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DELAVAN CITY HALL

You are looking at the City Hall in Delavan. It is located on Second Street. This building was erected

in 1967. In 1999 a large addition doubled the size of this building.

Prior to 1888 most of the communities’ businesses took place in the elected official’s homes. In 1887

the village board decided to build a fire and police station with a second story meeting hall. This

building still exists at 126 E. Walworth Street. January 17, 1888 was the first meeting of the village

board at this location.

The city offices were moved to 111 N. Third Street in 1961. Six years later it moved to its present

location.

Delavan was founded as a temperance/abolition colony in 1836; it was named by Col. Franklin

Phoenix for Edward C. Delavan, a former president of the New York Temperance Society. Our

state’s first temperance and antislavery conventions were held at Delavan.

According to the 1882 History of Walworth County, in 1846, the village of Delavan had six

blacksmiths, two wheelwrights, two saddle and harness makers, one sash-maker, nine carpenters and

joiners, one fanning-mill shop, two painters, two cabinet makers, nine boot and shoe makers, two

tailors, three physicians, fine lawyers, two land surveyors, six dry-goods stores, two groceries, one

tavern, one plow factory, five ministers and 43 houses. The population listed 63 families with 400

people. In addition there were two schools, one common and one select (private) and two temperance

societies. About three-fourths of the adults belonged to those societies.

In 1855, Delavan was officially incorporated into a village. The first President was Leonard E.

Downie. That first election was held at Model Ts Hall on April 29, 1856. Two hundred and two votes

were cast. In addition to the President the following were also elected: Trustees: William C. Allen,

James Aram, E. F. Mabie, T. D. Thomas, J. D. Monell, Jr., and Willard Isham; Clerk: James Lewis;

Treasurer: Newton McGraw; Assessors: N. M. Harrington and E. Latimer and Marshall: Nicholas

Thome.

Delavan gained fame for being the nation's 19th century circus Capitol. Twenty six circuses wintered

in Delavan between 1847 and 1894.

Delavan became a city on May 28, 1897. The first mayor of the city was Edward F. Williams. Until

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1902 the term of office was one year. At that time it was changed to two years. The second mayor

was Alexander H. Allyn. In 1900 the population of the city was 2,244.

ARAM PUBLIC LIBRARY

You are looking at the original entrance to the Aram Public Library. It is located at 404 E. Walworth

Street in Delavan. In 1885 during the early beginnings of Delavan, a library was begun under the

Caxton plan. One hundred people paid $1 a year for two years and 200 books were provided by the

Caxton Library Company of Chicago. The books were stored at local businesses. In 1886, the

Delavan Library Association was formed with Adele Barnes as president. Members paid $1 plus 50

cents a year thereafter. Rental fees for the books were 5 cents for one week, 25 cents for 3 months,

and 50 cents for six months.

In 1889 the Delavan Lake Library Association was formed at the "Villa Clare" home of Mrs. P. R.

King. She donated over 500 volumes which were available for loan by any lake residents at no cost.

In 1897 James Aram gave a bequest of $15,000. $5000 was added to this endowment to be effective

on the death of Mrs. Aram, which occurred in 1905. In anticipation of a future library, in 1899 the

Delavan Library and Literary Association was begun. By 1901, the Association had gathered 466

volumes and had rented a reading room for $8 a month. The Association selected the site. Fourth

Street and Walworth Street, at a meeting held March 28, 1906 at the Citizen's Bank. Mr. Alexander

H. Allyn was elected chairman of the Delavan Library Commission and he contributed $5000 on the

condition that local citizens would contribute a like amount. $3800 was donated by November, 1906.

Then Jay J. Phoenix pledged $500 and the remainder was soon accumulated. The library which cost

$22,800 was dedicated in 1908. According to a local historian Mr. Allyn and his estate contributed

about the same amount of money to the library as Mr. Aram.

The library opened with 2300 volumes, including 686 from the old library. In its first year of

operation about 20,000 volumes were circulated. Miss Laura F. Angelí was the first librarian serving

from 1908 to 1913. Alexander H. Allyn served as the first president of the Library Board.

Several years ago an expansion program was completed which doubled the original size of the

building. A genealogy library is located in the basement of this library. It is open on Tuesday from

10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. This collection includes an inventory of most of the cemeteries in the

county. The library has an extensive collection of Indian arrowheads and pictures related to the city's

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history and artists who lived here. [This library is now housed at the Matheson Memorial Library in

Elkhorn.]

DELAVAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUILDING

You are looking at the Chamber of Commerce Building in Delavan on the SE corner of Walworth

and Terrace Streets. At one time it was also the Delavan Art and History Museum. It was built in

1841 as Delavan’s General Store. Later, it became the Delavan Post Office. This is the oldest brick

building in Delavan.

Adolph Schulz, internationally known artist, lived next door. His house was built in 1894. Schulz

trained at the Chicago Art Institute and he convinced the institute to hold sketching classes in

Delavan during the summers around the turn of the century. His wife, Ada, was a well known artist in

her own right. Her first trip to Delavan was part of the Art Institute's summer program in 1892. It was

during this session that she met her husband, who was a Delavan native. They were married on

September 5, 1894 by Dr. Joseph Collie, pastor of the Delavan Congregational Church. Their

paintings are in the permanent collection of the Milwaukee Art Museum and the Chicago Art

Institute.

They were the impetus for an art colony in Delavan beginning in the 1890's. Other artists of the area

included Frank Phoenix, William F. Tower, Stella Fiske, Florence Jones Davies, and Frank Virgil

Dudley.

Schulz enjoyed painting pastoral scenes but did not like the large numbers of cows (and especially

what they left behind) so he moved to Nashville, Indiana in 1919 where they formed a new art

colony.

In 1976, another group of artists, under the leadership of Richard Alexander, W. Gordon Yadon and

Andrew Cabrera formed the DAM (Delavan Art Museum) Artists Group. Their task was to renovate

this historic building into an art museum. For two years, an art show was held every two weeks. After

two years, the building was sold to the Chamber of Commerce.

DELAVAN POST OFFICE

The Delavan Post Office is located diagonally across the street from the Aram Public Library. The

first post office was established in 1837 with Wm. Phoenix as postmaster. Mail came semi-weekly

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from Racine. The post office was in Phoenix’s log home/store located at what is now the southwest

corner of Walworth Ave. and Terrace St.

Later post offices were located in the current Chamber of Commerce Building and then in a building

just east of the intersection of 2nd and Walworth (an area now covered by the west end of the

Delavan Hotel). In 1901 Adele Barnes was the Postmistress. In 1902 Delavan had two rural mail

delivery routes. The 23 and 24 mile routes were covered by horse and buggy except during the winter

when snow covered roads required the use of a sleigh and horse.

Construction of the current building began in 1914. According to an article in the December 16,

1915 Delavan Republican the new post office began occupancy the first of the week. Charles M.

Talhnan was postmaster at this time. Oscar Wenderof was the architect; Northern Construction Co. of

Milwaukee had the low bid. A grand opening ceremony was planned but it never was held. The

workmen were still putting on the finishing touches on December 12, 1915, the planned day of

celebration. All of the new equipment had not arrived and the rush of Christmas made time very

valuable.

In July, 1922 it became a 1st class Post Office. At the time it was the smallest of Wisconsin’s 25 - 1st

class Post Offices. In order to have that classification the office had to do $40,000 worth of stamps

and paper business annually. Prior to 1948, the postmaster changed according to the administration in

Washington, D. C. President Harry S. Truman changed that policy and the position became more

permanent.

Stop in to see the mural depicting Delavan history. It was done in 1984 by Rosemary Roth, a local

artist. She also did a mural in the Chamber of Commerce building in 1986. In 2001 the Post Office

was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

CLOWN AND ELEPHANT STATUE

You are looking at the statue of a clown and elephant which is located in Tower Park in Delavan on

the west end of Walworth Street. The statue was erected by the Delavan Historical Preservation

Society and Cousin Otto's Clown Alley #22 on July 23, 1985.

Tower Park, complete with circus statuary, at different times was known as Avenue Park and

Haymarket Square. The life-size giraffe, elephant and clown are memorials to Delavan's 19th century

circus colony. The elephant is a replica of Romeo, one of Mabie Bros, circus elephants.

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The real life Romeo stood 10 1/2 feet high and weighed 10,500 pounds. He and his partner, Juliet,

were advertised as "The Educated Elephants" in an 1863 poster. They would be able to stand on their

heads. According to the booklet, "Wisconsin Circus Lore 1850 - 1908", Romeo was brought to

Delavan from England by the Mabie Brothers. He made his debut around 1870 and did not have a

good reputation. This is probably because he often got loose and did some damage. He did kill three

men.

One story involves several pies which the circus cook had made and left on a ledge to cool. Romeo

smelled the pie aroma, lifted the latch on his door and headed for the pie. He ate them in a hurry and

because they had not yet cool, burned his mouth. In his pain he began to rampage. His trainer tried to

calm him down but to no avail. Romeo ended up sending the trainer up a tree where he thought he

would be safe. Instead, Romeo worked at pulling up the tree!

Another time Romeo got free and was roaming in the area of the Delavan inlet. Word got out that it

wasn't safe to travel the road which we now know as Hwy. 50. A doctor on an emergency call in the

area decided to take a chance and drive that route. Romeo saw the doctor and his horse and took

chase. The doctor had to whip his horse to full speed to get away from the elephant. The trainer was

finally called and was able to trick Romeo so he could be captured.

The clown's face is a replica of the one depicted on the 5 cent stamp commemorating the American

Circus. This first day cover stamp was issued from the Delavan post office on May 2, 1966.

Between 1847 and 1894 Delavan was home to twenty six different circuses. The Mabie Brothers U.

S. Olympic Circus was the largest in the United States in 1847. It was the first to winter here. The

original P. T. Barnum Circus originated here in 1871. It was organized by Wm. C. Coup and Dan

Castello.

In 1873 Coup organized a circus with Barnum; they built the New York Hippodrome. Coup then

withdrew from the partnership and built the New York Aquarium. In 1876 he developed the W. C.

Coup's New York Monster Circus and Menagerie. Delavan was home to Coup for many years.

Delavan was the site of the Wisconsin Circus Centennial on February 2, 1948, a part of the state's

centennial celebration.

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DELAVAN ARBORETUM

The Delavan Arboretum is located on Dam Road on the northwest side of the city. It is on the north

side of Lake Comus and is a wonderful spot for a walk.

Ben and Doris Dibble donated the land for the arboretum in 1962. You can walk the 3/4 mile Ben

Dibble Nature Trail which takes you along the north shore of Lake Comus. The Dibble's farm just

north of here used to encompass this area. The arboretum was dedicated on Arbor Day, 1962.

When the nature trail was initiated the Delavan/Darien Future Farmers of America established a

wood chip trail; it has been maintained by the city since then. In 1973 the city planted 43 different

types of wildflowers along the path. It continues to be a wonderful asset for the city.

Back in the 1920s a group from Chicago planned to develop a golf course and housing development

in this area. The golf course is now on the south side of the city. There are a number of single family

homes north of the arboretum.

I checked the 1857 map in the Town of Delavan and found that the area encompassing the present

arboretum did not list any owner. That portion was blank. The land to the north showed the owner as

L. Barber, but there were no arrows connecting the property.

In looking at the 1873 map of the Town of Delavan, the arboretum area only showed “L & S” as the

owners of the property. Looking through the 1882 History of Walworth County, I found that Daniel

La Bar came from Pennsylvania and settled in Sections 6 and 7. Could this be the “L”? His was the

first death in the township, dying in July, 1839. He was buried on the north side of Delavan,

somewhere between the old and new cemeteries. The only two Ss I found in the early history were

Israel Stowell and C. H. Sturtevant. A few years later there were Charles Smith and Charles S.

Sturtevant.

The 1891 Plat Book showed the owner of this property as S. Arne Est. In 1907 this changed to A.

