The history of Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, Part 90

Author:
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago, Western historical company
Number of Pages: 1082

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" Through the kindness of Mr. Isaac Brown, than whom no gentleman in our city has been more closely and honorably identified with our public-school interests, I am enabled to lay before you a summary of the school-building operations, up to the period of the consolidation of all the districts embraced by our city limits. In the year 1860 (which is really the beginning of our school system proper), we had the old Marr street house, ycleped the "' Union School," com- prehending within its walls three departments, and filled to overflowing with young ideas, learn- ing to shoot at all grades of intellectual targets-in truth, it ever was, and is now, a busy hive. The Cotton street house was next erected in 1855 and 1856. These two schoolhouses furnished accommodation for about four hundred and seventy-five scholars, and have been amply filled from first to last.

" Under the present dispensation have appeared, in 1860, the Harney street house, and one on Ruggles street, with seats for 256 scholars. In 1861. another on Ruggles street, one on Rees street, and an addition to the Cotton street house, containing in gross 208 seats.

$ In 1863, a new schoolhouse was built on Scott street ; another on Walnut street ; another on Cherry street, and another on Fifth street. These last-named houses furnish in the aggre- gate accommodation for 384 pupils. And now, during the past year, this splendid edifice has been erected, with ample space for 430 scholars, and at a cost of $17,000."

The building, at the dedication of which the foregoing remarks were made, was three stories high, with brick outside. and accommodated nearly as many scholars as the present high- school building. After it had been in use about two years, the heavy ceiling of the chapel fell

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HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY.

with a resounding crash. Very fortunately the room was not occupied at the time, or an appal- ling destruction of life must have followed. The work had been improperly done, and to repair the damage cost $3,000. The building burned in 1868, on the night of December 4, and, next morning, many of the scholars, not knowing ofthe conflagration. appeared at the usual place and time with their books. The case of the fire was set down as something "very mysterious," and the public was never fully satisfied on this point, although the impression generally pre- vailed that it was of incendiary origin. The High School was continued in rented rooms until September, 1873, when the present building, a splendid four-story structure of brick and stone, was completed on the site where the first one was burned. It was built by Theodore Eul, and cost $45,000, exclusive of the foundation. It is admitted to be the best high-school building in the State and to possess much the finest yard and location. It contains ten large schoolrooms, an office and library, apparatus-room, chapel, halls, and wardrobes. In front of the building is such a fountain as can be found nowhere in the Northwest outside of Fond du Lac. The water- jet is from a two-inch pipe and is discharged with great force. It is beautiful as well as useful. The school is managed with thoroughness, and affords almost collegiate advantages to those who desire them.

