McGivern show to air February 11, 2016

The John McGivern show about West Bend will air February 11, 2016. McGivern was in town with his film crew in July interviewing 16 area businesses and their owners and chatting with people that make the community what it is.

A note from Content Producer Deidre Martin was received this week.

“We appreciate the time you gave us and for welcoming us to your community.

Mark your 2016 calendars! The first air date for the West Bend episode of MPTV’s “Around the Corner with John McGivern” will be Thursday, February 11, at 7 p.m. Invite your family, friends, and colleagues to watch. Once the show airs, you will be able to send a link to family and friends in other states to watch as well. We hope you enjoyed being on the show as much as we enjoyed having you.

There are also plans in the work for a premiere sometime early in the broadcast week. Both John McGivern and Lois Maurer will attend the premiere. All of us who work on the show invite you to come to this fun evening where you’ll see the episode before it broadcasts. It’s free and everyone is welcome. More information about the premiere will be sent to you closer to the air date.

Also, please take a little time to thank Kellie Boone, Event Manager, Downtown West Bend, who helped us with the episode.”

Deidre Martin Content Producer

Around the Corner with John McGivern Milwaukee Public Television

No confirmation on big cat in Kewaskum

The rumor mill was stirring petty fast in Kewaskum as reports flew about a cougar attacking a horse on a farm off Highway H and Sandy Ridge Road.

Washington County Sheriffs had no confirmation. Neither did Kewaskum Police and the DNR was not notified.

Polo Rivera said he contacted no one after the incident earlier this month because he had no idea what attacked his 6-year-old horse Princess. “That’s the problem – there was no way we could see,” Rivera said.

Walking towards the large brown quarter horse in the back pen, Rivera explained there were several deep cuts on the hind end of the animal along with what appeared to be a bite mark on the back leg. “It was really ripped open wide,” said Rivera’s fiancée Debra Ruchalski.

“I heard a ruckus about 4 a.m. that morning. At first I thought they were just kicking the wooden stall,” she said. “We were cleaning up in the morning and we saw a bite on her leg. It wasn’t like a horse bite and we thought what else can it be?”

Rivera, a farrier, treated the animal. The couple looked around for a nail in the pen and around the fencing that could have caused the gash. They found nothing.

They also found no paw prints; admittedly the couple thought about that too late and had walked through the pen multiple times.

“The farmer on the corner said he saw a cougar in the field two or three years ago,” said Rivera. “We we had no footprints or proof and the scars could be any kind of animal.”

Ruchalski described the marks on both sides of the back of the horse. “It was deep and open,” she said. “We’ve actually been trying to explain it away. She could have been lying down; it could have been a coyote or wolf.”

Neighbor Mitch Zimmel went over and looked at the animal the day after it happened. “It had scratches on the back of the loins,” Zimmel said. “They had some salve on it already but you could see the scratches, were at least 3 to 4 inches wide, and had been bleeding.”

Zimmel and his wife Donna have lived on the Kewaskum farm since 1983.

“Back in 2012 I saw a cougar out here, once in June and once in August,” said Mitch Zimmel. “We called the DNR, they sent the warden out, they didn’t find any prints and we had no pictures, so……” Zimmel said he’s used to the eye rolls and Doubting Thomases.

Rivera has a farm demeanor about the whole thing. His fiancé is a little more nervous. “We talked about locking them up in the barns at night,” she said. “But then if something got in here they’d really be trapped.”

Tom Isaac with the DNR had not heard about the animal attack. He said it would have been easier to investigate if they had been called immediately. Isaac did mention a cougar was confirmed in Langlade County as a trail cam caught a picture of the animal. He also noted some speculation regarding the attack saying a cougar normally goes for an animal’s throat.

Walgreens assessment to be changed in WB

Coming up during Monday’s West Bend Common Council meeting aldermen will likely adopt a settlement agreement with Walgreens. This relates to property tax assessments in 2012, 2013 and 2014 for the two Walgreens stores in West Bend. Basically Walgreens said its assessments were too high for the stores, 1720 W. Washington St. and 1921 S. Main St. West Bend Assistant City Administrator Steve Volkert said the bottom line is the council would approve an agreement to refund some of their money.