Arne Est. The 1921 and 1930 Plat books show the owner as B. Willis. Beckwith’s History of

Walworth County mentions a Benjamin Willis as the father of Rachel who married John Bisby

Shepard and was an early area settler.

Laurence H. Williams was listed as the owner in the 1937 Plat book and in 1948 this changed to John

Grig. The 1961 Plat book shows the owners as Ben and Doris Dibble.

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DELAVAN ROTARY GARDENS

You are looking at the Rotary Gardens in Delavan. They are located in Cogdon Park just behind the

Pick and Save Grocery Store. You can access the parking lot from Hobbs Drive. The gardens are

visible from Hwy. 50 just west of the intersection with Hwy. 43.

When James Saer was president of the Delavan/Darien Rotary back in 2001/02 he was looking for an

appropriate project to benefit the area and go along with the club’s motto, “Service above self’. The

two communities have around 200 acres of parkland and the initial thought was to purchase

playground equipment for one of the parks.

Saer met with the director of parks and recreation and toured the various parks in Delavan. When

they got to Cogdon Park the director indicated that their department had a dream of the wide open

spaces around the lagoon being landscaped. At that point there was just a walking path around the

water. It was decided that this would make a nice gateway to the city and increase the use of that

park.

The Rotary Club committed to a two year commitment and the city of Delavan would provide labor

for the project. The Rotary applied for 501.c status and received it; all contributions can provide tax

relief. In addition to the contributions from the Rotary Club, members approached various

corporations and business for support. Individuals have also contributed toward the expansion of the

gardens.

A centerpiece of the gardens is the large fountain donated by Dr. and Mrs. Prakash Chadha. The

fountain is composed of seven huge granite boulders representing the seven continents. The water

spreading over the stones signify unify the world. The Chadhas dedicated the fountain in the memory

of their parents.

A gazebo near the water compliments the gardens which have increased in size over the years. The

board operating the gardens started with a flexible plan, working to keep it user friendly and making

sure that it was properly maintained. A group of dedicated weeders and master gardeners help with

the maintenance.

Later this year four granite benches will be place around the flower beds. Some large flower pots will

also be installed. Future plans include installing brick pathways where there is now limestone and

adding more flower beds. The board is always looking for additional funds, grants and local

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donations. Some of their future dreams include a Japanese Garden, a rose arbor and an English gate

house.

SPRINGS PARK

You are looking at Springs Park in Delavan. It is located at the south end of either Coburn Street or

Spring Lane. There are many springs in this park which has been enjoyed since the early days of the

community. The most prolific one used to be called “Isham Springs." It is located about 100 yards

north of the shelter house and flows into Swan Creek.

In 1889, when Chicago was having a typhoid fever epidemic and contaminated water was suspected,

Dr. J. L. Davis, a Chicago doctor, purchased a ten acre section of land which contained Isham

Springs. Dr. Davis, with an associate, H. B. Shadrack, formed the "Delavan Springs Company" to

deliver water to Chicago residents. They delivered water to hotels, hospitals and restaurants. In

addition, Chicago homes could get delivery for 50 cents a week. Water was shipped in barrels via the

railroads.

The water was so popular that in 1894, there was a plan to pipe the water to Chicago. The water's

popularity brought out scam artists who put Lake Michigan water into barrels with the Delavan

Springs label. As a result, sale of the legitimate water decreased.

On October 30, 1900 Dr. Davis sold his business and property to Henry G. Dinet, a Chicago

pharmacist. He planned to start a health spa here. In 1901, the city tried unsuccessfully to buy the

property. They then started condemnation proceedings to gain the property. The courts ruled that the

city could take the property if they paid Mr. Dinet $1000. The Court of Appeals then ruled in Mr.

Dinet's favor. In 1910 and 1915 the city again tried to gain the property. Finally, in 1945, Mr. Dinet,

who was now 76, agreed to sell the land for $8500.

The spring's reservoir was filled in by the city. In 1921 the city started a tourist grounds in the upper

park area. A shelter house was built in 1950. Later, rest rooms, picnic and play equipment was added.

Recently walking paths have been established.

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ROW OF TREES

This row of trees can be found along Highway 11 between Delavan and Elkhorn, west of County

Trunk F. At one time, toward the end of the nineteenth century, this row of planted trees extended

from Delavan to Elkhorn.

Because the trees tended to cause the snow to pile up, many of them were removed. This small

section is the only part that remains. According to a local arborist/historian, the trees are Pinus

Sylvestris.

DELAVAN’S UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST

You can see this church at 123 East Washington Street, on the north side of Phoenix Park. This year

they are celebrating their 175th anniversary. On July 3 will be a major celebration of this event.

According to Beckwith’s History of Walworth County, this church began in July, 1841 with ten

members. The founder was Steven Peet; the organizational meeting was held in the home of Samuel

Phoenix. Rev. Ammon Gaston was the pastor both here in Elkhorn, and in Sugar Creek.

In 1844 they built their first church, a wooden meeting house. Pews and pulpit were not installed until

four years later. The congregation grew and in 1855 the little wooden structure was no longer large

enough. Their next church built of brick was erected in 1856 at a cost of $5000. It was now forty-two

feet by seventy feet.

A community clock was installed in the tower. Funds for the clock were collected from people in

Delavan. In 1891 the pulpit was moved to the west side of the church and three memorial, stained

glass windows were added. In 1896 the church was wired for electricity. Cost for this was $140; the

money was raised by the Ladies Working Society.

Part of the steeple was removed in 1913 after it was struck by lightning. A parish house was built in

1923. In 1951 the pulpit was placed at the north side of the church and pews were moved to

accommodate this change. An east wing was added in 1980. At this time the parsonage was sold and

moved. The area then became a memorial garden and space for cremains burials.

Music has always been important to this congregation. A choir was established as soon as the church

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was organized. Today there are both an adult and a children’s choir. In 1864, a manual pipe organ

was installed. It was enlarged in 1880 and replaced in 1890. In 1879 a custom built Howell organ

was installed.

In looking over the early history of this congregation there are a number of familiar names. They

include Alvin Beach Parsons, Edward S. Colman, Henry Grassie, Rev. Joseph Collie, James Parsons,

Jacob Cook, C. S. Bailey, Mrs. L. Foster, Lydia Parkins and John B. Shepard.

According to Beckwith, Parsons came to Delavan by 1842. Apparently there was no record of the

exact date of those early settlements. He is listed with a large group of early Delavan inhabitants

along with Chauncey Parsons and John B. Shepard.

Beckwith states that Shepard was born in 1803 and died in 1875. His parents were Pelatiah and

Elizabeth (Thompson) Shepard. He came from Fulton County, New York. He married Rachel Willis.

They had five children. Sabra Amelia married Reuben H. Bristol. Mary Selina married Edward

Colman. Linus Delavan married Clarissa Zulemma. Beckwith does not name the other two.

Charles Stewart Bailey was an associate town supervisor in 1842, 1847 and 1854.

According to the Portrait and Biographical Record of Walworth and Jefferson Counties, Wisconsin,

Rev. Joseph Collie was pastor of this church for forty years. He was born in Scotland on November 4,

1824. He was the son of George and Helen (Ross) Collie. They had three sons, George, James and

Joseph. The father died the day Joseph was born.

In 1836 the mother and three boys traveled to America. They first settled in Kane County, Illinois.

Here she married Benjamin Jones.

Later they moved to Grant County, Wisconsin. Joseph remained with his family until 1844. He

attended district schools, an academy in Mineral Point and then Beloit College. Next he studied at

and graduated from Andover Theological Seminary.

Following graduation he accepted a call in October, 1854 at the Delavan United Church of Christ. On

November 4, 1856 he married Ann Eliza Foote. Her father had been pastor of this church prior to

Collie. They had four sons and a daughter: George Lucius, Martha Lockwood, Joseph Arthur,

Winnefred Ross and Henry Glenwood. Apparently the daughter died in infancy.

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Collie was a strong supporter of the Prohibition party. He was a School Director and a Town

Superintendent. He served as clerk of the Beloit Convention for many years. He owned land on

Geneva Lake and this became Camp Coolie. We now know that area as Conference Point.

BELL TOWER OF THE DELAVAN BAPTIST CHURCH

You are looking at a picture of the bell tower of the Delavan Baptist Church. It is located on Main

Street across the street from the west side of Phoenix Park.

The Delavan Baptist Society was organized on September 21, 1839 with Rev. Henry Topping as the

pastor. A wood church was built in 1840. It was 36 feet by 50 feet and could hold 200 people. That

church was dedicated on August 24, 1841.

A brick church was constructed in 1854 with one-third more space. The congregation built its third

church in 1880. That church was 70 feet by 128 feet.

In September, 1999 the congregation celebrated the 100th anniversary of their church’s pipe organ

with a special recital. The organ had been purchased from the Lancashire-Marshall Organ Company

of Moline, Illinois for $2,125. A news article in 1999 indicated that the present cost of such a musical

instrument today would be between $200,000 and $300,000.

In 1972 chimes were added to the organ. The pipe organ is air-operated with some 841 pipes.

WINDOWS IN THE BELL TOWER OF ST. ANDREW’S CHURCH

The windows you are looking at are in the bell tower of St. Andrew’s Catholic Church. The parish

was established in 1848 and for the first three years was served by the priests from Lake Geneva.

During the early years the congregation met in the homes of Frank Delaney and Morris O’Connor.

In 1853 a little chapel was built at the intersection of 4th and Matthew Streets. A church history

indicates that there were no pews until 1862.

The church at this current site, at the corner 7th and Walworth, was dedicated in 1895. The

congregation used the basement for services before the building was completed. An 1894 news article

indicated that trees were being removed from St. Andrew’s new lot in anticipation of building the

new church. Bricks for the new church were purchased from Watertown.

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The old chapel was sold and the building was moved to Assembly Park where it served as a private

home for Adele Barnes, the Delavan Postmistress. She named it “On The Heights.” The house was

destroyed by fire on July 2, 1915. The house which was filled with antiques was a complete loss.

A rectory to the east of the church was built in 1896. In 1967 the old priest's house was razed and a

new one replaced it. In 1941 kindergarten classes were started at St. Andrew’s, first in a home at 7th

and Grove and later at the NE comer of 7th and Walworth. In 1848, the St. Andrew’s Catholic School

building was constructed.

DELAVAN UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

The Delavan United Methodist Church is located on 2nd Street facing Phoenix Park. The Methodist

Episcopal Church was formed in 1841. The congregation included worshipers from Eagle, Troy,

LaGrange, Sugar Creek, Darien and Delavan. From 1841 until 1856 it was associated with

congregations in the neighboring villages.

Their first Delavan records date from 1848. It shows that Delavan was a part of the Racine district

and it was on a circuit with South Grove. That latter community was north northwest of Sharon. In

1854 a gift from Henry Phoenix provided the land on which church was built soon after. At that time

the church had 80 members and 44 probationers.

By 1859 the records indicate the church’s value was $2500. The present sanctuary and hall was built

in 1864. The structure was 64 feet by 44 feet and two stories high at a cost of $6500. In 1886 a

parsonage was built on the north side of the church. In 1888 a choir cantata helped pay for pulpit

furniture. 1891 saw the installation of art glass windows, some of which were memorials or gifts. In

1920 a pipe organ was installed as a memorial to Margaret Averill Tilden. A one story addition to the

east was built in 1921. It was used by the current minister, Rev. C. W. Boag who was also the city

clerk.

Looking over the church history there have been several additions and remodeling projects over the

1900s resulting in the current structure which still encompasses the 1864 building.

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CHRIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH

You are looking at the Christ Episcopal Church in Delavan, located on Hwy. 11 or Walworth

Avenue. This congregation was formed in July, 1844 and was organized as a mission church. This

was raised to church status in 1848. The congregation used a small building on the south side of

Phoenix Park until 1877. In 1850 a church, 20 feet by 30 feet was erected at a cost of $1200. It was

later enlarged to meet the needs of a growing congregation.