The following are the graduates of the High School : 1860-Isa F. Mather, Emma Jane Ward. Kate Frame, Kelsey M. Adams. 1861-Garland Gillet, Horton Drury. 1862-Kate Hamilton, Anna Longstaff, Ellen Delany, Carver N. Griffith. 1863-Isabella Perkins, Cor- nelia Soule, Mary Eastman. 1864-Mary Todd, Elizabeth D. Hoyt. Ella Lewis, Henry C. Moore. 1865-Angelina Munro. Alice E. Delany, Lizzie Soule, Clinton Ewen, George Todd, Ada V. Sharpe, Jenny Mason. Maggie Spears, Lucius D. Ilurd. 1866-Julia Todd, Alice Arnold, Maggie Eastman, IIelen Tallmadge, Viletta Fowler, Albert Dye, Edward B. Beeson, Daniel McKenna, Emma Jane Ellis, Alice Goss, Francis Crane, Lilly Camp, Evelyn Selden, Edward S. Curran, Charles Hamilton. 1867-Martha Curtis, Florence Patchen, Adelaide Lewis, Frank B. Hoskins, Annie Stow, Louisa DeGroat, Willie Johnson, George E. Weikert. 1868-Francis Mihills, Fannie Craig, Adelle Ellis, Abby W. Griffin, Mary L. Chamberlain, Anna Mason, Anna E. Hurd, Alfred L. Moore, Edwin Radford. 1869 and 1870-No gradu- ates. 1871-Ella Raymond, Allie Boyd, Ida Gordon, Priscilla Morton. 1872-Estella Clark, Edward Doheney. 1873-Fannie Morse, Carrie Conklin, Sarah Cahill, Eliza Bancroft, Isa Reid, Ferrin Beals. R. Waters. 1874-J. Milton Adams, Calvin C. Todd, Mary Mangan, Emma J. Burrows, Mary E. Adams. 1875-Georgiana French, Martha E. Lovett, Jennie Whitton, Effie M. Newton, Emma F. Dahlem, James H. Waters, Walter I. Nichols. Harvey B. Nichols, Joseph D. Radford, John C. Hayward, William J. Burns. 1876-Lillie M. John- son, Jenny S. Hawes, Annie Bodine, Frankie A. Airhart, Lizzie C. Tallmadge, Lucy A. Green, Inez MI. Gillet, Nellie C. Wright, Georgiana M. Rose, Maud M. Murdoch, Charles Little, Luola C. Robertson, Ellie I. Cavanaugh, Edward B. Priest, Edward H. Parker. 1877-Clarence Tallmadge, Alice Cooper, Katie Jones, Maria Pinney, Alonzo II. Palmer, Evanore O. Beebe, Anna Giltner, Laura T. Burnton, James II. Lyons, Jean Dodd, Fannie A. Underwood, Mattie A. Raymond, Henry A. Bush. 1878-Marcia E. Pinney, Mariam L. Rose, Kate Clark. Tessa McLean, Ella A. Roberts, Blanche Griffith, Mary V. Johnson, Sarah E. Benner, Kate E. McCourt. Stephen S. Stack, Ella M. Roche, Lizzie Carberry, Carrie E. Sizer, Mary Ilarlin, Anna M. Lange, Minnie E. Breitzman, Ella J. Burns, Carrie E. Riem, Thomas Lyons, Kate A. Everest, Ida M. Calkins, Lizzie M. Main, Emma L. Lilly. 1879-Charles N. Boardman, Archibald Church, Frank N. Phelan, Charles W. Ilamilton, Charles N. Kalk, Alvie H. Adams, Lula C. Breitenstein, Jennie E. Mangan, Ella A. Riley, Frank HI. Sweet, George H. Wiley, Jennie E. Dahlem, Edward E. Dalton. Agnes E. Deland, John B. Darling, Delia E. Halpin, Cora E. Lewis, Jeannie M. Lowell, Erick W. Lucke, Hannah Malloy, Mary J. McLean, Kate A. Morley, Mary J. Nugent, Susie B. Spears. Carrie Wright.

Marr Street Academy .- In 1859, Mrs. R. S. Palmer opened, in the town of Lamartine, a boarding-school for pupils over fourteen years of age. The text-books were the same as those in use in the High School, and the venture was a success. In 1867, the school was

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HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY.

moved to Forest street, Fond du Lac, where it continued with greater patronage and success until 1870, when it was moved to its present location on Marr street. It is now known as Marr Street Academy, and is under the direction of its founder, Mrs. R. S. Palmer. The cur- riculum is the same as that of the High School. Special branches are taught when desired.

Forest Street Association .- In 1857, a select school was organized under the name of the Forest Street Association, which built an addition to the First Baptist Church, corner of For- est and Union streets, and opened a school therein, under the direction of Miss M. S. Merrille, now of Merrille Institute. It was a successful and satisfactory school. Miss Merrille remained less than two years, and, on going to Madison, was succeeded by Miss Sarah Henry, since appointed Matron of the Wisconsin State Prison. The building is now used for church pur- poses, the school having been discontinued for some time.

Merrille Institute .- This school, which is exclusively for the education of young ladies. was opened on Division street, in a building now the residence of W. C. Ogden, in September, 1866, by Miss M. S. Merrille. It was not opened as a boarding-school, and has never been conducted as such. The curriculum of the High School was adopted as nearly as possible, and Miss Merrille had, the first term, as many students as her building would accommodate.

