Eau Claire County, Wisconsin - Chapter 40: Hotp^ls of Eau Claire, 1914

Chapter 40: Hotp^ls of Eau Claire

In a newly established village the local tavern or hotel in most eases becomes the village club, - the social and political center. And a hotel is among the first businesses to be opened. This was true in the village of Eau Claire in the fifties and sixties. This sketch will be divided into two parts, the first concerning the hotels of the present time, and the second part the hotels now out of business.

Eau Claire House

The oldest is tlie Eau Claire House, located at the corner of South Barstow and Eau Claire Streets. The original structure was a frame building erected by Adin Randall in 1856. One historical account states the three lots were given Mr. Randall in 1856 for this express purpose by J. J. Reed, R. F. Wilson and William II. Gleason, but record of transfers does not verify this statement. The house erected by Mr. Randall contained nine sleeping rooms and was noted in its early days for the political and other meetings and festive gatherings held under its roof. At one time religious services were conducted in the hotel dining room, which was humorously designed as the "Pan and Kettle Church," owing to the clatter from the kitchen, where Sunday dinner was in preparation, being overheard by the worshipers, and it is feared taking their minds from things spiritual to things material.

About September 23, 1858, Levi Slingluff rented and took possession of the property. He had formerly been in the hotel business at Fountain City. His son was a partner and the management was under the name of Slingluff & Son. They retired from the business about May or June, 1865, and Robinson and Galloway became proprietors.

laiffer than the original building. It fronted 100 feet on Barstow street and was 34 feet deep. Their management of the house \yi\s short lived and in February, 1866, William Newton became the proprietor of the Eau Claire House. He operated the business very successfully until 1874, when he closed the house and leased the new building on the corner of Gibson and Farwell streets, which had been erected by Dr. W. T. Galloway. The name was transferred to the new location. In August, 1876, Mr. Newton returned to his own building and the property on the corner of Farwell and Gibson was renamed the "Galloway House." In 1879 Mr. Newton moved the frame portion of the Eau Claire House, selling it to Peter Hart. A brick building was ei'ected in place of the old frame. Mr. Newton carried on the business until 1882 when he leased the premises to Foster Bros. Tliey continued until 1887, when the management became Foster & Parkinson. Two years later Mr. Foster withdrew and Daniel ilcGillis became associated with Robert E. Parkinson in the business.

On the death of Mr. Newton the premises passed to his estate. On April 15, 1911, the heirs of the estate sold the fee to William H. Wolpert. Mr. Parkinson continued in the management of the hotel to which he held a lease.

On July 16, 1912, James T. Joyce bought the property from Mr. Wolpert and a short time thereafter sold it to Mr. Parkinson, who is now proprietor of the business as well as the real estate.

Galloway House

Tlie Galloway House was built by Dr. William T. Galloway. <)perations were commenced in 1872 but the building was not ready for occupancy until 1874. The building still stands at the corner of Gibson and Farwell streets. Dr. William T. Galloway was one of the strong and able men who helped build up Eau Claire. He was born in February, 1818, and came to Wisconsin in 1854. In 1857 he located in Eau Claire as Register of United States land office on appointment of President Buchanan. In addition to his professional duties he carried on a land business and also interested himself in manufacturing, at one time owning a foundry.

He was greatly interested in political matters and was one of the leading Democrats of the county. His personal magnetism and high standing as a man gave him personal political strength. Five terms he served as an Alderman from the Second Ward, 1876 to 1885, inclusive. Was again elected an Alderman in April, 1890, and the last time he left his home was to attend a meeting for the organization of the Council. He died on May 9, 1890.

A young physician, who has since attained great prominence in his profession, was associated with Dr. Galloway in the practice for several years and considers his own .success in a considerable measure was brought about by his association with Dr. Galloway, whom he regards as many years ahead of his time in his treatment of diseases.