The white, Gothic brick church you see in the picture was dedicated in 1879. A bell tower spire was

lost during a fire in 1920. Land for the church was donated by Alexander Allyn. The circular planting

to the east of the church originally was the site of a fountain for the Allyn House.

HARVESTPOINT CHURCH

The building which houses the Harvestpoint Church has had a varied history over the years. This

church at 209 S. 4th Street in the city of Delavan began as the Evangelical Lutheran Church in the

1930s. Martin Schneider, a Madison architect, designed the church. Rev. O. C. Thusius was the

pastor at that time.

Tan brick is interspersed with sandstone on the church which is shaped like a cross. The interior is

Gothic in nature. The stained glass windows depict stories of the Old Testament. There are windows

of the four gospels, windows of the twelve apostles, and windows of Christ, to name a few of the

categories. The windows were donated by several of the parishioners of that time. If you are

interested in learning more about the windows, stop at the church to learn about the description and

meaning of each of them.

When the church decided to build a new, larger facility on the southwest side of Delavan, they sold

this building to the Christian Reformed Church for $1400. The Christian Reformed Church organized

with eleven families of Dutch descent. That religious group used this building until the late 1950s

when they built a church at the end of 8th Street and Oak Street. By then their congregation has

increased to 112 families.

WAYMAN CHAPEL AFRICAN M. E. CHURCH

You are looking at the Wayman African Methodist Episcopal Church on 6th Street in Delavan. This

church was organized in April, 1893 at the home of Oscar McClellan. The first gatherings were at

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members' homes. It should be noted that 1875 census listed a total of sixteen "colored" men and

women along with 764 whites in the village.

A church was built on N. 8th Street; it was dedicated August 27, 1894 with Bishop A. W. Wayman of

Baltimore in attendance. A public reception followed at the McClellan house. The church was moved

to Ann Street in 1905 and later to this S. 6th Street location. It remains a mission of the Bethel

Church in Beloit.

Oscar McClellan was born a slave in 1815 in Madison, Tennessee and was sold at age 12 for $800.

During the Civil War (1863) he escaped and met a scouting party attached to the 13th Wisconsin

Infantry with members mainly from Rock and Walworth counties. He then served in the Union

Army. He came to Sharon and then reenlisted in the army, even though he was 50! After his return to

Wisconsin and second marriage (his first wife died of grief while still a slave), he settled in Delavan.

He was 79 when he helped organize and physically build the church. He died in 1897.

OLD SETTLER’S CEMETERY

This is one of the oldest burial grounds in the state. Originally this was the site of over 200 graves.

However, 84 bodies were exhumed just after the Civil War and reburied in the Spring Grove

Cemetery.

The remains of the founders of Delavan, Colonel Samuel F. and Henry Phoenix, are buried here.

According to a May 21, 1987 Delavan Enterprise supplement, the first known burial in Delavan was

that of John Phoenix, the 11 year old son of William and Susan Bruce Phoenix, in 1837. No land had

as yet been designated as a cemetery and he was buried in an unmarked lot between Parish and High

Streets near North 6th Street. During later construction, workmen came upon a coffin which was

assumed to be that of the young Phoenix. The remains are now in the Spring Grove cemetery.

The first recorded burial at Old Settler's Cemetery was that of the young son of Salmon and Betsy

Thomas on June 14, 1837. The two year old boy had died earlier in Racine, but at this point; the land

had not yet been designated as a cemetery.

When Colonel Samuel F. Phoenix died September 6, 1840, his brother, Henry, selected this sight

overlooking Lake Comus. Eighteen months later when Henry died, he was buried next to Samuel.

Even though it was legally in the Phoenix estate, the land became the official cemetery and was used

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for that purpose for the next 24 years.

By 1865 there were very few lots remaining and the next year Spring Grove was opened. After

eighty-four bodies were transferred to the new cemetery, citizens objected, asking that the cemetery

remain as is. No further burials occurred here until the final one on May 21, 1869; Truman Kelsey

was buried next to his wife and mother.

The Old Settlers' Cemetery Association was formed on May 3, 1875, even though the land was still

officially part of the Phoenix estate. Later the association assumed ownership and in 1949 the

Delavan parks department became responsible for the maintenance of the cemetery. The official

cemetery records were destroyed by fire in 1893. However, other records have been used to compile a

listing of burials.

ST. ANDREWS CEMETERY

St. Andrew’s parish did not have a consecrated cemetery of their own until 1861. Before that time

Catholics who died were buried at Elkhorn, Lake Geneva or Whitewater Catholic cemeteries.

According to the 1882 History of Walworth County the first mass for this congregation was held in

1851. No church existed for them at this time. Mass was held in the homes of parishioners Francis

Delany and Morris O’Connor or in Monell’s Hall. Their first building was erected in 1856. It was

located at Fourth and Matthew Streets.

On September 24, 1861 two acres of land was purchased on Lawson School Road. This land was

used as a cemetery until the current cemetery was opened in 1883. This is located just south of the

Spring Grove Cemetery off of 7th Street.

Over the years all of the bodies from the original plot were reburied at the new cemetery. Some of the

old tombstones were left behind. This led some to believe that not all graves were removed.

The current St. Andrew’s cemetery opened on August 15, 1883. Alice Brown was the first burial.

Andrew Patrick was buried there in December, 1883. Two of the earliest burials in the original

cemetery were Stephen Kinney in 1852 and Ann Morris in 1854.

Some of the early sextons included Thomas and John Fleming, John and Andrew Tully, John Rugg,

A1 Morris, and Henry Olsen.

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WISCONSIN SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF

You are looking at the Wisconsin School for the Deaf, located on the west end of Delavan at the

intersections of Hwy. 11 and County P and X. This school was established by the state of Wisconsin

in June, 1852. It was originally called State Asylum for the Education of the Deaf and Dumb.

By 1866 the school had 156 pupils. A state census of 1875 showed the state had 720 deaf persons.

(According to the 1992 History of Walworth County, “consanguineous marriages" were the cause of

this.)

The idea of having a special school for deaf children was the idea of Mary Lee whose sister was deaf.

There was not too much interest in her first choice, Elkhorn; she found even less interest in Delavan.

Her father, Ebenezer Cheesebro then agreed to furnish a room in his home and the expenses. The

school opened in Elkhorn and was later moved to Delavan. The Cheesebros first lived in Sugar Creek

and then moved to a site about two miles west of Delavan.

Mary Lee was also known for her work during the Civil War. The Walworth County Soldier's Aid

Society sent boxes of knitted articles, food and other supplies to the sick and wounded of the Union

Army. They found out that their donations were not going to the soldiers but were being used by the

officers. Mary volunteered to personally deliver the boxes. Until the end of the war she spent her time

traveling throughout the war zones, delivering aid and supplies to the wounded soldiers. She met her

counterpart in the Confederate Army and gave aid to the soldiers in gray as well. She never gained

any compensation for her efforts and paid her own expenses. Almost 40 years after her death, she was

honored when the newly organized Delavan chapter of the Daughters of Union Veterans named their

unit "The Mary Lee Tent."

Land for the school was donated by Franklin K. Phoenix, son of Samuel F. It was Franklin’s father

and uncles who started this community. The first teacher was Wealthy Hawes, who was deaf. She had

taught at a school for the deaf in New York but was then living in Rock County. After four months

she returned to her home and John A. Mills, a deaf teacher, was hired for $10 a month plus board.

Later Mills and Hawes would marry; both continued to work at the school.

Up until now the school was totally financed by Mr. Cheesebro. The number of students had

increased to eight. Mr. Cheesebro suspended classes and then worked to obtain state funds to support

the school. The state school was organized in 1852 with only three students the first year. By time the

first school building was completed in 1854, word of the school had spread throughout the state.

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More and more young people headed to Delavan for their education.

On September 16, 1879 a fire destroyed almost all of the school. Only the gym, the outdoor toilets

and several other out buildings remained. The state then considered rebuilding the school in a more

central location. State Assemblyman, D. Bennett Barnes of Delavan is credited with working hard to

maintain the school at this location. By this time, almost two hundred students were enrolled in what

was entitled The Wisconsin Institute for the Deaf and Dumb. Immediately following the fire, local

citizens opened their homes to help house the female students. The boys had a temporary dormitory

in the gymnasium and shoe shop. Meals were served in a tent. Classes were held in the undamaged

carpenter shop and the Methodist Church.

New construction began in 1880. Another major fire hit the school in 1936. Damaged were the dining

hall, chapel and employee’s living quarters. The school’s print shop was destroyed by fire in 1962.

WILEMAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

You are looking at the Wileman Elementary School which is located at 1001 E. Geneva Street in the

city of Delavan.

Delavan experienced a critical shortage of classroom space in 1950. All classes from kindergarten

through high school were conducted in the two buildings on E. Washington Street.

A special referendum was held on March 21, 1950 to approve a $250,000 bond to build a new

elementary school. It was approved.

The first bids for construction were rejected because the lowest bid was $479,000. Plans were

modified and the next set of bids gave the nod to the Stanley Nelson Construction Company of

Chicago. Their bid was $248,433. By the time the architect’s fees, heating, electrical and plumbing

work was added the total cost was $391,426.

This school was built in 1951/52. Groundbreaking took place on March 30, 1951. There were delays

because of difficulty in getting building supplies. This was the time of the Korean War. The building

was completed on September 15, 1952. The official dedication and opening was held on October 12th

of that year.

Land for the school had been a part of the Joseph P. Allyn farm. The school was first known as

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Delavan Elementary School. On June 23, 1970 the current name was initiated to honor Charles H.

Wileman who began his term as Delavan school superintendent in 1950. He resigned from that

position in 1963 when he became an education consultant for the Department of Public Instruction in

Madison. He retired in 1971 and returned to Delavan. In 1989 he and his wife moved to Fairhaven in

Whitewater. Wileman died on November 23, 1993 at the age of 88.

DELAVAN CHRISTIAN SCHOOL

You are looking at the Delavan Christian School. It is located at 848 Oak Street. Although it is right

next door to the Delavan Christian Reform Church, it is not associated with that church. It is an

accredited parental operated school which rents space from the church.

Only about a third of the students here are Dutch. Mr. Enno Haan, principal teacher, told me that their

student body represented 30 different churches. Their school serves preschool through eighth grade.

Currently they have 103 students although they have had as many as 160. The idea of the Christian

schools dates back to 1890 when Abraham Kuyper was the Prime Minister of the Netherlands. He felt

that schools should not be a responsibility of government. It was a parental responsibility.

Haan also indicated that it was not a parochial school although they do infuse the Bible in all classes.

It is the parents’ responsibility to teach religion to their own children.

The teachers at this school receive their education at Christian colleges. Most of them have graduated

from Dordt College in Iowa. The Delavan school has four full time and eight part-time teachers.

FORMER GEORGE PASSAGE HOME

You are looking at the former home of George Passage. It is located at 112 Main Street in Delavan.

Frank Landi, in his book on Delavan architecture, describes the house as being in the Italianate style.

It was one of the first brick houses built in Delavan. The brick came from the Delavan Brick

Company. If you drive or walk past this house notice the balustrade observation deck on the roof.

George was born in Schnectady County, New York on February 5, 1817. He came to Delavan in

June, 1842. Here he was in the dry good and general merchandise business, according to Beckwith’s

History of Walworth County. At one time he built a brick store along with Aaron Hardin Taggart,

stocking it with general goods. He was also mentioned as a partner with James Aram, Leonard E.

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Downie and Col. Jacob T. Foster in the local lumber company.

According to the 1882 History of Walworth County, George was also interested in bringing the

railroad to Delavan. He invested around $8000 in this venture. That was no small sum in those days.

He then invested money in two livery stables in the Pennsylvania oil region. Both burned and he had

a loss of around $7000. He then returned to Delavan.

