
"devotion in the organization of nursing teams and
the inspection of hospitals."
During the years after the war and into the late
20's, a great improvement in the appearance of
the city was made by the erection of a number
65

The Plaza Theater as it
appeared shortly after
the advent of sound
pictures. Notice the
marquee and the
features being shown.

The original Burlington
Memorial Hospital
when it was finished in
1924. The hospital was
built as a memorial to
the veterans of World
War.

much construction work. The Plaza Theater was
built by Fred Oberg and Olaf Hoganson in February,
1928, showing silent movies at first but added the
new and exciting sound equipment in 1930.
Hoganson, who began the general contracting
business in 1899, remained half owner of the
theater building for many years. He had moved
to Burlington in 1915 to a new house he built.
He also constructed a carpenter and millwork shop
here.
Some of the buildings constructed by him were:
Rochester Agricultural School dormitory, school at
Big Bend, tuberculosis sanatorium at Wales, a
school and a Lutheran church in South Milwaukee,
Catholic church in New Munster, Catholic church
in Paris, school in Sharon, city hall of Williams Bay,
Walworth County garage at Elkhorn, the milk
processing plant that became Murphy Products
plant in Burlington, and the store building now
occupied by St. Vincent de Paul in Burlington.
Oberg owned and operated the Hotel Badger
for many years. The two partners in the theater
building later sold their interests to Jack Yeo, who
operated the theater for many years.
The Methodist Episcopal Church members
erected a commodious addition to their building
for recreational purposes. The cornerstone of the
new Masonic Temple was laid in November, 1929.
In the residence field, close to $80,000 was spent
in the erection of new homes. In June, 1929, the
building at 216 East Chestnut Street, at the comer
of Chestnut and Dodge streets, was built on the
site of the old Matt Rewald planing mill. For years,
it housed the Champion Motor Company, later a
Sears, Roebuck Store and in 1989, Clinton's
Lumber Company. The original building was once
used by E. N. White as a warehouse for storing
wool.
Before 1924, when Burlington Memorial Hospital
was built, several doctors practicing at the time,

66

used their own homes as hospitals. About 1908,
Dr. Frank Newell started what was designated as
the first hospital at his home at 241 Chestnut Street.
Doctors Fulton, Wehr and Prouty opened a hospital
in Dr. Prouty's home at 424 Kendall Street, across
from St. Charles Church. Dr. G. Warren Newell,
in 1921, could accommodate eight to ten patients
in his home at 250 Henry Street.
The sentiment for the building of a real hospital
in Burlington began in 1920. There was a sum
of $10,041 left in the war chest fund which it was
thought, could be used to the best advantage in
the building of a local hospital.
Generous donations from Mrs. Richard Leach,
the Meinhardt Bank, the McCanna families and Mr.
and Mrs. W. G. Rasch swelled the fund to approximately $50,000. Later donations increased it to
$80,000 and plans were made for putting up a
building on a site donated by the Finke-Uhen
Brewing Company.
The first meeting of the directors of the Memorial
Hospital Association was held March 8, 1923. The
directors were George W. Waller, Henry A. Runkel,
William H. Kruckrnan, the Rev. Philip Dries, Miss
Eda Meinhardt, A. S. Titus, C. Roy McCanna, Frank
O'Neil and Mrs. William G. Rasch. At this meeting,
officers were elected as follows: G. W. Waller,
president; Eda Meinhardt, vice-president; Mrs. W.
G. Rasch, secretary; and C. Roy McCanna, treasurer.
Those officers served at least until 1935.
The cornerstone was laid October 14, 1923, and
the building finished not long after that. It had a
capacity of 35 beds, two operating rooms, a
maternity ward, X-ray and laboratory facilities. By
1934, the hospital had been put on the list of fullyapproved hospitals by the American College of
Surgeons.
Since it was built as a memorial to veterans of
World War I, service men of that war and their
families would be treated to room, board and care
at no cost.
It was a very good hospital for its time, and no
one then could foresee the tremendous changes
in medical technology and practice that would result
in a vastly expanded hospital of the 1990's.
Few people know that Burlington had a public
park as early as 1840.
This was the piece of land now bounded by Pine
Street, Jefferson Street, Dodge Street and Washington Street. The land was government property until
1839 when Silas Peck purchased it. Peck donated
the land to the town for park purposes. In the deed,
Peck specified that the improvements were to be
made but the expense of such work was too great
for the town and they did not even put a fence
around it.
·
According to that clause in the deed, if not
improved, the land reverted back to the Peck family.
In 1864, the property was sold to Caleb Barns who
immediately sold it to Francis A. Blake. In 1871,

the Blakes sold the property to Nelson R. Norton,
who in turn sold it to Dr. Lewis Kords in 1873.
In 1875, William Rhodes purchased the land and
it was in the possession of that family until about
1922 when A. J. Tichlofen bought it. The residence
on the property was occupied by Rhodes until his
death and then was removed to the land owned
by Tichlofen on the corner of West Street (now
Perkins Boulevard) and Madison Street. The land
on which it stood was exchanged for the old city
hall property on Pine and Washington streets.
After vacating the Peck property, the idea of a
city park lay dormant until 1926. In August of that
year, the city council adopted a resolution to issue
bonds for park purposes in the amount of $25,000.
On August 3, 1927, the city council appointed a
Park Board consisting of Louis A. Rein, Louis H.
Zimmermann, Albert Meinhardt, H. A. Runkel,
president, and C. Roy McCanna, secretary.
As a start toward a park system, three tracts in
Norris Point were bought in 1928 for $16,000.
Nestle Milk Products exchanged land below the
dam for property east of the mill race ($2,500).
In 1929, Louis Rein donated two lots between the
White River and the raceway. About 1933, the
Electric Company sold the mill dam, the mill race
and the old electric plant site for a consideration
of $1. All this property became one unit, Echo Park,
named in honor of that worthy pioneer, Pliny
Perkins, who milled the Echo brand of flour. The
millpond was designated Echo Lake.
Across the highway, the old day pit of the Burlington Brick & Tile Company had been turned
into a fine baseball park by the Burlington Athletic
Association, a group of local citizens interested in
baseball. In 1929, the Park Board acquired the
property by assuming the association's outstanding
debts of a $6,000 mortgage and paying $600 in

back taxes.
Donations enlarged the park system rapidly. Miss
Ida Bernhoff in 1935, willed a tract of land on West
Chestnut Street along the river which was developed
by Louis Wagner and named Wagner Park
Albert Meinhardt in 1937, donated the Benson
property east of North Main Street where it ends
at the Fox River. E. John Wehmhoff and his sisters,
Frieda and Gertrude, gave the land west of North
Main Street in the same area. The whole area,
bordered on two sides by the Fox River, was named
the Wehmhoff-Jucker Park (The Juckers were the
maternal grandparents of the Wehmhoffs.) Here
is where Moses Smith and William Whiting built
their lean-to shack in the winter of 1835 when they
came exploring the area to make their land claims.
In 1944, Albert Meinhardt donated a small piece
of land along the east side of the Fox River just
south of the Jefferson Street bridge.
So, by the end of the first century of Burlington's existence, a park system had gotten a good
start. It would continue to expand into the next
century by the additions of Riverside, Devor, Nestle
and McCanna major parks and a number of
neighborhood playgrounds.
The Public Library was not created by city
government, as was the park system. A group of
private citizens, sparked by the enthusiasm of Miss
Alma Neuhaus, banded together as the Burling·
ton Free Library Association in 1908, "to provide
a source of books and cultural programs to the
people of Burlington." They were dependent on
their own membership dues of one dollar a year,
and on fund-raising efforts selling tickets to dances,
band concerts, benefit plays at the old opera house
for the purchase of books and for library expenses.
In three years, the membership had grown to 126
and the association had acquired a stock of 800

The second home of
the library was the first
floor of the new city
hall, built in 1925.

67

books.
By 1913, the association had proved its worth
and a plea to the city council received a favorable
answer. The council voted to appoint five members
to a new library board and appropriated $600 to
operate the library. They also provided space for
the book collection on the second floor of the city/
town hall at the corner of Washington and Pine
streets where the library would share the meeting
room of the town board. Miss Neuhaus received
the official title of librarian, was to be paid $25 a
month.
Shelves were built, chairs, tables and a desk were
moved in and a coal stove bought so the library
could be open in winter months. In time, the
librarian's salary was raised to $35 a month and
the budget increased to $800. In 1916, the library
was accepted into membership of the State Ubrary
Commission.
For 15 years, it was the guiding hand of Miss
Neuhaus that made the library a major cultural

Burlington
Fire Alarm System
In case of fire, go to the nearest
alarm box, even if a number of blocks
away, break glass and pull down lever
as far as it will go-then let the lever
go. The alarm box will do the rest.
In case of fire and you resort to the
telephone (day or night) call up No.
444, City Water Works Pumping Station, and state clearly the nearest fire
alarm box number to fire as well as
exact location of fire.
The person turning in an alarm
should remain at the box or instruct.
a person to remain there to direct the
firemen to the fire when they arrive.
Two short blasts indicate fire outside city limits.
When alarm is turned in from an
alarm box, the .box number is blown
immediately and is repeated three
times.
When alarm is phoned in a general
alarm is sounded which is followed by
nearest box number.
First number of box numbers indicates ward within which the box is
located.

68

institution. Under her direction it grew in value, in
the number of books acquired, in the number
circulated and in services offered, but in 1923, she
decided it was time for someone else to take over
and she resigned in June of that year. Edith Hess,
Cornelia Henderson, Augusta Zwiebel and Grace
Lofgren carried on her work into the 1950's.
When the new city hall was built in 1925, most
of the first floor was designed for the library. The
new surroundings, greater shelf space for more
books, the ease of entering on the first floor, all
attracted more patronage. In cooperation with the
Burlington Historical Society, a large case was
installed where changing displays of the society's
artifacts could be shown.
The construction of a new post office at State
Street in 1964, and the vacating of the Federal
building across from the city hall made possible
a move of the library into a building that could
be remodeled easily into ideal library quarters. The
move was made on August 18, 1964.

Location of Boxes
o. 12-Burlington ~rass Works.
No. 13-Second and North Sts.
No. 14-Dardis Lumber & Fuel Co.,
Dodge and Jefferson Sts.
Telephone Call Station.
No 15---Main and East State Sts.
No. 16-Between Wis. Southern Gas
Co. and Belle City Appliance
Co.
No. 18-Nestle's Milk Products, Inc.
No. 23-Chandler Blvd. and Kane St.
No. 24-Perkins Blvd. and Frederick
Street.
No. 25- Washington and Dyer Sts.
No. 27--Pine and West State Sts.
No. 28-Burlington High School, Robert Street - Telephone Call
Station.
No. 29-Pine and Chestnut Sts.
No. 32-Amanda and Kendall Sts.
No. 34-McHenry St. <near Avis St.)
No. 36-Maple Ave. and Geneva St.
No. 37-Memorial hospital, Randolph
St.-Telephone Call Station.
No. 38-Jefferson and McHenry Sts.
No. 41-Chestnut St. and Pleasant Av.
No. 43-Lewis and Conkey Sts.
No. 45---Wilbur Lumber Co.,
586 Chestnut St. - Telephone
Call Station.
No. 46-Burlington Mills, Inc.
No. 48-James St. and Storie Ave.

Chapter 6

Burlington Modernizes

1935-1990
Although prices for goods were deemed high
for those days, they were low when compared to
later years.
For instance: Bryan Roberts of the Union
Chevrolet Company was selling new cars for $468.
Eggs were 29 cents a dozen, beef roast 13Y2 cents
a pound, and sirloin steak 18 cents a pound.
School enrollment, public and parochial, totaled
1,300 in 1935. The graduating class that year at
Burlington High School was 53.
There were more cattle in the Town of Burlington
than there were children. According to figures of
the time, there were 2,889 head of cattle, 13,175
hens and 531 horses and mules. The Town of
Burlington census of the time showed 741
residents.
The Depression continued in 1936, but there
still taxes. That year $48,000 was levied as
were
(Author's Note; At this time, it could be
school
tax to balance a $1 00,000 budget. At that
pointed out that the City of Burlington has
time,
the
district had a balance of $19,500 which
had only five Chiefs of Police since it became
was
not
spent.
a city in 1900. The first was Frank Beller, who
As a part of the drama of the past, a "still" on
served from 1905 to 1934. After Beller came
West
Chestnut Street was raided by federal agents.
Lawrence Grossman, 1934-45, G. Roy
It
was
operating and agents found 2,000 gallons
McCourt, 1945-57, Walter Gabriel, 1957-87,
of
illegal
alcohol, which they dumped.
and Herbert Goldschmidt, from 1987. Beller
A
class
of 75 seniors graduated from Burlington
died in 1938, Grossman in 1987, and McCourt
High
School
in 1936, the largest class ever up to
in 1967.)
There was other violence in this area that year that time and for many years to come.
Recovery from the Depression began to show
with milk strikes, as strikers damaged milk
in
1937 as ten new houses were built and there
companies, including the blowing up of the Pure
Milk plant on Dodge Street, and the dumping of were improvements to local industry. Local lumbermilk from the milk trains. Those responsible for men showed a 25 percent increase in sales that
the bombing were never identified. One young year.
Another sign of the receding depression was the
couple was "spooning" in an automobile just a few
doors from the milk plant when it blew up. "We fun people were having. At a ball in honor of
thought the world was coming to an end," the young President Franklin Roosevelt's inauguration, 700
lady said. "We'll never do that again."
persons danced to the tunes of Heinie's Grenadiers,
The city's sewage plant was opened that year a popular band from Milwaukee Radio Station
at a cost of $27,000.
WTMJ. The dance was held at The Antlers at
Also that year, the first project of the Works Brown's Lake. For several years after that, dances
Progress Administration (WPA) was started in were held on January 30, President Roosevelts's
Burlington. That project was to construct a sewer birthday, for the benefit of the Sister Kinney
Foundation. The foundation treated children who
line on Main Street.
The project setup was for two shifts of eight men had been stricken with polio, a disease that crippled
each. These shifts worked on alternate weeks. There President Roosevelt.
was a 48 hour work-week with pay ranging from
A real sign of recovery took place in 1937 when
$40 a month for unskilled labor to $55 a month Burlington Mills, Inc. announced plans for major
for skilled labor. Only men on relief were allowed improvements at its plant on Chestnut Street.
It was in 1937 that the first air conditioning unit
to work The sewer was constructed entirely by hand
labor, with the Federal Government supplying most was installed in Burlington. It was in the Arcade
Rendezvous and bowling alleys, operated by Robert
of the money and materials.

The year 1935 was ushered in with bad weather.
In January, there was enough ice on the streets
for the children of the city to skate to school. For
four days, the countryside was one huge skating
rink
That year also saw the Great Depression hit the
community, and along with the lack of jobs and
high prices came violence and strikes.
It was a year of tragedy also, as in February,
Policeman Hubert W. Schenning was killed in a
shoot-out by Reinhold Fluecker, who had been
sought by Schenning and Policeman Arthur Rein
for questioning about a holdup of a Honey Creek
store earlier in the day. Fluecker was also killed
by a bullet from Rein's gun. Fluecker's body was
dumped by Leonard Fischer, his accomplice, on
County Trunk W. Fischer was captured later.

69

In 1935
there were
morecaWe
in the Town
of Burlington
than there
were
chHdren.
There were
2,889 cattle,
and only
1,300
children
enrolled in
the schools.

The modem Plaza
Theater.

The old Crystal
Theater, which Jack
Yeo modernized with
sound, and renamed
as the State Theater.

Steele on Chestnut Street. It was the largest unit
installed in Southern Wisconsin.
Also that year, Jack Yeo, owner of the Plaza
Theater, installed the latest in sound equipment
at the theater. That was in the era that "Movies
Were Your Best Entertainment." There were "Bank
Nights" where theatergoers could win cash, and
"Dish Nights" where persons would get a different
dish each week if they attended the movie. Crowds
jammed the theater to see such stars as Abbott
and Costello, Mickey Rooney, Clark Gable, Gary
Cooper, Carole Lombard, Joan Crawford, Fred
Astaire, Ginger Rogers and many others.
It was in 1940 that the epic "Gone With The
Wind" was first shown at the Plaza. All seats were
reserved and it played to full houses for seven nights
and two matinees.
Yeo also owned another movie theater in
Burlington, the State Theater, located where the
Commerce Street parking lot is now. He purchased
the theater, then known as the Crystal Theater, from
William Uglow, who ran it in the days before "talking
pictures." Mrs. Uglow used to play the piano to
accompany the silent pictures. Yeo renamed the
theater, put in sound equipment and operated it
on weekends and featured mostly western movies.
What oldster could forget Ken Maynard, Buck
Jones, Tim McCoy, Roy Rogers and the 12 week
serials? Admission was 20 cents.
Yeo operated the Riviera Ballroom at Lake
Geneva and the Schwartz Ballroom at Hartford, Wis.

70

Name bands were booked at both places. One of
the big names playing the Riviera was the Ted
Weems Orchestra. Perry Como was the lead singer.
One time, Yeo had booked the Benny Goodman
orchestra to play at the Hartford Ballroom. He had
told an Oak Hill, Wisconsin, tavern owner, who was
his friend, that Benny Goodman was flying in a
small airplane to Hartford and he would land nearby
the tavern for a drink. Of course, this was a fib,
but to carry it even further, Yeo hired an airplane
in Burlington to fly over the Oak Hill Tavern and
drop a note, saying it was too muddy to land. He
said attached to the note was a dollar, with which
the tavern owner was to have a drink.
Of course, there was no dollar. So that night,
the tavern owner drove to Hartford to meet
Goodman and to get his promised drink. Yeo had
to make sure Goodman was tipped off so his trick
didn't backfire.
Also in 1937, The Milwaukee Electric Railway
and Ught Company (T.M.E.R. & L Co.) announced
it was abandoning its electric railway line between
Burlington and St. Martins. Reason given for the
abandonment was not enough passengers to make
the service profitable. Buses were substituted for
the electric trains.
The first, and the only plane since, to fly U.S.
Mail out of Burlington took place in 1938. It was
in honor of National Air Mail Week, and the plane
was flown from Burlington to Milwaukee by Roman
Eckert, one of Burlington's pioneer pilots. The mail
was carried in a pouch from the post office to where
the plane had landed at the Eckert Farm, south
of Burlington, by E.A. Raettig. He was accompanied
by Postmaster Louis Reuschlein and a Sheriffs
Department deputy. The flight to Milwaukee, in a

40 horsepower C-3 Aeronca, took 20 minutes. Two
years later, that airplane was destroyed by wind while
it was tied down on the ground, in the infamous
Armistice Day storm of 1940.
Floods troubled the area in the spring of 1938,
as the Fox River had raised eight feet above normal.
Because of flooded roads and washed out culverts,
Howard Ball, a rural mail carrier, had to drive 80
miles on his 65 mile route.
On July 19, 1938, the wooden water tower at
the west end of Lewis Street collapsed, spilling some
40,000 gallons of water on the neighborhood. A
replacement tower on top of the stone stand was
built, but even that has served its time and is no
longer used, and in 1981, it was replaced with a
cement tank as a monument. Funds for keeping
and restoring the tank as a monument were raised
by donations.

71

The last car coming
into Burlington in
1938. From left to
right, Edwin Walter,
motorman, Bertha
Yager, Rosemary Beix,
and Dorothy Pepper,
clerks in the Wisconsin
Gas and Electric
Company.

Postmaster Louis F.
Reuschlein hands pilot
Roman Eckert the
pouch canying the first
airmail out of
Burlington.

The water tower that
collapsed in 1938.

One can imagine the anxiety of those living near
the overhead tank when it collapsed. It seems metal
bands holding the wooden staves of the tank
together broke, almost simultaneously, spilling the
40,000 gallons on whatever was below.
One person who lived just a few doors downhill from the tank said he and his father were sitting
in his backyard early that evening when the tank
collapsed. Wayne Longley, who lived at 41 6 James
Street, said they were looking up after hearing a
noise and saw a column of water descending. He
said a wall of water three feet high then raced down
James Street.
In 1939, unionism was recognized in Burlington
as Burlington Mills employees organized as a local
of the United Auto Workers. First local president
was Arthur Albright.

The Columbian Hotel
at Brown's Lake, the
forerunner of the
William Uggett
complex at Brown's
Lake.

72

Another first in 1939, the Soil Conservation
Program was started as a part of President
Roosevelt's New Deal Program, and the first benefit
checks totaling $34,300 were distributed.
On the religious front, Cross Lutheran Church
moved to a landmark on the corner of Kane Street
and Jefferson Street and remodeled a church that
was built in 1853.
In 1940, a city flower was officially named; the
flower, the lilac, and a "plant a lilac" campaign was
promoted.
Jehovah's Witnesses began their meetings in
1940 in rooms at the Badger Hotel.
That year, William Uggett announced a large
remodeling program which would transform The
Antlers into one of the most beautiful summer
resorts in the area. Uggett had purchased the resort
from Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Hockings in 1934.
(Author's Note: Mr. and Mrs. Hockings had
operated the resort since 1892 as the Columbian Hotel. The name was selected because
of the Columbian Exposition in Chicago,
where Clarence gained fame as a chicken
plucker. At that World's Fair, he entered and
won a chicken plucking contest. His best time
for plucking and dressing a chicken was eight
seconds.)
It was renamed Uggett' s Royal Palms. One of
the features would be a $30,000 leather bar and
a dance floor which would accommodate 300
couples. Also a large Wurlitzer pipe organ,
purchased from a Chicago theater, was installed.
Old timers can still remember Don Albright
playing that organ for most of the festivities and
parties held there.
Besides being a popular resort and dance hall

The old Columbian
Hotel, remodeled into
William Uggett's
Holiday Inn.

every Saturday night, the hall became widely known
because of the formal balls held there, including
the VFW Spring Formal and several Memorial
Hospital Charity Balls. Nationally famous bands and
orchestras, including Dick Jurgens, Wayne King
and Doc Severensen, would play for these formal
affairs.
Another feature of the resort was the Marine Bar,
overlooking Brown's Lake. Here smaller dances and
large banquets would be held. Rotary Clubs, Kiwanis
Clubs, Lions Clubs and the Chamber of Commerce
would hold special meetings there. The ladies' night
meetings of the various organizations and college
fraternity and sorority parties would be amply cared
for by Liggett and his wife, Ginger.
Conventions for the Murphy Products Company
of Burlington would take over the entire resort,
including the Royal Palms, the Marine Bar and the
Holiday Inn Hotel.

The Hotpoint Corporation, too, held several
conventions there. These meetings were so large
the overflow bookings for lodging had to be made
by Liggett at other nearby resorts.
Horse shows were often held on the spacious
grounds, sponsored by the Boots and Saddles Club,
as benefits for Memorial Hospital.
Liggett later also operated the Hotel Burlington
and the Plush Horse Lounge. He died in 1966.
Shortly after his death, the hotel ceased operations;
however, the bar became Charlie Brown's Lounge.
It was in 1940 that the name of the Conkey Street
School was changed to Cooper School, honoring
the late Congressman Henry Allen Cooper, who
had served in Congress for 3 1 years. He had
attended school in Burlington.
It was in 1940; it was imminent that war was
in the future for the United States and an anti-aircraft
battery was formed by Burlington volunteers. Aliens
"<

"''fT .. 0

The Royal Palms, a
dance hall which was a
part of the Uggett
complex. Many name
bands of the era
appeared here.

73

.,

War heroes LeRoy
Anderson and Uoyd
Dennis Murphy, of
World War II, for whom
the Veterans of Foreign
Wars Post was named.
Ross Wilcox, the first
Burlington man killed
in World War l, for
whom the American
Legion Post was

named.

were also required to register and 35 signed as
aliens at the Burlington Post Office the first week.
Later the draft law was signed, and 544 young
men between 21 and 36 were registered for the
first peace-time draft in the nation's history. In the
Town of Burlington, 178 were registered.
The year 1941, of course, brought the United
States into World War II. From then until the war
ended, more than 500 young men and women
from the City of Burlington entered the military
services and became a part of the more than 16
million young Americans who served in the United
States military forces during the war. The first
Burlington man killed in that war was William
Reddman, a sailor, who was killed in 1943. At least
25 Burlington area men lost their lives in the war.
A Burlington man, Sgt. LeRoy Anderson, became
the first World War II draftee to be awarded the
Distinguished Service Cross. He had led his tank
unit into battle, in the Battle of Bataan in the
Philippines, and when his tank was disabled he
continued to fight on foot. He was later taken as
a prisoner of war. He was killed in October, 1944,
when a Japanese prison ship, on which he was
being transferred as a war prisoner, was sunk.
The Anderson-Murphy Post 2823, Veterans of
Foreign Wars, was named after Sergeant Anderson
and Gunnery Sergeant Lloyd Murphy, of the United
States Marine Corps, who was killed in action on
Saipan on July 9, 1944. He had been in the Marine
Corps since January, 1938, shortly after he
graduated from Burlington High SchooL
The citizens of Burlington, left at home during
those war years, stood behind their sons and
daughters fighting in all corners of the earth, and
they, too, withstood many trials and tribulations at
home. There was the rationing of many foods,

74

including meat, butter, sugar, automobiles,
gasoline, tires and shoes. There were numerous
War Bond drives, scrap metal drives, and housewives even saved used cooking fats and empty
toothpaste tubes for the war effort. Even the old
World War I cannon that stood on the grounds
of Memorial Hospital, went to war in a scrap drive.
Hundreds of persons, including many women,
worked at Burlington Mills or Burlington Brass
Company; both had defense contracts. Both
industries won certificates for their war production
records.
After one of the successful war bond drives,
Burlington was awarded with a public appearance
of the then popular movie star, Dennis Morgan.
Morgan arrived in town in a limousine, stopped
at the Plaza Theater, and climbed on an outdoor
stage. The first words he said were, "Wentker's is
on the hillside, Woeste's farther down, Weiler's is
on Brown's Lake, a little out of town."
The three places mentioned were all Burlington
taverns that Morgan, as a young college student,
had previously frequented with a Carroll College
friend from Burlington. Prior to becoming a movie
star he was known as Stanley Marner, a singer from
Milwaukee.
In March, 1944, a devastating fire wiped out the
main buildings and yards of the Dardis Lumber
and Fuel Company. The fire was the most
disastrous in many years. The lumber yard was
rebuilt.
Also in 1944, in September, the Haylofters gave
their first production in their new quarters, The Malt
House Theater. The first production was a "Gay
Nineties Revue." The theater received its name
because the building originally housed the Jacob
Muth Brewery and later the Finke-Uhen Brewery's
malt house.
Of course, 1945 was a big year in Burlington,
as the war in Europe ended in May and the war
with Japan ended in August.
With the announcement that early August
evening that the war had ended, many a dinner
was left untouched as residents poured into the
streets to celebrate. Horns sounded, bells rang and
by 6:30 p.m. the downtown streets were filled with
celebrants. Mayor Roy Hoffman appeared on a white
horse and led a parade of celebrants and musicians
right through the Hotel Badger Bar and up the
street.
Then, of course, is the oft-told story of the
celebrant at one of the local bars who was heard
to say, "I wish this war would have lasted a year
longer and I would have had my house paid for."
Naturally, of course, this didn't go too well with
some of the other celebrants who had relatives and
friends in the military service, and the guy was last
seen passed out on the floor. It was not from
drinking too much, but because of a right cross
to the jaw wielded by an unidentified person.