In 1868, she built a three-story brick building 56x58 feet, on the corner of Union and Cherry streets. This has accommodations for ninety scholars, and some terms has been as full as possible. To the High-School curriculum were added French and music.

Merrille Institute was chartered by the State in 1868-69, and has been an unusually suc- cessful young ladies' seminary, not depending for its pecuniary support upon furnishing food. lodging and courting rooms for young ladies. It occupies a large plat of ground in a pleasant portion of the city, near enough to depots and post office, and is pronounced one of the most wholesome schools for young ladies to be found anywhere.

German and English Academy .- This is one of the most important institutions of learn- ing in Fond du Lac. It was organized in 1854, for the purpose of teaching English and Ger- man to German and English children in the most natural and thorough manner. French and Latin are also taught when desired. On the 4th of October, 1858, the school was incorporated, and now owns its school buildings and grounds on Portland street. The scholars, of which there are usually about one hundred, are graded into three classes, with a teacher for each. No aid is received from public taxes, and no religious belief is taught or tolerated. Twice each week, all kinds of needle and fancy work are taught, at 25 cents per month additional. To become a member of the German and English Academy Association, a fee of $5 is required. Fees thus paid in go to make a reduction of 10, 15 and 25 cents per month, according to grade, in tuition fees for the children of members. Those not members must pay $1.50, $1.75 or $2 per month, according to grade, for each student. Neatness of dress, cleanliness of person. punctuality and systematic habits are taught in addition to other studies. New classes are formed twice each year-in April and October. The ladies of the Association give annually an exhibition and fair, the proceeds of which go to better support this school. For the same purpose, a masked ball is held annually by the patrons of the school, always adding comforta- ble sums to the treasury.

The officers, consisting of a President, Secretary, Treasurer and Board of Directors, are elected semi-annually. The teachers are Julius F. Harthun, Dora L. Pinney and Theodore A. Lucke. The officers are : President, Franz Lauenstein ; Secretary, C. L. Encking ; Treasurer, L. Muenter. Directors-F. Rueping, Joseph Lenz, F. Krumme and E. N. Korrer.

The German and English Academy has turned out some of the most accomplished scholars in Fond du Lac, and is considered a most excellent school in which to thoroughly teach the German language to those whose mother tongue is English, or the English to those who speak German.

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HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY.

BONDED INDEBTEDNESS.

The first bonds issned by the city of Fond du Lac were by resolution of the Common Coun- eil of March 4, 1854, under Chapter 58, Laws of 1854, when $19,800, at 10 per cent interest, was issued in bonds to the Waupun, Fond du Lac & Forest Plank Road Company. At the same time, $1,900, at the same rate of interest, were issued to the Fond du Lac & Oshkosh Plank Road Company. In July of the same year, $200 were issued to the Mayville branch of the Waupun, Fond du Lac & Forest Road. August 12 of the same year, $3,000 were issued to the Green Bay & Taychcedah Plank Road Company. This makes a total of $24,900. In 1864, $3,075 were issued in bonds for unpaid interest on the above-enumerated plank-road bonds; total, $27,975 in plank-road bonds. In return for these bonds, the city received the capital stock, at par, of the varions plank roads.

The City Council, on May 21, 1855, voted $200,000 of aid to the Chicago, St. Paul & Fond du Lac Railroad Company (Chicago & North-Western), at 7 per cent interest, payable semi-annually at the Exchange Bank of New York. May 1, 1856, the city voted to subscribe $150,000 to the capital stock of the same company, and issue bonds therefor at 8 per cent interest, payable semi-annually. This second issue was on condition that $100,000 of the first issue be surrendered by the railway company. This was done, and the bonds burned by a com- mittee appointed by the Council.

On March 4, 1864, these two issues, with the due and unpaid interest upon them, were paid by issuing $103,500 of new bonds at 6 per cent interest, dne in 1884, and called " com- promise bonds."