He and his first wife, Altie Davinson, had six children. They were Eva, Georgiana, Emma J., Rove

V., Frank, and Ella. Ella married Page Buckley and was the only one to remain in Delavan. Altie died

in December, 1866.

George remarried in November 1867 to Ann Vanderpool. They had only one son, William.

George served as an associate town supervisor in 1844 and 1846. He served several times on the

village Board of Trustees. He owned 18 acres of land within the village plus 25 village lots.

Their son, William, was born in Delavan on August 26, 1868. After he finished school he worked for

his father for two years. Then he worked at the Walworth County Democrat. He moved to a

newspaper in Iowa for about a year. Then he came back and spent four years at the Wisconsin School

for the Deaf in the printing department.

Next he moved to Marshfield and worked at their paper for about a year and a half before moving

back to Delavan. It was around 1897 when he became a reporter for the Delavan Republican.

In 1903 he bought half interest in the Delavan Enterprise and two years later became sole owner and

editor. As of 1912 when Beckwith’s history was written he remained single. He served as a city

alderman.

George died on May 29, 1888. Beckwith stated that at his death he had been in business the longest

time of anyone in the county. Anna was still living in 1912. This house now is a bed and breakfast

establishment.

W. BRADLEY TYRRELL HOUSE

You can see the early W. Bradley Tyrrell house at 953 Racine Street in Delavan. According to Frank

Landi’s book on Delavan architecture the original address for this house was 325 Racine Street.

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He describes this home as Spanish Eclectic or Monterey style. The house has an interest array of

windows facing the street.

In 1995 W. Gordon Yadon wrote about Tyrrell in his “Personalities” column indicating that he was a

man of many talents. He grew up in Delavan and was the 1901 high school class Valedictorian.

He went on to Beloit College where he was an honor student. He was named player-coach of the

college baseball team during his senior year.

Wallace B. Bradley was born on October 9, 1883. He was the son of William Hull and Alice Bradley

(Lamerd) Tyrrell. His boyhood home was at the corner of Walworth and Fourth Streets.

In 1907 he married Kate Root of Elgin, Illinois, a college mate. Then he became the production

manager of the Bradley Knitting Company. He was responsible for its rapid growth into the county’s

largest employer.

He represented the city on the County Board from 1912 through 1916. In 1918 he ran for city mayor

on a “dry” ticket but was defeated by Dr. Ora Rice who favored legal tavern licensing. He then was

appointed advisor in the Ordinance Division of the U.S. War Department.

Following the end of World War I he returned to Delavan and became sales director for the Bradley

Knitting Company. In 1919 he became a member of the Board of Trustees for Beloit College.

He took part in a Franco-American anthropological expedition in the Sahara Desert representing the

college. He and three others got lost during a sandstorm. Just when all seemed lost they happened

upon a caravan and were led back to their group. They discovered the tomb of Queen Tin Hman.

In 1920 he was elected to the Delavan School Board. In 1922 he helped organize the Rotary Club in

Delavan and was a charter member. In 1924 he was elected president of the county YMCA and

helped establish units in several cities.

He and his family lived in this house for thirteen years. His family included daughters, Katherine and

Nancy and three sons, William, Bradley Jr. and John Jay. In 1925 he sold this house to I. B. Davies.

He had a new home built at 601 E. Walworth. I wrote about this house some time ago.

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He moved his family to California, and later moved back to Delavan and rejoined the Bradley

Knitting Company. When business slumped he sold his home and moved to Elgin, IL. From there he

moved to Beloit and was in Beloit College administration. He died in 1964 and is buried in the

Delavan Spring Grove Cemetery.

FORMER HOME OF W. BRADLEY TYRELL

You are looking at the former home of Wallace Bradley Tyrrell which is located at 601 E. Walworth

St. The house was designed by Jesse Barloga. This Mediterranean style house was built in 1926.

According to information from Gordon Yadon, Tyrell was known as “Brad.” His mother was the

daughter of W. W. Bradley of Bradley’s Department Store.

Mr. Tyrrell started his career as vice president and production manager at the Bradley Knitting

Company. His expertise was responsible for helping this relatively new industry to grow and become

a nationally known textile manufacturer and the largest employer in the county.

Tyrrell served on the County Board. He ran for mayor of Delavan but was defeated by Dr. O. R. Rice.

The latter ran on a platform to license tavern while Tyrrell favored temperance movement. Soon after

that election he was appointed as an advisor in the Ordinance Division of the War Department in

Washington, D. C. After the end of World War I he returned to Delavan and the Bradley Knitting

Company as their sales director.

He served on the Delavan School Board, was a member of the Beloit College Board of Trustees,

helped organize the Delavan Rotary Club and was president of the Walworth County YMCA.

Later he became a member of an anthropological expedition to Africa and served as the president of

Beloit College for four years.

In 1925 he sold his house on Racine Street and moved his family to California for several years

before returning to Delavan and his Walworth Street home. The house was originally meant to be

built on High Street with a view of Lake Comus. Because of the narrow lot on Walworth Street the

house was placed sideways. In 1936 he moved to Beloit.

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ERNST VON SUESSMILCH HOUSE

You are looking at the former Ernst L. Von Suessmilch house at 824 Racine Street in Delavan.

According to Frank Landi’s book on Delavan architecture the address of this house originally was

220 Racine Street.

The Prairie style house was designed by Robert C. Spencer Jr. It has some interesting features

including an eyebrow dormer window and wide roof overhangs.

Ernst was the son of Dr. Frederick L. and Frances Maria (Stowell) Von Suessmilch. According to

Beckwith’s History of Walworth County, he was born in Delavan on August 1, 1868. He spent his

boyhood just down the street to the east.

After attending local public schools he attended the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor and

graduated from the law department in 1888.

He returned to Delavan and opened his law practice. From 1894 through 1888 he was Justice of the

Peace for the Town of Delavan. In 1895 he served as County Court Commissioner. In 1900 he

married Emma May Waterman of St. Paul. They had two children, Frederick Ludwig and Elizabeth

Frances.

In 1905 he joined with D. Bennett Barnes to organize a land company. They had operations in

Wisconsin, North and South Dakota, Alberta and Saskatchewan.

THE FORMER P. R. JACKSON HOME

You are looking the former P. R. Jackson home which is located at 114 Wisconsin Street in Delavan.

It is just south of Phoenix Park. According to information in Frank Landi’s book on Delavan

Architecture, the house was built around 1900.

If you take the time to have a good look at the house many of the original details have been

maintained. Check the gable decorations and the details on the porch.

According to the Portrait and Biographical Record of Walworth and Jefferson Counties, Wisconsin in

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1894, Jackson was a part of Jackson & Jackson Company. They sold groceries, hardware, drugs,

boots and shoes. Their business started in 1884 and was considered one of the leading merchants in

Delavan.

Jackson was born in Geneva on September 25, 1842, the son of Levi and Lydia Jackson. He came

from Massachusetts and she was born in New York. P. R. was one of three boys in the family; he also

had a sister.

When Levi enlisted in the Union Army, P. R. took over responsibility of their farm. When he was old

enough he taught school during the winter months and farmed during the summer.

Soon he decided that farming was not for him and he moved to Delavan in 1884. He and his brother,

S. L., started Jackson Brothers. In 1887 their store changed to Jackson & Jackson Company.

He married Miss Josephine Case on December 25, 1864. She was the daughter of Henry and Annette

Case of Geneva. This union produced six children, three boys and three girls. As of the publishing of

this biography the children were scattered to California, Nebraska and Rhode Island, as well as this

area.

P. R. served as a deacon in the Baptist Church. The 1882 History of Walworth County indicates that

both he and his father were deacons at the Baptist Church in Elkhorn. Levi served as an Associate

Supervisor for the Town of Geneva in 1854. P. R. voted with the Prohibition Parfy. He kept

ownership of eighty acres of the homestead farm in Geneva as well as this pictured home.

Beckwith’s History of Walworth County indicates that Perry Rockwell Jackson served as Delavan’s

representative on the County Board in 1898 and 1899. His father, Levi, served as an Associate

Supervisor for the Town of Geneva in 1854 and again from l869 to 1871. Levi also taught school in

Elkhorn.

It was some of Levi Jackson’s land which was purchased for the former Jackson School in the Town

of Geneva. The original school house was located by the creek. The last school house is now a private

home and can be seen at the intersection of County H and Petrie Roads.

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THE FORMER HOME OF ALFRED SPOONER

You are looking at the former home of Alfred S. Spooner. It is located at 729 Racine Street in

Delavan. This house was built around 1860. In the earlier days of this building’s life the address was

109 Racine Street.

The house was built with eight bedrooms. The front section and porch was added in 1883. It is nice

that most of the house’s details were maintained. Look for the two story bay windows on the east side

and the Doric columns outlining the porch.

According to information in Frank Landi’s book on Delavan Architecture, this house stayed in the

Spooner family until 1994. The Spooner name covers the span of Delavan history.

The Portrait and Biographical Record of Walworth and Jefferson Counties, Wisconsin indicates that

Alfred S. Spooner was one of the leading members of the bar in Walworth County. He was born in

Essex County, NY. The Spooner lineage in this country is traced back to William Spooner who

served as an apprentice in Massachusetts in 1632. Alfred’s grandfather. Wing Spooner was a

Massachusetts farmer.

Alfred’s father, Joel, was a farmer and a carpenter. He moved to New York in 1811. He died in 1850

at the age of 79. Alfred’s mother died in 1869. They had nine children. However, by 1894, when this

book was published, only two survived, Charles, who was a Congregational minister in Michigan and

Alfred.

Alfred married Sarah M. Bristol on December 25, 1844. They had nine children, three boys and six

girls. Two had died at the time of this publication.

Alfred moved to Delavan in 1849 and studied law. In 1850 he received his license and spent the next

7 years in the revenue service. In 1863 he became the Assistant United States Assessor. He served in

that capacity until 1870 when he was named Deputy Collector. The next year he again practiced law

in Delavan.

Beginning in 1877 he served as County District Attorney for three years. Beckwith’s History of

Walworth County reports that his election was the only time in its history that a Republican on the

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ballot was defeated. He was a Court Commissioner from 1872 to 1893 and a Notary Public. He

served as Justice of the Peace for about twenty years.

His law office burned in 1892. His friends presented him with $500 and about one hundred law books

to restore his practice.

FORMER ALLYN FARM HOUSE

You are looking at the former Allyn farm house located on Bowers Boulevard across from the

Community Bank in Delavan.

Alexander Hamilton Allyn was an important part of the community for over fifty years. He was born

in Hartford, Conn, and came west when he was 17 years old, working in Chicago and Milwaukee

before coming to Walworth County in 1859. He bought a 184 acre farm between Delavan and

Elkhorn close to the intersection of Cobblestone and Amos Roads and became a very successful

farmer.

In 1883 he bought a farm in what is now the southeast corner of Delavan. This dairy farm was known

as Allynhurst. He served as a county supervisor for thirteen years, second city mayor, chairman of the

library commission and senior warden of the Episcopal Church. In 1908 he was elected president of

the first Aram Library Board and spoke at the dedication of the new library.

His success in farming and investments made it possible for him to purchase the spacious lot east of

the Episcopal Church and build his mansion. The land was part of the Edmund Mabie estate. Mr.

Allyn hired Milwaukee architect, E. Townsend Mix to design his Victorian Mansion. It was

completed in 1885 and many declared the twenty-three room Queen Anne style home a masterpiece.

I believe it was Alexander’s son, Joseph Pratt Allyn, who lived in this home along with his wife,

Louise, and daughter, Josephine.

THE FORMER JAMES ARAM HOME

You are looking at the former James Aram home which is located on Seventh Street in Delavan

behind the former Chefs Garden restaurant. The Aram mansion was built around 1863. When it was

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built, people thought it looked like a Southern plantation home.

A news article indicated that Mrs. Aram planted 134 shade trees on her property in 1902. Both James

and Susan Aram died in this home. The building is now divided into apartments. At the time that the

mansion was built it was encompassed by an impressive fence and landscaped grounds.