The hotel was opened by William Newton May 1, 1874, under the name of Eau Claire House. Mr. Newton closed his own hotel of the same name, corner of Barstow and Eau Claire streets, but after two years he relinquished his lease and returned to his own building, taking with him the name. The next proprietor was a Mr. Barrup, who opened the hotel under the name of the Galloway House. He was only in the Irasiness for about three months, and then a traveling salesman named LaVergne assumed the management. After six months he was succeeded by Fred Hanson, who removed to Eau Claire from Hastings, Minn., and already had a reputation as a successful hotel man. In 1885 Mr. Hanson formed a partnership with Prank J. Matchette, but this partnership terminated within two years. Mr. Hanson continued to run the hotel very successfully until his death on the night of November 3, 1887. Several years before Mr. Hanson liad married a most estimable lady, a Mrs. Richardson, who had been divorced from her husband. Her husband was a resident of St. Paul, and came to this city on November 3. He had been known to threaten the life of Mr. Hanson on a nmnber of occasions. On the night of the tragedy he had partaken freely of liquor and visiting the hotel, shot Mr. Hanson and then himself. Mr. Hanson stood high in the community and was universally respected by his fellow citizens as well as the traveling public. Great regret was felt at his death.

Iiotkls Of Eau Claire 548

and (i. 1). White, who contiiiiieil the business until 1895, when the iiaiiic ol' the firm changed to AVhite & Smith, Charles L. Siiiitli siic(H'('ding Fred S. White. In 1897 Mr. Smith became the pi-oprietor and continued the business until 1902.

The title to the fee had, in the meantime, passed to the Brown estate of Madison, Wis. For .some months in 1902, after Mr. Smith i'elin(|uislu'd the management, the house was run by Dan K. Siammoii. ill'. Scammon had no previous experience in man- -aging a hotel but opened it at the solicitation of traveling men, with whom he was particularly popular. He continued the business until the house was closed for the purpose of remodeling the building. Dan li. Scammon was born about 1860 and had resided in Fan Claii'e jiractically all his life. He was a most <-ompanionable man, generous to a fault, who never lost an opportunity to do a friend a favor or a kindness. A person in need was never turned away empty hancled by Dan Scammon. Shortly after the closing of the hotel Mr. Scammon removed to the West and died suddenly while locating timber at Alder Springs, Cal., August 8, 1910.

Following the remodeling of the Galloway, the house was rented by James H. Wade. Mr. Wade was a commercial traveler but had successfully managed the Stanley House in Chippewa Falls some years before. The hotel opened under his management July 10, 1903, and for the next ten years enjoyed a high reputation with the traveling public. In February, 1913, Mr. Wade disposed of his lease to Harvey B. Crane, who is at this time the propj-ietor of the hotel.

Kneer House

The Kneel' House was erected by Mathias Kueer, the first German settler in Eau Claire, where he located in 1856. The following year - 1857 - removing his family from Watertowai, Wis. He first erected a small frame building on the present site of the Kneer House in 1861 and called it the Chippewa House. F'our years later he erected a brick building next to the hotel, where he operated a grocery store vintil 1881. He then tore down the frame structure, replacing it with a brick building as it now stands, remodeled and transformed the whole into a hotel and named it the Kneer House, and conducted the same until his death in November, 1895. It is now one of the popular hostelries of Eau Claire; contains twenty sleeping rooms with a pleasant office and dining room and its central location and reasonable prices make it one of the desirable places for a stranger to stop. Since the death of Mr. Kneer the hotel has been conducted by its present proprietor, Mr. Fred Raddatz.

This hotel was opened at 675 Wisconsin street, in 1884, by Daniel and R. D. McAllister. Daniel died January 14, 1911. Business has been continued by the surviving partner. Their business has been successfully conducted from the start.

The Inn

The Inn was opened in 1909 by Mort McMillan at 678 Wisconsin street. Mr. McMillan had for a number of years previous to opening the hotel been engaged in the restaurant business. He lias built up a fine patronage.

The Opheim House

This well known hostelry was conducted for about thirty years by Gustav K. Opheim, under whose able management it became favorably known to the public generally and received a large percent of patronage in the city.

The Commercial Hotel

The building was erected in 1886 and opened as a hotel in the summer of that year under the name of the Prawley House. The house took this name from Thomas A. Frawley, one of the owaiers of the building and a prominent attorney. J. A. Pattee was the first landlord. There were frequent changes of landlords. H. Isaacson, Mat Caruthers and Peter Killeen ran the house at various times and in the order named. Then for several years the house was closed. Julius Kopplin and associates purchased the premises and again established a hotel under the name of the Commercial House. The house is well patronized and popular.

Hotels Of The Past

The first mention of a tavern or boarding house is the "Gage and Reed's Boarding House," in 1852. This occupied the lots now covered by the Eau Claire Grocer Company's building, 410 Eau Claire street.