Other matters seemed insignificant for the rest
of the year as the young men and women returned
home, some going to their old jobs, others seeking
employment. Food rationing was soon ended.
A check of grocery store ads of 1945 showed
sugar selling for 33 cents a pound, fresh cabbage
4 cents a pound, and a 40 pound bag of grapefruit
$1.89.
The Burlington Rescue Squad was started in
October, 1945, by the Burlington Rotary Club.
President of Rotary, Fred New, a Burlington
banker, instructed the committee of Charles
Jackson and Warner Zimmermann to work out a
plan for the necessary funding.
The first aid for prospective members was taught
by Albert Ebbers, a well qualified Red Cross first
aid instructor.
After a year of fund-raising preparation and
training, a board of directors was named for the
corporation to be known as Burlington Rescue
Squad, Incorporated. The first directors were Leland
Koch, Elmer Rubach, Charles Jackson, Otto
Sperhake, Elmer Ebert, Carl Rubach and Robert
Fulton.
The first squad members were Carl Rubach,
Elmer Ebert, Albert Ebbers, Elmer Rubach, Charles
Jackson, Don Reed, Robert Birchler and Clarence
"Bill" Scharf. It was decided more members would
be needed, but would not be admitted until they
had properly qualified by taking a Red Cross First
Aid course. The other 12 who became charter
members were: Glenn Hintz, Charles Zimmermann,
Glenn Adams, Mark Hannas, Frank Schwartz,

Charles Brenton, Carl Altenbem, Jack Warren,
George Harper, Willis Reineman, Russell Wilson and
Harold Koch.
The nucleus of the new rescue squad was formed
by adult leaders of the Burlington Sea Scout Ship
of the Boy Scouts of America which had disbanded.
With the war ended, a building boom came into
the picture in Burlington, as many new homes were
started and industrial and retail businesses
remodeled.
After the war too, Frank Weinman, Burlington's
first and only water department superintendent up
to that time, was honored. He recalled that in 1903

75

Interior of Henry
Woeste Saloon.
Woeste is behind the
bar.

A 1948 picture of
members of the
Burlington Rescue
Squad.

Christmas
Eve o£1950
saw many of
the
traditional
observances
of the
holiday
cancelled as
one of the
worst fires in
the area's
history
destroyed
the Murphy
Products
plant.

when the waterworks began, the backyard pump
was still in vogue. The water department had but
330 customers. In his 40th year as superintendent,
Weinman said, there were 1,278 consumers and
there were 12 miles of water mains being used.
In June, 1946, a valve was turned and at the
local Wisconsin Southern Gas Company plant,
natural gas was made available to Burlington
customers.
Lights for the baseball field at Athletic Park (now
Beaumont Park), at an estimated cost of more than
$13,000, were turned down by the city council in
1946, and in 1947, the lighting of the field was
approved.
In 1948, members of the Church of Christ,
Scientist purchased the congregation's present
building at Jefferson and Johnson Streets.
Members had been meeting in various locations
since the 1920's.
There was one faction, led by William Frook, in
the city that wanted the old Jefferson Street bridge
over the Fox River replaced with a viaduct at State
Street over the river and the Soo Line railroad tracks.
That controversy went on and on, and after many
years of arguing and political fireworks, the new
Jefferson Street bridge was opened on October
2, 1949 and the State Street viaduct was all but
forgotten.
Also in 1949, the greatest mass communication
medium in history, television, soon became a way
of life for Burlington citizens as well as the nation.
Television antennae sprang up on roof tops all over
the city and Gilbert Steffen sold his Battery Service
Station to Murray Dow, and opened a new television·
radio business on Chestnut Street. It was Burling·
ton's first full-time television store.
That was before live network television, and, of
course, before color television. There was one
Milwaukee station, WTMJ.lV, received here , and
four Chicago stations. WTMJ·lV was only on the
air a few hours a day and network television was
delayed kinescope films. Most television screens
were round and only eight or ten inches in diameter.
Many an evening meal was hurried as television
set owners hurried to get the dishes done so they
could watch their favorite shows, such as "The
Milton Berte Show," "Studio One," "The Jack
Benny Show," or the weekly wrestling from
Milwaukee or Chicago. Many times, invited, or
sometimes uninvited, guests would crowd the
homes of television owners to see this great new
entertainment medium, especially wrestling.
Wrestling on television was exceptionally popular
when such men as Billy Goelz, Gypsy Joe or
Gorgeous George were scheduled to appear.
In 1950, there were 438 babies born at Burlington
Memorial Hospital, 62 weddings at local churches,
and 95 deaths. It cost $263,476 to run the city
and the new Kroger store opened with something
unheard of up until that time, a self-service meat

76

counter.
The 1950 census showed 4, 722 persons in the
city and the town almost doubled from 1,257 in
1940 to 2,250 in 1950. There were 303 students
attending Burlington High School and 249 at St.
Mary's High School.
St. Mary's football field got its lights that year,
thanks to the efforts of Reverend Joseph Hanauska,
an assistant pastor at St. Mary's. The first game
was played under the lights on September 10 with
Waterford.
Christmas Eve, 1950, saw many of the traditional
observances of the holiday cancelled or interrupted
as one of the worst fires in the area's history
destroyed the Murphy Products Company plant on
Dodge Street. Many a family had settled in for the
start of the Christmas observance when the blasts
of the fire siren sent firemen and rescue personnel
to the scene of the fire in cold, sub-freezing
temperatures. Firemen poured more than 350,000
gallons of water on the blaze. Several had frost·
bitten hands from handling the water soaked hoses.
Local restaurant people kept a steady flow of hot
coffee and sandwiches to the fire scene so firemen
could take a brief respite. William Liggett, operator
of the Hotel Burlington, opened up his dining room
in the Hotel Burlington to all who helped fight the
blaze.
After receiving offers of all possible help from
the Burlington city council, it took J.H. Murphy only
a few days to decide to rebuild the livestock feed
manufacturing plant. The new plant opened in
1952.
In 1950, because of the upcoming Korean war,
Mayor A.J. Ketterhagen appointed Don Reed as
the first Civil Defense director since World War II.
It was while he was CD director that the Auxiliary
Police Force was created.
Also, in regard to schools, a plan was presented
in 1950 to separate the two school systems into
two separate districts, the Burlington Grade School
District and the Burlington High School District,
and in 1951 that split district system was approved.
Hot lunch programs in the schools became a reality
in 1951, started by the Parent-Teachers Association.
Also in 1951, numerous Burlington men were
called to active duty with the military services
because of the conflict during the Korean Police
Action.
A Burlington man with an idea became the
founder of an organization which later became an
international organization. It was in May, 1951, that
Bruce Thompson, a recent convert to the Lutheran
Church, asked Pastor Reuben Marti, then pastor
of St. John's Lutheran Church, why that church
did not offer an alternative to scouting for its young
men. Pastor Marti challenged Thompson by asking,
"Why don't you go out and do something about
it?" In July of that year, Pastor Marti and Thompson
presented the idea of organizing the Lutheran

Pioneers to the congregation. The congregation
sanctioned the organization and encouraged
Thompson to organize it as soon as possible.
By 1986, the 35th anniversary of the Lutheran
Pioneers, there were nearly 600 Trains (individual
groups) started in 37 states and three foreign
countries, with more than 1,500 adult leaders.
Thompson held the position of National Council
Chairman for many years.
Some things don't change for many, many years.
For instance, a large issue facing the city council
at the time was traffic patterns and parking
problems. One of the issues facing the city council
that year was whether to fluoridate the city's water
supply. It turned out to be a bitter battle, with Mayor
Ketterhagen, a dentist, being a proponent of
fluoridation, and Alderman John Vogelsang, Sr.,
a baker, being vehemently against it. In fact, it was
reported the two men got into a fist fight in a local
pub over the issue. The issue went to a referendum
and the plan to fluoridate was beaten by a wide
margin.
Another issue, pushed by Mayor Ketterhagen, in
1953, was the possible construction of a municipal
building on South Pine Street, where the post office
now stands, and a study group was appointed.
However, aldermen were not receptive to the idea
of including a gymnasium, a swimming pool and
a sauna in the building, and the proposal was
dropped.
Also that year, a street numbering and renaming
committee was named by Mayor Ketterhagen. The
committee included William Whiting, manager of
the telephone company here, Lester 0. Hoganson,
Charles H. Zimmermann, Don Reed, and William
Branen. That committee's plan was never adopted.
Some years later, a new numbering system was
installed, and many of the streets, including such
streets as Dyer, Liberty, Livingston and Frederick
Streets, were renamed to conform with the
numbering system. Dyer Street had been named
after Dr. Edward Galusha Dyer, Burlington's first
physician; Liberty Street had been named by Dr.
Dyer because he was a strict abolitionist; and
Frederick Street was named after a son of Origen
Perkins. Dyer Street became an extension of Kane
Street; Liberty Street became an extension of State
Street; Frederick Street became East Highland
Avenue; and Livingston Street became an extension
of Chandler Boulevard. The plan finally adopted
was designed by Carl Treichel, a long·time
Burlington High School teacher. Treichel died in
1963.
It was also in 1953, that the Burlington Brewing
Company, formerly the Finke·Uhen Brewing
Company, ran into financial problems and closed
its doors.
Louis H. Zimmermann, publisher of the Standard
Democrat for more than 40 years, died in his sleep
in March, 1953. William Branen was named editor

and he later became publisher.
In May, 1955, the Standard Democrat purchased
its rival, the Burlington Free Press, from Mr. and
Mrs. Elmer Ebert, and the name of the paper was
changed to the Standard Press.
On July 28, 1954, a shopping guide, known as
the Wisconsin Hi-Liter, was started by an advertising
salesman, Mr. AI Crosby, who soon sold it to Arthur
Roesing and Glenn Hintz, furniture store operators,
and Lee Herrman, a jewelry store owner. Crosby
published only nine issues of the Wisconsin Hi-Liter,
when he reached a point where he could no longer
obtain credit or loans to continue.
After Crosby left the business, Glenn Hintz took
over management of the paper on a no·pay basis.
The first office was above the old Lois Tire Shop
at 209 East Chestnut Street.
In the fall of 1956, the Hi-Liter was moved to
the lower floor of the Commerce Building at 132
Commerce Street.
In November, 1962, the company moved to its
own new building at 256 South Pine Street, and
for the first time the paper was printed on the
company's own offset presses. Up to that time, the
printing of the shopping guide was contracted out.
Taking what Glenn Hintz called, "a step back·
wards," the shopper went into competition with itself
by publishing a weekly photo newspaper, the
Pictorial News Advertiser. That didn't prove
profitable, and on September 30, 1967, the
subscription list was sold to the Standard Press
and the Pictorial was laid to rest.
After the sale of the Pictorial, efforts were
concentrated on increasing commercial printing
and sales of Hi-Liter advertising.
This venture was successful, and in late 1975,
Hintz became sole stockholder of the firm. After
that, the firm purchased the old Nestle Company
can plant at 280 East Chestnut Street and
remodeled it for a new printing plant and office,
one of the most modern in the state. The firm
changed its name to Hi-Liter Graphics,
Incorporated.
The old Nestle Company can plant, which houses
the printing plant and offices of Hi-Liter Graphics,
was moved to that location many years ago by
C.B. McCanna for a tin can manufacturing facility
for the Wisconsin Condensed Milk plant. It had been
the Veterans' Saloon building at the corner of
Chestnut Street and Pine Street.
In 1985, the company purchased the Sears
building on East Jefferson Street. After remodeling,
it became a bindery plant to bind catalogues and
books. In 1989, the land and building of Schmal·
ing' s Country Market, across the street on East
Jefferson Street, was purchased and plans for
remodeling the interior and exterior are in the
making as 1990 rolls along.
With the addition of this property, Hi-Liter
Graphics is using about 80,000 square feet.

77

Some things
don't change
for many,
many years.
For instance,
the issues of
traffic
patterns and
paddng
problems.

It was in the
1950's it was
announced
the U.S. Air
Force
planned to
build a large
airbase
southeast of
Burlington.
The Air Force
was given
the go-ahead
to purchase
some5,400
acres of land,
including 54
fanns.

Jerome L. Hintz and James L. Hintz, sons of
Glenn Hintz, became shareholders in late 1976, and
continue to be active in the management of the
corporation. A part of the third generation of the
Hintz family also was employed as supervisor of
pre-press operations.
It was also in the 1950's that it was announced
the Air Force planned to build a huge air base
southeast of Burlington. In 1956, it was learned
the Air Force was given the go ahead to purchase
some 5,400 acres of land, which included 54 farms,
for the base and that 350 houses, plus all of the
facilities necessary for an air base, were to be built.
The base had been named Bong Air Force Base,
in honor of Richard Bong, a Wisconsin ace pilot
of World War II. Later, Colonel Charles Lancaster
was named commander of the Strategic Air
Command (SAC) base.
It was also in 1956 that Mayor Ralph Larson broke
a tie vote of the city council to approve an airport
for the City of Burlington. The council action
followed a referendum on the project which at first
appeared to have been lost. But in a re-count, it
was discovered 100 votes had not been counted
and the referendum was declared passed, 1,045
to 954.
It was in April, 1956, that Ginger Beaumont, the
first batter in the first World Series, died. Beaumont,
who played for the Pittsburgh Pirates, the National
League pennant winner that year, had a lifetime
batting average of .311 for his 14-year career. Once
he got six hits in six times at bat and not a ball
went out of the infield.
In March, 195 7, the fede ral government
announced a $338,000 grant to Burlington
Memorial Hospital. The grant was applied to a
building package at the hospital costing $900,000.
This was the first addition made to the hospital
since it was started in 1924.
That year, the building which housed Master
Mechanics Company and General Crystal Company
on South Pine Street was destroyed by fire of
unknown origin.
There even was a kidnapping in 1957 in the
Burlington area.
Robert Hughes, a Fuller Brush salesman, turned
hero in a wild chase to save a little boy. The victim
was Scott Vrchota, six-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs.
Richard Vrchota. The boy had gone to the Honey
Lake store to get a loaf of bread when he was
forced into an automobile. Children were playing
in Hughes' yard and saw the boy get into the ca r.
They called Hughes and he took off in his car in
pursuit. As the two cars neared Burlington at speeds
up to 80 miles an hour, Hughes pulled along side
the car and the kidnapper fired four shots at him,
hitting Hughes twice in the arm. The boy was later
released.
Also in 1956, the New York Yankees, who faced
the Milwaukee Braves in the World Series, stayed

78

at the Brown's Lake Resort. The Yankees also stayed
there in 1957.
It was just prior to the team's 1956 stay at the
resort that Yankee Coach Casey Stengel made his
"bush league" remark. As the team was traveling
through Sturtevant to Milwaukee, a crowd of people
had gathered to get a glimpse of the team members
such as Yogi Berra, Whitey Ford and Mickey Mantle.
The colorful and sometimes gruff Stengel, seeing
the crowd, said under his breath in disgust, "This
is bush league." A national news reporter heard
him say it and ran a story about it. For the rest
of his career in baseball, that remark followed him.
The Yankees were then owned by Del Webb and
he arrived at Brown's Lake Resort aboard a seaplane that landed on the lake.
Bethel Baptist Church was dedicated November
30, 1958 and the Cross Lutheran Church members
purchased seven acres, just east of Burlington on
property purchased from C. Roy McCanna, for a
new church. The organization of the Bethel Baptist
Church was the first of several new churches of
the half-century.
In 1962, Our Savior Lutheran Church was started.
In 1973, Faith Chapel was organized. That year
also, the First Church of the Nazarene was started
in that historic old building which had formerly been
the Cross Lutheran Church. In 1975, Peace
Lutheran Church started. In 1977, Emmanuel
Baptist Church first met. In 1980, the New Covenant
Baptist Church was consecrated. The Cornerstone
Ministries was started in 1980.
It was in 1959 that fire destroyed the C. Roy
McCanna Edgewood Stock Farm bam at the inter·
section of Highway 11 and County Trunk W. In
the winter of that year, the temperature fell to a
record breaking 24 degees below zero, with 37
inches of snow on the ground. By February 12,
there had been 32 days the mercury fell to zero
or below.
That year too, Merrie Jule Barney was chosen
"Alice in Dairyland" in Janesville.
A referendum to change the route of Highway
11 off Main Street lost by but 18 votes.
Building plans for the Veterans Memorial Building
were completed in August, 1959, and Reverend
Henry C. Shadeberg announced his candidacy for
the First District Congressional seat.
The week of October 8, 1959, it was announced
that construction of the Air Force Base would be
stopped and the project would be ended. The
announcement shocked the community, as the
now defunct base was about half completed. The
water and sewer lines had been laid and the runway
was all set for paving. Surrounding property owners
had made plans to open business places near the
base; in fact, one restaurant was already built.
Several lawsuits were filed against the government
and later the nearly 5,400 acres were transformed
to the State of Wisconsin and became the Bong

Recreational Area under the supervision of the
Department of Natural Resources.
Also that black year, Nestle's announced it was
leaving Burlington, and Quality Carriers announced
they were moving to Chicago because of labor
pressure here.
In 1960, the City of Burlington's unofficial census
was 5,800, with the town census at 7,773. The town
had grown 5,514 and the city 1,027 in the ten years
since the 1950 census.
The greatest flooding in 30 years was recorded
in 1960 as the rivers overflowed their banks from
Burlington to Wilmot.
A private airport, owned by Philip Warren, closed
in June, 1960, and a ground breaking for the
Veterans Memorial Building was held on Memorial
Day, 1960. In August, it was announced Burlington
would receive a new post office.
In November, Reverend Henry C. Shadeberg was
elected to Congress, beating incumbent Gerald T.
Flynn by about 10,000 votes.
In April, 1961, ground was broken for the
Burlington Armory. The old post office was sold
to the city for $1.00 to be used for library purposes.
A large addition closely matching the original
exterior was constructed in 1984.
Several events took place in 1962. Our Savior
Lutheran Church began on July 15, with 44 persons
attending the first worship service.
Tragedy struck in February of 1962, when
Burlington Police Sergeant Anthony "Tony" Eilers
was murdered just outside the city limits of
Burlington. He had stopped a station wagon to
inform the occupants that their rear license plate
was loose, and five minutes later he lay dead with
five bullet wounds. Wilson Brook, of Racine, later
confessed to the crime. He was sentenced to a

term of life in prison for the murder. He later
escaped from the penitentiary, but was recaptured
months after the escape.
The police department was again in the news
a short time later when Chief of Police Walter Gabriel
was charged by Mayor A.B. Rewald of "storing"
a speeding ticket of a famous Milwaukee Braves
baseball player, Eddie Mathews. Gabriel was
exonerated by the Police and Fire Commission.
Also in 1962, the new Burlington Airport was
dedicated with a program headed by Senator
Alexander Wiley and Congressman Henry Schadeberg. Thousands of spectators witnessed an
afternoon air show.
After being gone for 11 months, the 32nd
Division of the Wisconsin National Guard returned
home from Fort Lewis, Washington. The division
had been called to active duty during the Berlin
Air Lift. About 75 Burlington men were in the

79

The Post Office, built in
1918, became the City
of Burlington Ubrary.
Additions to the
original building have
been built.

Flood of 1960. Bridge
Street, from Chestnut
Street to Jefferson
Street.

It was in
1968
Burlington
felt the first
impact of the
unpopular
Vietnamese
War, when
word was

received that
TimothyJ.
Kennedy had
been killed
by a sniper's
bullet.

division.
In early 1962, two robbers armed with pistols
forced their way into the Edward Rueter home, 400
Summit Avenue, and held the couple at gunpoint
while they took cash and jewelry valued at $8,200.
Police Chief Walter Gabriel said no clues or possible
suspects had been found. At nearby Twin Lakes,
on January 10, 1962, thieves took $4,000 in stamps
and $400 in cash from the post office. A large metal
safe was ripped open.
In the summer of 1963, the Veterans Memorial
Building was dedicated. Patrick M. Lloyd and
George Borgo were co-chairmen of the event, and
Marvin Werth was parade marshal.
Also in 1963, the Nestle Company took an option
on land on Burlington's south side. Plans included
the construction of a chocolate factory there.
Ground was broken for the new plant on September
3, 1964.
It was in February, 1964, when the Historical
Society received the former Cross Lutheran Church,
at the corner of Perkins Boulevard and Jefferson
Street, as a gift from Mrs. Antionette Fulton, a
charter member of the society.
The church building had been built in 1883. The
church has been used as a museum by the
Historical Society.
It was also in 1964 that it was rumored that a
second large industry, the Foster Forbes Glass
Company, would build a plant in Burlington, on
County Trunk P, south of the Lavelle Rubber
Company plant. It was only rumor and no one would
say it was official.
However, earth moving equipment was moved
in and began working. An enterprising news
reporter hired an airplane and took photographs
of the equipment working at leveling off a large
area.
The reporter took the picture to then mayor, Leo
Warren, plopped it on his desk and asked, "Mr.
Mayor, what can you say about this?" The mayor
replied, after looking at the photo, "Well, we can't
say they are planting corn, can we?" And so the
news was out.
In May, 1964, the Soo Une Railroad sought to
end passenger train service between Chicago and
Superior and that ended passenger service to
Burlington.
In September, 1964, ground was broken for the
Nestle Company chocolate plant on the city's south
side and that brought that company back to
Burlington after an absence of five years. Prior to
the company leaving Burlington, it had operated
a milk canning plant here.
Also in 1964, there was a move for Burlington
to separate from Racine County and become a part
of Walworth County. However, the plan never came
to pass.
In 1965, Richard Kinzer, president of Burlington
Mills, announced that the firm would close the

80

Burlington plant because of a threatened strike. A
short time later, he announced the plant would
remain open, but that opening was short lived, and
in 1966, the plant was moved to Kentucky.
For the second time in 14 years in a referendum,
Burlington voters turned down the issue of
fluoridating the Burlington water supply by a two
to one margin. In another referendum, by a three
to one margin, voters decided to keep the city clerktreasurer's job an elective position.
Pinecrest Shopping Center, Burlington's first
shopping center, was constructed in 1965 and most
stores were opened in early 1966.
Foster Forbes Company opened its glass
manufacturing plant here in 1966.
That year also, voters of the area voted to return
to a K-12 school system with one administrator
to head the entire district. Phillip Reinfeldt, who was
principal of the elementary school district, was to
become superintendent of the Burlington Area
School District. Frank Hanrath, superintendent of
the Burlington High School District, moved on to
become superintendent at Marshfield, Wisconsin.
Also in 1966, the Phelps Paint and Tile Store
on Main Street burned to the ground.
It was 1968 when Burlington felt the first hard
impact of the unpopular Vietnamese War, when
word was received that Timothy J. Kennedy, a
Burlington High School graduate and a son of Mr.
and Mrs. John Kennedy, had been killed by sniper
fire in Vietnam.
It was on October 27, 1968, that Burlington lost
one of its landmarks to fire. It was on that date
the Coach Lamp restaurant was destroyed by a
fire which was believed to have started by a burning
piece of toast. The building had been constructed
as a hotel in 1874 byCharlesJones,and was known
as the Jones House. In 1914, it was acquired by
Fred Oberg, who named it the Fritz Carlton and
later changed the name to the Badger Hotel. Oberg
changed the name of the hotel during World War
I because of the anti-German sentiment that
prevailed during that period. In 1961, Oberg's
widow sold the hotel and it was remodeled into
the Coach Lamp restaurant
A new fire station, on Washington Street, was
built in 1969. Previously, the fire department had
been housed in the water department building at
164 Commerce Street. In addition to the fire
department, the Commerce Street building housed
the street department and the water department.
Old timers still remember the wail of the steam
powered fire whistle that was used to summon
volunteer firemen to an alarm. Steam for the whistle
was supplied by the boilers that generated steam
power to operate the pump that pumped water from
the well in the building. Later, the steam whistle
was replaced with a klaxon type, electrically
operated horn mounted on the roof of the fire
station.

The department had a city-wide call box system
that would sound the whistle automatically if the
call box was pulled. That method of summoning
firemen disappeared with a new, modern radio
alerting system that was still in use in 1990.
(Author's Note: There have been nine fire
chiefs since the department was organized in
1912. They were: John T. Prasch, 1912-1919;
John McCourt, 1919-1925; Morris Schneider,
1925-1932; Roy Porter, 1932-1960; Clarence
Scharf, 1960-1971; Robert Birchler, 197 11977; John R. McCarthy, 1977-1982; Charles
Hewitt, 1982-1987; and Richard VandeSande,
1987-?.)

The street department and water department also
have long since moved out of that building and
it was eventually sold. The street department moved
to its present location at 824 Milwaukee Avenue
when a new building was constructed there in 1960,
and an addition was built in 1980. The water
department moved its offices to a well house on
Jefferson Street and to its new quarters at 508
Sheldon Street in 1964 when the water commission
was formed.
The decade of the 1970's brought many changes
to the growing area, both in the city and town of
Burlington. Some were good, some were bad or
even disastrous. But along with the nation, the
residents danced to a new beat.
In 1970, Leys Department Store opened at the
corner of State Street and Pine Street, in a building
which was built for a Sentry supermarket. The store
lasted for about 13 years.
Expansion was seen in the industrial community
as Continental Can Company and Packaging
Corporation opened in the Town of Burlington
about 1971. But the Burlington Brass Works closed
in 1979, and Murphy Products Company was sold
to the Schlitz Brewing Company in 1971.
Fires took a toll as on July 24, 1977, St. Mary's
Church was gutted by fire. But parishioners and
the community in general came together with moral
and financial support and a new $2 million church
rose from the ashes.
It was on a cold February day that a new, prefabricated steeple was raised to restore Burlington's
meager skyline, and the new church was dedicated
on Dec. 7, 1979.
Two other big blazes were recorded in the '70's,
the Coach Lamp Restaurant, in the former Hotel
Badger building at the corner of Milwaukee Avenue
and Chestnut Street burned. Natale's Restaurant
burned in 1977 and the Colonial Club at Brown's
Lake burned in 1979.
Weather extremes were also numerous during
the 70's. Once in 1978, a blizzard left 25 foot drifts
in some places. The plowed snow was so high it
was impossible, from street level, to see automobiles traveling on the streets. In 1979, there were
40 straight days the temperature did not get above

freezing .
In 1973, spring flooding sent the rivers out of
their banks. Two deaths were caused by the flood;
a man and his son drowned when a boat in which
they were riding overturned, dumping them into
the rushing water.
Summer storms caused much property damage
also, as in 1973, a sudden storm hit as the
Burlington Air Show was going on at the airport.
Many airplanes were flipped over, including a
$200,000 Ford Trimotor airplane that had been
used to give rides to passengers during the show.
Much other property damage was done by the same
storm.
There were other tragedies, such as the murder
of a 16 year old gasoline station attendant, David
Schwochert, who was abducted from the station,
then killed and dumped in a field north of
Burlington. His killer was never found.
Wedges were driven between people who had
been friends for years when the Experimental
Aircraft Association announced it was planning- on
81

A spectacular view of
St. Mary's church
steeple burning in
1977.

moving its air museum to property near the
Burlington Airport. The controversy spread to
residents and politicians. Backers cited prestige and
revenue for the city, while opponents cited noise,
traffic congestion and too much air traffic. The
argument was settled when the E.A.A. announced
plans to build the museum in Oshkosh.
Also in 1973, a small gathering of Christians,
meeting at the Dave Stowell home, formed Faith
Chapel, which acquired a church at Lyons. In 1990,
the congregation moved back to Burlington.
In 1974, the contract of Superintendent of
Schools Phillip Reinfeldt was not renewed. No
reason was ever given by the school board as to
why it was not renewed. Dr. Richard M. Sorensen
was named as school superintendent.
Another tragedy struck in March of 1975 when
16 year old Cathie Ziebell of Burlington was
murdered by a 22 year old New Munster man, and
her body tossed into the Fox River in Kenosha
County. Kenosha County authorities arrested Mark
Ketterhagen, 22, and charged him with the murder.
He was later convicted.
Parking meters became a thing of the past when
the city council voted them out in 1976.
After the city council approved the swap of the
city owned parking lot on Milwaukee Avenue for
a similar property on Chestnut Street, construction
of the Burlington Square Shopping Center was
started in the spring of 1978 and completed later
that year.