The area was subdivided after World War II and surrounded by various businesses. Most people think

of the public library when they hear the name “Aram,” However, he was also a successful farmer, a

town justice of the peace, had a half-interest in a store, a major interest in a bank, served as village

president, was part of a committee to bring a railroad to the community, was a trustee of the

Wisconsin School for the Deaf, donated land for Spring Grove cemetery and served as one of its

directors.

Susan Aram was also very active. She was the first woman active on the Spring Grove Cemetery

Association. As an active member of the Baptist Church she donated money for their memorial

parlor. The Arams’ will provided money not only for the library but also for the Baptist, Methodist,

Congregational and Episcopal churches.

When I was compiling the history of the Aram Public Library I was told that after James Aram’s

funeral, his widow was found sitting on the curb outside their house. She was sure that she was

homeless. She thought that the provisions of his will donating to all of the organizations took place

immediately. They were effective upon the death of Susan.

LATIMER HOUSE

You are looking at the Latimer House which is located at 523 E. Walworth Avenue in Delavan. This

Queen Anne style house was built in 1900 for Delavan banker, James Latimer. Records indicate that

in 1842 the land was part of a nursery owned by Franklin K. Phoenix. In 1854 it was sold to Edmund

F. Mabie and Ebenezer Latimer. Around 1884 Alexander H. Allyn bought the property. He sold it to

James F. and Mary Lamard Latimer near the turn of the century.

James Latimer was born in Tompkins County, New York; one of the younger of many children in

that family. He was 19 when he came to the county in the 1800s. He married Mary Lenard and they

had at least one daughter.

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They then moved to Hampton, Iowa and stayed there for 30 years. When he was 68, James and Mary

moved back to Delavan and he began working in his brother's bank, E. E. Latimer. He purchased the

land from Alexander Allyn. At that time there was a rose garden between the two properties (rather

than the current house). James Davidson, a Delavan home builder, worked with Waltersdorf and Hill,

an architecture firm from Chicago, on the structure.

Latimers moved into their new house in 1900. Mr. Latimer contracted some "terrible disease" and in

1904 he committed suicide in the carriage house. His wife died in 1923. The house stayed in the

family for some years. It was rented out to the Robert and Esther Tyrrell MacDonald family for

nearly 30 years.

In 1952 the estate authorized Adeline Decosta, a registered nurse, to open a sanitarium. This plan had

the backing of the Delavan Community Advisory Council but soon these plans ran into difficulty and

the venture last only one year. During this time the property was sold to S. G. McKoy. He made

many repairs to the building. In 1954 it served as a hospital, Delavan's Homestead Convalescent

Hospital, for 17 years, utilizing all three floors. Two nurses from Detroit, Myrtle Jackson and Beverly

Carter, were in charge of this operation.

Next it became a tea room for one year, during which time the owners, Kenneth and Ann Miller, also

sold antiques here. The house was restored and the porch was enclosed in 1962 by the owners and

Judy Bethel. Plans for the building included a ladies specialty shop, a stitchery, pottery, book nook,

children’s shop, plants, patch-work shop and one for sports attire. The plan would use the house and

barn at the rear of the property. restaurant and antique shop, known as the Heritage House.

After Mr. Rodman’s untimely death, Mrs. Rodman sold the business to the Drefs brothers, Andrew

and Matt, who owned the restaurant for 2 1/2 years, beginning in 1993. Bob and Jean Walters bought

it April 15, 1996 and gave it its current name in honor of its first occupants. The interior of the

restaurant now looks like it did during the days of its first occupants.

The building is listed on the Wisconsin Inventory of Historic Places. New owners have purchased the

restaurant which is now closed.

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FORMER HOME OF JOHN HAWES

You are looking at the former home of John Hawes at 607 E. Walworth St. in the city of Delavan.

This house was built around 1889. The 1857 Walworth Plat Book indicates that this property was part

of the Delavan Nursery. This was owned by Stephen S. Babcock.

According to the 1882 History of Walworth County, Babcock came to Delavan in 1846. He soon

moved to Darien where he was engaged in farming. In 1859 he returned to Delavan and had a grocery

store and nursery. He served as Justice of the Peace for two years and then was elected Sheriff of

Walworth County for 1879-80. When his term ended he was appointed Under Sheriff. He also served

two terms as President of the village of Delavan.

Later the house was purchased by Malcolm Gardner. He founded the Holstein-Friesian Association, a

cattle registry firm. For several years he operated the registry from this house. In the late 1940s the

house was purchased by Dr. Harlan Levin. He operated the Lakeland Medical Clinic from this

location for a few years. In the years since this house has seen many different owners and occupants.

FORMER HOME OF JOHN J. READER

You are looking at the former home of John J. Reader at 618 E. Walworth St. This turn of the century

home was built by John Reader, a windmill manufacturer.

Reader’s father was Deacon John Reader who came to Sharon in 1836. He was the first white man to

lay claim in that township. He returned to the East the next spring and that fall returned to the Big

Foot Prairie with his family.

John J. farmed with his father until he was 25. He then spent four months in Minnesota. Upon his

return he worked for Wood & Gormley manufacturers of pumps. He became known throughout the

country as an expert. By 1871 the pumps were being made of metal instead of wood and a metal

windmill was being introduced.

Gormley died in 1879. Soon after this Reader left the company to start his own windmill and pump

business. J. J. Reader Eclipse Windmills, Tanks & Reservoirs was located near the former Home

Lumber Company and the railroad tracks. He made both wood and steel windmills. An old

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newspaper indicted that he sold three windmills in one week during 1894. In 1904 he sold his

business and retired.

FORMER HOLLAND HOME

You are looking at the former home of George F. Holland which is located at 608-610 E. Walworth

St. in the city of Delavan. The home was used as winter quarters for the Holland Circus.

According to the 1882 History of Walworth County, Holland and Mosher started their circus tent

show in Delavan in 1858. Their circus boasted 100 horses and an appropriate number of riders and

performers. Their circus traveled for two years.

George built the Hollandale Hotel on the north shore of Delavan Lake. That first hotel burned down

November 7, 1901. It was rebuilt on a much larger scale and leased to Albert Beckman. He called it

Manhattan Resort.

`There is a home in Darien called the Circus House. It is called this because Rose and George

Holland, equestrians with Ringling Bros. Circus purchased this house after they retired from the

circus. They had lived in Delavan. They lost all of their savings through bad investments and had to

work until they were 63. They retired because the circus in which they were performing, the Jack

Hoxie Circus, went broke. They lost six weeks wages in the process. They sold their house in

Delavan and moved into this home which had a large barn. They kept two white circus horses at this

property.

THE FORMER DANIEL LA BAR HOME

You are looking at the former Daniel LaBar home which is located on the Northwest comer of the 6th

Street and Washington Avenue in Delavan. The LaBar name is well known in Delavan history,

Daniel E. LaBar came to the area from Pennsylvania on June 20, 1837. He did not bring his family

with him until two years later. Daniel E. died in July, 1839. According to the 1882 History of

Walworth County, he is buried somewhere between the Old Settler’s Cemetery and Spring Grove

Cemetery.

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One of Daniel E.’s sons, S. Rees LaBar married Harriet Topping, daughter of Rev. Henry Topping.

They had eight children, one of whom was Daniel.

After attending public school in Delavan, Daniel enrolled in and graduated from Wayland Academy

in Beaver Dam in 1879. He farmed most of his life and moved into Delavan around 1900. He was

elected to the city council in 1901 and served two terms on the County Board. In 1908 he was elected

mayor of Delavan.

Daniel married Mary Antonette Mabie on April 15, 1897. They had two children, Elizabeth and

Daniel Rees.

THE WORTH HOUSE

You will find this house at the north end of Third Street in Delavan. The Worth house was built in

1870 for H. W. Worth. This original house was recently restored and remodeled. The 1873 plat book

shows "Gihon Springs" in this area; water was bottled and sold from here.

Gihon Springs was begun about 1871 adjacent to Lake Comus, just behind his home. Seven different

springs were utilized for his bottled mineral water. For several years his water was popular, some

even being sent to foreign countries. His water sold to Delavan residents for 10 cents a gallon or 20

cents if it was delivered.

To help use and advertise his water, Worth opened a hotel in his home. Worth also had three trout

ponds on his property. Fish from the ponds were used in the dining room of his hotel.

The Worth home was the site of William T. Thome's marriage. Thome was considered the "Dean of

Wisconsin portrait artists." He lived from 1863 to 1956 and won honors both here in the U.S. and in

Paris. His father is the one who sold Mabie his farm and the Lake Lawn area.

FORMER JACKSON FLATS

The building at 104 Walworth St. is one of the oldest in Delavan, built in 1851. It is now known as

the Tower Park Apartments. It was built by Larnard, Bailey and Goff. Originally it had a general

store and grainery. It boasted the first hand operated elevator in the county.

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In 1865 Kinner N. Hollister became the new owner; he had served during the Civil War as a captain

in the 40th Wisconsin Infantry. Hollister over his 20 year ownership added new businesses. This

included groceries, clothing, hardware and a drug store. He started a newspaper, the West Ender,

giving some of the local news.

In 1881 he brought Stedman L. Jackson in as a co-owner. Jackson had served in the Civil War,

enlisting at age 16. Within a few years Jackson had bought out Hollister. The Jackson family owned

the building for the next 114 years.

In 1914 the upper floors were changed to apartments. Soon it had 12 apartments as well as the first

floor business. At that point it became known as the Jackson Flats.

A fire in 2001 resulted in some changes to the building. Some in the community were worried that

the building would be demolished like the Opera House had been. However, the building was gutted

and replaced with 10 modern apartments and two commercial units.

THE PINES - FORMER DELAVAN HOSPITAL

You are looking at the house at 405 Racine Avenue in Delavan. The house was built in 1886 and was

the residence of Dr. Ludwig Von Suessmilch. It was called The Pines.

It served as the Delavan Hospital from 1903 until 1924, first under the supervision of Dr. Ray Rice

and upon his death, Dr. Wright. It was quite a complete hospital with x-ray and surgery facilities.

Most Delavan births at that time took place here. The county hospital in Elkhorn was established in

1917. Most of its early patients were from the county home and asylum. Soon, it began taking private

patients.

By July, 1923 Dr. Wright indicated he would be closing his hospital and wondering if the city wanted

to operate it. They did not express any interest and Dr. Wright closed his facility in late 1923.

Several groups investigated the possibility of running the hospital. In 1925, Milwaukee’s St. Mary’s

Hospital indicated that they would staff a new hospital if the city could provide a building large

enough for 20 patients. In 1928 a group of citizens began the effort to raise funds for a new hospital.

It was proposed for a seven acre site across from the Delbrook Golf Course. This was all abandoned

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with the 1929 financial crash.

Dr. Wright lived in the mansion following the close of the hospital. His son, Charles, operated a

miniature golf course adjacent to the house. In 1935 the house was rented to Dr. J. D. Warrick as his

residence and a sanitarium for his patients.

In 1938 Mary Gibbon Turnbull and her daughter, Ellen, began the Pines School for exceptional

children. This school continued until 1975.

In 1966 it became the Pine Prayer Center and Women’s Aglow headquarters. It is now a parsonage

for the Christian Life Church.

WALWORTH - LAKELAND ELKS LODGE

You are seeing a picture of the Walworth-Lakeland Elks Lodge #2201 which is located at 627 S. 2nd

Street in Delavan. This local organization serves both Walworth and Racine Counties.

The Walworth-Lakeland Lodge was chartered on May 22, 1961 Their first president was Frank

Hammett. Their current president is Sharon Yanz.

The Elks emphasize youth activities, handicapped respite camps, programs for veterans, social

activities for their members, scholarships and drug awareness programs. The Benevolent and

Protective Order of the Elks (B.P.O.E.) was organized on February 16, 1868 in New York City. The

Elks Association of Wisconsin was chartered in 1902.