Volkert said the city “expected this and budgeted for this in 2015.” Original assessment for the S. Main Street location $5.52 million in 2012 and $5.7 million in both 2013 and 2014. Original assessments for the W. Washington Street location in 2012 were at $5.6 million and $6.753 million in both 2013 and 2014. Volkert said the new assessments will be below $3 million. Walgreens has had similar assessment disputes in Milwaukee and Oshkosh; it won those decisions.

UW-WC gearing up for fall semester

Orientation for incoming freshmen is Wednesday, August 19 at UW-Washington County. Angela Rintelman in Student Affairs will roll out a carnival-themed orientation that will include a student welcome, nine seminars including things like a “Selfie scavenger hunt” to “Keeping the drama on stage” to “You might be able to pay less for your education.” At noon several food trucks will be on campus along with a variety of outdoor games. Over 225 new students have registered. Classes at UW-WC get underway September 2.

New signage in West Bend

There are quite a few new business signs in the West Bend/Washington County area.

-Panda Express added signage in front of its new restaurant, 1200 S. Main Street. Over the last couple of weeks neighbors noticed the old Dairy Queen sign come down. Contractors poured the foundation and a new driveway for the incoming fast-food American Chinese restaurant.

-Two Mobil stations in West Bend and Kewaskum are switching to Citgo. The rebranding is nearing completion with new red and black Citgo colors on the canopy and pumps. Owner Scott Sadownikow said the facelift will help the stores remain price competitive.

-Kewaskum High School has rolled out its new East Central Conference sign for the 2015-16 school year. Member schools include: Kewaskum, Berlin, Campbellsport, Kettle Moraine Lutheran, Plymouth, Ripon, Waupun, and Winneconne. Other changes, admission will remain the same however punch cards for admission will not be sold. The school will honor remaining punch cards at home and regular-season events but no new cards will be sold.

-Milwaukee PC recently moved from 1017 S. Main St., to 2320 W. Washington Street and Clothes Clinic moved into the old computer shop from its location at 1221 S. Main Street. The former location is going to be leveled as the Mad Max gas station to the south remodels and expands.

-Watch for a new sign to go up at the old DQ off Highway 33 as Mother’s Day Restaurant prepares to open. Sam Fejzuli purchased the property, 501 Wildwood Road, in May. Fejzuli owns the Mother’s Day Restaurant in Horicon. The new restaurant is expected to open in the next month. The property, which had been in foreclosure since January 2014, was listed at $390,000. The sale price was $260,000.

-The Shoe Dept, 1616 S. Main, is in the Paradise Pavilion between Maurices and the Hallmark store. It opened in the location formerly home to Westbury Bank.

-BAKA Core Training Center is opening at 2354 W. Washington St. It’s out by the Threshold. There’s more info at http://www.bakaenterprises.com/core-schedule.html

-Scrub-A-Dub, 1515 S. Main St. has a new sign and a whole new superwash system with under-body flush and whatnot. The Main Street car was recently upgraded but kept prices the same.

Updates & tidbits

-The early registration fee for the Sunrise Rotary’s Amazing Race has been extended and the price is still $200. The 3rd annual Amazing Race is September 19 with a grand prize of $2,000.

-A bicycle repair station has been added in the back of Mountain Outfitters, 109 S. Main St. The bike stand with tools can be accessed via the river walk. Another positive step toward making West Bend an even better bicycling community as Kevin Schultz

-Ann Marie Craig of Century Farmhouse Soaps of West Bend was one of the featured speakers at the Mother Earth News Magazine Fair held at the Washington County Fair Park. Craig created a new soap called, Down on the Farm – Wisconsin. It contained lavender essential oil from Fragrant Isle Lavender Farm on Washington Island, spearmint essential oils from the Midwest, maple syrup from Washington County, dried red clover harvested in the West Bend area, and chicken feathers!