On the 1st of March, 1863, there were issued $12,000 of bonds, at 8 per cent interest, for the construction of the High-School building, due March 1, 1873. In 1871, the city issued $75,000 of 8 per cent bonds, interest payable semi-annually, to aid in the construction of the North-Western Union, or Air Line Railway. These are due in ten annual installments, begin- ning with 1881. In 1876, the city guaranteed the interest at 8 per cent for ten years, on $200.000 of the Fond du Lac, Amboy & Peoria Railway bonds ; but these were destroyed by mutual agreement in 1879. Thus the city has issued to railroads, plank road, schoolhouses and to compromise old bonds, $568,475 in bonds. Of this amount there are outstanding $90,000 of the compromise bonds, due in 1884 with 6 per cent interest, and $75,000 of the Air Line bonds due in ten equal installments, beginning with 1881.

PUBLIC NIALLS.

The First Hall .- The first public hall of any consequence was in Darling's Block, erected where it now stands, corner of Maine and First streets, in 1847. The third floor is still used by various secret societies, but it has not been a public hall for a good many years. Before Dar- ling's HIall was built, the schoolhouse on Main street, between Second and Third, was, in addi- tion to being a court house and church, used as a public hall.

Amory Hall .- By far the largest and finest hall in Fond du Lac, is in Amory's brick and stone Block on Main, at the head of Sheboygan street, erected in 1857. It is 66x80 feet on the inside, 25 feet high and capable of seating 1,500 persons. The architect was Thomas H. Green. When this hall was finished it was the largest and finest in Wisconsin, and the decor- ative work still makes a costly appearance. In addition to double doors opening outward, for more complete safety in case of fire during an entertainment, a " fire-escape " was added on the south side in 1877. The hall was built and is now owned by S. B. Amory. It is estimated that from 1858 to 1880 1,500,000 people have been accommodated in Amory Hall, at a cost to them of $250,000. During 1879 and 1880 the hall has been rented by Swift & Arnold.

Opera Hall .- In 1865, a brick block was erected at the head of Forest, on Main street, by Charles Johnson, and the second and third stories fitted expressly for a public hall. It is cen- trally located, and only one story from the ground, but is not capable of seating so large a

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HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY.

gathering as Amory Hall. During several years after 1873, the name was changed to Neocos- mian Hall, being rented and controlled by the Neocosmian Society. The old name of Opera Hall was resumed after that society died. The building is now owned by A. G. Ruggles, Mrs. M. H. Galloway and J. P. Bonesteel. It will seat 800 persons.

Other Public Halls .- Music Hall, built and owned by the Amorys, situated on the corner of Main and Division streets, is now used mostly for balls, masquerades and other entertain- ments of that nature.

In the brick bloek on the corner of Fourth and Main streets, B. F. Moore owns a hall which has been used as a military headquarters, by the South-side Turners, and as a place for dancing.

J. R. Colman has a hall over his store on Western avenue ; Smith & Alling have a splen- did hall in the third story of their block on Main street; there is a large hall in John Reinig's Block on Main street, near the Patty House, and Miller's Hall, in " Lower Town," on Scott street.

HOTELS.

Fond du Lac House (No. 1) .- The first hotel ever opened in the city or county of Fond du Lac was built by the Fond du Lac Company in 1836, at a cost of $500 for furniture and all, and opened in June of that year by Colwert Pier. It was of logs, and is elsewhere deseribed.

Fond du Lac House (No. ? ) .- In 1838, Dr. M. C. Darling erected a log house on the corner of Main and First streets, and opened it as a hotel under the name, also, of the "Fond du Lae Ilouse." It was a temperance house. About 1840, having erected a dwelling-house, and moved into .it, Mr. Darling had Thomas Green come from Green Bay, and " keep tavern " in his Main street building.