This local chapter has over 150 members. Each year they give over $20,000 of scholarships. These

scholarships are open to all seniors, to relatives of Elks and special grants for children of disabled or

deceased members.

The local chapter has a special campership fund which allows people to attend Camp Waubeck at no

charge. This camp was founded in 1938 to give children and adults with disabilities a chance to hike,

swim and learn about nature in a friendly, accessible environment.

In addition the local chapter has toy and clothing drives for needy families, makes flag donations to

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schools, has a Flag Day ceremony, sponsors a youth hoop shoot, contributes to Boy/Girl Scouts and

Badger Boys State and has Friday night fish fries open to the public. [The Elks no longer own this

building. It now houses a pub.]

THE BRAD LIDDLE SAFETY BUILDING

You are looking at the Brad Liddle Safety Building, home of the Delavan Fire Department. It is

located on Hwy. 50 heading east out of the city on Seventh Street.

The fire department was organized in 1861 with John Baptist Bossi as its treasurer. He served in that

capacity for 33 years. In the early days before the community had a water system, fires were fought

with chemicals and/or the bucket brigade. Unless the fire department got to a fire at an early stage,

their job consisted mainly of trying to contain the blaze.

The fire department got a real test in 1893 when an entire block on the north side of Walworth

Avenue between 2nd and 3rd Streets was destroyed. Buildings which were lost included a blacksmith

shop, carriage painting shop, the Delavan Hotel, the U. S. Post Office and the Shulz building. A total

of sixteen buildings and fourteen other businesses were damaged by this fire. The cause of the blaze

was later blamed on a 14 year old boy who set off a leftover Fourth of July skyrocket. It landed in the

hay loft of the Barlow barn in the 100 block of 2nd Street.

In 1949, Mr. Liddle joined the Delavan Police Department and served for the next 17 years. He had

joined the Delavan fire department in 1935 as a volunteer. Over the next 48 years he helped respond

to a total of 1583 alarms. He served as assistant chief from 1943 to 1955 and as chief from 1955 until

his retirement in 1983.

The bell in front of the fire station was cast in Milwaukee in 1884. The almost 500 pound bell was

brought to Delavan and was hung at the fire station which at that time was located at 126 E.

Walworth Street. It was used until 1938 when an electric siren replaced it. It was removed from this

location in 1967. For a short time it was viewed in the municipal building. Sometime after the

dedication of the Brad Liddle Safety Building in 1982, it was brought to this location.

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GREENIE’S CLUBHOUSE AT DELBROOK GOLF COURSE

You are looking at the clubhouse at the Delbrook Golf Course located on South 2nd Street in Delavan.

The course opened in 1928; the land was purchased from Mary Briggs for $10,000. She assumed the

mortgage for the full amount with an interest rate of 6% to be paid semiannually. Dedication took

place on July 21, 1928 when Governor Fred R. Zimmerman drove a ball off the first tee. The city

took over operation of this 18-hole course in 1944. Prior to this it was a private cooperative venture.

In the very early days it was the site of Mrs. Henry Phoenix's home.

The Great Depression resulted in the golf course struggling to “keep its head above water” for the

next 16 years. Many people felt the area should be developed for either industrial or residential

purposes.

When the Delavan Lake County Club Golf Course closed in 1938 there was renewed effort to change

the course of this area. In 1941 the corporation which had the golf course was far behind in its

mortgage payments. The county declared the property tax delinquent. In July, 1941 Delavan mayor

George B. Wood authorized $250 to acquire the services of an engineering company to lay out plans

for operating the course through the city. However, World War II intervened and those plans were set

aside. In 1942 the Briggs heirs again requested past due monies. Because of the war there were few

receipts at the course; the city again authorized payment of $300 to hold off any final decision. There

then followed a debate whether this would be a good operation for city management.

Finally, in December, 1941 the city council approved leasing Delbrook for the 1943 season. There

were several unsuccessful attempts to sell the course to individuals. On April 24, 1945 the city

purchased the land. The city has managed it ever since and has added to the acreage. In 2001 an other

nine-hole section was opened, making it a 27-hole course ... three nine hole courses.

BRADLEY’S DEPARTMENT STORE

You are looking at a historic landmark in the city of Delavan, Bradley’s Department Store, at 222 E.

Walworth Avenue. Their slogan is "A Tradition of Excellence Since 1852."

William Wallace Bradley, a New York native, was a tailor's apprentice in Kenosha and Delavan,

before he opened his own shop across from Tower Park. He was the first clothier to sell men's ready-

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to- wear. Later, it was expanded to include women's clothing. Bradley's became the county's first

department store in 1874 when the store and stock of the C. M. Sturtevant Dry Goods Company was

purchased and Bradley's moved to their present location.

In 1887 a new store was built on the site. The store sold many of the products of the Bradley Knitting

Company. It was one of the first stores in the city to use cash and a one price selling system.

Bradley's sons-in-law, W. H. Tyrrell and J. J. Phoenix assisted William Bradley in the store and later

took over the store after Bradley died. Later Tyrrell and Phoenix became officers in the Bradley

Knitting Company. In 1923, G. K. Boughton bought the store.

S. G. McKoy bought the store in 1949. He was the owner of five shoe stores in Southeastern

Wisconsin and was tired of traveling between them. His son, William, is the current owner. The store

you see today includes the 1887 building and a 1964 expansion. It is Walworth County's oldest

department store and one of the oldest in the country.

FORMER HOME LUMBER COMPANY

You are looking at the former lumber building, located at 217 S. 7 Street in Delavan. At first it was

the Doyne and Rayne Lumber Company and then Home Lumber.

Then in late 1998 the Geneva Lakes Terminal Market opened. This was a place which sold a variety

of fresh produce, meats, eggs, dairy products, fish, bakery and imported specialty items. It filed for

bankruptcy in 2000.

It is now the Horsemen Saddle and Harness Company & Victoria Leather. This store opened on this

location in 2002. Prior to this time, owner, Daniel Plaza operated his tack shop on his farm west of

Walworth. They do repairs as well as sell new equipment. [

M & I BANK

You are looking at the M&I Bank at 104 N. Street in Delavan. This bank was originally founded in

March, 1875; Frank Leland was its president. Originally this was the site of the Barker Lumber

Company office. That building was moved to 134 S. 4th St. and serves as the Winn Dental Clinic.

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According to Beckwith’s History of Walworth County, Charles B. Talhnan was the first cashier of

the bank. Major stockholders included Otho Bell, James, H. Camp, George Cotton, John DeWolf,

Jamin H. Goodrich, W. Willard Isham, T. Perry James, Henry G. Reichwald and Charles D. Teeple.

By 1912 its capital was listed as $50,000 and it had deposits of about $600,000.

Frank Leland also took over editorship of the Delavan Republican in 1874. He retired from this in

April, 1875. Earlier he had been part of the staff of the Geneva Express. His name also appears as the

president of the First National Bank of Lake Geneva.

In 1873 he was elected to the Wisconsin Assembly. In 1876-77 he was a member of the Executive

Committee of the Old Settler’s Society. This was the forerunner of the Walworth County Historical

Society. In 1878 Leland was appointed United States Consul at Hamilton, Canada.

In 1892 when the bank was located west of its present site, there was an explosion in a next door drug

store. The front of the bank building was blown across the street. The bank personnel quickly stored

the gold and currency in the bank vault. Bank books and notes were taken to another community

bank. The next morning, according to Beckwith, the Citizen’s Bank accounts balanced to the penny.

Many people may still think of it as the Citizen’s Bank, a name it had for many years before it

became part of the Milwaukee based M and I Bank. [The bank is now HMO Harris Bank.]

DELAVAN’S COMMUNITY BANK

You are looking at the Community Bank on the southeast side of Delavan, on Hwy. 50 or Geneva

Street. The official dedication of the bank building which you see pictured was June 29, 1997. This

bank was organized in 1996 after the Citizens Bank was sold to M and I. Some in the city felt there

was a need for a community based bank.

In August, 1996 this bank opened with a staff of eight in a small trailer. It was located in the parking

lot just to the northwest of the current building. Jim Saer was the president. He recently retired from

that position and is now chairman of the board. Nick Murphy took over as president at the start of this

year.

In an interview with Saer, local decision making and customer service are continuing goals of this

business. The bank has opened two branches. The Sharon office opened in April 2001 and the Clinton

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office opened in November 2002. All three offer full service. Community Bank has a total capital of

$200 million in the three locations.

Saer indicated that 80% of their business was in the drive- up. The Clinton bank does not have that

facility and they hope to build their own building in the near future. A Sentry store started at this

location in 1957. It was the first store in this mini-mall. [This bank is now known as Town Bank.]

FORMER WISCONSIN STATE BANK BUILDING

You are looking at the former Wisconsin State Bank Building which is located in Delavan at 303 E.

Walworth. This structure was built in 1909. N. M. Harrington was the first banker of Delavan

opening his private bank in 1853. The Walworth County Bank opened in 1856. In 1865 it merged

into the National Bank of Delavan.

In March 1880 the Bank of E. Latimer and Company was established at this corner. Ebenezer Latimer

had previously served as president of the National Bank of Delavan which closed on January 8, 1880.

In 1908, the bank purchased the Stowell residence, removed the frame home and announced plans to

build this brick building. Construction began on May 9, 1909 and was completed in about 115 days.

On November 1, 1911, the bank name was changed to Wisconsin State Bank. Presidents who have

served over the years include: A. H. Kenrick, Warren D. Hollister, Fred G. Tanck, I. B. Davies,

Glenn Doherty and Donald Doherty.

In 1979, the bank announced plans to build a new structure at 7th and Walworth; these plans were

never completed. Later, plans were approved to build at the northeast corner of Geneva and Wright

Street. Again, these plans did not materialize. In July 1983, controlling interest in the bank was sold

to John T. Vucurevich, from South Dakota.

On September 20, 1984, the bank was acquired by David A. Straz, Jr., owner of 1st Bank Southeast.

The name was changed to 1st Bank Southeast of Delavan on July 12, 1985.

The bank had a branch on E. Geneva Street which is now its only location in the city. It then became

the Firstar Bank. The current name is U S Bank.

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FORMER STA-RITE COMPANY

You are looking at the Pentair Offices Building, the former Sta- Rite Company, which is located at

293 Wright Street in the city of Delavan. It is just north of Hobbs Avenue.

This manufacturer of submersible pumps began on October 4, 1934 under the leadership of William

C. Heath. He was a former officer of the A. O. Smith Corp. He started out in a store above the

Murphy & O'Neil drug Store at 3rd and Walworth. Then his factory was at 8th and Ann Streets. All

of these locations were in the city of Delavan.

During World War II the company made landing gears for airplanes and high speed submersible

pumps. This latter was most helpful in capturing German submarines during the war.

Henry S. Lauterbach served a president of the company for many years. In 1959 the plant moved to

the Wright Street location. It has expanded there several times.

The company was purchased by Pentair in 2005. They continue to manufacturer pumps and water

systems under the brand of Sta-Rite for both residential and commercial customers. Their products

are sold in over 100 countries. They have six plants in the United States as well as manufacturing of

their products in eight other countries. However, the Delavan site is their main plant and

headquarters.

THE MONROE FUNERAL HOME

You are looking at the Monroe Funeral Home which is located at 604 E. Walworth Street in Delavan.

Calvin Monroe was a World War II veteran who purchased the McCullough home in 1952 and

converted it to a funeral parlor that same year.

Dr. Edward McCullough had this property as their family residence and as a veterinary hospital. He

built the home in 1914. The home became the funeral home; the hospital building became a storage

area and garage for Monroe.

In 1986 Mark Monroe graduated from the Worsham School of Mortuary in Chicago. Then he started

working with his father. In 1996 Cal died and Mark became the sole owner of this business.