Officers of the original
Burlington Uar's Club,
left to right, Otis Hulett,
Lawrence Stang, Jr.,
and Gilbert Karcher.

82

It was in 1979 that Otis Hulett announced he
was disbanding the Burlington Liar's Club, which
he started in 1929. The corporation charter was
returned to the State of Wisconsin. But the Chamber
of Commerce decided not to let it die, and through
that body's urging, it was reorganized and re·
chartered. The chamber named as officers, John
Soeth, president, Don Reed, vice president, and
Mitzi Robers, secretary-treasurer. Until Hulett died
on November 11, 1989, he never recognized the
existence of the new dub.
The 1980's proved to be a decade of economic
change and growth, changes in city government
and celebrations.
In 1980, two long·time incumbents were beaten
in city elections. Mayor John Thate, who was
seeking his sixth term in office, was defeated by
34 votes by Alderman Leonard Kitkowski, and
Thomas Reich, city clerk-treasurer, was beaten by
a write-in candidate, Ralph Epping. Kitkowski's term
lasted only two years as in 1982, he was beaten
by Martin ltzin, a retired Marine Corps major. Itzin
held the post for three terms and decided not to
seek election to a fourth. He was replaced in 1988
by Stephen David, who beat out two other
candidates. David was re-elected in 1990.
In another change in city government, a city
administrator's post was created and later filled by
Tom Leback in 1983. The post was created because
the day·to·day administration of the city was too
time consuming for a part time mayor.

\

i

l<t

In 1984, Sears Roebuck Company announced
A controversy arose over the placement of a
proposed new city police building. The committee it was closing the Burlington retail store. That ended
in charge of selecting a site chose one on Milwaukee a 39 year operation in Burlington.
A landmark in Burlington started in 1918 by
Avenue, across the street from Echo Park. But the
Burlington Chamber of Commerce opposed that "Doc" Tichlofen, the Palace Lanes building was
site and favored building on city owned property destroyed by fire in October, 1984. The owners,
next to city hall. The Chamber presented a 1,000 James Walsh and Robert Watson, rebuilt it and
signature petition favoring the city hall site. The reopened as the Palace Bar and Restaurant in 1985.
The building had a long history in Burlington
council approved this site and the new police
as Robert Steele purchased the business in 1927
building was dedicated in 1983.
During 1983, 1984 and 1985, there were several and shortly sold it to Thomas Croake, who operated
business developments. A 68 acre industrial park it until 1946. He sold it to Allen Castleberg, who
was made available to industry and the Wisconsin converted the pool hall section of the building into
Electric Power Company and the Burlington a restaurant. Castleberg sold his interest to William
Consumers Cooperative were the first to take "Gabby" Corbett and Nick Hancock in 1952, and
advantage of the new area. White Oaks Restaurant, they operated it until Richard and Carol Corbett
south of Burlington, was destroyed by fire on bought it in 1972.
The year 1985 also saw the Burlington area
February 13, 1985. Owner Richard Kiekenbusch
rebuilt the establishment and it re-opened a year celebrate its 150th birthday with a week-long
schedule of festivities, including a three hour
later.
In 1985, plans were announced for the Fox River parade. General co-chairman of the event were
Plaza shopping center, which would include as Matthew Daniels and Jack Berry.
It was a float entered in this parade by the
anchor stores a Pick 'N Save supermarket and a
Burlington Historical Society which has been
K-mart store.
On a sour note, in 1983, the Stroh Brewing credited with providing the impetus for the saving
Company of Detroit, Michigan, announced the of the old Whitman School.
closing of the Murphy Products Company, which
The school building, which was the first school
had been acquired when Stroh bought the Schlitz building ever built in Burlington in 1840, was in
Brewing Company of Milwaukee. The livestock feed a poor location to be saved and was badly in need
manufacturing company had been one of Burling· of repairs. The float in the parade used as a theme
ton's most successful industries. It was started in " Save Whitman School'', and from then on
1925 by two brothers, James H. and Lawrence monetary donations began coming in to the society.
Murphy, who moved the plant here from Delavan
The structure was moved to Schmaling Park,
where it was started in 1921. Schlitz had purchased gutted and restored to what it may have looked
like in those early days. Cost of the project was
the company in 1971.

83

The Historical Society's
float in the
Sesquicentennial
Parade has been
credited with providing
the impetus for saving
the old Whitman
School.

Make-believe Indians,
from the left, Mark
Hannas, Russell
Cooney and Johnny
Rudkowsky, riding in
the centennial parade
in 1935.

about $28,000, all of which had been given by
businesses and individuals. The school building was
rededicated and opened to the public in September,
1988.
Celebrations continued in 1987 with the first
Chocolate Festival, and Burlington became
"Chocolate City, U.S.A." for a week. The festivals
were continued yearly, at least until 1990, but in
1988, the festival became known as the "choco·
late war." The Hershey Company, of Hershey,
Pennsylvania, challenged Burlington's right to the
name, "Chocolate City, U.S.A."
Drought conditions hit Burlington, as well as
most of the rest of the nation, in 1988, and most
farmers reported losing 50 percent of their crops
because of the heat and dry weather.
That dry year was probably best described in
the 1988 championship lie of the Burlington Liar's
Club. The lie: "It was so dry, the only water one
could buy was dehydrated in 36 ounce packages."
In July, 1988, William Branen, long-time
publisher of the Standard Press, died of complications from a brain tumor. His son, Robert, was
named publisher to succeed him. Bill, as he was
commonly known, was a leader in the community
and promoted and was the force behind many

84

community activities during his tenure as publisher.
Never one to seek glory, many of his ideas were
carried out by others with him lending support, such
as the Sesquicentennial observance, Chocolate City
Festivals, the Industrial Park, and the restoring of
the old water tower as a monument.
The final year of the decade, 1989, saw school
news as the big topic of conversation. Gary Fields,
superintendent of schools, in the midst of planning
for a new middle school, resigned to take a similar
position in Kennewick, Washington. At first, the
school board was going to hold him to his contract,
but later relented and allowed him to move. Fields
had replaced Dr. Richard M. Sorensen, who retired,
three years before. Dr. Jackson Parker was named
the new superintendent. In a referendum in
November, 1989, the construction of the proposed
$1 2.8 million school complex was defeated by a
3 to 1 vote.
The last tragedy of the decade was the mysterious
disappearance of Kerry O'Brien Krueger. The
mother of a daughter, Mrs. Krueger had not been
seen since December 6, 1989, when she supposedly left home to attend a trade show in
Wyoming. Up until mid-1990, no trace of her had
been found.

Chapter7

S ocial Life Begins

Social groups formed early in Burlington. The
Teutonia Society, begun in 1853, has been
mentioned on page 29.
In 1870, the Old Settlers of Racine County was
organized. At that time, these people were
members: Nelson R. Norton, Silas B. Peck, Pliny
Perkins, Lewis Royce, Daniel B. Rork, William
Rooker, Orson B. Sheldon, Jacob Bussey, Stephen
Campbell, E. G. Dyer and wife, S. M. Cooper, John
M. Cooper, Mrs. L. S. Nims.
At a meeting of the society on February 22, 1871,
Charles E. Dyer, son of Edward Galusha Dyer, Bur·
lington's first doctor, gave a lengthy address telling
the story of the first settlement of the several towns
then comprising the County of Racine. This
exhaustive historical address has become the main
source of information for all succeeding accounts
of the history of early settlers in the county.
There was one social group in the vicinity that
had a national reputation for good hospitality and
that was Gideon's Band at Brown's Lake. It was
organized in 1874 by Fred Wild of Racine. For many
years, he had been general freight agent for the
Western Union and was well known amongst
railroad men. A group of these men and a number
of citizens of Racine formed the Gideon's Band
as a social club. They elected for their summer
camp, a small island on Brown's Lake which Julius
Lueck had acquired by "squatters' rights," and
bought it from him for about $16. They named

it "Island Wild," an excellent choice since it not
only honored the founder of the club, but was
remarkably descriptive as well. Then began the
activities which were to make the words "Island
Wild" a key to unlock the most pleasant memories
in the minds of many people.
Each family erected a tent for its sleeping quarters
and some improved their places with little pavilions
made of cedar poles and roofed them with vines
and branches. For the center of festivities, a hall

85

The tip end of Island
Wild showing the hall
for dining and dancing.

Some of the members
of Gideons Band
skylarking on Island
Wild.

R_ L! N j I 0 ~ - \rl\
2 - Z5 :p ~ c. L ·

W T fJ {f._ fZ.. 5 p 0 F\ T- 2) u

.fl' s ~ · l

Winter fun was horse
racing on the ice of the
mi/1 pond.

Teutonia Hall after it
had been rem odeled
into the Orpheum

Theater.

" f\ • \N 11>~ ~ I ~ ~

for dining and dancing was built. Here banquets
were given, attended by guests from all parts of
the country. The leading officials of the largest
railway systems in the Northwest were wined and
dined, with the wines and ales that were famous
at the time. Here, by the light of Japanese lanterns,
couples danced most romantically to the music
of the band playing Henry Allen Cooper's "Island
Wild Waltz."
The island could not boast a good beach but
swimming parties were taken, by sailboat, to a sandy
shallow beach on the Osterman property. Boat
transportation was provided by Captain Reuben
Deud's sailboat, the "William E. Chapman" and
a ferry operated with a cable pulled by Herr Oster·
man, most willingly assisted by all the small boys
of the community.
The Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad
printed special trip excursion tickets to Island Wild.
The fare included the trip from Chicago to Bur·

86

5

lington and to Island Wild by omnibus.
In 1884, the society broke up and the island was
sold. A Mr. McCoy of Chicago purchased it for
a children's camp. Later it was sold to Mr. Bremner,
president of the Bremner Biscuit Company. Bur·
lington people who were members of the society
were Edward G. Dyer, A. E. Wells, Antony Meinhardt, Dr. Kords and G. Palmer.
In April, 1927, Teutonia Hall was leased by the
Society of the Fischer Paramount Corporation and
was remodeled into the Orpheum Theater, a
modern movie house. Vaudeville shows were also
given from the stage there. Shortly afterwards, this
firm sub-leased the building to Community
Theaters, Inc., and the theater was completely
redecorated and furnished with modern motion
picture equipment. The old level floor on which
many Burlington people had danced and roller
skated was changed to a sloping floor and theater
seats were installed. The newly rebuilt hall was
opened for business on October 26, 1927. The
new theater included a ceiling of twinkling stars
and the Diener sisters operated a candy and ice
cream store in the building. The first talking picture
at the Orpheum was AI Jolson's "The Jazz Singer."
During the winter of 1928, the new Plaza Theater,
built by Fred Oberg and Olaf Hoganson, just two
doors from the Orpheum, opened to the public.
The first talking picture in Burlington was shown
in this building on March 15, 1929. The feature
was "Alias Jimmy Valentine."
The Teutonia Society had been declining
gradually and in 1929, it went out of existence when
on April 15, Teutonia Corporation was organized
to take over the building. The new organization had
a capital of $5,000.
The purpose of the new corporation was to
purchase and improve real estate, and operate and
manage theaters and public halls. The incorporators were Joseph A. Rueter, Henry N. Stang and

Interior of the
Orpheum Theater,
before talking pictures,
when traveling
vaudeville troupes put

on performances. One
such troupe is shown
on the stage. Below,
the house band,
included from the left,
Fred Boulden, drums;
Theodore Kom, violin;
and Laura Prasch,

piano. These same
musicians provided
music for the silent
movies.

A relic of Teutonia Half
found after the
Orpheum Theater fire.
It is now in the artifact
collection of the
Burlington Historical

James Mangold.
On the night of January 21, 1930, a fire of
unknown origin broke out and despite the efforts
of the fire department and hundreds of Burlington
citizens, the building was destroyed. So the end
came to a landmark into which had gone the hope
and work of Burlington's early settlers who had
contributed money and labor that the growing town
might have a cultural center. The fire wrote finis
to the history of the Teutonia Society as the hall
was never rebuilt.
On the site, a gasoline station and automobile
repair shop was erected. In 1986, when the owner
Gilbert Tietel, dug into the ground to replace under·
ground gasoline tanks, he unearthed the semi·
circular, cast iron gable sign with the word
"TEUTONIA 1871" cast upon it. Through his
generosity, it is now one of the artifacts in the
Historical Society Museum.
The torch of dramatic entertainment did not
remain unlit long. In the fall of 1931, the Haylofters
came into existence. Catherine Alvord, teacher of
English and drama at Burlington High School,
along with Stanley Jung and Elmer Ebert, wanted
to form an independent "little theater" group. The
idea was quickly accepted by others interested in
dramatics and the continually growing member·
ship warranted renting a clubroom. At the rear of
the Howard Newell residence, on the comer of
Dodge and State streets, stood a bam where Mr.
Newell kept horses. There was a fine loft above
the stable that was offered the group for a place
to review scripts, plan productions and do some
rehearsing. Honoring this place, the group adopted
the name "Haylofters."

Society.

The Newell bam, the
first home of The
Haylofters, Burlington's
little theater group.
87

"'

The Malt House
Theater on North Main

'f-

Street

~

I

- ,_,_

~

For years, plays were put on at the high school
stage, occasionally in the old town hall/church on
the corner of Washington Street and Perkins
Boulevard. In late 1942, the vacant Finke·Uhen malt
house on North Main Street was bought at an
auction for $850 back taxes. Much volunteer work
was done to convert the place into a 100 seat
theater, fittingly called the Malthouse Theater. The
Haylofters are the oldest, active, little theater group
OC'TOllF.!! 16

~acij nnb ~anbel
Mu(!ic Pl'ior to th<' Eighteenth Century
: Irs. Fulton
Iluntlol
:\lis(. Marie Chri.:.tien, first violin; Miss Lorctt.l Schcirmar,
t eCOl1d violin; Mr ... V/m. Ra .rh, viLIRj Mis H ~ll. cello

Lnrg o

Tnlk on thr Ot·ntorio

Mi:L

D(.~n i .,

Mathew

Then Shull the Eyes of the Blind (Rcci tativo )

llondcl

He Shall Feed His Floek (The uiessiah)

Hnntlcl

~drs.

Pratt

Come Unto Him All Yc th.•t Labor (The Me.;, iah)
Miss Loretta Schult

lbmle l

Il andol
Hallelujah Choru, (The lllc sinh)
Fir_,t piano, Mis:l Charlotte Youngs, Miss Cuelia Young ~;
Secontl pin no, Mi· -:; Lol'~n:•.u JJ.:1viU, Miss Dtll

Selected
!loch

My Heart Ev t l' Faitlafijl
~ir

. R. 11. Filch
Dnch

Gavotte- D Minor
Miss P:1 usy Agner

Selected

A print of an original
Lyceum Club program
from November 6,

Ave Maria .
Bach-Gounod
Mr:: :. T . J . Sh ouldi.,, ~op rnno; Miss Bush m~n . 'iolin ubli gato
J'n.lll' El :;h1

1916.
88

c.-~--:a~
· .;;;o..:-=:;
... - -~- -~-r~ _ ,... __

-

ji

--eiii'fi!i

in Wisconsin.
The Burlington Lyceum Club was organized in
1914, "to advance the interest and promote the
culture of musical and dramatic art in the City of
Burlington." Women of the community were
welcomed as members, particularly if they had
musical ability. In the second year of the dub, there
were 70 active members who would perform and
35 associate members who did not perform or vote.
Mrs. W. G. Rasch was the president and strong
leader of the group. Other early officers were Mrs.
J . F. Bennett, the Misses Martha Rohr and Ermina
Zimmermann, Miss Alma Neuhaus and Mrs. John
R. (Anna) Wilson.
Programs of vocal and instrumental numbers,
readings on musical subjects, etc. were given at
the home of Mrs. Rasch for dub members. When
Mrs. Rasch died in 1949, her will gave the home
to the city with the provision that the Lyceum and
the Women's Club would continue to have the use
of it. In 1960, when the Veterans Memorial Building
was built, the Rasch house had been sold and the
clubs' equity in it was transferred so that future
Lyceum and Women's Club meetings could be held
there. Mrs. Rasch's Steinway piano was moved to
the Veterans Building for the clubs' use.
Membership was then opened to men as well
as women and the public was invited to the
programs. The club is active and continues to carry
on the objectives of the dub's purposes.
In 1915, the Woman's Study Club was
organized to "promote the welfare of the home
and the community, and to stimulate interest along
educational, civic and cultural lines and to promote
sociability among the women of Burlington and
surrounding area." By 1922, it had affiliated itself
with the national federation and had changed its

Women's Club
members act as Red
Cross volunteers
during World War l.

Chief of Police Frank
Beller, left, receives the
first Championship
Uar's medal from
Officer Hubert "Pink"
Schenning. Schenning
was the first vice
president of the
Burlington Uar's Club.

name to the Burlington Woman's Club.
During the war years, its activities revolved around
the Red Cross, promotion of war bonds, U.S.O.
activities, civil defenses and rationing. For many
years thereafter, conservation and the environment
were the center of interest, including bird and wild
flower study and Arbor Day tree plantings. By their
recommendation, the city council adopted the lilac
as the city flower. For more than 30 years, the club
has run the American Cancer Association fund
drive. It has sponsored the Helen Mears art contest
for school children. It had the same privileges as
the Lyceum Club in the use of funds from the sale
of Mrs. W. G. Rasch's home and now has a meeting
place in the Veterans' Memorial Building. The most
recent fund-raising effort is the annual Santa Claus
breakfast where 500 or more youngsters are served
and entertained by Santa Claus and where gifts
by the hundreds, handmade by members all during
the year, are sold. The thousands of dollars made
are used in awarding scholarships to deserving
seniors in Burlington and Catholic Central High
Schools.
A unique organization which has received world
wide publicity, is the Burlington Liar's Club,
organized in 1929 by Otis C. Hulett, a Burlington
newspaperman.
The club was founded on a lie when that year,
Hulett filed a story with his newspaper, the Racine
Journal News, that the old timers of Burlington sat
around the pot-bellied stove at the police station
and swapped tall stories. He wrote that a winner
of the lying session was picked ... Chief of Police
Frank Beller, who said he never told a lie in his
life. Hulett filed the tale with the newspaper between
Christmas and New Year's when the news beats
dry up. The paper, not knowing the whole thing
was a fabrication, printed it.

L

L- -. "''.
((

c) I

c

I

(·

' ;;

J,

~.1
I

v

89

A World War II cartoon
depicts the dilemma of
judges of a Burlington
Uar's Club contest.

Antionette Meinhardt
Fulton, one of the
founders, the first
president and a patron
of the Burlington
Historical Society.

The Associated Press picked the story up and
sent it to all of its subscribers. The next year, the
Associated Press called Hulett and asked him if
the same thing was going to happen that year, and
Hulett replied, "Sure." And, that was the beginning
of the liar's club.
Since then, the club has been incorporated and
requests for memberships and tall stories have been
coming in from all over the world ever since.
Hulett disbanded the club in 1979 after 50 years,

The sundial on the
grounds of Uncoln
School.

The ship monument
on the McCarthy·
Koenig Funeral Home

property.
90

but through the efforts of the Burlington Chamber
of Commerce, it was revived and continued. Each
New Year's Eve, a World's Champion Uar is
announced to the world from the entries sent in
during the previous year.
The Burlington Historical Society was organized
February 13, 1928, for the purpose of collecting
and preserving historical records and artifacts
pertaining to the Burlington area. Antionette Mein·
hardt Fulton, Otis Hulett, Augusta Nielsen (Mrs.
Louis Zwiebel), Martha E. Smith, Katherine Foltz,
Mildred Jacobsen, Mary E. White, Helen Hicks,
Katherine Wagner, William R. Becker and Herbert
Duckett were the incorporators. On the 27th · of
February, the first officers were elected: Mrs. Fulton,
president; Mr. Duckett, vice-president; Mrs. Zwiebel,
secretary-treasurer.
Early meetings were held at the Meinhardt home
and in the assembly room of the Conkey Street
High School. Programs were given, historical papers
read and ancient crafts demonstrated. Artifacts
collected were displayed in cases in a room in the
school made available to them by the school board.
In the efforts to preserve and call attention to
Burlington's heritage, the society took on several
projects. It aided Mrs. Charles Dyer Norton in
erecting a sun dial at the Uncoln School with an
inscription on the base honoring Dr. Edward
Galusha Dyer, Burlington's first doctor. The "ship"
marker, listing the names of early settlers, had been
placed before the society's existence. It is on the
McCarthy-Koenig Funeral Home property, sited
where the first frame house was built by Origen
Perkins for his brother-in-law, Dr. Dyer.

A major undertaking was the research of the
Mormon settlement at Voree, a bronze casting
made of the map of the village and the erection
of a marker in a little park along Highway 11 at
the White River. This was done with the cooperation
of the Mormon people living in the area. For the
1935 Centennial Celebration of Burlington's
founding in 1835, a history was compiled by Francis
Meurer and Augusta Zwiebel of which this history
is a revision and update.
In 1947, the school board informed the society
that the rooms being used as a museum would
be needed for classes and must be vacated. The
board allowed all the artifacts, numbering thousands by now, to be stored in the school attic. There
they stayed for 13 years. Interest in the society fell
to a very low level, but it was still kept in existence
by the concern of a few directors.
There was a resurrection on February 17, 1964
when Mrs. Antionette Fulton announced her
donation to the society of the old Cross Lutheran
Church on the corner of Jefferson Street and
Perkins Boulevard. Volunteers spent countless
hours refurbishing the interior to turn it into a
museum. Park Department and Electric Company
employees furnished men and trucks to transport
the artifacts from the school to the new home.
Now many activities took place: Exhibits were
prepared; the task of furnishing the log cabin in
Echo Park donated to the city to Robert Fulton;
programs given; tours arranged, especially for all
fourth graders in the district every year; and again
the collecting and accessioning of artifacts.
The latest and greatest accomplishment was the
rescue from demolition, the moving and the
restoring of the 1840 brick schoolhouse, the first
building built in Burlington for school purposes.
No longer being used as a school after 1856, it
became at various times a storeroom for furniture,
a lawn mower repair shop, even a garage when

TheUncoln
Monument, donated by
Dr. Francis Meinhardt.
It depicts Uncoln
delivering his second
inaugural address.

Crowd at the
dedication ceremonies
on October 13, 1913.

91

Uncoln School, the
final phase of its
remodeling as a
school.

~7
'

<~
_""1111111
ii

~

D~hl

~L.

a car-sized hole was opened in one brick wall. It
was also partitioned for living quarters. When it was
about to be razed in 1981 to make room for a
modem garage, the Historical Society acquired it,
moved it to Schmaling park on Beloit Street and
restored it as a historic site.
During the fall months of 1990 classes were
taught there as they were in the 1840's to children
whose parents were eager for them to have that
experience. Mrs. Luigi Petracchi organized the
program and she and teachers selected by her
taught classes.
Beginning in 1929, the great depression hit the

~/'

;'/

-~

j
I
~

Burlington Historical
Museum, built as a
Lutheran Church in
1883, donated by Mrs.
Fulton in 1964.

92

n

1

whole of the United States. During its first two years,
Burlington experienced little of the deflationary
aspects that had made themselves felt in the larger
centers. Due to the fact the three banks in the City
of Burlington were functioning normally, ordinary
business transactions were able to be carried on
in a satisfactory manner.
On March 3, 1933, the banking order declaring
a moratorium and closing of aU banks set in, but
Burlington banks were permitted to open as early
as any in the country. Business, with the exception
of the short period of the moratorium, experienced
no set back due to the break-down of the national
banking machinery. It may be due to the fact that
depositors were at all times able to withdraw their
funds that Burlington escaped the hardships of
frozen credits that afflicted many cities in the state
and nation.
At the close of the century deposits in the three
banks had increased materially, showing on the
one hand the soundness and stability of the local
community, and on the other hand the confidence
the banking institutions enjoyed.
During the summer of 1932, the farmers in the
vicinity erected a cooperative milk plant, and it was
ready for business in late September. On October
6, the plant was demolished by a bomb planted
by unknown persons, but not disheartened, they
cleared the grounds and the walls quickly rose for
a new plant, which was ready in November.
A Burlington Businessmen's Association was
organized in 1910 with 200 members. Its aim was
to further the civic interests of the city but interest
gradually declined. In 1971, a shortage of houses

Because of the
generosity of the
citizens of Burlington,
the Whitman School is
now moved and
restored in Schmaling
Park

Interior of the
remodeled school
showing Mrs. Alice
Petracchi teaching a
class.

created a problem and reorganization of the association took place in September. The present
Chamber of Commerce is an outgrowth of the
association.
An indication of the increasing popularity of the
motor car was the formation, in May 1918, of the
Good Roads Association. HA Runkel was the
president, S.M. Reinardy, vice president, and Louis
H. Zimmermann, secretary-treasurer. In those days
a man who bought a new automobile rated a special
item in the local newspaper. Another indication was
the closing of the Pieters' Wagonworks. This
business had been established in the 1850's and
its closing after many years of successful business
marked the closing of an era in transportation.
There was in 1912, a Burlington Automobile
Association with Ben Holmes, president; Dr. William
Fulton, vice president; C.E. Partee, secretary; and
Dr. Francis Meinhardt, treasurer. Its purpose, first
of all, was to promote and maintain a social

A typical Whitman
school class with Mrs.
Eileen Albright as the
teacher and Mrs. Mary
Skwierawski as the

aide.

93

- ---.. The Guarantee Auto
Company, the
forerunner of the John
Cunningham Garage
on the comer of
Dodge and Chestnut
streets. The car on the
left is probably a Buick
touring car. The car on
the right is C. B.
McCanna's American
roadster.

organization of persons interested in the use of
motor vehicles. Next, to promote just regulations
in the use of automobiles, to promote the intelligent
use of motor vehicles and the proper respect for
the laws governing same, and to devise ways of
increasing the pleasure and sport of motoring. All
worthy goals for the present day, also! (The
association was too late to influence mail carrier
Louis Kessler. On Sunday morning, August 12,
1910 on Geneva Street, he bumped into a big
Rambler owned by Milwaukee people. The lamps
and radiator on Mr. Kessler's Buick were badly
damaged.)
One of their activities was the organization of
tours of a convoy of autos to neighboring
communities. One tour, starting from Burlington,
circled through Union Grove, Kansasville, Brighton,
Salem, Trevor, Camp Lake to Silver Lake where
a stop for dinner was made. Then on to Wilmot,

The Hansen Oil
Company filling
station, built in 1925, at
the comer of Mill and
Chestnut streets, still in
existence and
unchanged in 1990.
Beulah Wol/ine was a
long time manager
and bookkeeper.