Exchange Hotel .- Soon after Dr. Darling arrived in the settlement, in 1838, he sent for Theodore Ilebert, a Frenehi blacksmith, agreeing to give him three-quarters of an aere of land, if he would come and permanently locate. Mr. Herbert came and built a log blacksmith-shop and residence where the Opera Hall now stands, at the head of Forest street. He, or rather his wife, who is yet a resident of the eity, began to entertain sueli travelers as would not stop at a temperanee house. Mr. Hebert had always on tap a barrel of the best whisky, and Mrs. Hebert sold the first liquor by the glass ever sold in the county of Fond du Lac, although at that time all the settlers kept whisky for the purpose of trading with the Indians. In a few months, Mrs. Hebert's custom grew to such proportions that her husband left his blacksmith- ing, and built a frame addition to the house. In 1847, Mr. and Mrs. Hebert had accumulated sufficient means to build a new hotel, which they called the Exchange Hotel. It was three stories high, and by far the largest structure in the city, and earned for its builders such epithets as " fools " and " bullheads." But it was a success. It was afterward moved down Main street to where it now stands. It is owned by W. H. Wells, and leased for hotel purposes by George Q. Campbell, as the " City Hotel." although the old lettering of " Exchange Hotel " is not yet defaced. Mrs. Hebert, who had nearly as much to do with the building and management of the " Exchange " as her husband, is a resident of Fond du Lac, in good health, and still keeping a boarding-house.

Temperance Cottage .- In the spring of 1846, John J. Driggs, now deceased, built and opened as a hotel a small building on the corner of Main and Court streets, where the American House now stands. Its name was Temperance Cottage, but the bloods of the village dubbed it " Dish-water Castle," because no liquor was sold on the premises. After the " Badger House " was opened in the fall of 1846, across the Court House Square, there sprung up a lively competition between the two hotels. In 1848, the Cottage was enlarged by an addition 21x54 feet, and otherwise improved. Some time afterward, it fell into the hands of H. P. Olds, who changed the name to the Globe Hotel. When Henry Shattuck built the first American House in 1861, he used a portion of what was the old Temperance Cottage.

Badger House .- This was a popular and fashionable hotel in an early day. It was built by Theodore Conkey in 1846, on the corner of Western avenue and Main street, and was opened

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November 18, 1846, by J. C. Lewis and R. L. Morris. In 1848, it was leased to Quartus Olcott, and, in 1849, was sold to E. M. and M. M. Simmons. Finally, the business portion of the city becoming established farther north, the " Badger " was moved away. A portion of it now stands on Linden street.

Lewis House .- The original Lewis House was built by Robert Wyatt in 1848, on the corner of Fourth and Ellis streets. Fourth street was then called the " Sheboygan road." This hotel Mr. Wyatt called "The Eagle," and for a sign was hoisted a very large wooden eagle, made by Henry Jens, which now serves as a sign at Lamartine. The building was 30x40, and two stories high. In 1849, Mr. Wyatt moved " The Eagle " to the corner of Main and Sheboy- gan streets, enlarged it to three and one-half stories, and rented it to J. C. Lewis. On October 1, 1850, James Ewen purchased the building and named it the Lewis House, after " Curt " Lewis. In October, 1860, Mr. Ewen rented the property to B. S. Patty, and sold it to hiim three years later. Mr. Patty was its manager and proprietor when it burned, in 1866.

In 1871, J. C. Lewis erected the present Lewis House on the east side of Main, below Division street, and opened it as a hotel. He left it after the great fire at Chicago, in 1873. It is now owned and managed by Stephen Oberreich, and is doing a thriving business.

American House .- The original American House-a portion of which is now located on Seventh street, and used as a dwelling, the balance doing duty in the rear of the present American House-was a three-story wooden building, built by Henry Shattuck in the fall of 1861, on the corner of Main and Court streets, at a cost of $4,000. It contained forty-five bedrooms, dining- room, office and kitchen. Mr. Shattuck left the Exchange Hotel, which he had managed two years, in January, and opened business in his own building. The American House was a success at once, and remained so until 1875, when the building now occupying the same site was built. The new building is of the best cream-colored briek, four stories high, including basement, and is elegantly appointed for a public house. It fronts ninety feet on Main street, and, when the west wing is completed, will front ninety feet on Court street. The large office and reading- room and the dining-room are on the ground floor, and as pleasant as those of any other public house in the State. The grand opening ball, by which the new American House was dedicated, occurred September 27, 1875, and was a liberally attended and brilliant affair. The building, which was designed by H. P. Thompson, of Fond du Lac, is one of the noticeable features of the city. Henry Shattuck is its owner and manager.