Hotels Of Eau Claire Niagara House

George A. BufBngton located in Eau Claire in 1856. He was born June 29, 1825, in New York State, and came with his parents to Walworth county, Wisconsin, when seventeen years of age. in 1848 he sold his belongings and moved to Stephenson county, Illinois, but in 1850 returned to Wisconsin, locating in Dodge county. While there he Avas appointed under-sheriff and elected justice of the peace. He entered into the grocery and sales stable businesses and by good management, industry and economy laid aside several thousand dollars. He came to Eau Claire in 1856 and invested in real estate. He established the Niagara House on what is now Water street, on the Avest side of the Chippewa river. This seems to have been the first commercial hotel in this pai-t of the town. January 2, 1857, the County Board of Supervisors created the town of Half Moon Lake and gave official recognition to the Niagara House as a public rendezvous by ordering the first town meeting to be held there on the first Tuesday in April, 1857. In the fall of 1857 Jlr. Buffington disposed of the business.

George A. Buffington, from the time he located in Eau Claire to the date of his death in 1893. was one of the prominent and leading citizens. He was elected Mayor in 1876 and served as an Alderman from the Fifth Ward thirteen years. He engaged in the lumbering business and was very successful. Mr. Buffington was prominent in the Masonic fraternity and rose to the grade of 32d degree Mason. He disposed of the hotel business in the fall of 1857 and various parties from time to time undertook the management. In May, 1866, it was leased by Mr. Buffington to Fowler & Rolls, and a newspaper item of that day says: "The Niagara is the best and neatest house on either side of the river." The west siders celebrated the Fourth of July, 1868, at this hotel with a grand ball. Northam & James had become proprietors and the ball was also an opening of the hoiise under their management. In 1873 J. W. Snow became proprietor. In the fall of 1877 a Mr. Coverdale became landlord and gave the house a thorough reorganization and renovation. He continued the business for some months.

After being closed for some time the Niagara was burned in the early eighties. On the old foundation a grist mill was erected, known as the Acme Mill. It is stated a portion of the old original foundation is still in use. Later the property ceased to be used as a mill and now has been converted into a manufaeturinsj plant of the Sehwahn & Seyberth Manufacturing Company.

Monongahela House

The Monongahela House was located at about what is now known as 228 Water street. It was on the north side of the street. The Niagara House was on the south side of the street and but a little distance from the Monongahela. The house was opened about 1857 witli William Gans as proprietor. He was afterwards widely and favorably known throughout the Chippewa valley as Uncle Billie Gaus the Ferryman. He continued in the hotel for about a year and one-half and then built a residence on the Chippewa river at about what is now the corner of Grand avenue west and First avenue. This was where the ferry landed. He ran the ferry for some eight years, diiring which period occurred the famous Indian scare of 1862. The tradition comes down that the "Committee of Safety," who had gathered women and children at Reed's Hall and were preparing for defense, sent a representative to Mr. Gans with orders to under no circumstances ferry the Indians across the river. -

Following Mr. Gans as landlord came H. H. Deyarman, who conducted the business for several years. During that period Thomas Carmichael, afterwards a member of the Assembly, Citj' Clerk, Alderman and a wlieel horse of Democracy, jiresided at the bar.

In October, 1866, the house was purchased by Joseph Iladley and leased and ran by a Mr. Allen, who had formerly conducted the Falls House at Chippewa Falls. About 1873 G. W. Britton purchased the property and changed the name to Britton House.

In June, 1876, a Mr. Wright was proprietor of the hotel, the fee remaining with Mr. Britton. On June 15, at four A. M., the house Avas discovered to be on fire. It was the work of an incendiary. Cloths soaked in kerosene had been thrown about. The guilty party could not be discovered.

Early in May, 1881, the premises were leased from Mr. Britton by Rufus Farr, for many years the proprietor of the Chapin Hall House at Hudson. Mr. Farr's fame as a landlord spread over both Wisc-onsin and Miuuesota. He liad been in business about cen clays and had partially refurnished the premises when, on the early morning of Saturday, May 14, 1881, the building and contents were completely destroyed by fire. A late arrival, while preparing for bed, heard an explosion in an adjoining room and investigated. Receiving no reply to his calls, he broke in the door and rescued a drowsy guest, who had gone to sleep, leaving the lamp burning, which had exploded. The place burned rapidly and a number of guests were driven out in scant clothing. The house Avas not rebuilt.

"Mr Wells, formerly of the 'Wells House,' of this place, has rented the Metropolitan Hotel and is to move into it at once. We understand Mr. Wells is a very good landlord."