94

Bassett, Twin Lakes, Richmond, Genoa Junction,
Powers Lake, Slades Corners, New Munster and
home. Riding in the cars would be businessmen
and industry representatives who would hand out
souvenirs and samples of the products. It was a
great promotional event enjoyed by both the
participants and the people along the way.
There were four automobile dealers in the 1914
city directory: Agner Auto Company (Studebaker,
Cadillac and Ford); Auto Supply Company (Case
and Maxwell); Ed Zwiebel and Brothers Company
and William Huse (makes unknown).
In 1922, were seven: Agner Auto Company
(Studebaker), Burlington Motor Car Company
(Ford), Cunningham Buick Company (Buick),
Knerien Motor Company (Chevrolet), Kuhn and
Reynolds (Dodge), Luhn and Peeters (Reo), The
Automotive Company (Case, Maxwell).
Gasoline was needed to fuel these vehicles and
John "Jack" Hansen was here to supply it. In 1902,
his father Andrew Hansen, had a business in Union
Grove selling kerosene, the only petroleum product
being marketed at the time through groceries and
hardware stores. In 1911, he opened a branch in
Burlington with son, Jack, as manager of the
Hansen Oil Company. When gasoline became
available it was supplied to the four automobile
garages from a horse drawn tank wagon. In 1915,
the tank was mounted on a regulation auto truck
chassis, the first such vehicle, and deliveries to
farmers became easier. The next step in progress
was the construction in 1925 of the first "filling
station" in Burlington on the corner of Chestnut
and Mill streets. That same station was still pumping
gas in 1990, 65 years. A most faithful worker in
the company was Beulah Wolline, manager and
bookkeeper, who in 1990 was completing her 55th
year of service. The cost of state mandated
reconstruction made it inadvisable to continue
business and the station closed in 1990.

Chapter 8

Lakes Areas

Two major lakes, Brown's and Bohners, are in
the Town of Burlington and both have had an
impact on the area's social, recreational and
economic life. Brown's Lake was once called, "The
Lake of the Shining Arrow" by the Potawatomi
Indians.
In 1839, Luke Parrish Brown purchased the first
75 acres on the lake, at the Milwaukee Land Sales
office for $1.25 an acre, and the lake was eventually
named after him. In 1846, he sold 50 acres to
Timothy Bliss for $550.
Until 1928, there were few homes on the lake,
but there were resorts and many cottages.
In addition to the Columbian Hotel owned by
John Hockings, which later became The Antlers,
there was Moore's Lakeside Resort, Oak Park Resort
and the Colonial Club. What is now Cedar Park
was the Zacharius Ketterhagen farm and cattle
could often be seen wandering down to the water's
edge to drink The subdivision was first developed
in 1928 by Class and Frahm on 120 acres bought
from Ketterhagen.
The first residence on what is known as Hall's
Point, was owned by Florence Cooper Hall,

daughter of Congressman Henry Allen Cooper, and
widow of Gene Hall, a Burlington banker. Mer her
death in 1920, the point was divided by a canal
to provide more lakefront footage. Houses were
planned in the Spanish motif, but only three were
built in the style.
Mer Racine County turned down the property
for a county park, Louis Man of Hammond,
Indiana, and his partner, Freda Thomas, reportedly
bought the land for $50,000 and immediately began
improvements. Within two years, Hall's Point Villa
had eight summer homes with 15 more under
construction.
According to legend, three brothers from Sweden
came to Brown's Lake looking for a friend in
Wheatland. They stayed at the peninsula, later
known as Weygand' s Peninsula, because they were
afraid of what might happen with the Indians in
the area. The next morning, they left for Wheatland.
Later, the peninsula became part of the Sigmund
Hoffman farm which was sold to the Consumer's
Ice Company. In 1907, HenryWeygand, Sr., Henry,
Jr. and Richard Weygand, bought the peninsula.
According to reports of the day, two varieties
95

Mr. Colby and his

steamboat named
Comet, but dubbed
" The Galloping Soup
Tureen " pulling up to a
pier at Brown's Lake.

..
Ill

~a

'

~

•

-....

"'"

ir"- - -

-- -=-A rowboat plies a calm
Brown's Lake.

of rare trees could be found there, chestnut oaks
and hackberry.
Moore's Lakeside Resort had its beginning in
1869 when William V. Moore, a yankee from New
York state, came to the area with the intent of
farming . The summer of 1886 brought several
fishermen from Chicago to the shoreline on the
Moore property and Moore's wife served lunch and
offered the men lodging. Word of the hospitality
spread, and the Moores received requests for
accommodations. By 1904, two wings had been
added and 100 guests were accommodated. In
1906, Roy Moore took over and Moore's Lakeside
Resort was in full swing.
The Colonial Club first opened its doors in May,
1894 by P. H. Cunningham, originally from County
Lunford, Ireland. It operated for many years and
in 1979, it was destroyed by fire.

In the 1890's, Brown's
Lake was graced with
the presence of this
steamboat, the Comet.
Photo was taken off the
shore at the
Columbian Hotel on
the north side of the
Jake.

96

Petrie's Resort had its beginning in 1873 when
Matthew Petrie purchased 4 75 feet of lake frontage
for $100. When he first bought the property, his
wife chided him so about the purchase, he sold
a portion of it off. Later he bought it back for $300.
In 1896, he, with the help of Ashley Vantine, a school
janitor who became known as Grandpa Vantine,
built a log cabin on the property. Vantine chose
tamarack logs because of their durability.
Another resort on the lake was Becker's Farm
Resort. William Becker, a cigar maker from
Chicago, purchased the property in 1912, when
some Chicago friends urged Becker to take on
paying guests, the resort was started. After he retired
in 1967, he sold the 60 acre resort to Racine County
and it is now a portion of Einar Fischer County
Park
The history of Oak Park Resort, later known as
Island View Resort, can be traced back to 1893
when J. C. Grant of the Grant Baking Powder
Company and his brother, F. A. Grant, founded
the Grant Park Resort. By 1909, Frances Kelnhofer
had purchased the resort and changed the name
to Oak Park Resort. The Cerami family purchased
the property in 1952. Pauline Cerami turned the
eyesore into a luxury resort, spending more than
$1 million. It was then called Cerami's Island View
Resort. In 1969, it was sold and later converted
to condominiums.
The harvesting of ice in the winter was a major
industry at Brown's Lake. At least two ice
companies, the Consumer's Ice Company had a
plant where Fischer Park became located. Another
ice company, the Uncoln-Boyle Ice Company had
an ice house on the Maginnis property. Ice was
also harvested from nearby Norton's Lake.

This ice was mainly used for shipment to Chicago
for household use and to railroads for use in
refrigerated box cars. The advent of mechanical
and electric refrigeration put the ice business out
of business.
In the ice companies' "glory days", cutting and
harvesting of ice furnished much winter employ·
ment for local people as well as crews imported
mainly from Chicago.
Glacial knobs covered with stands of oak, hickory
and beech surrounded a part of what is now called
Bohners Lake in 1843, when Martin Bohner and
Augustus Greulich came to the area.
The two men settled the area with Bohner
claiming the east shore and Greulich the west.
Greulich sold his land in 1848 to Wilhelmi Reil,
and Andreus Jacobson acquired it in 1851. That
land remained in the Jacobson family until a portion
of it was subdivided in 1928, forming White Oak
Park.
Bohner, too, soon left the lake that now bears
his name as he sold it to William Grass. In 1910,
Frank Grass, a son of William, sold the farm to
William Robers.
Robers was 26 years old when he and his new
bride set up housekeeping on the Bohner farm
and he remained on the farm until his death in
1952.
Another early settler was Anton Bohner, who ran
a tavern at the lake. Legend has it that dances and
the home brew served, attracted people from
Burlington who earned the characterization "Rattanball" (ball of rats). Neighbors occasionally would
hear a splash at night when the unsteady footsteps

of a returning guest failed to keep him on the
straight and narrow plank that spanned a nearby
creek.
Next door to Bill Robers place, along the lake
shore, was an area known as Schwaller's Woods.
Picnics were held occasionally, especially St. Mary's
Church picnic.
On the morning of July 4, 1905, six young men
from Burlington drove out with a wagon-load of
lumber and by evening they had erected the first
cottage on the east side of the lake. They returned

Brown's Lake beauties.

Camp Lonesome at
Bohners Lake, painted
in red, white and blue
stripes. It was the first
cottage on the east
side of the lake.

97

The standing
role for
uninvited
guests: "You
are welcome
but bring
something to

eat."

the next week and painted it red, white and blue.
A friend commented on the lonesome spot, so the
group christened the place "Camp Lonesome."
This was the beginning of the Summerhaven
subdivision.
In 1854, when everyone was interested in
investing in railroads, the Fox River Valley Railroad
purchased right-of-way through the region. An
embankment for the planned railroad was constructed through the area, but no tracks were ever
laid as the company apparently ran out of money.
That was the beginning and the end of the Bohners
Lake railroad boom.
In 1928, four Kenosha men subdivided part of
the Jacobson farm, formed the White Oak Park
Company, and built a golf course on both sides
of Highway P.lt wasn't a paying proposition though,
and it reverted back to the Jacobson estate in 1933.
Also in 1928, portions of the John Gerger farm
and White Oak Park were purchased by the
Wisconsin Conservation Department and a fish

hatchery was opened. The hatchery operated for
about 10 years, producing thousands of bass each
season.
Winkler School District No. 7 was established
in 1847. A committee was organized and the necessary funds were raised. It cost $180 to build the
first schooL
Prior to 1930, there were fewer than 35 cottages
on Bohners Lake. Jacobson rented eight cottages,
Sherman three and Boschert one. There were a
few more scattered through the Summerhaven and
Bohners Lake subdivision. The early days were
described as houses with no electricity and food
brought in from Burlington.
The standing rule for uninvited guests: 'You are
welcome but bring something to eat" The ice man
had to be notified if the resident was coming out
so he could leave an ice block on the porch on
Saturday morning. Cooking was done over a
kerosene stove and the plumbing was in the backyard.

Always a city to enjoy a celebration, in 1935 the
Burlington area marked the hundred years of its
existence with a great four-day festivaL The downtown stores gave over their show windows to the
display of historical articles used by the old settlers,
with the history of each object ascertained. Most
of these articles were loaned by the Burlington
Historical Society.
A water carnival was held in the evening at Echo
Park, at which an array of historical and decorative
floats built on boats passed in review on the lake.
On another day, a worthwhile street parade
featuring historical, commercial, industrial and
comic floats drew an audience that filled all available standing room on the downtown streets. At
the "old time" family picnic that wound up the
celebration at Echo Park, Professor Harold G.
Reuschlein addressed the gathering and presented
several old settlers from the stage.
For the Sesquicentennial Celebration in 1985,
there was a week-long schedule of events. There
were concerts by various bands and musical

groups, a pageant depicting the history of the area,
many historical window displays, sales of souvenirs
of the observance, and winding up the week with
a three hour parade of floats, bands and marching
units.
This brings to a close the chronicle of the people
and events of the more than 150 years of building
the City of Burlington and its environs - more
than a century and a half that the crude log huts
of the Smiths, Perce, Bushnell, Norton and the rest
of those first settlers have grown into the Burlington
of 1990.
It is an acknowledgement of the debt of gratitude
we owe and a tribute to the memory of those past
generations who had the courage to forge into the
unknown future. They established communities like
ours, with integrity and principles that made it
impossible for them to compromise with what they
thought was right. It was their vision and toils which
built the area we know as "greater" Burlington
today.

Jffinis
98

Church Histories
St. Mary's Catholic Church
108 McHenry Street

I

I

/

Significant Dates
Nov. 9, 1847 St. Sebastians Church
dedicated.
Dec. 8, 1859 Church of Immaculate
Conception dedicated.
Dec. 10, 1891 St. Mary's Church dedicated.
July 23, 1977 St. Mary's Church destroyed
by fire.
Dec. 8, 1979 St. Mary's Church rededicated
after being rebuilt.

Pastors
Rev. Kundig (Not resident.)
1842·45
Rev. Francis Kendeler
1845-46
(Fr. Kundig, Fr. Heinz, Fr. Kendeler
visited parish.)
Rev. Michael Wisbauer
1847·89
1890-1912
Rev. Theodore Jacobs
Rev. John A Bertram
1912·14
Rev. Joseph Van Treeck
1915-32
Msgr. Edward Kersting
1932-49
Msgr. Joseph Heim
1949-76
Rev. Robert Gosma
1976-89
Rev. David Reith
1989·?

Schools
1860 St. Sebastians used as school.
1893 Church of Immaculate Conception
remodeled into school.
1926 St. Mary's High School was dedicated.
1954 St. Mary's Grade School dedicated.
1984 St. Mary's High School became
Catholic Central High School.

Catholic Central High School
From its humble beginning, Catholic Central
High School, formerly St. Mary's High School, was
a school that defied the odds.
According to an early history of the school, written
by Francis Bienemann, it was in 1919 that it became
very apparent a new high school building was
definitely needed because of the extremely crowded
condition of the Burlington High School. At the
same time St. Mary's pastor, Father Joseph Van
Treeck, was astonished to learn that nearly 50
percent of the public school students were Catholic.
Bienemann wrote, "With a scholarly and wide
vision, born of a deep appreciation of the church's

traditional approach to education, Fr. Van Teeck
decided the time was opportune to consider
Catholic high school education for the children of
Burlington. He held several parish meetings to gain
support and although it was great, there was
opposition, vehement and strong, so Archbishop
Messmer would not give the necessary permission
to undertake a building program."
However, Fr. Van Teeck did not give up. " In June,
1920, he called a meeting of the grade school
graduates of 1919 and 1920 and laid before them
a plan to open a high school in the old St.
(continued on following page)

99

(continued from previous page)

Sebastian's Church, then owned by the St.
Eustachius Benevolent Society," Beinemann wrote.
Because of the hectic days of reconstruction after
World War I, it was difficult to obtain the necessary equipment for such an undertaking.
In August, it was discovered only one teacher
would be available and equipment would be in short
supply. But plans went ahead and with the arrival
of Sister Michael, the lone teacher, things began
to happen and she set about making a school out
of nothing.
In 1925, St. Mary's High School graduated its
first class. The graduates were Florence Bieneman,
Loraine Heck, Marie Rueter and Raymond D.
Bienemann.
By 1926, St. Mary's High School was firmly
established. By 1974, the school board expanded
to include representatives from other parishes. In
1984, this expansion was formalized into a
centralized association consisting of 13 member
parishes and the name was changed to St. Mary's
Catholic Central High School. In 1989, the name
was again changed to Catholic Central High School,
to communicate the spirit of joint ownership of the
13 parishes.

Those parishes are: St. Alphonsus, New Munster;
St. Andrew, Delavan; St. Benedict, Fontana; St.
Charles, Burlington; St. Francis De Sales, Lake
Geneva; St. Francis Xavier, Brighton; St. John the
Evangelist, Twin Lakes; St. Joseph, Lyons; St.
Mary's, Burlington; St. Patrick, Elkhorn; St. Peter,
East Troy; St. Robert Bellarmine, Union Grove; and
St. Thomas, Waterford.

St. Charles Catholic Church
Conkey Street
Significant Dates
1908, Decision made to form a new congregation as St. Mary's was overflowing its home. The
name St. Charles Borromeo was given by Archbishop Sebastian B. Messmer.
Nov. 6, 1910. St. Charles Church and School
dedicated. The site selected was the E. S. Voorhees
and G. W. Fiske sorghum mill on Conkey Street.
April 24, 1910. Cornerstone for new church
laid.

~~
· ~,

Nov. 6, 1910. Church dedicated. The building
was a combination church and school, a four room,
two story school facing Conkey Street and the
church extending to the west.
1921, A new rectory built on Kendall Street.
Rev. Dreis old frame rectory remodeled into a
s isters' home.
1944, Church renovated and stained glass
windows installed.
1950, New convent for sisters on site of first
rectory.
1956, New school addition built.
1980, Complete renovation of church building, inside and out.

Pastors
Rev. Phillip Dreis
Rev. F. J. Hillenbrand
Rev. Charles G. Myers
Rev. Henry Langenfield
Rev. William Hummer
Rev.PauiJ.Bertrand
Rev. Francis Jordan
(Administrator)
Rev. Ralph J. Wagner
Rev. Raymond G. Andre
Rev.MichaeiC.Benham

School Expansion
New school building occupied.
100

1908-27
1927-39
1939-40
1940-59
1959-70
1970-70
1970-71
1971-72
1972-88
1988-?

Plymouth Congregational Church
Milwaukee Avenue

~~-- 1\

J'

Significant Dates
Feb. 18, 1843. Organization of first Protestant
Church in Burlington. Eighteen members united
to form the Presbyterian Church under the guidance
of Rev. Stephen Peet. Made up of Methodists,
Baptists and Presbyterians, they held meetings in
the brick schoolhouse on Madison Street.
1852, Church built. (Presbyterian.) A wood
church on Geneva Street
July 30, 1858. Plymouth Congregational Church
organized at home of T. Van Slyck. (Largely made
up of Presbyterians.)
Feb. 3, 1903. Present church dedicated. Pipe
organ donated by Henry Simpson, founder of the
Security Lightning Rod Company. The stained glass
windows were donated by Charles J. Jones, Helen
Tyrell, Mary and Franklyn Nims, Pliny M. Perkins,
Ellen Conley Perkins, Rev. Benjamin Foltz, Rev.
Philip C. and Louise Pettibone, John R. and Agnes
Wilson, Luther Crane Post, Rev. L. A. Pettibone.
1980, Fiftieth anniversary.

Pastors
Rev. Milton Wells
Rev. W. W. Cockran
Rev. B. Folts
1854
Rev. P. C. Pettibone
1856-63
Rev. Mr. Sedgwick
Rev. Sidney H. Barteau
1864-67
Rev. OsmerW. Faye
1867-69
Rev. Isaac N. Cundall
1869-70
Rev. Albert M. Case
1870-73
Rev. Ashier W. Curtis
1873-75
Rev. F. B. Norton & Rev. J. N. Cundall
(Temporary)
Rev. Peter S. Vannes
1875-77
Rev. James W. Scott (Temporary)

1877-78
Rev. Charles B. Curtis
1878-80
Rev. H. M. Corsbie
Rev. Luman A. Pettibone
1880-95
1895-99
Rev. Charles Blodgett
Rev. William Kilbourne
1899-1904
Rev. Robert B. Blyth
1904-10
1910-12
Rev. G. H. Marsh
1913-17
Rev. Hubert C. Herring
Rev. George E. Stickney
1917-18
1918-21
Rev. Ernest L. Benson
Rev. Fred A. Stever
1922-29
1930-41
Rev. Carl Stackrnan
1941-43
Rev. Leslie Barnette
1943-46
Rev. Arnold Peterson
1946-60
Rev. Henry Schadeberg
1961-62
Rev. Harold Becker
1963-78
Rev. Trent Rockwell
Rev. James K. Burd
1979-89
1981-85
Rev. Gary J. Loethen (Associate)
Rev. Robert Saunders
1989-?

New Covenant Baptist Church
6919 McHenry Street
Significant Dates
April 20, 1980 Fourteen members of the
Bethel Baptist Church of Union Grove formed the
New Covenant Baptist Church in Burlington. For
the first three years, they met in various rooms in
the city. In 1982, they built a church at 6919
McHenry St. (Highway P south of Burlington).
1980 Church consecrated
1983 Church building dedicated

Pastors
Rev. Dan Cerny (First pastor)
1980-85
Rev. Jack Reeves, Jr.
1985-87
Rev. Grady Nichols
May 1987-Present
101

St. John's Lutheran
198 Westridge Avenue
Significant Dates
August 1858. Church organized.
August 1875. Church dedicated.
1887, Parsonage built.
1895, School built. Total cost $1 ,500.
1908, Addition to school built and art glass
windows installed in the church.
April 15, 1912. An organ installed. It had 12
ranks of pipes, air supplies by pumping a bellows.
Most of these pipes were used on the new organ
in the new 1980 church which has 25 ranks, 1,421
speaking pipes and a full 32 note pedalboard. An
electric blower supplies the air.
Oct. 7, 1962. New school dedicated on a
location on Westridge Avenue.
June 15, 1974. New parsonage dedicated,
built at the Westridge Avenue site.
1979, Old church sold.
Feb. 3, 1980. New church dedicated on
Westridge Avenue. Membership 600.
Pastors

Rev. G. Goldhammer
Rev. C. Titze
Rev. F. Schug
Rev. T. Thiele
Rev. Eckelmann
Rev. A Uefeld
Rev. A Bendler
Rev. J. Oehlert
Rev. M. Busack
Rev. Albert Moussa
Rev. Hans Moussa

1858-62
1862-68
1868-73
1873-74
1875-78
1878-83
1883-90
1890-1900
1900-04
1904-07
1907-08

Rev. F. Soli
Rev. C. E. Sieker
Rev. Louis Baganz
Rev. Alfred Von Rohr Sauer
Rev. Ewald Blumenthal
Rev. George Barthels
Rev. Rueben Marti
Rev. Adolph Fischer
Rev. Harry N. Wiedmann
Rev. Robert H. Michkel
Rev. Richard Weeks

1908·12
1912·28
1928·39
1940-43
1943-44
1944·50
1950-51
1952-56
1956-72
1972-75
1975-Present

Emmanuel Baptist Church
45 South Teut Road
Significant Dates
April17, 1977. The first meeting of interested
parties to ascertain the possibility of establishing
a church in Burlington.
July 5, 1977. The first Bible study was held.
Sept. 11, 1977. The first regular church service
was held at the First Bank and Trust Company.
Apri11981. Members considered purchase of
property where church now stands.
June 1986. The first services were held in
the new church building.
Pastors

Rev. Brown
Rev. Lon Arnes
Rev. Lawrence Williams, Jr.

102

1978
1989

Peace Lutheran Church
Hwy. 36 North
Significant Dates
April, 1975. The process of affiliating with the
Lutheran Church of America was started. A group
held meetings first at the First Banking Center, then
at the Masonic Temple.
January, 1974. Rev. Chesmond Bade arrived
as a mission developer to organize a small group
of people as the Peace Lutheran Church.
Nov. 14, 1976. The official organizing of Peace
Lutheran Church.
March 1978. The first permanent pastor, The
Rev. David J. Berggren arrived.
March 1979. Peace Lutheran merged with St.
Paul's Lutheran of Lyons.
July, 1982. Ground was broken for the church
building, located on North Highway 26 just on the
northern edge of the city.
Easter Sunday, 1983. Service was held for
the first time at the new church.
Pastors
Rev. David J. Berggren
Rev. Robert D. Suhr

1978-85
1985-Present

Church of the Nazarene
100 East Jefferson Street
Church of the Nazarene was organized in
1974 with seven charter members. It was incorporated in 1974. The first pastor was Rev. David
A. Austin.
Sometime after the incorporation, the congregation purchased the old Cross Lutheran
Church building at the corner of Kane and Jefferson
Streets. This is one of the oldest church buildings
in the city, having been built in 1853 by a group
of Baptists, Unitarians, and Methodists and was
called the Union Free Church.

Pastors
Rev. David Austin
Rev. Glenn V. Propst
Rev. Keith D. Stuck
Rev. Terry W. Lemmon

1974-78
1978-81
1982-88
1988-Present

103

First Church of Christ Scientist
133 West Jefferson Street
The teachings of Mary Baker Eddy spread
throughout the country in the post-World War I
years. In Burlington, the first meeting was held at
the Masonic Temple and Mrs. Goldie Rosenberg
was the first reader. When Mrs. Adalaide Harper
moved to Burlington from Chicago, she called for
a special meeting at her home on July 2, 1923.
On Jan. 10, 1924, the Burlington group was
officially incorporated under Wisconsin law as a
Christian Science Society. In 1927, the society
moved from the Masonic Temple to a leased room
on the second floor of the McDonald Building and
in 1948, the church purchased quarters, the old
stone house at the corner of Jefferson Steet and
Johnson Street. In the mid 60's, it was remodeled
to seat triple the 24 seat capacity of the original
building. Now it became recognized by the Mother
Church in Boston as a branch church and received
its official name of First Church of Christ Scientist.
In the reading room of the church building, one
can borrow books on the faith and also consult
the daily newspaper, the Christian Science Monitor.

Bethel Baptist Church
257 Kendall Street
The first meeting of persons who organized
the Bethel Baptist Church was held on June 25,
1955 when Dr. M. R. Siemens of Calvary Baptist
Church of Racine, moderated a meeting of
interested parties. One night a week, this group
met over what was then the Badger Paint Store
on Milwaukee Avenue. On Sept. 20, 1955, the group
purchased a house on South Pine Street to be used
as a parsonage and church.
In 1956, Miss Mable Suttles donated the land
at 257 Kendall Street to the congregation and the
present church was built there. She died in 1958,
leaving her house at the corner of Kendall and
Amanda Streets to the congregation. For several
years that house served as the parsonage. The first
pastor was Rev. Reuben E. Kile.

fFi:

Pastors
Rev. Reuben Kile
Rev. John Loggins
Rev. Dewey Godwin
Rev. Ronald Berquist
Rev. Scott A. Carson
104

1955-59
1959-63
1963-70
1970-88
1988-Present

Monnon Church
James J. Strang, a gifted lawyer and a convert
to Mormonism, arrived in Burlington in 1843 and
gathered about him the several Mormons who had
come here before him. There was correspondence
between Strang and Joseph Smith, the founder of
Mormonism, who had moved his followers from
New York, through Ohio to Nauvoo, Illinois. There,
Smith was murdered by a mob and a scramble
for leadership followed. Strang produced a letter
purportedly written by Smith, wherein Smith
bestowed the mantle of leadership on Strang.
There was a serious division among the
church members. Brigham Young claimed he had
been appointed and led his followers out to the
State of Utah. Strang persuaded a goodly number
(their writings say thousands) to follow him to
Burlington. On a site where the Burlington-toElkhorn road (Hwy. 11) crossed the White River,
Strang formed a settlement he called Voree (Garden
of Peace) which had a post office, store, blacksmith
shop and a print shop to produce their own
newspaper.
There was also to be a temple and a Tower
of Strength on the Hill of Promise. These structures
were to be built from a quarry of limestone lying
quite near the surface of the ground on the west
side of the river. (In 1990, three houses and a bam
are all that remained from their efforts.)
It was not the "Garden of Peace" Strang
longed for. The non-Mormons, the "Gentiles"
around them and in Burlington, did not look upon
them with favor. Most of the members were upright,
peaceable people, but there were some among
them that brought suspicion on the whole
community and caused trouble. Strang found it
expedient to move. In 1847, he explored Beaver
Island in Northern Lake Michigan, found it
satisfactory, and led his followers there to establish
the city of St. James.
Again, bitter hostilities broke out against them
by the fishermen of the area. Even among them-selves, there was strife due to the dictatorial manner
of Strang, who had proclaimed himself "King of
the Island."
His actions aroused such intense feelings that
two of his own men, Thomas Bedford and
Alexander Wentworth conspired to kill him. At the
first chance, Wentworth shot Strang through the
body. He fell mortally wounded. Both men
confessed their crime and gave themselves up, but
they were never tried or punished. Strang was
brought back to Voree where his wives tended him,
but a week after his return, he died and was buried
at Voree. His remains have since been moved to

the Burlington Cemetery.
Fishermen destroyed the settlement on
Beaver Island and the Mormons scattered, some
returning to Voree.
Voree stood silent until 1897. At that time,
apostle I. B. Hickey, last of the original leaders of
the church, ordained Wingfield Watson to become
presiding high priest. A succession of elders led
the group to modem times. In 1927, a small, plain
church was built near Highway 11 and Mormon
Road where Elder Richard Drew conducts services
for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
A separate group of Mormons, led by Edler
Bruce Flanders, attends services for the Church
of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Strangite) in
a new church built in 1966, on the Spring Valley
Road.
In the 1930's, the Burlington Historical Society
erected a marker commemorating the early
Mormon settlement in a small Mormon park between the Mormon Road and the White River south
of Highway 11.