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On February 14, 2008 one of Dr. McCullough sons died. He wanted to be buried from the Monroe

Funeral home. Edward A. McCullough wanted to be buried from this location. Edward was born May

6, 1916 and raised in this home. He wanted to "make a complete circle." Edward graduated from

UW-Madison with a degree in pharmacy. He was the owner and operator of McCullough's

Prescriptions & Gifts.

Over the years the Funeral Home has been remodeled and updated. The official name now is Monroe

Funeral Home & Cremation Services.

BETZER FUNERAL HOME

You are looking at the Betzer Funeral Home, located at 118 S. Second Street in Delavan. The house

was built in 1909 as the home of John and Honora Holland. They were famous circus performers and

were elected to the Circus Hall of Fame in 1980.

Some time later the house was divided and made into two identical homes. The wide staircase now

evident in the funeral home had a wall up the middle. The current entrance was merely a wall;

entrances for each home were not at the east side of the house but to the extreme north and south.

For many years it was a popular restaurant which was operated by Joseph Klein. In 1931 the building

was sold to the Lackey, Liddle and O’Brien Funeral Home. In 1942 Robert S. Betzer and Harry

O’Brien bought the firm. In 1961 Betzer became the sole owner and remains in the family to this

date.

R. A. CARLSON PLUMBING

You are looking at the R. A. Carlson Plumbing building at the corner of 7th and Washington Streets

in Delavan. Originally this site housed the J. J. Reader and Co. Force Pumps and Windmills factory.

Reader came to Walworth County with his parents in 1838. His father was the first white man to

make a claim in the Town of Sharon in 1837. J.J. worked on his father's 400 acre farm, then in the

Town of Walworth. He went to Minnesota for four months. Then, Beckwith in his History of

Walworth County indicates J. J. was driven out by Indians. He returned to Walworth County and

worked for Wood & Gormly who were pump manufacturers. After Gormly's death Reader went into

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business for himself in Delavan.

In 1896 Reader sold the property to John Ronk and Ron Searles. They built the current building for

their plumbing business. In 1920 the business was sold to Bert W. Christian. He was a nephew of

Ronk and had worked with them. I was told that Bert used to get up around five o'clock to get the

horses ready for the day.

In November, 1962 Jack Christian, Bert's son, sold the business to Richard Carlson. Jack was dying

of leukemia and he wanted to sell the company. Carlson had been in the plumbing business in Elgin,

Illinois for eight years prior to this.

`In 1978 Steve Carlson became a part of the business. I'm told that other than maintenance the outside

of the building hasn't changed since its construction.

CONTINENTAL PLASTICS

You are looking at the Continental Plastics Company located on South Second Street at the

intersection with Phoenix Street in Delavan. Continental Plastics manufactures equipment for

artificial insemination for all kinds of animals. This ranges from rabbits to turkeys to cows, pigs,

horses and elephants. In fact, it is the only factory of its type in our country that makes a complete

line of this equipment. They do business throughout the world.

The company began in the mid 1950s and was first located at 248 Fremont Street in the village of

Darien. It was founded by Ray and Ella Alter. That family is still involved in the operation.

In the 1950’s this was the site of A-Jay Industries. That factory moved to the east side of the city and

later closed. A-Jay made golf carts and golfing equipment.

This was also the site of a milk condensery; the milk was then transported to Chicago. The plant was

built in 1903 by the Cold Process Company. The building cost $40,000. The factory could handle up

to 100,000 gallons of milk a day. In 1906 the plant was reorganized and it was the Delavan

Condensed Milk Company. It was also known as the Frost Creamery because in that same year they

started making Frosty Ice Cream.

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Nestles owned it at one point and the Bowman Dairy had it for the longest time. The buildings were

razed in 1936. Arthur Lonze, of A-Jay Industries, built their plant at this location in 1952. When they

moved their company into the Industrial Park on the east side of Delavan, this site was acquired by

Continental Plastics Corporation.

HERNANDEZ MEXICAN FOOD

You are looking at Hernandez Mexican Food; a grocery store and popular restaurant. It is located at

212 S. 7th Street in Delavan. In the late 1960s Rafael Hernandez began a grocery store at this location.

In the 1980s he began selling tacos in the store. At first his customers would eat them sitting on crates

of watermelon or other boxes of grocery items. By the mid 1980s tables were added to the store.

Gradually the store became a restaurant. Now only a limited number of items are available in the

store and the restaurant can seat almost a hundred people. A few years ago an outdoor seating area

was created which is very popular in the summer months.

Hernandez’s is one of several Mexican restaurants in the area and it is the oldest.

THE HOME OF ANDES CANDIES

You are looking at a section of the Brack’s Candy factory ... the home of Andes Candies, those

delicious thin mints. It is located on Wisconsin Street on the east end of Delavan. This factory was

founded in Chicago in 1921 and was originally called Andy’s Candies. Andrew Kanelos, the founder

died in 1959. His son, George, continued the operation. He opened the Delavan plant in 1971.

By 1980 the factory no long was a family owned business. This plant is capable of making 100,000

pounds of candy a day. Many people throughout the country are very familiar with these mints which

appear on many hotel pillows and with restaurant checks.

In years past there used to be an outlet shop at the factory. This very popular spot is missed by many.

DELAVAN DENTAL COLLEGE

You are looking at the former dental college located at 124 Walworth Street in Delavan. It operated

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from 1880 until 1885. In the 1840's David McLain, a blacksmith, pulled teeth @25 cents a tooth,

using the same pincers he used for shoeing horses. In 1855, William P. Gray hung out his dental

shingle in Delavan. He, too, had no formal training, which was typical of the time.

Most served a short apprentice with an established dentist, usually in the east. In these early days

dentistry was seldom a full time occupation. Gray, who served the area from 1855 to 1893, was a

farmer. Van Doren, 1860 to 1868, was also a farmer. H. O. Larrabee, 1869 to 1879, ran a general

store. S. C. Sawyer, 1870 to 1879, was a clergyman. Geo. Morrison, 1871 to 1886, ran a music store.

The dental college was founded by Dr. George Morrison. His music store was on the first floor; the

college on the second and third floors. Prior to coming to Delavan, Dr. Morrison practiced dentistry

as a traveling itinerant. He would hire musicians to announce his arrival and set up shop in the village

park or a meeting room. He intended to do the same here, but took a liking to this village. Usually he

told people that he was a well known New York dental surgeon and was on his way west to open a

clinic. He was one of the first dentists in the area to use nitrous oxide (laughing gas). After he started

the Delavan Music House, he turned over much of his dentistry practice to his brother. The music

store was so successful he added a line of sewing machines.

His home was at 121 S. Third St., bounded by a red, white and blue fence. He was very active in the

Masons. In 1879 he decided to organize a circus. His most notable members of this venture were A1

and John Ringling. John was only 13 at the time. While in Delavan the boys lived in the back room

on the second floor of the dental offices.

Dr. Morrison used the circus to advertise his mouthwash, and he performed dental extractions during

circus performances. In 1880, Morrison gave up his circus to begin his dental college. Incorporation

articles were filed at the courthouse in Elkhorn on July 15, 1880.

Dental college tuition was $50 plus a $25 graduation fee. The term was for 4 months... but, they "may

grant honorary diplomas...." Degrees were available for "dentists" from Europe for $200. George

Tallman, then editor of the Delavan Republican, noted that this would be a "diploma mill." The U. S.

Post Office became involved in investigating this scam along with the Wisconsin Dental Society. A

state order closed the operation in December, 1885. Just before the school was closed in 1885,

Morrison sold his dental office to a former student, David W. Runkle.

The American Dental Association was organized in 1859 and soon began establishing standards and

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regulations. By 1893 dental school required three years of study; by 1903 a four year curriculum was

established. Delavan had its first dental graduate from an accredited school in 1886 when Charles von

Suessmilch practiced here for one year.

THE FORMER PARK HOTEL

The former Park Hotel is located on the north side of Tower Park, on Park Place in the city of

Delavan. Construction began on this former three story hotel before Wisconsin became a state (1848).

It was financed by Franklin K. Phoenix, son of Samuel, one of the founders of Delavan. Brick for the

building was from Delavan's Sexton and Sykes brickyard located at the outlet of Delavan Lake. The

only other hotel in the community was Stowell's Temperance House in the block to the west.

The Grand Opening of the hotel was held on July 4, 1848 when the temperature rose to 104 degrees.

Over 200 attended the festivities which included a dance with a local orchestra. It was considered one

of the finest hotels in the state at that time. The first floor included a lobby and spacious dining room;

rooms were on the second floor and a ballroom on the third floor.

The hotel was a convenient stopping place for travelers between Janesville and Milwaukee. Loyalty

to the hotel remained high even after the Delavan House was built in 1850. The hotel had a series of

owners.

When Ralph Lathrop was manager during the 1850's, the reputation of the hotel fell because of its

clientele, which sometimes included railroad workers, circus roustabouts and heavy drinkers.

Prostitutes could be found in the building and a group of horse thieves used the basement as a rest

stop while taking stolen horses from Canada to Illinois. This state of affairs so angered owner, Sarah

Phoenix, mother of Franklin that she ended the lease and closed the hotel. It was reopened on a

temperance basis by Daniel Ostrum in 1859. Lack of alcohol did not encourage business.

In 1862, the entire third floor was converted into a college preparatory academy conducted by Rev.

A. A. Nicholson, an Episcopal priest. School sessions were held for two or three years. In 1865, Ward

Mallory, former owner of the Delavan House, bought the place, remodeled it and named it "Mallory

House." In 1868, it was sold to Elon Andrus of Lake Geneva and changed to the "Andrus House."

During this ownership, alcohol was again available to guests.

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In 1885, it was renamed the Park Hotel and again became a temperance establishment. The next year,

Ehrich Weiss, a 12 year old Milwaukee runaway who also used the name Harry White, found refuge

in the basement. He was discovered by Alfred Flitcroft who invited Harry to his home. Flitcroft’s

mother fed him and mended his clothing. Later they gave him some money so he could travel to

Beloit to find employment. This was not to be and he came back to Delavan for a short time before

heading east. In later years he would assume the name of Harry Houdini. The kindness he received in

Delavan was remembered throughout Houdini’s life.

By 1892 the hotel was again selling liquor. There were numerous changes in management and by

1903 the hotel business was discontinued. The bar was kept open and food service added. A cement

block business operated out of the basement. In 1909, Gustav A. Lipps leased most of the hotel which

he used for his family residence and an upholstery business. Also during his tenure the First Our

Redeemer Lutheran service were held here. In 1917, the I. O. O. F. Lodge bought the building. Over

the years the first floor has seen a variety of businesses. At one point the Delavan fire department

rented the second floor for its meetings.

ISRAEL STOWELL TEMPERANCE HOUSE

The former Israel Stowell Temperance Hotel is located at 67 E. Walworth Street in the city of

Delavan. It was built around 1840 as an inn in Block 9.

Some reports indicate that you would be very welcome as a guest if you were a Yankee, a Baptist and

you didn't indulge in alcoholic beverages. One older book called it "The Stowell Tavern," but you can

be sure no liquor was served during Mr. Stowell's time. Early Delavan deeds included a clause that

alcoholic beverages would not be allowed on that ground. Most of the early town meetings were held

in this building.

The 1882 History of Walworth County indicated that Stowell was elected as one of Delavan’s School

Commissioners at their first town meeting on April 5, 1842.

Beckwith’s History of Walworth County list Israel Stowell as an Associate Supervisor for the Town

of Darien for 1868 and 1873. He is also listed as coming to the village of Delavan in 1838. He was a

native of New Hampshire. He started a stage coach route between Chicago and Delavan. He died in

1876. Stowell probably moved to Darien after his stay in Delavan because his first wife’s family had

settled there.

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That same book indicated that William Phoenix built a hotel around 1840 on the lower end of

Walworth Avenue and sold or leased it to Israel Stowell. The next owner was Ezekiel Tripp in 1843,

followed by Philetus S. Carver.