"Mr. Smith Wliittier has added an addition of 24 by 60 feet to the Metropolitan Hotel, the upper portion of which is divided into apartments for the guests at the hotel, the lower portion is intended for a store and has already been rented to Mr. William Newton, of Fond du Lac, who intends putting in a stock of ready made clothing as soon as it can be furnished."

A resident of that day, who came to Eau Claire in May, 1857, states Mr. Wells was running a boarding house at a point about where the Galloway House now stands and during the winter of 1857-8 conducted the Metropolitan Hotel. The building was located on the west side of Barstow street, about the middle of the block, between what is now Grand avenue and Main street. An examination of the files of the Free Press discloses no further mention of the Metropolitan Hotel, and it is supposed it passed oi;t of existence some time in the early summer of 1858. The Free Press of October 7, 1858, contained an advertisement of William Newton, announcing the opening of his clothing hoiise in the Metropolitan block on Barstow street.

The Free Press of October 14, 1858, contains an advertisement of the Metropolitan, naming Samuel Wells and John E. Stillman as proprietors. On November 25, 1858, it is announced Mr. Stillman sells out his interest in the business to Jacob Austin, formerly of Black River Falls. In the news items in the same paper we find the following :

"If anything can show forth in a proper and unvarnished manner the amount of business transacted in Eau Claire, the number of the arrivals at our hotels will be found the most reliable. As we have published them for a few weeks past it will be seen that as many as 140 arrive at our hotels during a week, and the proprietors inform us that a great many names are never booked. With the Mouongahela House on the west side of the Chippewa, we may put down the niimber of strangers who stop at our hotels every week at 200. ' '

The Northwestern Hotel

When first erected this liuilding was named the Northwestern Hotel and then for a period was known as the Chandler House, and later the Central House. It stood opposite where the City Hall is now located, on the end of the block bounded on the north by Eau Claire street, on the east by Parwell street and south by Gibson street. The building was erected by William Ulrich, who had located in Eau Claire in 1854 and for a time was a millwright. Later he opened the first bakery in the village and then engaged in the hotel business. Ilis son, George W. Ulrich, is claimed to have been the first white male child born in Eau Claire. A daughter, the wife of Hon. Horace E. Edgell, former mayor of Altoona, resides in that city. Mrs. Ulrich makes her home with Mrs. Edgell. Mr. Ulrich died April 14, 1891, after a long, honorable and useful career.

The Northwestern Hotel was erected in the summer of 1860 and managed by Mr. Ulrich himself. For a short time early in 1862 the business was run by Morsbach and Hauk. In the fall of 1862 Chauncy Chandler leased the property and changed the name to the Chandler House. He took the business with twentyfive years' experience as a hotel man and proved himself a popular and successful landlord. November 30, 1862, the Chandler House tendered a banquet to all soldiers in the town, including those discharged as well as those on furlough.

Mr. Chandler vacated the premises on December 21, 1867, when he removed to his own building, which he had erected near the corner of Barstow and Ferry streets. The name was transferred to the new house and Mr. Ulrich 's property was renamed by him Central House.

Hotels Of Eau Claire 549 The Chandler House

In 1862 Chaimcy Chaudler reuted from William Ulricli the hotel building on Farwell street, between Eau Claire and Gibson street. It had been known as the Northwestern Hotel, but Mr. Chandler changed the name to the Chandler House. He continued this hotel until his own building on what is now Grand avenue, between Barstow and River streets, was completed.

On May 24, 1866, he purchased from Charles Lee the lots and buildings and erected a three-story hotel building. The building was on Ferry street, afterwards called Kelsey street, and now Grand avenue east, about fifty feet west of the corner of Barstow street and Grand avenue. The Eau Claire National Bank building and Kepler Company's store cover the site. No buildings excepting the hotel barns were between the hotel and the river. December 21, 1867, Mr. Chandler moved in and the formal opening took place on January 1, 1868, with a grand party and ball.

A cafe in the basement was run by George Lang, who served both solid and liquid refreshments. In the spring of 1869 the Chandler House, together with a number of other buildings in the same block, were destroyed by fire. The hotel was not rebuilt.

The Williams House

This hotel was one of the leading hostelrics of the city in the '70s. When first erected it was called the Williams House, after George W. Williams, one of the owners of the building. Later the name changed to the Peabody House, and again to the Windsor House. The building was located at the corner of what is now Gibson and River streets, on the premises on which the H. T. Ijange Company's store building stands.