105

St. John's Episcopal Church
148 Edward Street
Significant Dates
Feb. 1869. First Episcopalian services held
in Burlington by the Rev. E. K. Miller and the Rev.
H. C. Shaw in the Baptists meeting house (The
United Free Church) on the corner of Kane and
Jefferson streets.
1880, Adopted the name of St. John the
Divine and met in a second floor hall on the corner
of Chestnut Street and Geneva Street (formerly the
B & K Shoe Store).
1888, Afternoon services held in Cross
Lutheran Church (Historical Society Museum).
June 18, 1894. The first church services were
held in the present church building on a lot bought
from F. S. Perkins at the intersection of Edward
Street and Perkins Boulevard. The brick was
donated by Edward Brook, part owner of the Bur·
lington Brick & Tile Company. The stone for the
basement was hauled from the quarry at Voree.

Pastors
Rev. E. K. Miller
Rev. W. B. Ball
Rev. H. M. Greene
Rev. W. C. Armstrong
First resident vicar

1869-78
1878-80
1880-82
1882-84

1884-88 No priest
1888-92
Rev. Charles Holmes
Rev. L. P. Holmes
Rev. T. C. Elgin
1892-95
Rev. F. S. DeMattos
1895-96
1896-97
Dr. B. A. Brown
Rev. C. H. Bloor
1897-99
1899-1901
Rev. J. T. Boville
15 year period when congregation was served

by students from Nashotah.
Rev. Killian A. Stimson
Rev. C. E. Huntington
Rev. Harley G. Smith
Rev. W. C. T. Hawtrey
Rev. Carl Truesdale
Rev. Harold Wagner
Rev. Benjamin Saunders
Rev. Malcom Brunner
Rev. Kazimier Olubowicz
Rev. L. M. Knox
Rev. Joseph Rider
Rev. David Boyd

1917·18
1918·26
1927-31
1931-36
193641
194143
1943-51
1951-58
1958-73
1973·79
1979·86
1987·Present

St. Francis Fricuy
503 South Brown's Lake Drive
(Highway W, east of Highway 36 North)
The St. Francis Friary and Retreat House, on
County Trunk W, east of Burlington, was constructed and dedicated in 1930 as a memorial to
Rev. Francis Manel, who selected the site in 1927
before his death. In 1957, a 22 room wing, with
a library, work rooms, print shop and seminar
rooms, was added.
Classes at the monastery began in 1932,
offering a bachelor's degree to the seminarians
successfully completing studies. It became a retreat
house in 1980.
Known as the "peaceful sanctuary of Wisconsin," the grounds are dotted with shrines and
grottos.

106

First Methodist Episcopal Church
125 East State Street

""*"
;j

Significant Dates
1843, Methodists, Presbyterians, Baptists and
Episcopalians joined into a Congregational church.
May 14, 1862. Origin of Burlington Methodist
Church was in the Bible Christian Church of Bur·
lington Road, which was organized on this date.
July 16, 1884. Rev. J. S. Leavitt met with
members of the Burlington Road Bible Christian
Church and organized them as a Methodist
Episcopal Church.
1888, Burlington Road Church discontinued
and its property leased.
1889, Church was re-organized, meeting
place being the German Methodist Church at the
corner of Washington and West streets (now
Perkins Blvd.).
1901, Church was incorporated as Burling·
ton Methodist Episcopal Church.
1905, April 23. Church building dedicated.
1928, Nov. 11. Fellowship Hall dedicated.
1959, Oct. 25. New sanctuary consecrated.

Pastors
Rev. Robert Davidson
Rev. P. G. Wagner
Rev. James Churm
S. R. Williams
Rev. Clarence E. Weed
Rev. E. J. Symons
Rev. Edwin A. Folley
Rev. H. A. Justema
Rev. Thomas W. Sprowls
Rev. J. C. Smith
Rev. Charles Becker
Rev. Parker Hilbourne
Rev. J. B. Ross Murgy
Rev. Samuel E. Ryan
Rev. W. R. Conner

1884
????
1886-88
1889-1900
1901-??
1903-??
1905-07
1907-08
1908-09
1909-12
1913-16
1916-21
1921-22
1922-24
1924-29

I

Rev. Guy Wilkinson
Rev. C. F. Spray
Rev. J. K. Gardanier
Rev. W.B.Petherick
Rev. Albert Tink
Rev. Theodore Runyan
Rev. W. Gordon Amphlett
Rev. Reuben J. Bailey
Rev. David Hinshaw
Rev. Marvin Rowe
Rev. John Eldred
Rev. Arthur North
Rev. Vinton N. Scott
Rev. Paul A. Ketterer

1929-31
1931-33
1933-36
193640
194042
194247
1947-50
1950-56
1956-64
1964-70
1970-72
1972-79
1979-85
1985-Present

Jehovah's Witnesses
122 South Teut Road
Started in 1940, the Jehovah's Witnesses met
in rooms in the former Hotel Badger and in
· members' homes until 1950.
In 1961, the group met in rooms on the
second floor at 541 Milwaukee Avenue, then to
117 Lewis Street. About 1970, the group built their
Kingdom Hall at 122 South Teut Road. There are
no paid pastors.

·t
107

.,..,

Faith Chapel
141 Westridge Avenue
Significant Dates
Jan. 1973. A small gathering of Christians
met at the home of Dave Stowell on Spring Prairie
Road in Burlington to have a time of worship and
praising the Lord. At that time, it was decided to
meet regularly every Sunday morning.
Nov. 1973. The location of the fellowship was
moved to the Zabler house in Burlington.
Spring 1978. The church moved to the
Veterans Memorial Building.
Feb. 1981. The church purchased the
Lutheran Church at Lyons.
In 1990, the church moved back to Burling·
ton.

Pastors
Richard Barany
Rev. Narwald
Jeff Cebulski
Rev. Dave Carlson
Mitch Considine

Cross Lutheran Church
126 Chapel Terrace
Significant Dates
Date of Founding, May 3, 1883.
Sept. 1883. Building dedicated. A picture of
the building, with its tower, appeared in the Standard
Press 1985 historic section. The building was
acquired by the Burlington Historical Society.
1923, Old Baptist Church (built in 1852)
bought and renamed Luther Hall and used as
school and social hall.
April 1940. Second church dedicated. In

1973-78
1978-81
1981-84
1984·88
1988-Present

reconverting of Luther Hall into a church, it
was at this time, that the kitchen was added
to the first church and the basement dug and
furnace installed.
Nov. 1962. Cornerstone laid for new church
off Highway 11.
Oct. 13, 1963. New church dedicated. Could
seat 300 people. The bell from the first church
building was moved to Luther Hall in 1940 and
to the tower of the new church in 1974.
Oct. 19, 1980. New educational unit
dedicated.

Pastors
Rev. A. Liefeldt
1883
Rev. J. C. Himmler
1883-84
Rev. Fred Alpers
1884-89
Rev. F. W. Damrow
1889-1902
Rev. J. Reiff
1902-06
Rev. H. Lindemann
1907-10
Rev. August Kohlhoff
1910-15
Rev. E. V. Schroeder
1916-24
Rev. A. Degen
192441
Rev. Harry Rappath
1941 -52
Rev. Robert Weinbender
1952-58
Rev. Leo Moench
1958-61 and 1962-71
Rev. V. Truman Jordahl, (Interim) 1961-62
Rev. Stan Hanna
1969-Present
Rev. Charles Larson, (Associate)
1976-87
Rev. Kathy Boadwine, (Associate)
1988-Present

108

Our Savior Lutheran Church
417 South Kane Street
Significant Dates
March 12, 1962. The first exploratory meeting
for the formation of the congregation was held by
the Rev. Bernard Raabe, missionary-at-large for the
South Wisconsin District.
July 15, 1962. The first worship service was
conducted by Pastor Raabe at the Veterans
Memorial Building. Forty-four people attended.
Sept. 16, 1962. The Sunday School was
opened with 28 pupils attending.
Jan. 6, 1963. Our Savior Congregation was
formally organized and officers elected. There were
24 families, 46 confirmed members, and 89
baptized members. The first officers of the congre·
gation were Phillip Reinfeldt, president; Robert Kom,
secretary; Robert Bulgrin, treasurer; Duane Ehlert,
John Peterson and Don Getka, elders; Warren
Schenning and Harlan Billman, trustees.
March 17, 1963. Rev. Clarence Stradtman,
formerly of Ebenezer Congregation in Milwaukee,
was installed as the first pastor and served until
. February, 1969.
June 17, 1963. Our Savior Congregation
voted to purchase the Waller property at the comer
of Kane and Gardner streets as a site for its future
church building.
Nov. 17, 1963. A temporary chapel in the
Waller Mansion was dedicated to the glory of God.
A parsonage was established on the upper floor
of the building.
June 20, 1965. Ground was broken for the
new church structure.

Oct. 24, 1965. The date stone for the church
was put into place.
Nov. 13, 1966. The new church building was
dedicated to the glory of the Triune God.
Feb., 1975. Twenty-six families leave Our
Savior in a doctrinal dispute.
Nov. 14, 1976. The newly built parsonage was
opened as a part of the 1Oth anniversary of the
church dedication.
Oct. 4, 1987. The 25th anniversary of Our
Savior congregation was observed.

Pastors
Rev. Clarence Stradtman
Rev. Dennis Hickethier
Rev. John Sells
Rev. James Goehner
Rev. Robert W. Billings

1963-69
1969-75
1975-79
1980-87
1988-Present

Installation of officers
banquet of the Luther
Crane Post No. 62
Relief Corps on Jan.
22, 1916.

109

Interior of the Gus
Huening Blacksmith
Shop on Chestnut St.,
Huening is at left and
John Zick on the right

The interior of the
Burlington Blanket Co.
plant in 1916, when
the company was
manufacturing the
famous "Stay On"
blanket.

Interior of the James
Mathews Grocef)f
Store. Mathews is on
the right. The man with
the black mustache is
John Peterson, and the
man with the sweater is
Charles Stang. The
fourth man is not
identified. Note the
ample supply of
canned goods, the
cigar boxes in the glass
counter, and the candy
jars.

110

Business Histories
First Banking Center
On April 26, 1920, promoters of the Burlington
National Bank met at the office of the Security
Ughtning Rod Company. Those men were Henry
A. Runkel, William Rosenberg, William H. Bushman,
Albert Bushman, William S. Wilson, George W.
Waller, William G. Rasch and Gustave C. Rasch.
They entered in a lease with William H. and Albert
Bushman for the Bushman building at the
southeast corner of Chestnut Street and Milwaukee
Avenue for five years. Rent was to be $2,000 a
year for the entire building.
That was the beginning of the First Banking
Center.
On May 3, these men met and approved to set
$tQO,OOO as capital stock and Surplus Fund of
$25,000.
At the first meeting of stockholders held on June
2, 1920, the incorporators appointed the first Board
of Directors to serve until the first regular annual
election of directors. They were H. A. Runkel, a
retired farmer; William G. Rasch, secretary·treasurer
of the Burlington Blanket Company (later becoming
Burlington Mills, Inc.); Albert Bushman, a saloon
owner; George W. Waller, an attorney; William S.
Wilson, a farmer; Joseph H. Toelle, a farmer; and
Leroy L. McDonald, a salesman for Worden-Allen
Company, an ironworks and bridge construction
firm.
Also that day, H. A. Runkel was named the first
president. On June 28, by-Jaws furnished by the
Comptroller of Currency, were accepted.
Since H. A. Runkel, there have been only five
presidents of the bank They were: George W.
Waller, W. G. Rasch, H. J. Runkel, J. A. Mangold,
and Roman Borkovec.
The bank stayed at that location until 1960 when,
on October 8, 1960, an open house was held at
the new bank at 400 Milwaukee Avenue.
In 1964, a lease was executed for the Lyons State
Bank building from Alfred F. and Annie Robers.
In December 1965, an application was made to
the Comptroller of Currency to open a branch bank
in Lyons. It was opened on April 1, 1968. That
year, a branch bank was opened in a trailer at Wind
Lake.
In 1976, the bank was changed from a national
chartered bank to a state chartered bank and the
name was changed to First Bank and Trust
Company.

In 1984, the Federal Reserve Board approved
the acquisition of the Bank of Albany, Wisconsin
and the name of the Burlington bank was again
changed, this time to The First Banking Center.
In 1989, a Kenosha County branch bank was
opened and another at Lake Geneva.

Burlington Standard Press
Named simply as the Standard, the newspaper
was founded in 1863 by Lathrop E. Smith, an
abolitionist who was asked to start a pro-Uncoln
newspaper. It is the oldest business in Burlington,
having continued in operation since it was founded.
Smith sold the Standard after the Civil War to H.
L. Devereaux, who in turn sold it to James I. Toner
in 1886. Toner changed its name to the Standard
Democrat.
Toner published the paper for a brief three years
when it was purchased by Henry E. Zimmermann,
the first of a three-generation line of Zimmermanns
to hold key positions with the newspaper.
His son Louis Zimmermann, became publisher
in 1914 and the Standard Democrat forged ahead
as one of the outstanding community weeklies in
the United States.
Upon Louis Zimmermann's death in 1953,
William E. Branen, then a 26 year old University
of Wisconsin journalism graduate, became editor.
Branen had joined the paper in 1951.
Branen bought the Burlington Free Press in 1954
and the Standard Democrat became the Standard
Press. It was incorporated in 1955 with Branen as
vice president and co-publisher. In 1960, he became
president and publisher. At that time, the Standard
Press was the second largest community newspaper in Wisconsin. By the early 1960's, it was
publishing a second shopper·newspaper which
became the Mini.
In the spring of 1984, the paper vacated its 121year-old home on Milwaukee Avenue and moved
to 140 Commerce Street, former site of the
Wisconsin Electric Power Company.
After his death from cancer in 1988, Branen's
wife, Nancy, became chairman of the board of the
newspaper group and his son, Robert, succeeded
him as publisher, still operating under the corporate
name of Zimmermann & Sons, Inc.
With Branen as publisher, the Standard Press
won numerous awards and he himself, was named
111

Wisconsin Publisher of the Year on three separate
occasions.
The paper is published twice a week in the
Burlington-Waterford area. In addition, the corpo·
ration also publishes the Westosha Report in
Kenosha County, the Westine Report in Racine
County and the East Troy News in Walworth County.

foot lGA store, there were problems with annexation
of the land to the city, but on October 25, 1989,
Ralph Schmaling, father of the brothers, turned over
the first shovel of dirt.
The new supermarket opened on June 19, 1990.
The old store on Jefferson Street was dosed and
sold to Hi·Uter Graphics, Inc.

Burlington Aoral Shop

Wisconsin Southern Gas Company

About the turn of the 20th century, Adolph
Hielfrich opened and operated the Burlington Floral
Company at the corner of Pine Street and Adams
Street. In 1909, the store more than doubled its
capacity with the construction of a large green·
house.
At that time, the business was producing about
25,000 flowers and hot house plants a year for
the local trade. In addition, the company supplied
carnations to a Milwaukee wholesaler.
His assistant for many years, Frank Mueller,
purchased the business in 1914.
Later the business was sold to Ward Nelson of
Union Grove and he sold it to Thomas E. Pearce
in January, 1949.
Pearce had been in the floral business in Chicago
and Racine. He adopted the narne Burlington Floral
Shop, rebuilt several buildings and did extensive
remodeling. Mer 17 years in the original location,
the land was sold to become a part of the Pinecrest
Shopping Center.
Pearce purchased the property owned by Mrs.
Ed Lohaus at 201 South Pine Street, remodeled
it into a floral shop and in 1989, celebrated 40
years of doing business in Burlington under the
same management.

The first gas company in Burlington, the Citizens
Gas Company, was formed in 1907. It produced
manufactured gas from coal and distributed it to
the residents of Burlington.
That company remained in business until 1926
when it was purchased by the newly incorporated
Wisconsin Southern Gas Company. The new
company expanded the operation, distributing both
manufactured and liquid propane gas to Burlington
and neighboring communities.
In 1946, the company, through contracts with
Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America, became
the first Wisconsin gas company to offer natural
gas to its customers. At that time, total customers
numbered less than 6,000. The company's
corporate offices were located at 349 Pine Street
in Burlington and remained there until 1949 when
they moved to Lake Geneva.
In 1990, the Wisconsin Southern Gas Company
has 151 full·time employees who work out of its
corporate offices and service center in Lake Geneva
and in district offices in Burlington, Delavan,
Elkhorn, Lake Geneva, Paddock Lake and Prairie
du Chien. It serves approximately 43,500 customers
over a 900 square mile area in portions of Kenosha,
Racine, Rock and Walworth counties in south·
eastern Wisconsin and Crawford County in south·
western Wisconsin.
The company purchases gas from three main
pipeline suppliers: Natural Gas Pipeline Company
of America, ANR Pipeline Company and Northern
Natural Gas Company.

Schmaling's Counby Market
It all began in 1983 when Max Schmaling was
working at a supermarket at Delavan and Bob
Schmaling was produce manager for Sentry Foods
in Milwaukee.
A phone call to the Schmaling brothers from
the Copps Corporation of Janesville asking them
to purchase the Copps Food Center in Delavan.
In three months, the two opened the store in
Delavan.
Then came a big surprise, four months after they
opened the Delavan store, they were contacted by
Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Kolm who had operated a
supermarket in Burlington since 1965. The Kolms
offered to sell the store to the Schamlings.
In a span of 14 months, the Schmaling brothers
owned two stores.
On May 29, 1989, the pair purchased 15 acres
of land west of Burlington on Highway 36.
Mer plans were developed to construct a 40,000
112

Wisconsin Hi-Uter
On July 28, 1954, a shopping guide, known as
the Wisconsin Hi-Uter, was started by an advertising
salesman, Mr. AI Crosby, who soon sold it to Arthur
Roesing and Glenn Hintz, furniture store operators,
and Lee Herrman, a jewelry store owner. Crosby
published only nine issues of the Wisconsin Hi·Uter,
when he reached a point where he could no longer
obtain credit or loans to continue.
Mer Crosby left the business, Glenn Hintz took
over management of the paper on a no pay basis.
The first office was above the old Lois Tire Shop
at 209 East Chestnut Street.

In the fall of 1956, the Hi-Uter was moved to
the lower floor of the Commerce Building at 132
Commerce Street.
In November, 1962, the company moved to its
own new building at 256 South Pine Street and
for the first time, the paper was printed on the
company's own offset presses. Up to that time, the
printing of the shopping guide was contracted out.
Taking what Glenn Hintz called, "a step back·
wards," the shopper went into competition with itself
by publishing a weekly photo newspaper, the
Pictorial News Advertiser. That didn't prove profit·
able and on September 30, 1967, the subscription
list was sold to the Standard Press, and the Pictorial
was laid to rest.
After the sale of the Pictorial, efforts were
concentrated on increasing commercial printing
and sales of Hi-Uter advertising.
This venture was successful and in late 1975,
Hintz became sole stockholder of the firm. After
that, the firm purchased the old Nestle Company
can plant at 280 East Chestnut Street and
remodeled it for a new printing plant and office,
one of the most modern in the state. The firm
changed its name to Hi-Uter Graphics, Inc.
The old Nestle Company can plant, which houses
the printing plant and office of the Hi·Uter, was
moved to that location many years ago by C. B.
McCanna for a tin can manufacturing facility for
the Wisconsin Condensed Milk plant. It had been
the Veterans' Saloon building at the corner of
Chestnut Street and Pine Street.
In 1985, the company purchased the Sears
building on East Jefferson Street. After remodeling,
it became a bindery plant to bind catalogues and
books. In 1989, the land and building of Schmal·
ing' s Country Market, across the street on East
Jefferson Street, was purchased and plans for
remodeling the interior and exterior are in the
making as 1990 rolls along.
With the addition of this property, Hi-Liter
Graphics will be using about 80,000 square feet.
Jerome L. Hintz and James L. Hintz, sons of
Glenn Hintz, became shareholders in late 1976 and
continue to be active in the management of the
corporation. A part of the third generation of the
Hintz family also was employed as supervisor of
pre·press operations.

a number of the customers," said Ralph Spiegel·
hoff, son of Albert, who became a partner with his
father in about 1930. Paul, his brother, joined the
firm as a partner in 1947. Later, their sons became
the management team that operates Spiegelhoffs
Pick 'n Save in the Fox River Plaza Shopping Center
on Highway 36 North.
In 1920, the elder Spiegelhoff, finding a need
for more space, moved to its location at 140 West
Chestnut Street where it remained until 1982 when
it was moved into the former Red Owl Store at
401 Milwaukee Avenue. On November 16, 1986,
the business was moved to the Fox River Plaza
Shopping Center.
Ralph Spiegelhoff was once quoted as saying
he had to quit checking out customers because
he couldn't believe the prices and the thought that
he was making mistakes. "fifteen to twenty bucks
for a few items floored me," he said.
An advertisement of A. T. Spiegelhoff in
December 1933, showed butter at 18V2 cents a
pound, sugar 10 pounds for 4 7 cents, and Chase
and Sanborn's coffee at 26 cents a pound.
Another ad of February 14, 1941, listed beef pot
roast at 23 cents a pound, rolled rib roast at 29
cents a pound, and rib end pork loin at 18 cents
a pound.

Hansen Oil Company
John "Jack" Hansen started the company at
Union Grove and in 1911, started a branch office
in Burlington.
So successful was the business, that soon the
Burlington branch outsold the Union Grove branch
and the headquarters were moved to Burlington.
Of course, at that time kerosene was the main
product sold. It was in 1915, the company was
among the first in the state to start delivery with
motor trucks. There were no tank trucks being
made at that time, so Hansen mounted a tank from
a horse drawn tank wagon onto a truck chassis
for his deliveries.
In 1922, Hansen turned inventor and built an
oil furnace using his own principals and judgment.

Heineman's True Value
Spiegelhoffs Pick 'n Save
Buggy whips and wooden shoes were items for
sale when Albert T. Spiegelhoff, founder of the
family business, joined Jerome Mutchler in the
grocery business on Commerce Street in 1914.
He purchased the grocery business from Mutchler
in 1916.
"farmers bought the wooden shoes to work in
and buggy whips were a necessary accessory for

It all began in 1906 after the San Francisco earth·
quake sent 23 year old William F. Reineman
scurrying back to his home state of Wisconsin.
The earthquake occurred in April that year and
young Reineman, who was in the automobile
business there, saw his dreams vanish with the
quake. A native of Cleveland, Wisconsin, he
purchased the hardware store in Burlington from
Herman Konst in September, 1906. He borrowed
$4,000 from his father to buy the business.
113

He opened his store on Pine Street in a 20 by
40 foot space. Three doors away, at 516 North
Pine Street, was the larger harness and farm
machinery store of F. Banks & Son, which he
rented. He purchased that property in 1927.
The store remained at this location unti l
November 30, 1978, when it moved into the
location in Burlington Square at 41 7 Milwaukee
Avenue.
In 1937, his son Willis, took over as president
of the store. William died in 1953.
In describing his father, Willis has called him a
practical joker. He related that one time William
and Louis Zimmermann, publisher of the Standard
Press, were playing golf. " 'Ail around the course
Louie,' as Mr. Zimmerma nn was called, was
complaining how heavy his golf bag was. When
the round was over, Dad retrieved a pair of sash
weights he had secretly placed in Louie's golf bag."
After Willis retired in 1978, Fred Koenen took
over active management.
The Burlington Square store expanded in 1987
to include the adjoining supe rmarket vacated when
Spiegelhoffs moved to the Pick 'n Save store in
the Fox River Plaza. The firm also opened a branch
store at Paddock Lake in March of 1989.

Family Vision Center
The Family Vision & Contact Lens Center, 309
McHenry Street, was started by Dr. Larry Fait after
his graduation from Illinois College of Optometry
in 1947 in an office above what was at the time,
the Burlington National Bank at the corner of
Chestnut Street and Milwaukee Avenue.
At that time, there were two optometrists in the
city, Dr. T.O.F. Randolph (known as Tuff) and Dr.
Arthur R. Perry. Both were located on Chestnut
Street. Previously, optical services were offered by
Clarence Gleason from his jewelry store.
Dr. Fait was the first optometrist to offer complete
optometric services in the area, including visual
analysis and diagnostics, vis ual training and
orthoptics and contact lenses. He was the first
optometrist or eye professional to fit contact lenses
in Wisconsin.
In 1957, Dr. Fait and Dr. Pippin, a dentist,
purchased a vacant lot on McHenry Street and built
a professional building with a parking area for
patients.
In 1968, Dr. Robert Fait, Dr. Larry's oldest son,
graduated from Illinois College of Optometry and
joined his father's practice.
In 1984, Dr. David Ebley joined the practice and
a satellite office, called Eye Site, was located in
the Fox River Plaza. In 1987, Dr. J ohn McKinney
purchased the optical practice of Dr. W. Sorenson,
who was retiring. In April, 1989, he became
associated with the clinic and helped establish a
114

second satellite office at Twin Lakes, also called
Eye Site.
In 1989, the center purchased the former Albert
Ebbers residence adjoining the McHenry Street
center, and plans were announced for a new
laboratory, dispensing and frame selection area,
and enlarged clinical facilities.

Bank of Burlington
Jerome I. Case, the "threshing machine king of
the United States" was the financial backbone for
the beginning of the First National Bank, which
later became the Bank of Burlington. That was in
1872.
Case served as the bank's first president until
his death 20 years later. The area was scouted as
a bank site for Case by Chauncy Hall, who became
the bank's first cashier. Hall secured the support
of two prosperous Burlington farmers, Luther C.
Anderson and Maurice L. Ayers in launching the
new venture.
When the bank opened on February 26, 1872
in the building at 113 East Chestnut Street,
Burlington was a community of about 1,200. About
that many more lived on surrounding farms.
Bartering for goods and services was so common
that stores offered a 10 percent discount to anyone
who paid cash. Paper money was widely distrusted
in the wake of the Civil War reconstruction and
government corruption.
The new bank laid out $2,300 for its hand-made
cherry counters and other furnishings. A solid stone
pylon in the basement supported a "thoroughly
burglar-proof' vault on the street floor. Capital was
listed at $50,000.
The bank was one of 40 national banks in
Wisconsin that survived the panic of 1873. The
First National reorganized in 1891 and became the
Bank of Burlington.
Bank president from 1895 to 1892, Mrs. Eugene
Hall, is credited with saving the bank from receiver·
ship. In the wake of another financial panic in 1893
she, with the help of her brother, Congressman
Henry Allen Cooper, argued against examiner
recommendations that the bank be placed in
receivership. Bank management took control of the
business affairs of the largest debtors. Gradually
they were able to repay at least a part of what they
had borrowed, allowing the bank to continue_
In 1902, the bank came under local control when
Gustave C. Rasch, of the Burlington Blanket
Company, became a major stockholder. After
nearly four years, control went to D_ S. McMullen
of Evanston, Illinois, but nine months later Charles
B. McCanna of Burlington, gained control.
It was under McCanna's leadership that the bank
built the building at 500 North Pine Street where
it remained until 1970 when a new bank was built

adjacent to Pinecrest Shopping Center. In 1914,
C. Roy McCanna succeeded his father as bank
president and he remained associated with the bank
for 59 years. A branch bank was started at Paddock
Lake and in 1990 another branch was opened at
Twin Lakes.
Presidents after McCanna were Fred W. New,
Elmer Ganswindt, Howard Harlow and Robert
Wenke.