-The library at UW-Washington County is undergoing a major overhaul. It is being converted into a new learning commons. In addition to library services, the learning commons will be the hub for tutoring, group study and technology support.

-Allenton Picnic Parade is Sunday, Aug. 16. Step off is 11:30 a.m. from the Allenton Fire Station. There will be a special appearance by Tow Mader along with the Shriner Long Riders.

-Steve Taylor presented a $2,000 check to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Washington County. Money was from a Taylor’s fourth annual vintage motorcycle poker run held in July.

-The woman who owned “Heide’s of Hartford” has died. Heiderose Erika Tisdale (nee Frank), 76, of Hartford, found eternal rest on Monday, August 10, 2015. Heide was well known for her store, “Heide’s of Hartford.” It was located in the strip mall next to the old Kmart which is now Walmart. The best home decor ever at great prices! Lin Mooney Courchane said, “She was a lovely lady and her stores were jam packed with exquisitely beautiful things.”

-Coming up August 23 it’s the 5th annual Snowmobile Swap Meet & Vintage Sled Show sponsored by the Kohlsville Kruisers Snowmobile Club. The show starts at 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. at Jugs Hitching Post and features Ski doos, the old timey Polaris, Arctic Cat, and a red 1971 Massey Ferguson Ski Whiz. Prizes will be given for the following categories including the most nostalgic, best restoration, and loudest pipes.

-During Monday’s West Bend Common Council meeting alderman will vote to approve Tim Harder to the Library Board.

-The Kettle Moraine Symphony will open its 2015-2016 season with Bachtoberfest on Sunday, Sept. 27, at the University of Wisconsin-Washington County. It’s a celebration of one of Germany’s greatest composers, Johann Sebastian Bach, and features baroque harpsichord played by Peter Gibeau, along with performances by Karla Siegler, violin, and Mary Hughes, flute. Bachtoberfest is part of UW-WC’s Fine Arts Series.

New price for Isadora’s Bed and Breakfast

Isadora’s Bed and Breakfast, 724 Beech St., has a new real estate agent as Jodi Makowski from Shorewest is now listing the property. The previous realtor had the 1893 Victorian home listed for $424,000. Makowski priced the property at $399,000.

The 1893 Queen Anne styled Victorian home was built by Steven F. Mayer for his wife Isadora. Steven and Isadora (Pick) married in 1877 but had no children. Designed by the architect H.B. Camann, of Chicago, this home was said to be one of the “most handsomest and most convenient in the city” (Pilot, 1893).

On a history note – Elly Pick has photos of her family’s visit to the 1893 Chicago Exposition. Stephen Mayer took his two young nephews, John B Pick and C. Edwin Pick, Elly’s grandfather, to the fair and stayed at the Chicago Astor Street home of their cousin, Charlie Kramer. Isadora’s brother, John Pick, married Mary Goetter whose father started Lithia Brewing Co. that Stephen Mayer later purchased from him. West Bend is a true entrepreneurial incubator!

Follow up on Pavilion history

Last week’s 1905 photo, courtesy the Washington County Historical Society, received quite a few correct guesses. The building was Schlitz Pavilion on Wisconsin Street/Moser’s Hall. The proprietor was John Schlitz and in 1879 he opened Schlitz’s Grove and Summer Resort.

The building was near the train depot. An article in the WCHS Research Center noted the amenities the resort including “a 25-foot stage with three changes of scenery, a dance hall that could accommodate 100 couples, three first-class bowling alleys 125-feet deep, and a tasty bar and billiard room.”

In April 1883, Schlitz put the entire complex up for sale and moved to Cleveland, Ohio to set up a bottling plant. In mid-April Theodore Thielgese assumed management of the resort although no record was ever found to indicate he bought it. By November the entire place was managed by a man from Chicago who intended to convert the place to a roller skating rink. Records indicate the man’s name was Charles Moser and he changed the name of the facility to Moser’s Hall and Park.