On November 14, 1854, the land was transferred from the United States to William Reed, and after several changes in ownership, on April 14, 1868, was deeded by Peter Wychoff, an early day postmaster, to George W. Williams, Elvin Fox and Seth Fish. To clear some cloud in the title, Richard F. Wilson gave a quit claim deed on March 10, 1868, to the same parties.

A large livery stable was erected, which was run by Williams & Co. In an advertisement in the "Free Press," they state they are prepared "To convey people to and from different localities

After some time in the livery bixsiness the building was remodeled and converted into one of the finest hotel buildings in the Northwest. A resident of that day states the original building used for a stable was raised up and a new story erected underneath. The building was two story frame. The hotel opened on September 30, 1869, under the management of S. P. Greenman. George W. Withers was day clerk. Mr. Withers came to Eau Claire for the purpose of taking this position, arriving on September 29. He states that on the day of the opening he was engaged in putting up curtains on the second floor, when he discovered a fire in the building south of the hotel, bordering on what was then Kelsey street, now Grand avenue east. These buildings were mostly of frame and a number of them were consumed.

S. P. Greenman was succeeded as proprietor of tlie hotel by E. S. Chase & Co. This company was composed of Colonel E. M. Bartlett, Eben S. Chase, at that time postmaster, and J. P. Nelson. Colonel Bartlett had nothing to do with the management which was largely with Mr. Nelson and Mr. Chase.

In July, 1873, J. P. Nelson & Co. succeeded to the management. For three months early in 1874 Chandler & Co. appear as the proprietors of the Williams House and on April 14, 1874, were succeeded by Truax & Etter. December 19, 1874, the title to the fee passed to Elizabeth J. Peabody, and the name was changed from Williams House to Peabody House.

February 28, 1881, the fee passed to William F. Vinton, who changed the name of the house again from Peabody House to Windsor House. Dr. Vinton, who had formerly been a practicing dentist, gave his personal attention to the management of the hotel for several years. In the meantime the shifting of business had gradually made the Windsor House less attractive to the traveling public. The building was a frame one, and this also influenced the traveling public in favor of the more centrally located hotels.

Hotels Of Eau Claire 551 The Hart House

The Hart House occupied the property later purchased for the Y. M. C. A. building. In 1857 Shaw and Huntington had a hardware store at this location and later Thomas E. Randall, in partnership wath Peter Hart, used the premises for a floiir and feed store. In 1869 Mr. Hart turned the store into a boarding house, which was called the American House.

On April 21, 1875, a fire swept away the American House as well as the entire block. Mr. Hart rebuilt and his business prospered. In 1879 he purchased from William Newton a portion of the old Eau Claire House and moved it to his own premises and after remodeling changed the name to the Hart House. The portion of the building standing at the corner of Eau Claire and Farwell streets was a brick witli tlic wooden addition painted white with green blinds extending south along Farwell street. Mr. Hart continued the business until his death and the estate conducted it for several years thereafter. The property was sold in 1911 and the buildings demolished. The Y. M. C. A. building now occupies the premises.

Peter Hart was one of the first aldermen from the Second Ward and a prominent and nmch respected citizen. His death occurred April 17, 1900.

The American Sketch Book, published in 1874, contains the following statement: "During the summer of 1845, S. S. MeCann built a log house on the site where the American House now stands, into which he moved his family." In another article on the history of Eaii Claire a statement is made that this house ci'ccted by Mr. McCann was the first building in Eau Claire.

The Joyce House

The Joyce House Avas established in the seventies by Pierce Joyce, one of the early settlers in Eau Claire. It was located at the northeast corner of what is now the intersection of Grand avenue east and River street. It was a large frame building. Mr. Joyce conducted the house himself for some years and it was Avell patronized by the traveling public. Mr. Joyce, in the sixties, for several years was roadmaster of the village of Eau Claire and some of the principal streets of this day were first opened under his supervision. In 1873-1874 he served as an alderman for the Second "Ward. For some years he was engaged in the meat market business Avith his brother. He was a man of sterling qualities and loved and respected by all who knew him. After his retirement from the active management of the hotel it was run for four years under the management of James C. Quigg.

Other Hotels Of The Past

Several other hotels are deserving of more than passing mention but space will not permit. Among them are the Bailey House on Water street, the Fox House on North Barstow street, the Greenman House and the Sherman House on South Barstow street, the Fai-well House on Farwell street, and the Nicollet House on North Barstow street.