During that time, Robert Rueter, who had worked
there as a boy, became a full time employee and
in 1927, John Haas joined the firm. The firm was
then known as McCarthy, Rueter & Haas. Haas died
three years later but the firm ·retained that name
until 1954 when it became known as McCarthyRueter.
In 1949, John R. McCarthy, John L. McCarthy's
grandson, worked in the firm with his grandfather
and Rueter.
John L. died in 1956, ending a 58 year career
Edward D. Jones & Company
as a furniture merchant and undertaker.
Burlington Office
When Rueter retired in 1968, John R. became
The firm, which was started in 1922 in St. Louis, president of the company. At the same time,
Missouri by Edward D. Jones, a bond salesman, Rueter's interest was purchased by Douglas Koenig.
opened a Burlington branch office in February, The business did not acquire the McCarthy-Koenig
1986 with Richard J. Tinder, who had extensive name until 1971.
Five years later, in 1976, the funeral home left
training and was licensed as the local represenits
location of 79 years and moved to 101 East
tative.
State
Street, the building being the former home
In September, 1987, he opened the first office
at 132 West Chestnut Street and in July, 1990, of C. Roy McCanna. The furniture store portion of
it was moved to larger quarters at 141 South Pine the business was closed in March, 1980.
Just prior to the closing the furniture business,
Street.
The Edward D. Jones Company in 1990 had McCarthy and Koenig expanded their funeral home
1,584 offices in 44 states. Through these years of interests by purchasing an interest in the Mealy
expansion, the company has maintained its Funeral Home at Waterford. This move followed
commitment both to a conservative investment the death of Thomas "Spud" Mealy in 1978. In
approach and the one-person branch office 1981, McCarthy sold his interest in the Waterford
business to Koenig and in 1987, this business
concept.
became Mealy-Koenig Funeral Home.
In January, 1990, John R. McCarthy retired from
McCarthy-Koenig Funeral Home
active involvement in McCarthy-Koenig Funeral
On October 10, 1898, 20 year old John L. Home and sold his interest to Douglas Koenig.
McCarthy and Arthur McKercher purchased the
Johnson and Swartz furniture-undertaking business
that had been operating in Burlington for 18 years.
Schuette-Daniels Furniture
That business move was the root of the McCarthyand Funeral Directors
Koenig Funeral Home.
Though the furniture store is no longer a part
John F. Schuette started his furniture and underof the company, the strange combination of taking business in Burlington in April 19, 1929.
furniture merchandising and undertaking was a
He had graduated from the Goodman College
common practice during the period. The connec- of Embalming in Milwaukee in 1925. He received
tion stems from the time when furniture makers his license five weeks later and was associated with
also made coffins.
a Milwaukee funeral home prior to that.
The McCarthy-McKercher firm opened at 481
Upon the suggestion of a salesman, he purMilwaukee Avenue, with the funeral parlor upstairs chased the furniture store at 597 North Pine Street.
and the furniture business on the ground floor.
Later, with Arnold Vorpagel, he formed the Schuette
A year after starting business, McCarthy attended and Vorpagel Furniture and Undertaking Company.
the Barnes College of Embalming in Milwaukee. Vorpagel remained with the firm until 1940.
In 1901, when a state law required undertakers to
In 1931 , Schuette purchased the Kerkman
be licensed, McCarthy became one of the first in residence at 157 North Pine Street and converted
Wisconsin to secure a license.
it into a funeral home. Twenty years later, it was
In many ways, that marked a significant change remodeled and enlarged.
in the business, as prior to that time, death
Two staff members, Richard E. Daniels and
certificates were not required and records of death Marvin Werth became Schuette's partners and the
and burial were seldom kept.
firm was incorporated in 1954. In April, 1975,
In 1903, McKercher sold his interest to P. J. Schuette and Werth sold their shares in the firm
Strassen, who in turn sold it to Fred ltzin. With to Daniels and his wife Doris Mae, and the name
Itzin's departure in 1913, McCarthy became sole became Schuette-Daniels. In 1986, their son,
owner of the business for the next 14 years.
Matthew, bought shares in the corporation and in
115

~-

1989, a son-in-law, Craig Hancock, purchased some
shares.
Many changes have taken place since Daniels
purchased the store.
The furniture store, which served Burlington for
many years from its original location at 597 North
Pine Street, was relocated at 425 North Pine Street
in a 21,000 square foot building which had
previously housed Rosenberg's Dry Goods Store,
Montgomery Ward Department Store, and Rogan's
Shoe Store. In 1986, a new carpet display
department and sales staff was added and in 1988,
a 5,200 Flexsteel gallery was added.

Bank One
The balcony of Bank One at 189 East Chestnut
Street, has provided an overview of downtown Burlington since 1848 when it was constructed by
Caleb Barns, a pioneer of the city, as a combination
law office and bank building.
It is the oldest building in the State of Wisconsin
built as a bank building and still used for that
purpose.
Barns began his banking business with a capital
of $10,000 and did an annual business of $300,000.
As was common practice of the times, Barns paid
10 to 15 percent on deposits and loaned money
at 20 to 22 percent. He carried on the business
until his death in 1866.
Barns had tutored his nephew, A. E. Wells, in
the banking industry. Wells was the uncle of Eda
Meinhardt who, after working in Well's Bank in
Nebraska, helped establish the Meinhardt Bank on
January 2, 1891. Meinhardt Bank was organized
as a private bank by Eda's father, Anthony Mein·
hardt, in that bank building built by Barns. It was
incorporated as a state bank in 1897 with a capital
of $25,000. Elisa Meinhardt, mother of Eda and
Albert Meinhardt, was president. Albert had joined
the firm eight months after it had opened. Eda
was cashier and Albert was vice president
Inadequate robbery and hold-up protection was
a major problem in the early days of banking. The
need for protection resulted in the first private
telephone line in Burlington, a private telephone
and alarm system installed between the bank and
the Meinhardt residence. It consisted of a heavy
gong which often sounded on stormy nights and
always required a hurried trek through dark streets
to verify the safety of the bank. Invariably, the storm
had merely crossed the wires, but investigation was
necessary. If too much cash was on hand to trust
to the new concept of the screwdoor safe, the excess
would be taken home to be slept on for safety.
Posting of accounts was done by hand, and the
intercom system consisted of a speaking tube
which connected the first and second floors.
Bankers were frequently called upon to perform
double duty, assisting Dr. Francis Meinhardt, a
dentist, with his dental patients.
The bank operated as a closely held family
corporation for the majority of its history. Sherman
116

L. Dudley, whose wife was a niece of the Meinhardts, was employed by the bank in 1918.
The 50th anniversary of the bank on January
2, 1941, arrived with the original founders still active
in the management. Albert Meinhardt was president, Sherman L. Dudley, vice president, Eda
Meinhardt, cashier, and Robert Bayer and Ray
Spiegelhoff were assistant cashiers.
By 1952, Dudley had reached the position of
chief executive officer. He was a conservative leader
and the bank flourished under his management.
In July, 1958, after an extensive interior
remodeling was completed, the Meinhardt Bank
became the first bank in Wisconsin to automate
its posting system and the second to utilize an
account numbering system.
In 1963, Dudley retired due to illness which
claimed his life in 1964. Robert Bayer became
president and retired from that position in 1971.
In 1969, the bank was acquired by the Marine
Corporation and Harold Koch was named president
until his retirement in 1972.
In 1985, the Marine Corporation purchased the
Independence Banks; merging the Elkhorn and
Williams Bay Independence Bank offices with the
Burlington Marine Bank. In 1988, the Burlington
Marine Bank became BANK ONE after the
purchase of the Marine Corporation by BANK ONE.

Burlington Memorial Hospital
Burlington Memorial Hospital opened its door
on June 14, 1924 as a 22 bed hospital, with two
operating rooms, x-ray, laboratory, a kitchen and
maternity ward.
The first year of operation saw 504 patients
admitted, 53 babies were delivered and 349
operations were performed.
The whole thing started with the end of World
War I (1918) when the groundwork was laid and
funds were made available that would establish the
hospital. To a nucleus of $10,041 left in the World
War I war chest from western Racine County,
donations brought in a total of $80,000 for the
hospital and equipment by February, 1923.
(Author's note: From June 14, 1924 to June 30,
1925, a patient could spend a week in a private
room with bath in the newly-opened Burlington
Memorial Hospital for $45. That year's total earnings
were $23,073.75 and 14 employees were listed.)
Elizabeth E. Casey was the first of four registered
nurses who were to serve as superintendent of
Memorial until May 9, 1950, when Robert E. Griffiths
was named administrator. Florence Koch, registered nurse and director of nursing between 1940
and 1972, was quoted as saying, "Elizabeth Casey
gave anesthetics, too."
In 1941 , Ruth Pilger became superintendent. She
was followed by Elsie Rick who resigned in 1943.
Lucille Rossmiller (Cooney) was named her
successor. She became administrative assistant
when Griffiths was appointed. She and Koch both
were at Memorial until October 20, 1972, when
they retired.

In 1945, while Cooney was superintendent, the
need was seen for more room. She and Koch had
seen the shortage of nurses during World War II
and the evoMng of nurses aides to take their place.
Reflecting on the crowded conditions after the war,
Koch, who died on July 31, 1988, said, "We had
patients in the halls."
Because of the wartime freeze on building
materials, construction of an addition was not
begun until 1945 and dedication of the remodeled
60 bed hospital was in August, 1951. The addition
included wings to the north and south ends of the
building.
In 1955, Griffith left the hospital and Donald
Kincade was named administrator. By 1959, still
another expansion was needed. This included the
east wing and the wing that would house the
operating rooms on the second floor until 1989
and the obstetrics department which was there to
at least 1990.
The most ambitious expansion until 1987 was
undertaken in 1972. At a cost of more than $2.5
million, a two-story newly constructed west wing
included a new power plant, laundry, maintenance
shops, rehabilitation facilities, meeting rooms,
management offices and space for 60 more patient
beds.
Prior to 1972, the only specialty in the medical
profession represented in Burlington was surgery.
Specialists would come from other areas for clinics,
but no one was a part of the community. Since
that time, specialists have included those in 20
different specialities.
Memorial's intensive care unit opened in 1974.
Until that time, seriously ill patients were attended
by private duty nurses.
In 1977, Tom Knox was named president and
chief executive officer of Memorial Hospital. During
his tenure, Memorial Hospital became a member
of Health Central, Inc., in Minnesota. Knox left
Memorial in 1984 to become a part of that
corporation, and Andrew Hetrick assumed the
presidency in 1985.
During 1986, a state·of·the·art computerized
tomography (CT) scan, a major diagnostic tool,
was purchased by the hospital. The trend toward
providing high technological services right in Bur·
lington had begun. Also in 1986, the hospital
severed ties with Health Central and resumed the
independence it had maintained for so many years. ·
The trend in health care was turning toward out·
patient services with less need for beds for in·
patients. Remodeling on the older east wing had
begun and it was evident a larger hospital campus
would be needed to serve those communities
surrounding Burlington. The same day surgery unit
was opened that year.
Hetrick left the hospital in 1986 and in June of
1987, Robert L. Brandt became the president and
chief executive officer.
On July 28, 1987, a "wall-breaking" signaled the
beginning of a massive renovation and reconstruction project, a project costing $5.9 million, including
a new third floor.
On August 9, 1988, ground breaking was held

for an office building adjacent to the hospital to
house the Burlington Clinic.
In July, 1990, diagnostic testing was begun using
the magnetic resonance imager (MRI) now housed
in addition to the radiology department.
An initial staff of 14 employees in 1924 has grown
to more than 400 in 1990.

Tobin Drug
Founded by Frank Tobin in 1915, the store has
grown, expanded and moved several times.
He purchased the store from W. E. Flack and
George Miller (Flack & Miller Drug Store) who
established it in 1913. Tobin opened his pharmacy
on Chestnut Street, across from the Meinhardt
Bank. He operated it until the early 1960's when
it was purchased by Arthur McCourt and Don
Schultz. Later it was moved to the comer of
Washington and Pine Streets where the Jackson
Drug Store had been.
Tobin Drugs-Pinecrest was opened in the Pinecrest Shopping Center in 1965. In 1978, a second
Burlington store was located in Burlington Square
Shopping Center. That was closed in 1988.
Tobin Drugs-Twin Lakes first was a rental within
a Twin Lakes clinic. The present building was built
and occupied by the firm in November, 1981.
Present owners are: Dick McKinney, Jim Hipp
and Greg Nelson. They purchased the business
in 1981.
It is not just a "drugstore" anymore, it features
merchandise in the areas of cameras, tot-to-teen
clothing, jewelry, cosmetics and gift items, in
addition to the pharmacy.

Richard G. Vos Business Consultant
On July 1, 1961, in the accounting business,
Richard G. Vos opened his own firm in Burlington.
That was located at the comer of Milwaukee Avenue
and Chestnut Street in the old National Bank
Building. In 1967, it moved to 440 Milwaukee
Avenue in quarters rented from George Rider. In
1976, the building was purchased from Rider by
Vos and attorneys Patrick Lloyd and William
Phenecie. That group completely remodeled the
building with the Vos firm on one side, the law
office on the other.
Vos graduated from Burlington High School in
1946. He attended the University of Wisconsin in
Milwaukee and completed his studies in accounting
in 1949. His first employment was with the
Wisconsin Electric Power Company where he
worked in the accounting department for eight and
one-half years. In 1957, he took a public accounting
position with a certified public accounting firm in
Lake Geneva where he worked nearly four years.
As the computer age arrived, it necessitated
many changes in the accounting profession and
in August, 1969, the firm installed its first computer.
Since then, the computer system has been updated
several times.
117

In 1990, Richard Vos decided to retire and his
son Michael R. Vos, took over total operation of
the business as of September 1, 1990.

Wisconsin Bell Telephone Company
The first telephone exchange was established in
Burlington in 1886, but prior to that, the Wilbur
Lumber Company is credited with being the first
telephone user, as it had a private telephone line
to its office in Lake Geneva.
This circuit was later turned over to the Wisconsin
Telephone Company.
The Wilbur name was further recorded in the
early telephone history of Burlington as George H.
Wilbur was shown as manager in an 1888 directory.
That directory contained the names of ten
subscribers besides the Wilbur Lumber Company
and Mrs. Wilbur. Those listed were W. J. Finke,
Jacob Gill, Dr. Hicks, Jones House, Lincoln Ice
Company, St. Mary's Island, the Western Union
Telegraph Company and the Chicago, Milwaukee
& St. Paul Railway.
In 1890, the local exchange was managed by
Miss Edith Storms and there were 20 subscribers.
Other managers in the early history were H. L
Jenkins, A. P. Hahn, Newton Bottomley, William
Lawton, Carroll A. Goodman.
Later managers were Oswald C. Claus, Walter
R. Whiting, Joseph Obertin who was manager when
in 1956, Burlington received its first dial telephone
service, and the familiar "number please" from an
operator became history. At that time too, long
distance charges between the Burlington office and
the telephones of the Burlington, Brighton and
Wheatland Telephone Company were eliminated.
The changeover to the dial system represented
a $400,000 cost to the phone company. Some
interesting facts showed some 265 miles of wiring
were needed inside the new company building at
the comer of Washington Street and Perkins
Boulevard. Outside the building, 1,980 miles of wire
in new aerial and underground cable were installed.
While installing the new dial system, the workmen
had to battle some severe weather at times. On
April 3, 1956, heavy rains caused a water back
up and knocked out telephone service to two thirds
of the Burlington customers. After a quick
emergency cut-over, and the hard work of several
splicing crews and other line crews, and with the
use of emergency mobile equipment, service was
restored to most customers in Jess than 12 hours.
There also have been acts of heroism on the
part of at least one telephone company employee
over the years.
It was on September 22, 1922, while patrolling
toll lines in the vicinity of Burlington, Emmett R.
Brown, a toll repairman, noticed a fire on the farm
of Hugo P. Kramer. At the risk of his own life, Brown
entered the burning barn and rescued Kramer who
118

had been overcome by the smoke and flames. After
removing the man, Brown re-entered the barn and
rescued three horses. After the arrival of the fire
department, Brown took Kramer to a doctor for
treatment of broken ribs and then returned him
to his home.
For his actions, the telephone company awarded
Brown the company's Bronze Vail Medal on July
24, 1923.

The Fashion Exchange
The Fashion Exchange was originated by Mary
Ann Schiller in the fall of 1981.
The business was opened October 19, 1981 in
her garage at 329 North Kendrick Avenue when
she began accepting clothing for consignment sale.
At that time, she used homemade wooden racks
to store the clothing brought to her.
Shortly thereafter, a partnership was formed with
Kathy (Mrs. James) Weis and the business was
formally opened on November 3, 1981 at 116 East
Chestnut Street, on the second floor above the
Country Gentleman, owned by Eugene Rueter.
After operating the business for about one and
one half years, the partnership was liquidated and
on July 31, 1983, Mary Ann Schiller became the
sole proprietor.
Larger space needs prompted a location change
at 488 North Pine Street in a building then owned
by Marge Kessler. The business began to thrive
and on July 1, 1990, it was again relocated, this
time to a downstairs location at 484 North Pine
Street.

Wisconsin Electric Power Company
Electric power first came to Burlington in 1888
when the Burlington Electric Company used a
steam-powered generator to produce power for a
few local stores. In 1990, the Wisconsin Electric
Power Company, which purchased the original
company in 1916, provides power to more than
26,000 customers in Burlington and the surrounding area.
The history of Wisconsin Electric Power Company has been one of growth and expansion; today
it serves more than 875,000 customers in Southeastern Wisconsin, the Fox Valley and the Upper
Peninsula of Michigan.
Burlington's first electric generator was owned
by four local men. It operated from dusk to 11
p.m. six days a week with no power on Sundays.
The old Teutonia Hall was the first commercial
enterprise to receive electric power. The operator
at the plant had to be bribed to keep the power
on past 11 o'clock when special events were
scheduled.

In 1916, the Wisconsin Gas & Electric Company,
later acquired by the present company, purchased
the original Burlington Electric Company and a
period of expansion began. The construction of
new electric transmission and distribution lines
brought power to many small communities and
rural areas. The introduction of the electric flat iron,
range and refrigerator brought electric power into
many Burlington homes for the first time. During
the 1930's, intense efforts were made to bring
electricity to the farms as well as the homes. Until
this time, electric service was often limited to the
immediate areas near the generating plant.
The efforts of Wisconsin Electric Power Company
did not end when electricity was made available
to every home and farm.
Throughout the years, the company helped
customers use electricity safely, wisely and
efficiently. In the 1950's and 60's, company
personnel helped homemakers with recipes,
menus, kitchen planning and by demonstrating the
usage of new electric appliances. Others talked to
school, 4-H and Girl Scout groups, demonstrating
the ease and efficiency of modern electric living.
Later information and education activities focused
on a broad range of activities, including efficiency,
environmental issues, education and career choices
as well as other topics.
In 1987, the company launched the Smart
Energy program, one of the largest energy-efficient
programs ever undertaken by an electric utility.
Customers receive rebates and loans toward the
purchase of energy-efficient appliances. By
promoting energy efficiency, Wisconsin Electric
delays the need to build expensive new power
plants. Smart Money began as a two-year, $84
million program, but the company extended the
program due to its popularity with customers.
The number of electric company employees in
Burlington has grown from one plant operator in
1888 to 45 employees in 1990, with an annual
payroll of more than $1.7 million. Wisconsin Electric
Power Company's annual construction budget in

the Burlington area is about $2.5 million.
Wisconsin Energy Corporation, the parent
company of Wisconsin Electric, has nearly 600,000
shareholders.

The Spinning Top
Exploratory Museum
492 North Pine Street
The world's only Spinning Top Museum orig·
inated during Burlington's first annual Chocolate
Festival in the spring of 1987 by Teacher Place
and Parent Resources, an independent non-profit
educational resource center.
The exhibit of 600 antique and modern tops was
to be a one month exhibit beginning during the
Chocolate Festival because of the festival theme,
"Chocolate is Tops."
The exhibit offered 35 tops and top games to
actually spin and twirl. The visitors were even more
enthused than Judith Schultz, Teacher Place
director, had expected and she heard requests to
continue the "museum" throughout the summer
months.
The museum exhibit was extended for three more
months with frequent requests for school groups
and tour groups to visit in the fall, so another
extension was made. These extensions were
renewed and renewed more than a year until the
volunteer board of directors decided to make it
a permanent museum.
The exhibit, Which has grown to more than 1,000
items, is part of the private collection of Judith
Schultz which exceeds about 3,500 tops, yo-yos,
gyroscopes and moonwinders. Visitors come to a
75 minute program which includes seeing the
exhibit, spinning 35 tops, top games to play, seeing
a show and demonstration by the collector, and
two videos.
The museum now publishes "SP/N-OFFS", a
small magazine about spinning tops, yo·yos and
other related toys and devices.

Interior of the William
Rein Blacksmith Shop
on Commerce Street
Rein is at right.

119

Service Clubs
Rotary Club of Burlington
The basement coal room of the Hotel Badger
was the site of the first meeting of the Rotary Club
on April 24, 1924.
Charter night for the club was May 26, 1924,
with the Waukesha Rotary Club as the sponsor.
Fred Witter, a noted Burlington school superintendent, was the first president. Walter Kuebler was
vice president and George Waller was secretary.
Meetings continued to be held at the Hotel
Badger until 1951 when they changed to the
Colonial Club at Brown's Lake. In 1959, the meeting
place was changed to Dunkel's White Oaks until
1985 when a fire destroyed the meeting place. The
club then moved to Brandy Bay until Richard
Kiekenbusch rebuilt White Oaks.
The club sponsored the organization of the Burlington Rescue Squad and has continued to support
it. Rotary raised the original $5,000 for the squad's
first mobile unit. It was one of the sponsors of the
Burlington Community Swimming Pool, has
supported the Burlington Clean Program , and for
years sponsored a boy to Badger Boys State.

Burlington Kiwanis Club
The Burlington Kiwanis Club was organized in
early 1928 through the efforts of the Forest Park,
Illinois club. It was chartered on December 13,
1928.
The group disbanded on December 30, 1935.
In 1937, John J. Wolf was the major mover for
the reorganization and Harry O'Haire served as
president for the 1937-38 term of office.
The modern period of that organization began
in 1953 when expanding membership programs
were undertaken. The annual Kiwanis Pancake Day
started in 1953 to provide funds for transportation
of area youth to and from Fischer Park. The club

A parade through the
"loop." Notice the
buildings still standing,
the wooden sidewalks
and the dirt street. The
delivery wagon at the
left was used by J. G.
Mathews Grocery. Note
the popcorn wagon on
the other side of the
street behind the white
horse.

120

participated in the youth soccer leagues, baseball
and softball, Badger Boys and Badger Girls
programs, and the Kiwanis Civic Band. The club
also was one of the sponsoring organizations for
the Burlington Community Swimming Pool. The
annual Farmers' Night program, started in the early
days of the club, was continued after reorganization.

Burlington Uons' Club
The Burlington Uons' Club was organized in
1950 by Raymond D. Bieneman and Shafec A.
Mansour, a professional organizer, after a group
of men showed interest in 1949.
When the charter was granted in 1950, there
were 34 members on the rolls. Early meetings were
held in the Hotel Badger.
The first Lions' Chicken Barbecue was held July
22, 1959 and has been continued.
Projects have included scholarship awards,
eyebank involvement and safety patrol contributions. The club also was an organizer of the Burlington Community Swimming Pool.
The female counterpart of the club, the Burlington Lioness Club, was formed in May, 1978, with
the late Florence Hefty serving as first president.
The women have participated in the sponsorship of many programs including glaucoma
screening, Blind Outdoor Leisure Development.
The club also contributed to the safety patrol and
St. Vincent's programs.

Business and Professional Women
On April 12, 1950, a group of businesswomen
and professionals met at the home of Mrs. Marion
Moussa to organize the club. When the charter was
signed later that year, 58 women were on the rolls.
The group has sponsored adult education
workshops and many civic projects.

- #+.:~

,.:'Appendix ~~~~- -

Mayors of the City of Burlington, 1900-1990
Name
George C. Rasch
Edward F. Rakow
John Mutter
Edward F. Rakow
H.E. Zimmermann
H.E. Zimmermann
Edward F. Rakow
Edward F. Rakow
Henry A. Runkel
Henry A. Runkel
William H. Kruckman
William H. Kruckman
L.A. Forge
LA Forge
LA Forge
L.A. Forge
L.A. Forge
L.A. Forge
Hemy R. Pruemers
H.J. Runkel
H.J. Runkel
H.J. Runkel
Roy A. Hoffman
Roy A. Hoffman

Date of Election
April 3, 1900
April 1, 1902
April 2, 1904
April4, 1906
April 9, 190S
April 6, 1910
April3, 1912
April 9, 1914
April7, 1916
AprilS, 191S
AprilS, 1920
April7, 1922
April3, 1924
April6, 1926
April 4, 192S
April 2, 1930
April 6, 1932
April4, 1934
AprilS, 1936
April 5, 193S
April 2, 1940
April7, 1942
April 4, 1944
April 2, 1946

Name
Date of Election
George W. Krueger
April 6, 194S
Dr. A.J. Ketterhagen
April 4, 1950
Dr. A.J. Ketterhagen
April 1, 1952
Ralph Larson
April 6, 1954
Ralph Larson
April 3, 1956
Robert Beix
April 1, 1958
April 5, 1960
Anthony B. Rewald
Anthony B. Rewald
April 3, 1962
Leo J. Warren
April 7, 1964
April 5, 1966
Leonard C. Rauen
April 2, 196S
Leonard C. Rauen
(Won recount over Clarence Black.)
John Thate
April 7, 1970
John Thate
April 4, 1972
John Thate
April 2, 1974
John Thate
April 6, 1976
John Thate
April 5, 197S
Leonard J. Kitkowski
April 1, 19SO
Martin J. ltzin
April 7, 19S2
Martin J. Itzin
April 4, 1984
Martin J. ltzin
April 1, 19S6
Steven David
April 5, 19SS
Steven David
April 3, 1990

Population since 1900 when Burlington became a city.
(From State Historical Reference Ubrary)
Year
1900
1910
1920
1930
1940
1950
1960
1970
19SO
1990

City
2256
3212
3626
4114
4414
47SO
5S56
7479
S3S5
8855

Town
1052
1129
1183
999
1257
2270
47SO
4963
5629
5833

- - ~~~~~~~»121

Burlington Postmasters, 1887-1989
Frank R. Reuschlein
William A. Colby
Edward Rakow
Theodore Riel
Fred J . Buel
Fred J. Buel
Carrie R. Buel
Peter Jacobsen
Henry E. Zimmermann
Henry R. Pruemers
Henry R. Pruemers
Henry Weygand
Louis Reuschlein
Martha Folman
Walter L. Paepke
Frederick F. Forge
Joseph Zelenski

Democrat
Republican
Democrat
Republican
Acting
Republican
Acting
Republican
Democrat
Acting
Republican
Acting
Democrat
Acting

Postal receipts:
July1, 1887toJune30, 1888
Jan. 1935toDec. 1935
Oct. 1, 1983 to Sept. 28, 1984
Sept. 26, 1986 to Sept. 25, 1987

July 1, 1887 · June 30, 1891 - 4 yrs.
July 1, 1891 · Jan. 31, 1896 - 4 yrs. 7 mos.
Feb. 1, 1896 · Jan. 31, 1900 - 4 yrs.
Feb. 1, 1900 · Mar. 31, 1904- 4 yrs. 2 mos.
Apr. 1, 1904 · Sept. 30, 1904 - 6 mos.
Oct. 1, 1904 · Feb. 20, 1911 - 6 yrs. 4 mos. 20 da.
Feb. 21, 1911 ·Jan. 15, 1912- 10 mos. 25 da.
Jan. 16,191 2 · Feb. 14, 1916- 4yrs. 1 mo.
Feb. 15, 1916 · Feb. 29, 1924- 8 yrs. 14 da.
Mar. 1, 1924 · Feb. 28, 1927 - 3 yrs.
Mar. 1, 1927 · June 30, 1935 - 8 yrs. 4 mos.
July 1, 1935 · Aug. 15, 1935- 1 mo. 15 da.
Aug. 16, 1935 · Nov. 1955 - 20 yrs. 4 mos.
Nov. 1955 · J uly 1956 - 8 mos.
J uly 1956 · May 1972 - 16 yrs.
May 1972 · June 1973 - 1 yr. 1 mo.
J une 1973 · present
$

2,760.15
35,738.86
996,318.25
1,412,683.85

An 1898 photo of a
gathering in front of
the businesses at the
"bend" in Chestnut
Street in downtown
Burlington. Note the
wooden sidewalks in
front of the F. J. Buell
hardware store and the
C. G. Foltz dry goods
store.