Patty House .- The largest and costliest hotel in Fond du Lac is the Patty House. It was built on the old Lewis House site, corner of Main and Sheboygan streets, in 1867, by B. S. Patty. It was constructed of brick and "Taycheedalı marble," which is a creamy-white lime- stone, and fronts eighty feet on Main, and 140 feet on Sheboygan street ; is four stories high, and cost about $65,000. It is the most noticeable building in Fond du Lac, and the largest hotel in the State outside of Milwaukee, containing 105 rooms, all of them large and high. The Patty House was opened to the publie May 9, 1868, and dedicated by a grand ball June 9 of the same year. This opening ball was an elaborate affair, for which 1,400 tickets at $5 each were sold. In January, 1871, B. S. Patty died. His sons, J. W. and G. R. Patty, managed its affairs until May 8, 1871, when Byron Town leased it for a term of five years. He remained three years and a half, doing a large and profitable business, after which the Patty brothers again took possession. A recent writer gives this description of the Patty House:

" The Patty Honse is the architectural pride of Fond du Lac. It stands on a prominent corner of the commercial center of the city. Its 220 feet of solid marble frontage on two streets point it out as an evidence of the prosperity of the city which it adorns. Designed by a lead- ing New York architect, who had made hotels a study, and erected under his supervision at an outlay of $65,000, it will ever remain a monnment to the memory of its enterprising projector."

National Hotel .- The National Hotel is a handsome, two-story brick structure, built by Edmund N. Korrer in 1866 and 1872, on the corner of West Division and Brooke streets. It has a frontage of ninety feet on Division, and sixty feet on Brooke street. It was opened in 1872, by Mrs. Bessie Riley, who is the present lessee. It is a pleasant and neatly kept hotel, and, being near the depot, has a good trade.

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HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY.

First National Hotel .- In 1872, M. Van Dresar purchased the large wooden building then located on the corner of Forest and Main streets, and used by the First National Bank, whence it took its name, and moved the structure bodily to the corner of Fourth and Marr streets. The inside was remodeled, and the building opened as the " First National Hotel." Prices were put down one-half; large sheds for horses and stock were erected-the first ever built for such a purpose in the city-and the business was pushed in the direction of the farmers and laboring people. It was the greatest success of the time as a hotel, where good lodgings and plenty of wholesome food could be had at cheap rates, and cleared $6,000 the first thirteen months after it was opened. It is now leased by Mr. Van Dresar to the Dockstader brothers, who manage it on the plan first adopted by him, and with good success.

Other Hotels .- The " Washington House," corner of Main and Fifth streets, by Martin Franey, is a large hotel, patronized largely by farmers.

The "Serwe House," by C. Serwe, on Main street, is a three-story, wooden building, which has served as a hotel during a long term of years. It is a popular hostelry with the German travelers and farmers, and has a large patronage.

Joseph Kaiser's " Fountain City Hotel," on Main street, just north of Division, is one of the popular German hotels of Fond du Lac. It is three stories high, of wood, and has its full share of patronage. Besides these, there are the following: The " European Hotel," on West Division street, kept by John C. Kennealy ; the " Wisconsin House," on Main street; the " Central Hotel," by W. Korrer, at the foot of Main street ; the " Milwaukee House," on Fourth street, by Julius Nast ; " Brown's Hotel," corner of Scott and Juneau streets, W. Comstock. proprietor ; " Gilbert House," at 373 Main street, by Adam Weikert ; and " Temperance Hotel." corner of Waupun and Johnson streets, P. Scheff, proprietor.

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The history of Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, Part 90

Author: Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Chicago, Western historical company Number of Pages: 1082

Author:
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago, Western historical company
Number of Pages: 1082