In January 1902 the Enger-Kress Pocket Book Co. acquired the property. The building was somewhat remodeled and used as a factory. Records show the “move was necessitated by the increase in business and to have the entire plant under one roof.”

In February 1911 the pavilion burned to the ground destroying the entire stock and facilities of the Enger Kress.

Fellow historian Terry Becker forwarded a note about the building from Ray Moser. Now in his 90s Moser has a wealth of historical knowledge of West Bend area and lots of stories.

Ray Moser: Hi You’all –I’ll try to fill you in on Moser’s hall. My grandfather, George Moser was born on a farm, what is now Brown Deer.

He and his brothers all acquired business in Milwaukee. Grandpa George’s first wife was one of the Pfhister girls whose family built the Phfister Hotel in 1891.

She died in childbirth, about 1886 and about 1890 his Brother Charlie Moser bought Schlitz Park in West Bend, which was all the land from the railroad tracks and Highway 33 east to Indiana ave. and south to the river.

The park had a hotel, dance hall, bowling on the green, restaurant and other amenities. People from Milwaukee, Chicago and elsewhere would come by train for vacations or weekends and would only have to walk a short walk to everything they needed.

They could rent a buggy to ride out to all the nearby lakes. Consecequently they needed a lot of food, no grocery stores or refrigeration.

So my grandpa George bought 160 acres on River Road north where the Legion hall was for some years. The farm was necessary to supply food for the restaurant; he raised all the vegetables, chickens, eggs, ducks, some pork and other meat that was needed.

In 1891 grandpa was, I believe, 42 and married 19-year-old Caroline Gliscel in Newburg.

Grandpa brought three children from his first marriage with him to help on the farm. After the turn of the century when more cars became available, the business fell off dramatically and I believe Charlie went bankrupt or sold to somebody.

He also either bought or ran the Washington House and another tavern in West Bend and eventually had another tavern in Milwaukee! My Father William J was born July 25 1893. Father said, many times when the weather turned bad, Charlie would bring a wagon load of food to feed to the pigs! It must have been a pain to try and run a profitable business back then.

I knew this would take a while, but I did it and I’m glad. May you all have a pleasant sleep!

Last week’s photo, courtesy the Washington County Historical Society, was of the old Schlitz Pavilion on Wisconsin Street it West Bend. The proprietor was John Schlitz and in 1879 he opened Schlitz’s Grove and Summer Resort.

The building was near the train depot. An article in the WCHS Research Center noted the amenities the resort including “a 25-foot stage with three changes of scenery, a dance hall that could accommodate 100 couples, three first-class bowling alleys 125-feet deep, and a tasty bar and billiard room.” The Summer Resort also featured “refreshment stands, band stands, and gymnastic apparatus for the accommodation of Turners; the buildings and fixtures of this very elegant place cost $20,000.”

In April 1883, Schlitz put the entire complex up for sale and he moved to Cleveland, Ohio to set up a bottling plant. In mid-April Theodore Thielgese assumed management of the resort although no record was ever found to indicate he bought it. By November the entire place was managed by a man from Chicago who intended to convert the place to a roller skating rink. Records indicate the man’s name was Charles Moser and he changed the name of the facility to Moser’s Hall and Park.

In January 1902 the Enger-Kress Pocket Book Co. acquired the property. The building was somewhat remodeled and used as a factory. Records show the “move was necessitated by the increase in business and to have the entire plant under one roof.”

In February 1911 the pavilion burned to the ground destroying the entire stock and facilities of the Enger Kress. The Enger-Kress continued at various sites until a new brick structure occupied this site.

High school football kicks off next Friday

To celebrate the start of high school football this week’s photo, courtesy the Washington County Historical Society, features the West Bend High School football A-team from 1951. Dick Schacht found himself. “You had that picture of the football team from 1951 and I’m on that; I was number 41 and that was the first championship team since some time in the 1930s. Pretty ironic that was in there,” said Schacht.