122

Business Directory - 1860
(The Burlington Gazette 3/13/1860)

Dry Goods, Grocery and Drug Stores

Mills and Manufacturing

B. Foltz & Son - Dealers in dry goods and groceries. Capital
invested, $8,000. Yearly sales $}8,000.
Ulrich Schadegg - General dealer in dry goods, groceries.
Capital invested $6,000. Yearly sales $}2,000.
Parsons & Conover - General dealers in dry goods, groceries,
clothing. Capital invested, $7,000. Yearly sales $}5,000.
H. Cook - Grocery store. Capital invested, $500. Yearly sales
$},200.
Joseph Hamann - Dry goods, groceries. Capital invested,
$3,000. Yearly sales $6,000.
Grassie & Darling - Grocery and provision store. Capital
$2,500. Yearly sales $}0,000.
A. Meinhardt - Dry goods, groceries and Yankee notions.
Capital $800. Yearly sales $} ,500.
Dr. J.H. Cooper- Drugs and groceries. Capital $3,000. Yearly
sales $6,000.
E.D. Hall - Dry goods, groceries and provisions. Capital $3,500.
Yearly sales $7,500.

Perkins & Pitkin - Flouring mill. Capital $20,000. Yearly
business $}8,000.
P.M. Perkins- Woolen factory. Capital $}5,000. Yearly business
$25,000.
James Scott - Flouring mill. Not yet in running order.
Sawyer & Barns - Plow manufacturers. Capital $4,000. Sales
$9,000.
Scott & Nims - House builders and sash and blind
manufacturer. Capital $3,000.

Foundries
Wm. Johnson - Iron foundry, house builder, farm implement
manufacturer. Just commenced.
Wagner & Zwiebel - Machine shop and brass foundry. Capital
$},000.

Produce Buyers
E.D. Hall - Yearly business $20,000.
T.W. Blake - Yearly business $6,000.
Nick Warner- Yearly business $}0,000.

Hardware Stores
Sheldon & Conkey - General hardware, tinware, stoves. Capital
$4,000. Yearly sales $8,000.
Herman Thiele - Stoves and tinware. Capital $} ,000. Yearly
sales $2,000.

Hotels
Burlington Hotel - George Jones, proprietor.
Kossuth House - Wm. Wettroth, proprietor.
Thurston House - J. McKenzie, proprietor.

Boot, Shoe and Leather Stores
R. Wald - Manufacturer and dealer in boots, shoes, leather,
hides. Capital $} ,800. Yearly sales $2,500.
Henry Stang - Manufacturer and dealer in boots, shoes, leather,
hides. Capital $300. Yearly sales $2,500.
T.J. Thompson - Manufacturer and dealer in boots, shoes.
Doing good business.
Simon Kumpg - Shoemaker.
Wm. Deinberg - Shoemaker.
John Hegeman - Shoemaker.
John Ries - Shoemaker.
Henry Schemmer - Shoemaker.

Saloons, Restaurants, etc.
W. Miller- Uquor, flour, billiards and ball alley. Capital $},000.
Yearly sales $} ,500.
Joseph Daring - Saloon.
M.T. Hayes - Billiards saloon. Capital $400. Yearly sales$} ,500.
Daniel Detrick - Saloon.
M. Klingele - Saloon.
Fred Wallhoft- Restaurant.
Nick Warner - Saloon.
John Melcher - Saloon.
Wm. Bradshaw - Saloon.
Wm. Funk - Saloon.

Merchant Tailors
B.F. Kelsey- Merchant tailor. Capital$} 00. Yearly sales$} ,300.
G. Duchman- Tailor.
Valentine Smith - Tailor.
B. Bohle- Tailor.

Brewers and Distillers
C. Boub - Rectifier and liquor store. Capital $3,000. Yearly
sales $9,000.
Jacob Muth- Brewery. Capital $2,500. Yearly sales $6,000.
Anton Fink - Brewery and saloon.
Fred Wallhoft - Distiller and rectifier.

Jewelry
H. Neuhaus - Jeweler, clock, watch and Yankee notions.
Capital $2,000. Yearly sales $5,000.
123

Masons and Plasterers
P & J Wackerman
M. Bachmyer
Eustache Bregenzer
Christian Runzler
H.C. Conklin

MilitaJy, Social, Fire and Theatrical
Turner Society. German.
Burlington Hook and Ladder Co. No. 1. Members 40.
Burlington Rifle Co. Members 25.
German Theatrical Society.
Teutonia Singing Society.

Miscellaneous
C.P. Barns - Banking, collection and exchange office. Capital,
$10,000. Yearly business $300,000.
Henry Martin - Saddle and harness maker. Capital $400. Yearly
sales $2,500.
T.L. Blake - Lumber dealer. Capital $5,000. Yearly sales
$10,000.
American Express office. Yearly business $500.
Racine & Mississippi Railroad depot, Thomas Dagget, agent.
Received for freight during 1858
$6,121.24
$3,268.24
Received for freight during 1859
For freight received during 1858
$7,619.74
For freight received during 1859
$5,430.55
Received for tickets during 1858
$2,186.75
Received for tickets during 1859
$2,231.02
Total amount received for freight
and tickets for 1858
$15,929.73
Total amount received for freight
and tickets for 1859
$11,229.81
T. Vanslycke - Livery stable. Capital $800. Yearly business
$1,500.
Meat Market - Charles Arnold, proprietor.
Adam Klinkops - Barber and hair dresser.
H. Cook - Cooper.
Thos. Merakins - Jeweler, shoemaker and barber.

Carpenters and Joiners
Chas. Graham
Christian Erdman
Julius Lueck & Co.
Daniel Detrick
Jacob Prush
Henry Rodering
Christopher Haas
A. Amos - Millwright.

Milliners
Miss S.J. Howe, milliner and dressmaker.
Miss A. Fuller, milliner and dressmaker.
Mrs. Henry Miller, milliner and dressmaker.

Blacksmiths and Wagon Shops
Charles Wagner - Blacksmith.
E.S. Johnson - Blacksmith.
0. Stohr- Wagonmaker.
J. Wambold - Blacksmith. Capital $800. Yearly business
$2,000.
Fred Keuper- Carriage Shop and blacksmith. Capital $2,000.
Yearly sales $3,000.
Joseph Pieters - Wagonmaker. Capital $700. Yearly business
$1,500.
William Lean - Blacksmith.
John Edmunds - Wagonmaker.

Religious Societies
Plymouth Congregational - P.C. Pettibone, pastor. Members
80.
Reformed Lutheran - Rev. Mr. Goldamer, pastor.
First Baptist - E.B. Law, pastor.
Roman Catholic - Rev. Michael Wisbauer, pastor. Members
1,000.

Cabinet Makers
Martin Scheller. Capital $2,000. Yearly sales $1,000.
Wm. Mucklisch

Physicians and Dentists
Temperance Societies

H.D. Knight - Dentist.
E.G. Dyer- Physician.
M.T. Darling - Physician.
Wm. Baumback - Physician.
J.H. Cooper - Physician.

Washington Temple of Honor, No.4. Members 70.
Martha Washington Social Temple, No.2. Members 30.
Excelsior Order of Cadets of Honor and Temperance, No. 1.
Members 30.

Attorneys and Counselors at Law
Masonic

C.W. Bennett - Doing a large and extensive business.
Royce & Cole- Capital $600. Yearly business $3,000.

Burlington Lodge, No. 28, F and AM.

Painters

I.O.O.F.

E.N. White
Richard Wagon

Burlington Lodge No. 11. Just being re·instated.

124

Business Directory
(From a map published in 1875)
Dry Goods, Groceries and Drug Stores

Liquor Stores

B. Foltz and Son- Dry goods and groceries.
August Reuschlein - Grocer.
J.S. Crane - Dry goods and groceries.
Henry Neuhaus - Dry goods and groceries.
W.J. Rittman - Dry goods and groceries.
George Verhalen - General merchandise.
Francis Reuschlein - Notion store, general insurance agent.
T.M. Martin- Dealer in tea and coffee.
Nicholas May - Meat market.
Carl Arnold - Meat market.
Charles W. Wood - Drugstore.
H. Stoetzer - Drugstore.

Lewis Konst - Wine, liquors, billiards.
Jacob Gill - Billiard hall, liquor.
William Laske - Wines, liquor.
John Dietrick - Baker, wines, liquors and cigars.

Brewers
Jacob Muth and Sons
William J. Finke

Milliners
Mrs. C.K. Miller
Mrs. E. Wehmhoff
Mrs. Charles Wells

Hardware Store
H.A. Sheldon
C.B. Wagner

Wagon Shops, Agriculture Implements
W.P. Goff - Agriculture implements.
McCumber & Kline - Agriculture implements.
Jacob Wambolt - Wagonmaker.

Boots, Shoes and Leather Goods
Valentine & Stang (Sign of the Red Boot.)
M.T. Hayes - Harness shop.
Joseph Klingele - Harness shop.
R. Wald and Sons - Boots and shoes.
Frank Schemmer - Boots and shoes.

Dentist
Dr. George A. Sherwood

Attorney
Tailors

C.A. Brownson

E. Rakow
Valentine Smith and Son

Miscellaneous
H.L. Devereux - Publisher of the Standard.
L. Hess - Justice of the Peace.
G. Law - Photographer.
F. Willhoft - Furniture.
Chris Erdman - Lumber yard.
J.H. Melchers - Warehouse for lime, brick, salt and wine.
The Peoples State Bank - E.M. White, N.P. Randall, Ole Heg,
J.P. Mather, H.A. Sheldon, Jacob Muth, J.S. Crane, Jacob
Gill, Jacob Wambold, P.M. Perkins, R. Wald, Edmund
Berger, C. G. Foltz, R. Billings, and Hon. John F. Potter.

Jewelry
E. Wehmhoff - Jeweler.
Charles Wells- Watchmaker.

Mills and Manufacturing
Perkins Bros. - Woolen manufacturers and millers.
F.W. Blake - Sash and blind factory, carpenter.

Foundry
H. Wagner- Foundry and machine shop.

Produce Buyers
J ohn Adams - Meat dealer.
Henry Miller - Dealer in hides and sheep.

Hotels
J ones House - Charles J. Jones, proprietor.
Exchange House -J.P. Mather, owner; A.J. Hannas, proprietor.
Western Union Hotel - F. Jaucke, proprietor.

125

Business Directory 1880
Manufacturing

Retail and Professionals

Burlington Blanket Co. - Its product, the "Stay On" horse
blanket, has an international reputation for quality. Largest
factory of its kind in the country, with salesrooms in New
York, Chicago and San Francisco.
Burlington Novelty Co. - Makers of rubber elastic goods.
Burlington Malting Co.- The old Jacob Muth brewery, Frank
Schemmer, president; C.H. Edgerton, manager.
McCanna & Fraser Co. - Butter making concern, operating
15 factories in the Elgin or Fox River Valley district. C.B.
McCanna, president; R.G. Fraser, secretary.
F.G. Klein Co. -Manufacturers of soft drinks. F.G. Klein, F.K.
Klein, Mary Ann Klein, proprietors.
Burlington Canning Co. - Specializing in canning corn and
tomatoes.
Finke-Uhen Brewing Co. - Capacity 1,500 barrels a day. John
H. Uhen, president; W.J. Finke, secretary-treasurer.
Wisconsin Condensed Milk Co. - The only one of its kind
in Wisconsin. C.B. McCanna, R.G. Fraser, Samuel S.
Swarthey.
Zwiebel's Machine Shop- Joseph Zwiebel, owner.
The Multiscope and Film Co. -Makers of "AI Vista" panoramic
cameras. G.C. Rasch, president; L.J. Smith, secretarytreasurer.
Ayres Flouring Mill- Former Perkins grist mill.
Brick & Tile Factory

Barber - Louis Jacobs.
The Chicago Store- Men's clothing. Jacob Wein.
Hardware - George McDonald.
Groceries - Mathews and Bowers.
Notions - "City of Panic." Mrs. Mary Stang.
Lumber - Wilbur Lumber Co., W.M. Emmas, manager.
Tailor - John Haitz.
Furniture & Undertaker - George Dietrich; McKercher & Co.
Drayage & Transfer - B. Brehm & Son.
Bicycle Shop - Joe Dobster.
Liquor Store - John P. Gill.
Drugstore- G.C. Dennistor and S.M. Reinardy.
Dry Goods - C.G. Foltz and Son. Oldest business in Burlington.
Harness Dealer - H. Unger.
Horseshoers - William and Frank Rein.
Grocery - Jerome Mutchler; A Aronson.
Blacksmith - Pieters & Edwards (John Pieters and Frank
Edwards).
Wagonmaker- W.J. Pieters.
Boots and Shoes - A Miller.
Lawyers - E.E. Mills, L.H. Rohr, G.W. Waller, Henry Madigan.

Wilbur Lumber Co., which was located on
the site of the city
parking Jot on Chestnut Street

126

Bibliography
1. Thwaites, R. S. "Story of the Black Hawk War" Wis. Hist. Coli. XII
2. History of Racine and Kenosha Counties
3. Sally Mac Clay, "History of the Smith Family"
4. Peck Papers
5. Mrs. Arthur Smith (Personal Interview)
6. Diary of F. S. Perkins
7. U.S. Postmasters
8. Biography of David Bushnell
9. Herbert Duckett "Plank Roads"
10. Racine Journal "Old Home Town"
11. Plymouth Bulletin (Reminiscences)
12. R. A. Everest "Wisconsin's German Element" Wis. Hist. Coli. XII
13. Wm. Meadows Address, "Burlington since 1850" in "Old Timer's Night"
14. Charles G. Foltz address, same occasion, in "Old Timer's Night"
15. "History of St. Sebastians Church"
16. Harold Reuschlein, Centennial Speech
17. Weekly Burlington Gazette 12/20/1859
18. G. E. Dyer "Early Bench and Bar"
19. H. Diener "Teutonia Society"
20. Racine County Militant
21. Howard Wood "History of Burlington"
23. American Freeman
24. Racine Advocate 8/13/1844
25. Milo Quaife "The Kingdom of St. James"
26. Appleyard document
27. Burlington Standard 11/18/1875
28. Racine Journal 5/6/29, 7/27/21
29. Burlington Standard Sesquicentennial Edition, July 1985
30. State Historical Society Reference Ubrary
31. Pastors of various churches
32. Don Reed reminiscences
33. Mrs. McCumber's "Early History of the City of Burlington"
34. E. D. Putnam's letter to "The Standard Democrat" 12/20/35
35. Report of the Board of Education of Burlington Union School District 1898
36. Herbert Duckett, "The Burlington Business Area in 1870"
37. Racine Journal Times 7/2/1909, 7/3/1909
38. Standard Democrat "Golden Anniversary" edition
39. Standard Press, "Centennial'' edition
40. Wisconsin Industrial Review 1911
41. Enoch Squires, "Pokin' Around"

127

Team of horses and
wagon such as was
used years ago. Note
string covering over
the horses used to
scare away flies.

Pine Street looking
north toward Chestnut
Street Note dirt streets,
and horses, buggies,
hitching posts,
telephone poles and
single light bulb as
street light.

Cigar maker, Ben
Holmes, (second from
left, with his cigar
making crew.) Others
in the photo are Mrs.
Holmes, left, Mrs.
Robert Fraser, the next
three unknown, Ed
Moe, John Karcher,
Louis Wolf, George
Rein and Ted
Huenning. Dorothy
Holmes and Happy are
kneeling in front.

128

\

II~~~~~!~~r~lal~tJ~~~~J~!:~IN. jr====

Ben Holmes who ran a
cigar factory in
downtown Burlington.

His brand was the Flor
de Anson, a box of
which is pictured.

The exterior of his

factory which was
located on Geneva
Street, next door to the
old Standard Press
building. During the
years 1909 and 1910,
he employed 25
people at the factory.

Another cigar factory
in Burlington, the Ted
Huenning factory,
manufactured the
Voucher cigar.

129

Another parade of later

years, note the brick
streets and the single
street light over the
intersection.

-

---

T-·--.

1"

Interior of the ltzin
Harness Shop on Pine
Street Identified from
the left are William
ltzin, Herman Lash and
John V. Jtzin. Founded
in 1881, the store was
in the family for three
generations.

--,

6'

lfu/JJJle11P1JJHDt112Sil£
of BanKof Burlington
\{Where customer service1\
comes )J

i

\

~

IIi

J

~

';·

~~::7"""· --tr

130

~

Apparently a
successful hunt, five
squirrels and one
coon. Date and
hunters unknown.

Standing at the site
where the new Bank of
Burlington was built,
on South Pine Street,
are, from the front, C
Roy McCanna, Patrick
M Uoyd, Thomas
Burchard, Lawrence
Murphy, Willis
Reineman, CB.
McCanna, Elmer
Ganswindt, Edward C
Johnson, Henry
Heiderman and
Howard Harlow.

Dress·up party at the
Plymouth
Congregational
Church. Standing, left
to right, are Mrs.
Robert Wilson, Mrs.
A.B. Rewald, Miss Olive
Wilson, Mrs. Frank
Stone, Mrs. Beatrice
Rommel, Mrs. Phyllis
Pella, Miss Diener, Mrs.
Henry Schadeberg,
Mary Dardis and Mrs.
Carl Treichel. Seated,
left to right, Diane
Dykstra, Mrs. Ide, Mrs.
Henry Rhodes, Mrs.
Elmer Kitterer, Bess
Caldwell, Mrs.
Sherman Dudley. Uttle
girl is Ramona
Schadeberg.

Senator Alexander
Wiley of Wisconsin,
left, greets Senator
William Know/and of
California, main
speaker at the May Day
U.S. Way festivities in
1955.

J.G. Mathews and his
Shetland ponies in a
parade on July 4,
1907. The photo is
taken on Commerce
Street at Mill Street.
The Klein Soda Water
plant is seen in the
background.

131

A group of Gideon 's
Band members
arriving at Island Wild,
the island on Brown's
Lake, in June 1875.

A yoke of oxen were
used to help clean out
Hoosier Creek in 1913.

The parlor of a typical
home in the early
1900's. Note the
overhanging light
fJXture and the
decorative plate on the
piano.

132

A portion of the work
force at the Burlington
Brass Works, probably
taken in the 1920's.

Interior of a blacksmith
shop owned by John
Pieters and Frank
Edwards, location
unknown.

Interior of the
Burlington Mills plant,
much later, when the
company was
manufacturing "BurTex" material used
among other things for
insulation, padding,
and sound absorption.

The punch looms that
were used to
manufacture the BurTex material.

133

Cast of the dramatic
club play, "The Stolen
Twins, or a Debt of
Hatred" held at
Teutonia Hall on New
Year's Eve., Dec. 31,
1895. All of the cast
were girls.

The malthouse when it
was acquired by the
Haylofters. They
removed a great
portion of the building
that could not be used
for their theater and
was too expensive to
repair and maintain.

134

"Womanless Wedding "
with an all male cast
was presented at the
Burlington High
School auditorium in
the mid· 1930's. Gilbert
Karcher, center, was
the bride, and Grandpa
Van Tine, at his left
was the bridegroom.
The remainder were
members of the
wedding party and
guests at the wedding.
Old timers of
Burlington will
recognize a number of
the men. The event
was sponsored by the
Methodist Episcopal
Church.

Interior of the Louis
Rein butcher shop,
with a side of beef and
a butchered hog
hanging. Rein is in
white while Herman
Potratz is standing
alongside. The other
two men are not
identified, but the man
with the overcoat on is
probably a meat
salesman.

A circus parade on
Chestnut Street Note
the popcorn wagon
behind the last two
elephants and the
mortar and pestle drug
store sign.

More hunters and dogs
than foxes, but the four
foxes shown are not
too bad for a hunt,
conducted in March of
1944.

135

A na\Y band appeared
in the 1918 Labor Day
parade. Note the
streets are now brick

A Red Cross float that
appeared in the same
parade.

Lower Left
The Hotel Burlington
Live/}' Stable, located
in the alley behind the
hotel.
Lower Right
Another view of the old
Teutonia Hall. Camera
is pointed toward the
Hillside on Geneva
Street (MilwaLJkee
Avenue). Note the
large trees, dirt street,
and the gate across
Geneva Street which
may have been
signaling a festival or a
special performance.

136

CARFIELD AND JENNY LIND DOORS.
~

I .'

Jlt..'f~"Y LJ~J).

GA8Jf1&-tJ>.

=

SIZK.

Thtc:k_l
neew .

I

a4iijr.fu;:---[

I

JENNY LIND.

Ono~l,~fl<-tl_oA_rw_.T
__
o~ _o_n•_'!.::,se,_llll>
~'-'-T-op_.

r--rrt~

Un•t•..d

1

Price

Glaud.

Prl01

Un~luod.

j

Prfc::e

Glued.

j;LJ:F;:-[;1'1;-l~ ~. . • etc. -~~

Probably the oldest
stone house in
Burlington is located at
508 E. Jefferson Street

s _exe_ e 1 s-a 15.415
e oo ! 8 -f.l!
e oo
2 axe a,-..
15- eo- · a · 21! ,-6- so ·J.-o :-u o
,
_
_::•
_
1._ e 20_- -10-16 1:.._
7_2o_:F1i:J,.s_
2 toxe _1_
8 Ox7 o •· , 6 e o 11 20
7 60
so
8- - ox7--e · I 7.s o-·f:a 161 e-:-8o T81 s8 o xe o ,.- , - 8 -015 -, 14 ~20 ,- 9 .05- "18.'2 0Abon p.rlcu an for p lalu a-1••· Fo;t,.( Oootl add tbe dUferea.ce
IJo~:;~u~~ ...i:~t 1~~~uG1 ~~~~~ ~oU:b;"o,::,1~cid to u~r prtt"& of gtaserl

112

Dnnn, fi.. O.O. Bor Rc.by Buamelu4 add to Hat Jltlrc of gt n<:d fuou, ta oo.

A look at some door
prices of the early
1900's. Some
difference by 1990.
In December 1907 the
men p ictured, Howard
and Clarence Coburn,
George May and
Clifford Ball, said they
bagged 45 bunnies in
a single day. However,
there are only 33
visible in the picture.

Originally, the Prasch
home at 565 W State
Street A version of the
several cobblestone
houses in the area.

137

Another blacksmith
shop where E. C.
Schwaller was
apparently having the
horse that hauled his
tea wagon shod.

An early view, looking
northwest over the mill
pond (Echo Lake),
showing the point of
what became Echo
Park

A parade Float of the
Burlington Brass
Works. On the side of
the Float are displayed
all of the brass
products made by the
company. Note the
wooden spoked wheels
of the decorated
vehicle.