When Carver became sheriff the next owner was someone from Darien named Harkness. He

somehow obtained a license to sell strong drinks; this was something that Phoenix wanted to keep out

of Delavan forever. Beckwith indicated that Charles H. Sturtevant, who built the barroom fixtures,

was severely censured by fellow temperance society members.

It is the oldest building in the city and in more recent times housed the Old Delavan Book Company.

Visitors to this establishment had to make a prior appointment. [It is now vacant.]

FORMER DELAVAN BLACKSMITH SHOP

You are looking at a former blacksmith shop in the city of Delavan. A smithy was started at the

building at the east end of Park Place back in 1840s. The 1882 History of Walworth County indicates

that Alonzo McGraw built the blacksmith shop. It was a two story building. The upper story was used

for a short time as a church and schoolroom.

In 1849 Charles Sturtevant and Walton took over the blacksmith business. The 1882 history lists

Sturtevant as one of the School Commissioners in 1843. He was listed as town chairman in 1846 and

1847.

Later owners included Price & Clark, Henry Foot, Charles Fitzer, Jacob Smith (who built the present

building in 1866), F. D. Goodrich, Fisherman & Vance, and Cobb.

The building, which is located at 137 Park Place, now houses a hair salon.

THE ACME BUILDING

You can find the former medical building at 107 N. 3rd Street in Delavan. It was a medical building at

one time, then had a few other uses and now is back serving a chiropractic practice.

In 1931, Drs. Crowe and Jacobson bought the former Acme building and opened the Delavan Clinic.

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Dr. Crowe served in World War I as an Army medical officer. After the war he selected Delavan as

his area of practice and worked hard during the diphtheria epidemic of 1922-23. It was during this

epidemic that he formed a close working relationship with Dr. T. L. Jacobson. In 1924, they formed a

partnership.

The Acme building had previously been the offices of the Holstein-Friesian Association. Malcolm H.

Gardner was superintendent of this group from 1905 until he retired with Emeritus status in 1927.

Gardner became totally deaf after he had encephalitis during his junior year in Beloit College. His

wife served as his interpreter. Gardner had a home on East Walworth Street and for a time operated

the Holstein- Friesian Association from that location. Gardner wrote a rather lengthy paper describing

what he remembered of his early days in Delavan, 1860 to 1870. This was published in the Delavan

Republican as a twenty two weeks series.

DELAVAN SHOE COMPANY

You can see this former shoe factory at 610 E. Washington Street in the city of Delavan. In late 1909,

this company was formed with the following officers: E. W. Walker, W. F. Femholz, A. M. Ross, E.

F. Williams, A. M. Kendrick and F. G. Tanck. In March of 1910 the officers voted to build a new two

story building and used their present one for a warehouse. By May they were in the new building and

production exceeded sales. On July 1, 1910 production was shut down to let sales catch up. It never

did and the machines and inventory was sold to a Stoughton firm.

The building then became the Van Velzer Brothers Cigar Company and it was used for that for

almost 40 years. Washington C. Van Velzer along with his brother, Ferdinand P. began making cigars

in Delavan at 212 E. Walworth Street in 1877. According to the 1882 History of Walworth County,

some of their brands were “Cash”, “La Excellencia” and “La Pluma.” Their annual production was

200,000 cigars. In 1890 their most popular brand was La Delavana.

According to Beckwith’s history of the county, Washington continued making cigars until about

1948; he then made chewing tobacco until 1954. Local farmers grew tobacco for this operation; one

news story indicated in 1885 local production was 125 tons of leaf tobacco. W. C. Van Velzer was a

Justice of the Peace for Delavan in 1876, 1878, 1880 and 1881. He was a deputy sheriff. He also

served as secretary for the Delavan Comet Band. Ferdinand later got into the ice business.

.

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Van Velzer’s father, Philander Knapp, is praised in Beckwith’s History of Walworth County as one

of the area’s best known and highly honored citizens. He was born in New York. In 1836 he settled in

what is now part of the city of Lake Geneva and later moved to DeKalb County, Illinois. He and his

wife, Prudence, had ten children. Most of the children lived in Walworth County.

Later uses of the building included Delavan Window Co. in 1954 with owner, Len Weidner making

custom windows, J. H. Robertson glass devices firm, an antique shop, and now it is residential.

JAN’S HALLMARK STORE

You will find this store at 107 South 3rd Street in Delavan. The building was erected in the 1940s to

house Clarence Anderson’s Chevrolet-Oldsmobile showroom. It was a quonset hut which was

purchased from the U.S. Government after World War I.

After its life as an auto showroom it became the Delavan home of McCullough’s Drug Store. Its next

life became the Hallmark Store when Joe and Jan Bores purchased the property. Remodeling has

removed the arch of the Quonset hut. The Bores have pictures of the original structure and some of

the remodeling process.

The Brabazon Brothers had a wagon, carriage and sleigh shop on the property prior to it being owned

by Clarence Anderson. The 1907 Walworth County Plat Book has an ad for Brabazon and Langley. It

indicates they have farm implements and vehicles.

A letter from Dean Anderson:

[I have seen your Mystery Place blog entitled, “Card Shop was, at one time, a Quonset Hut. You are

incorrect and the “Card Shop” was not at one time a Quonset Hut. The Quonset hut that was on that

site prior to 1940 was removed when my father Clarence Anderson built his Chevrolet, Oldsmobile

and Cadillac agency at that location.

Prior to 1940 his auto business was directly across the street in the brick building where the

Laundromat is presently located. The building that Clarence constructed at 107 S. 3rd St., Delavan

included a complete auto dealership; showroom & offices, parts department and service area. Later

he purchased the property to the south at 109 S. 3rd where he installed a gravel drive next to his

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[garage] and constructed a body shop at the rear of that property. There was access to the body shop

from inside the garage in addition to from the outside drive. The body shop has been removed (the

foundation remains) but the house is still there and is the building where Don Rummel has his

Raggedy Andy store.

Both the garage and body shop were constructed with cement block walls The garage had an

engineered clear span dome roof that eliminated the need for supporting posts in the open service

area. For your information, a Quonset Hut does not have walls, but instead is a structure with a

continuous arc roof that goes from the ground on one side to the ground on the other. The Bores that

own the Card Shop are wrong in calling the building a “Quonset Hut”.

Quonset Hut denotes something significantly less than my father’s garage was. It is an insult. His

garage building was “state of the art” for auto dealerships in 1940. It was a place where I spent all

of my “growing” years and worked at almost every job a dealership offers beginning when I was in

junior high school. I strongly recommend that you correct what you are attempting in your blog.

Dean Anderson] [I do not have a blog. Any internet stories originate from the County Shopper.]

ALDER’S DEAN FOODS

Alder’s Dairy has had a long history in Walworth County. Before they came to Delavan at 903 E.

Geneva Street they had operated in Elkhorn beginning in 1921. That company was known as

Urbandale Dairy and was organized by Robert Alder, Sr. and Dallas E. Davis.

This business was centered around a herd of 100 Guernsey cows on a 200 acre farm. As one of the

first dairy operations to pasteurize their milk, they established a home delivery to patrons in Williams

Bay, Elkhorn and Delavan.

Soon the Alders became the sole operators of this business and their three sons, Robert Jr., George

and Ivan, joined them. In 1942 they teamed up with Dean Foods. In 1951 they came to their Delavan

location.

Robert, Sr. retired in 1957 and the operation continued under his three sons. Robert, Jr. retired in

1978. 1994 saw Ivan’s retirement. George and his wife, Mary Gene were an important part of the

operation until his retirement in 2006. Their daughter, Debra Alder Scherer then headed up the

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business. [This business now is closed.]

THE TREASURE HUT

You are looking at the Treasure Hut which is located at 6551 Hwy. 11 on the east side of Delavan.

Dick Hermann purchased this business in 1969. It was previously Nieman's Floral Shop.

Seven years ago Stacy and Kevin, Dick’s son, became the owners of the florist shop. However, Dick

is still often seen here at work. They sell flowers, plants, gifts and antiques.

This family owned company stresses that they will go the extra mile to make their customers happy.

The shop is open six days a week. Although their information indicates they are closed on Sunday,

Kevin did say they would open that day by appointment.

In looking at past plat books I discovered that W.W. owned the property in 1857. The 1873 Plat Book

shows N. M. as the owner. In 1891, the owner is listed as E. Moley. C. Wright is shown as the owner

in 1907. In 1930 the owner is listed as G. H. Wright. The 1966 Plat Book shows the owner of this

property as Rudolph Nieman.

STEBNITZ BUILDERS

You are looking at the building which now houses Stebnitz Builders. This is not a historic building

but the company spans three generations. It is currently located in the 1100 block of East Geneva

Street in Delavan, across the street from U S Bank.

In 1990 they built their building on Ann Street. Because of the down swing in home construction they

sold their building on Ann Street. They are currently renting part of the Bauer Glass building. This is

the building which is pictured. Part of this building also houses Keefe Realty Office, managed by

Mary Kilkenny, as well as Bauer Glass.

Stebnitz Builders was begun in 1972 by Stanley Stebnitz. In the beginning he worked out of his home

in the Delavan Inlet. He had three sons all of whom have worked at some time in this business. In

1985 his sons, David and Dan bought the business.

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David became a teacher. While he was in college, he worked for his father during the summer. He is

now retired.

Gary also was a college graduate. He came back to work in the business. He now has bought out part

of the business. You will see that in Delavan as Kustom Kitchen Designs Ltd.

Dan, the third son, remained with Stebnitz Builders. He more or less started full time in the business

after high school. He is in charge of sales and production. His daughter worked in the office for some

time. His son, Ryan, also worked for the company for a few years. He is now a firefighter in

Madison.

David's son, Chris, became the owner of the business in 2005. He is the sales and brand manager and

a certified aging-in-place specialist. As Dan told me, Chris helps keep the company in the 21st

century. Stebnitz Builders is a full service remodeling company.

Their tag line is "Perfecting the art of listening." Building good relations with their clients is very

important for them. They emphasize the importance of and their ability to listen to the needs and

concerns of their customers. They offer a five year guarantee for any of their work.

DELAVAN LAKES VETERINARY CLINIC

This clinic is located at 1107 Ann Street in Delavan. The clinic has been at this location since the

latter part of the 1990s. They have four veterinarians on the staff plus a groomer with over 25 years of

experience. In addition, a board certified surgeon is available and does routine surgery for the clinic.

The clinic offered surgery, radiology, ultrasonography, lab work, boarding and grooming. Pet

supplies are available.

The clinic works with Touched By a Paw in Whitewater, Fellow Mortals of Lake Geneva, House

Rabbit Society of Wisconsin, Lakeland Animal Shelter and Camp Timber Lee of East Troy. Their

motto is “A healthy pet is a happy pet.”

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RICHIE RODS

You are looking at the building which currently houses Richie Rods. It is located on South Second

Street in Delavan just north of the railroad tracks. It was the location of the Cold Process Co. which

made evaporated milk, dried milk and Frosty Ice Cream. The plant was closed in 1916 and later

became the property of Nestle.

Farmers in the area had a close market for their milk. A cheese factory was built in 1873 by a Mr.

Logan. The factory was a frame building 24 feet by 50 feet and two stories high. It could handle the

milk from about 300 cows.

After a few years he sold the plant to D. G. Cheever. In January of 1881 the factory was bought by J.

M. Weeks. According to the 1882 History of Walworth County, Weeks manufactured 15,877 pounds

of cheese in August, 1881. He used about 10 pounds of milk to make one pound of cheese. In fall of

that year he also made about 60 pounds of butter a day. Most of his product was shipped to the east

coast.

Another news article indicated that the Reid Ice Cream factory in Delavan was paying top dollar for

milk. In a listing of dairy plants in Walworth County for 1907-08 there were thirty nine creameries

listed, two cheese factories and five milk condensing factories. One of the latter plants listed was the

Delavan Milk Condensing Company owned by A. E. Hanson.