138

Index, People and Events
Adams, Andrew, 56
Adams, Glenn, 75
Addington, W.H., 16
Mon, Louis, 95
PJken,John, 18,19
Albright, Arthur, 72
Albright, Don, 72
Alby, E.J., 42
Alden, Levi, 38
Altenbem, Carl, 75
Alvord, Catherine, 87
Amaridge, Elder Van, 13
Ames, G.W., 18
Anderson, Luther C., 34
Anderson, Sgt. LeRoy, 74
Andres, Alfred, 65
Angsten, Peter N., 57
Appendix, 121
Appleyard, John, 16
Ayers, Eldridge A, 5
Ayers, Frank, 49
Ayers, Maurice L., 33, 34, 35
Bacheller, George, 10
Bachmayer, Mathias, 25, 29
Bacon,John, 18,19
Bacon, Sarah, 10
Ball, Howard, 71
Banking Expands, 35
Barney, Merrie Jule, 78
Barns, Caleb, 14, 17, 18, 19, 24, 25,
61 , 68
Bayer,Robert,34,63,64
Bazal, Joseph, 65
Beardsley, Bostwick, 4
Becker, William, 90, 96
Beginning of Historical Society, 90
Beller, Charles, 24
Beller, Frank, 41, 42, 89
Benedick, Lewis, 26
Bennett, C.W., 17
Bennett, Mrs. J.F., 88
Bennett, W A., 57
Benson, Elliot, 33
Benson, Henry, 31
Bemhoff, Miss Eda, 68
Berra, Yogi, 78
Berry, Jack, 83
Beveridge, Mrs., 10
Bieneman, Denys, 55
Bieneman, Francis, 55
Bieneman, Phillip, 55
Bieneman, Raymond, D., 55
Biersback, John, 21
Birchler, Robert, 75, 81
Blake, Francis A, 67
Bliss, Timothy, 95
Block, Joseph, 29
Bohner, Anton, 97
Bohner, Martin, 97
Bargo, George, 80
Bosshard, Conrad, 29

Boub,Johan,21
Bower, Dr. John H., 44, 55
Bradshaw, George, 23
Brainard, Joseph, 32
Branen, William, 77, 84
Brehm, Bernard, 54
Brehm, Louis J., 39, 55
Brenton, Charles, 75
Brodda, Robert, 64
Brook, Edward, 35
Brook, Wilson, 79
Brown, Luke Parrish, 95
Brown, Richard, 9, 19
Bull, Stephen, 34
Bullen, John, 5
Bullock, Charles, 65
Burhaus, Henry, 29
Burlington Becomes a V"dlage, 39
Burlington Finally a City, 39
Burlington in the Civil War, 31
Bushman, Albert, 46, 63
Bushman, William, 63
Bushnell, David, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 14
Bushnell, George, 4
Bushnell, Stephen, 7, 8
Bushnell, Steve, 4 7
Business Histories, 111
Bussey, Jacob, 85
Caldwell, Edward, 57
Callaghan, Dennis, 32
Callendar, Miss, 27
Campbell, Daniel and Peter, 9
Campbell, Melissa, 10
Campbell, Stephen, 85
Carpenter, Matt, 34
Case, Jerome 1., 34, 35
Cass, Miss Frankie, 27
Castleberg, Allen, 83
Catten,James, 15,29
Cerami, Pauline, 96
Chamberlain, Aniplias, 10
Cheney, Elder, 18
Christian, Frank, 65
Church Histories, 99
City Water, 41
Clancy, Martin, 19
Colby, William, A, 39, 48
Cole, AF., 18
Cole, brothers, 32
Cole, Emory, 25
Cole, Frank D., 32
Coming of the Monnons, 13
Coming of the Telephone, 45
Cook, Rowland, 6
Cooper, Henry Allen, 26, 28, 31, 73,
86,95
Cooper, Henry J., 47
Cooper, John M., 84
Cooper, S.M., 85
Corbett, Carol, 83
Corbett, Richard, 83

139

Corbett, William, "Gabby," 83
Crane, Jacob, 24
Crane, M.l., 32
Croak, Thomas, 83
Crosby, AI, 77
Culver, J.C., 17
Cunningham, Matt, 40, 43
Cunningham, P.H., 96
Curtis, William, 5
Daniels, Mathew, 83
Darling, Nathan, 4
David, Mayor Steven, 82
Denniston, G.C., 65
Deud, Capt. Reuben, 86
Devereaux, HenryS., 38
Devor, W.R., 38
Dewey, Nelson, 18
Dickinson, Nathaniel, 18
Doolittle, AW., 11
Dow, Murray, 76
Downtown Develops, 22
Dries, Rev. Philip, 67
Duckett, Herbert, 90
Durkee, Charles, 5, 7
Dyer, Charles E., 85
Dyer, Dr. Edward G., 4, 10, 11, 17, 18,
26,77,85,86
Dyer, Judge C.E., 3, 24, 30, 61
Dyer, Miss Harriet, 28
Dyer, Norman, 5
Eastman,Amos, 10
Eastman, George, 58
Eastman, Lorenzo, 10
Eayers, Thomas J., 6
Ebbers, Albert, 75
Ebert, Elmer, 75, 87
Ebert, Mr. and Mrs. Elmer, 77
Eckert, Roman, 71
Edison, Thomas Alva, 42
Edmonds, James, 30
Edmunds, Henry, 8
Edmunds, John W., 8, 16, 30
Education Begins Early, 18
Eilers, Police Sgt. Anthony, 79
Electricity is Generated, 43
Emmerich, John, 16, 23
Epping, Ralph, 82
Erdmann, Herman, 32
Erskine, Massena, 34
Evans, B.C., 44
Faitoute, J.E., 41
Finke, Anton, 48
Finke, W .J., 44, 48, 54
Fire Department is Started, 39
First Air Mail Leaves Burlington, 71
F'U'St Catholic Church, 21
F'U'St Church, 10
F'U'St Ubrcuy, 68
F'arst Settlers, 3
Fischer, Einar, 96
Fischer, Leonard, 69

Fiske, Uberty, 9, 18
Fluecker, Reinhold, 69
Flynn, Gerald T., 79
Foltz, Charles, 17, 40
Foltz, Katherine, 90
Forbes, Benjamin, 14, 24
Forbes, Peter, 29
Ford, Whitey, 78
Fox, Jared and Charles, 4
Franklin, Benjamin, 54
Frazer, R.G., 51
Frinke, John & Co., 16
Frook, William, 76
Fulton, Antionette Meinhardt, 80, 90, 91
Fulton, Dr. William, 93
Fulton, Robert, 75, 91
Funk, William, 29
Furman, Edward, 61
Gabriel, Police Chief, Walter, 69, 79,80
Gardner, Palmer, 4
Gas SeiVice Begins, 4 7
Gerger, John, 98
Gibbons, Lt. William E., 31
Gill, Jacob, 43, 58, 52
Glover, Joshua, 17
Goldschmidt, 69
Good, Lyman, 18
Grant, FA., 96
Grant, J.C., 96
Grass, Frank, 97
Grass, William, 97
Grassie, W.C., 16, 17, 25,62
Greehow, John, 37
Gregg, George W., 14,25
Greulich, Augustus, 97
Grossman,Lawrence, 42
Haas, Andrew, 64
Haas, Christopher, 32
Haitz, John, 25
Hall, Chauncy, 34, 35
Hall, Eugene, 39, 40, 43
Hall, Florence Cooper, 95
Hall, Gene, 95
Hall, Luther, 35
Hanauska,Rev.Joseph, 76
Hancock, Nick, 83
Hannas, A.J., 34
Hannas, Mark, 75
Hanrath, Frank, 80
Hansen, Andrew, 94
Hansen, John "Jack", 94
Hansen, T.E., 43
Harper, George, A., 53
Harper, George, 75
Harper, Hany, 53
Harper, Mrs. GA., 64
Harrington, Gustava Cornelia, 9
Hayes, M.T., 16
Hayes, Miss Alvira, 10
Haylofters Begin, 87
Heald, Ebenezer, 14
Helfrich, A., 25
Henderson, Cornelia, 68
Henison, Thomas, T., 64
Hess, Edith, 68

Hewitt, Charles, 81
Hicks, Dr. LN., 44
Hicks, Helen, 90
Hill, Capt. Robert, 31
Hintz, Glenn, 75, 77
Hintz, James, 78
Hintz, Jerome, 78
Hockings, Clarence, 72
Hockings, John, 18
Hoffrnan, Roy,61, 74
Hoffman, Sigmund, 95
Hoganson, Lester 0 ., 77
Hoganson, Olaf, 66, 86
Holmes, Ben, 93
Houghton, Steve, 17
Hubbard, C.D., Jr., 42
Heublin, Gustave, 32
Hughes, Robert, 78
Huginin, E.R., 5
Hulett, Otis, 82, 89, 90
Indian Trails, 1
Industrial Revolution Begins, 49
Indusby Begins, 13
ltzin, John 23
Jackson, Charles, 75
Jacobs, Rev. Theodore,62
Jacobsen, Mildred, 90
Jacobson, Andreus, 97
Johnson, Capt. Cyrus, 31
Johnson, Seth, 18
Johnson, William (Pete), 44
Johnson, William, 26
Jones, Charles A., 10, 43
Jones, Charles J., 10, 18, 22, 26, 33,80
Juneau, Solomon, 1
Jung, Stanley, 87
Kearney, T .M., 54
Kelnhofer, Frances, 96
Kempf, Simon, 16
Kennedy, Mr. and Mrs. John, 80
Kennedy, Timothy, 80
Kessler, Louis, 94
Ketterhagen, Mayor, A.J., 76, 77
Ketterhagen,Zacharius,95
Kettler, A.C., 49
Keuper, Charles, 24, 42
Keuper, Frederick, 16,24,29
Kiekenbusch, Richard, 83
Kies, Henry J., 32
Kinzer, Richard, 51, 80
Kitkowski, Ald. Leonard, 83
Klein, Francis G., 44, 55, 56
Klein, Francis Xavier, 56
Klein, Otto Anthony, 56
Klingele, Godfried, 24
Klingele, Joseph, 24
Klingele, Matthias, 24, 26
Knight, Dr. H.D., 24
Koch, Harold, 75
Koch, Leland, 75
Konst, Louis, 42
Kords, Dr. Francis, 29
Kords, Dr. Lewis, 67
Kords, Dr., 86
Kruckrnan, William, 67

140

Kundig, Rev. Father, 13
LaHahn, Dr. H., 45
Landgraf, J., 32
Larson, Mayor Ralph, 78
Lathrop, Jason, 5
Lawton, Andrew, 33
Lawton, H.W., 46
Leach, Mrs. Richard, 68
Leach, William, 43, 44, 53
Leback, Tom, 82
Lewis, Dr., 26

Uar's Oub Starts, 89
Uggett, William, 72, 76
Uncoln, President, 24, 32
Lloyd, Patrick, 79
Lockwood, Samuel, 26
Lofgren, Grace, 68
Longley, Wayne, 72
Loomis, Charles, 10
Lueck,Julius,29,31,85
Lyon, Fletcher, 4
Lyon, William Penn, 10, 11, 17
Madarna, William, 32
Mangold, James, 87
Manning, W.R., 13
Mantle, Mickey, 78
Marsland, Thomas H., 15, 30
Martensen, Henry, 29, 32
Marti, Paster Reuben, 76
Martin, George, 32
Mather, J.P., 24
Matthews, Eddie, 79
May, Charles, 32
May, Nic,44
McBeth, Miss Susan, 27
McCanna,C.Roy,53,62,67, 78
McCanna, C.B., 40, 43, 44, 51, 52,
53,62
McCarthy, John R., 81
McCourt, John, 81
McCourt, Roy, 42, 69
McCumber and Williams, 16
McDonald, Leroy L., 63
McGovern, T.Y., 60
McLaughlin, Hugh, 8, 33
McLaughlin, William, 10
McMillan, William A., 52
Meadows, William, 6, 18
Meinhardt, Albert, 63, 68, 69
Meinhardt, Anthony, 23, 25, 43, 47,62
Meinhardt, Anthony, 86
Meinhardt, Dr. Francis, 62, 93
Meinhardt, Eliza, 62
Meinhardt, Francis, Sr., 16, 21
Meinhardt, Miss Eda, 62, 67
Memorial Hospital is Born, 67
Merten, E. 42, 39
Meurer, Francis, 91
Miller, Joe, 39
Montgomery, Mrs. Ellen, 27
Moore, William V., 96
Morissey, Rev. Thomas, 13
Momer, Stanley, 74
Munroe, Miss Christie, 29
Murphy, Gunnery Sgt. Lloyd, 74

Murphy, James, H., 60, 61, 76, 83

Railroads Appear, 21

Murphy,La~ence,60,83

Rasch, G.C., 39, 49, 50, 51, 57, 58,
60,62
Rasch, Mrs. William, 66, 67, 88, 89
Rasch, W.G., 49, 51, 63
Reed, Don, 75, 76,77,82
Reich, Thomas, 82
Reil, Theodore, 65
Reil, Wilhelmi, 97
Rein, Art, 43, 69
Rein, Louis, 67
Rein, Mrs. Louis, 64
Rein, William, 16, 29
Reinardy, S.M., 93
Reineman, Willis, 75
Reinfeldt, Phillip, 80, 82

Muth, Jacob, 24, 29, 33, 34, 48, 74
Neep, Charles, 32
Nelson, James, 4
Neuhaus, Miss Alma, 69, 88
New, Fred, 75
Newell, Dr. Frank, 66
Newell, Dr. G. Warren, 66
Newell, Howard, 87
Newman, Mr. and Mrs. George, 10

Newspapers Start, 37
Nielsen, Augusta, 90
Nims, Franklin, 10, 24
Nims, LS., 85
Nims, Ruel, 7, 8, 10, 13
Norris, 0., 32
Norton, Clark, 9, 16
Norton, George, 40
Norton, Harriet Dyer, 10
Norton, Mrs. Charles Dyer, 90
Norton, Nelson R., 4, 9, 26, 67,85
O'Brien, Kerry, 84
O'Neil, Frank, 67
Oberg, Fred, 66, 80, 86
Oelten, Jacob, 29

Orpheum Bums Down, 87
Osterman, Herr, 86
Palmer, G., 86

Parlt System Started, 68
Parker, Dr. Jackson, 84
Partee, Clarence E., 56, 57,93
Partridge,Royce,31
Patterson, Andrew, 42
Patterson, Florence, 64
Peck, Silas, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, 11, 16, 18,
24,66,85
Perce, Benjamin, 3, 6, 8, 13
Perce, Mary, 13
Perkins, Edward, 34
Perkins, Ephriam, 6, 7, 17, 19
Perkins, Frederick, 8, 10, 12
Perkins, James, 34
Perkins, Origen, 4, 7, 8, 10, 18, 26,90
Perkins, Pliny, 7, 8, 11, 12, 15, 16, 18,
24,25,26,33,35,43,83
Petracchi, Alice (Mrs. Luigi), 92
Petrie, M.P., 58, 96
Phelps, Amos, 14
Phelps, H.W., 25, 37
Pieters, Albert, 65
Pieters, Joseph, 65
Plate, Adolph, 64

Policemen Shot, 69, 79
Polley, EA., 25
Porter, Roy, 81
Potter, John F., 17, 26, 30, 32
Prailes, Cirak, 29
Prasch, John T., 81
Prouty, Dr. W A., 45
Pryor, Roger A., 30
Putnam, E.D., 5, 6, 14
Quarrels, Caroline, 18
Raettig, Emmett, 48, 71
Raettig, Hugo, 48

Religion Moves Ahead, 37
Rescue Squad Organizes, 75
Ressique, Samuel, 5
Reuschlein, Francis, 23, 29,47
Reuschlein, LA., 39
Reuschlein, Louis, 65, 71
Reuschlein, Prof. Harold G., 98
Rewald, Matt, 66
Rewald, Mayor Anthony B., 79
Rice, John T., 64
Richards, John C., 31
Richter, Clarence, 59
Riel, William, 29
Ries, John, 29
Robers, Mrs. Mitzi, 82
Robers, William, 97
Roberts, Bryan, 69
Rohr, Louis, H., 40,62
Rohr, Louis, W., 64
Rohr, Martha, 88
Rooker, Joseph, 14
Rooker, William, 85
Roosa, Elwood, 55
Roosevelt, President Franklin, 69, 72
Roper, John, 43
Rork, Daniel, 4
Rork, Daniel, B., 85
Royce, Glacius, 31
Royce,Le~s,8, 17,85
Rubach, Carl, 75
Rubach, Elmer, 75
Rueter, Edward, 80
Rueter, Joseph A., 86
Runkel, HA., 55, 63, 67, 93
Runkel, Harold, 65
Sawyer, Andrew, 24
Sawyer, C. Eddie, 37
Sawyer, Ephriam, 9, 16
Sawyer, John, 31
Schadeberg, Rev. Henry C., 78, 79
Schafer, Martin, 23, 29
Scharf, Clarence, 75, 81
Scheidt, Casper, 29
Schemmand, F., 16
Schenning,Hubert,42,69
Schnederman, E.H., 62
Schneider, Morris, 81
Schultz, August, 32
Schumacher, John, 43

141

Schwartz, Frank, 75
Selig, William L, 57, 58
Selleck, Miss, 26
Seward, Secretary, 32
Sheldon, AA., 65
Sheldon, HA., 11, 23, 31, 34
Sheldon, Orson, 11, 16, 18, 47,85
Sheldon, William, 31
Simpson, Harvey, 54
Smith, Aaron, 3
Smith, Ed~n E., 31,32
Smith, Ed~n R., 27
Smith, Joseph, 12, 37
Smith, L.J., 50
Smith, Lathrop, 37
Smith, Lemuel, 3, 6, 9, 16, 18, 27,
30,32
Smith, Leonard J. Smith, 42, 43, 44,

54,57
Smith, Martha, 90
Smith, Moses, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 47,68
Smith, Mrs. Lemuel, 32
Smith, Samuel, 3
Soeth, John, 82
Sorensen, Dr. Richard M., 82, 85
Sperhake,Otto, 75
Spitzer, Robert, 61
Squires, Enoch, 34

St. Mary's Church Bums, 81
Stage Coaches Anive, 16
Stang, Henry N., 86
Steele, Robert, 71, 83
Steffen, Gilbert, 76
Stengel, Casey, 78
Stohr, George, 16
Stoner, James, 38
Storie, D.O., 52
Storms, W.P., 17
Stowell, David, 82
Strang, James Jesse, 3, 13, 37

T .M.E.R. & L. Co. Abandons
Railroad, 71
T eut, Charles, 64
Thate, Mayor John, 82
Thomas, Freda, 95
Thompson, Bruce, 76
Thompson, James, 14
Thompson, T .J., 16
Thropp, Orson V., 5
Tichlofen, A.J., 67, 83
Titus, A.S., 67
Tobey, M.G., 5
Tobin, Frank, 65
Toelle, Joseph H., 63
Toombs, Thomas, 9
Treichel, Carl, 77
Turner, M.D., 26
Uglow, William, 70
Uhen, John H., 48, 54
Uihlien, Robert, 61

Underground Railroad, 18
Utley, William, L., 31
VandeSande, Richard, 81
Vantine, Ashley, 96
Vaughn, Samuel C., 7

Verhalen, George, 23, 40
Vogelsang, Ald. John Sr., 77
Voorhees, E.F., 24, 30
Vorhees, E.S., 41
Vos, Aloys, 65
Vrchota, Mr. and Mrs. Richard, 78
Vrchota, Scott, 78
Wackerman, Francis,·1 3
Wackerman, Joseph and Francis,
13,27,29
Wackerman, Peter, 32
Wagner, Charles, 29
Wagner, Hobart, 15, 24
Wagner, John, 42
Wagner, Katherine, 90
Wagner, Louis, 67
Wagner, Michael, 38
Wagner, William, 42
Wald, Arnold, 24
Wald, Rudolph A., 24
Waller, George, 39, 57, 61, 63,64
Walsh, James, 83
Wambold, Jacob, 16, 29
Warren, Jack, 75
Warren, Mayor Leo, 61, 82
Water Tank Collapses, 72

Watson, Robert, 83
Watteroth, E., 32
Webster, Burnam, 5
Wegwart, Herman, 60
Wehmhoff,E.John,68
Wehrnhoff,Eugene,23
Wehmhoff, Frieda, 68
Wehmhoff, Gertrude, 68
Weinborn, John, 31
Weinman, Frank, 75
Wells, A.E., 25, 31, 62, 86
Wells, Frederick, 31
Wells, Rev. Milton, 13
Werth, Marvin, 80
Wetroth, William, 16
Weygand, Henry, Jr., 95
Weygand, Henry, Sr., 95
Weygand, Richard, 29, 32, 95
Weyrough, Rheinhold, 64
White, E.N., 33, 34
White, F.N., 66
White, Mary E., 90
White, Philo, 18
Whiting, William, 3, 68, 77
Whitman, L.O., 9
Wilbur, George, 40,44

Wilbur, Ross, 43
Wilde, Fred, 85
Wiley, Sen. Alexander, 79
Wilhoft, Frederick, 28,42
Wilson, Charles, 42
Wilson, John, 4
Wilson, Mrs. Anna, 88
Wilson, Russell, 75
Wilson, William S., 63
Wisbauer, Rev. Michael, 37
Wolf, John J., 59
Wolline, Beulah, 94
Woodbridge,Enoch, 4,5
Woodbridge, Timothy, 5
Yeo, Jack, 70
Young, Brigham, 13
Ziebell, Cathie, 82
Zimmermann, Charles, 75, 77
Zimmermann, Ermina, 88
Zimmermann, Henry E., 39
Zimmermann, Louis H., 67, 77,93
Zimmermann, Mrs. H.E., 64
Zimmermann, Warner, 75
Zwiebel, Antone, 16, 24
Zwiebel, Augusta, 68, 91

Mayor Leonard
Kitkowski, left
foreground, accepts
check from Robert
Cerwin, for the
restoration of the old
water tower. Adults
standing, left to right
are Bernard Rausch,
Thomas Reich, Lee
Rausch, James Kayser,
Mrs. Kayser, William
Branen, Anna Marie
Reich, Esther Porter,

Mildred Cronin,
Dorothy Kuebler,
Walter Kuebler, Evelyn
Meurer, Mrs. Walter
Gabriel, Frances
Meurer, Jean Ebert,
R.J. Stibeck, Elmer
Ebert, Harry Otter,
Walter Gabriel, Tom
Pringle, Henk Hasert,
George Kitkowski and
George Bargo. Seated
is Mrs. Penny Torhorst.
The event was in 1981.

'"-...

~

The parlor of Dr. and
Mrs. Frederick Kords,
shown in photo. Note
they share the footstool
and note the mounted
sandhill crane.

142

Index to Illustrations
Page
No.

Page
No.

39. Railroad schedule through Burlington.
First Town-City Hall, plus fire department and library.

2. Map of Burlington, showing claims of Silas Peck and Moses
Smith.
3. Moses Smith's log cabin, probably the first post office.

40. Brick paving of streets in 1909.
First waterworks pumphouse.

6. Cartoon depicting Palmer Gardner losing the coals for his
fire.
7. Cartoon depicting Justice of the Peace Origen Perkins
chalking a complaint on his boot
Drawing of an up and down sawmill such as built by Moses
Smith.

41. Water tower built in 1890.
Steam operated water pumps.
42. Frank C. Beller, Burlington's first police chief.
An 1898 electric bill.
43. Water power electric generating plant.
Interior of the plant.

9. The first Burlington Hotel.
The first wooden bridge over the Fox River.

44. William Leach, manager of electric company in 1902.

10. First building for school purposes.
11. Excerpt from 1839land sale at the Milwaukee Land Sale
Office.
12. Original plats recorded in 1839.
Fishing in Mill Pond.

45. Cartoon of old telephone operator.
Old wall telephone.
46. First gas manufacturing plant.
T .M.E.R. & L. trains arrive amid celebration.

13. St. Sebastian's Church.

4 7. Electric car in downtown Burlington.
Early post office.

14. First Protestant church.
Plaster cast of Voree plaque.

48. Post office built in 1918.
Frank Martin, rural mail carrier.

15. James Strang house.

49. Load of farm machinery causes stir.
Finke·Uhen Brewery.
First bottle of beer from Finke·Uhen.

16. Stage coach.
17. Caleb Bam's bank.

50. Burlington Blanket Company of I 898.
Stay-On blanket manufactured by Burlington Blanket
Company.
Blanket Company provided employment for women. Note
the flag on the wall.

19. Slave posters.
20. Photos of Dr. Edward Galusha Dyer home.
21. Engraving of an "Iron Horse."
22. South side of Chestnut Street in the 1850's.
North side of Chestnut Street.

51. Portrait of C.B. McCanna.
Farmers waiting to unload milk at the Wisconsin Condensed
Milk Company.
52. An employee labeling Uon Brand condensed milk.
Uon Brand can of milk.
Moving Laskey's Saloon to the condensed milk plant.

23. Charlie Mole's barbershop.
Intersection of Chestnut and Pine streets.
24. Drawing of store locations from Sanborn maps.
25. Finke-Uhen malt house.
Building that housed Burlington Academy.

53. Bank of Burlington replaces Laskey's Saloon.
Burlington Brass Works about 1908.

26. Original Uncoln School.

54. Interior of Brass Works.
55. Harvey Simpson, founder of Security Ughtning Rod
Company.
Advertisement for Security.
56. Klein's soda water bottling works.
Photos of the Kleins.
Photo of Peter Angsten.
57. The AI Vista camera.
Where the AI Vista was manufactured.
Trick picture taken by AI Vista.
58. AI Vista view of Burlington's east side.
Burlington Brick and Tile Company.
59. Burlington Basket and Veneer Company.
60. An array of baskets made by the Burlington firm.
61. Murphy Products Company that was destroyed in 1951.
Bag of Murphy concentrate cattle feed.
62. Meinhardt Bank, originally built by Caleb Barns.
Early interior of the bank.
63. Meinhardt home on Kane Street.
Albert and Miss Eda Meinhardt.
Bank of Burlington in 1930's.

27. Hal Cooper as drummer boy.
Edwin R. Smith, and early school principal.
28. Conkey Street School.
Congressman Henry Allen Cooper.
29. Teutonia Hall.
Cast iron nameplate from Teutonia Hall.
30. German advertisement for program at Teutonia Hall.
Overview ofTeutonia Park.
31. John "Bowie Knife" Potter.
Bowie knife similar to Potter's.
32. Monument to Civil War dead in Burlington cemetery.
Matt Cunningham's Dry Goods store.
33. 1870 view of buildings on Chestnut Street.
Ayers Mill flour sack.

34.
35.
36.
37.
38.

Exchange Hotel on north side of Pine Street.
The first home of the Bank of Burlington in 1872.
Old churches.
Old churches and Strang house.
Standard Democ rat of the 1900's.
Interior of the Standard Democrat
143

Page

J::iQ,__
64. First home of the First Banking Center. Note laying the brick
streets.

I

Page
No.
St. Charles Church.

I

101. Plymouth Congregational Church.
New Covenant Baptist Church.

I

102. St. John's Lutheran Church.
Emmanuel Baptist Church.

68. Burlington fire alarm box numbers.

I

70. Modem Plaza Theater.
Old Crystal, later named State Theater.

103. Peace Lutheran Church.
Church of the Nazarene.

I

104. First Church of Christ Scientist.
Bethel Baptist Church.

65. Early view of Plaza Theater.
66. The original Burlington Memorial Hospital.
67. City Hall built in 1925.

71. Last electric train coming into Burlington.
Roman Eckert flies the first air mail.
72. The water tower before it collapsed.
Old Columbian Hotel, later to become Holiday Inn.

I

105. Mormon churches.
106. St. John's Episcopal Church.
St. Francis Friary.

I

107. Methodist Church.
Jehovah's Witnesses.

74. Sgt. Leroy Anderson and Gunnery Sgt. Uoyd Murphy.

I

75. Interior of Henry Woeste Saloon.
Old Rescue Squad picture, note old firehouse.

108. Faith Chapel.
Cross Lutheran Church.

I

79. Post office becomes city library.
Flood of 1960.

109. Our Savior Lutheran Church.
Installation of officers of Women's Relief Corps.

I

81. Fire destroys St. Mary's church.

110. Interior of Gus Huenning Blacksmith Shop.
Interior of James Mathews Grocery Store.
Interior of Burlington Blanket Company.

82. Officers of original Burlington Liar's Club.

119. William Rein Blacksmith Shop.

73. Modem Holiday Inn.
The Royal Palms dance pavilion.

83. Float in Sesquicentennial parade, credited with saving the
Whitman School.

120. Parade through loop.
126. Wilbur Lumber Company.

84. Three make·believe Indians in the Centennial Parade.

128. T earn of horses with fly screens.
Cigar making crew.
Pine Street looking north.

85. Island Wild at Brown's Lake.
Some members of Gideons Band.
86. Horse racing on Echo Lake ice.
T eutonia Hall, converted into Orpheum Theater.

I

129. Ben Holmes, a box of his cigars, and his crew.
Ted Huenning and crew, makers of Voucher cigar.

87. Interior of Orpheum Theater.
A relic owned by the Historical Society of the old
Teutonia Hall.
The Newell bam, where the Haylofters were born.

I

130. A parade through downtown Burlington.
Interior of ltzin Harness Shop.
Squirrel hunt.
Directors, officers prior to building the Bank of
Burlington at 200 South Pine Street.

I

131. Dressup party at Plymouth Church.
Senator Alexander Wiley and Senator William Knowland.
J.G. Mathews and his Shetland ponies.

I

132. A group of Gideons Band members.
A yoke of oxen working on Hoosier Creek.
The parlor of a typical living room.

I

133. A portion of the work force of the Burlington Brass Works in
the 1920's.
Interior of a blacksmith's shop.
Interior of former Burlington Mills plant.

I

134. The 1895 cast of a play "The Stolen Twins."
The malthouse when it was acquired by the Haylofters.
Cast of "The Womanless Wedding" put on in the 1930's.

93. Whitman School as restored.
Class being taught in Whitman School.
Class outside the school.

I

135. Interior of the Louis Rein butcher shop.
The circus comes to town.
A fox hunt of 1944.

94. The Guarantee Auto Company.
Hansen Oil Station.

I

136. The 1918 Labor Day parade.
Hotel Burlington livery stable.
A view of Teutonia Hall looking towards the Hillside.

I

137. Probably the oldest house in Burlington.
Door prices of the early 1900's.
Originally the Prasch home at 565 West State Street.
A 1907 rabbit hunt.

I

138. E. C. Schwaller blacksmith shop.
Echo Lake.
Burlington Brass Works float.

88. Malt House Theater.
Original Lyceum Club program.
89. Women's Club members act as Red Cross volunteers.
Police chief named champion liar.
Cartoon in national publication in regard to Liar's
Club.
90. Antionette Fulton, founder, president and patron of the
Burlington Historical Society.
Monument to Dr. E.G. Dyer.
Monument in memory of the first frame house.
91. Lincoln Monument.
Dedication of the monument.
92. Lincoln School.
Historical Society Museum.

95. Steamboat on Brown's Lake.
96. A rowboat on Brown's Lake.
A lake excursion boat.
97. A bevy of bathing beauties.
Camp Lonesome at Bohner's Lake.
99. St. Mary's Church.
100. St. Sebastian's Church.

144