Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1923-05-30
The Wisconsin House.

AC HAoSOuS1A I1OUSG was Du11C DX
Henderson and Bell in 1843, so years
ago. 1t was built for a hotel Celes-
tin Kaltenbach moved up from Van
Buren, and became the first landlord
OF the hotel. The basement was used
as kitchen, be it remembered that
the street was not then filled as it is
now, and the creek that yet flows was
below the basement At the time Of
the big flood of June 1852, the base
ment was filled with water. An i'm
mense hole in front of the hotel
caused by the flood required tons OF
rock and dirt to fill The first floor
OF the building was used as office and
dining rooms, and the second story
for bed rooms. The partitions of the
second story were partly made to fold
and in case of a private dance the
furniture was removed, the partitions
folded back, then a fine hall, the
length of the building was in view,
and many early social dances was in
dulged in by the young as well as the
older people of the long ago days. In
the early fitfies the building ceased
to be a. hotel. The first story rooms
were converted into store roome, and
the second story into apartment
rooms. Robert Templeton opened up
a general store in the south part of
the building, and DR.. Ben Armstrong
drug store in the north part. Dr.
Armstrong and family lived in rooms
in the second story, where he died in
1856. Armstrong was succeeded in
the drug store business by man by
the name of Bristol, and he by Rich
ard Armstrong. The north end of
the building was for many years used
for drug stores conducted by differ
ent parties.
Thomas r. Seaton was for a time
proprietor of the drug store and when
appointed Deputy United States Rev
enue Collector for this district, he
held his Office in connection with the
store. Mr.. Seaton subsequently re-
moved to Boscobel, and after many
years in business there he returned
to Potosi and again took charge of
the drug store, succeeding his BROTH
er-ih-law, E. S. Rockwell.
The south part of the building was
occupied principally by general
stores. Robert Templeton was the
first man open store in this end of
the noted building. Then Templeton
and Visscher formed partnership
and continued the business until they
sold out to Isaac P. Large. Large
eloped with a pretty Potosi French
girl, leaving wife and family be-
hind Others who conducted stores
in this end were E. M. Hoyt & Co.,
H. P. e ~ Bell, James w. Seaton,
Henry w. Wright, and possible
others.
Mickey Bros. of GAINESVILLE, who ran
a chain of dry goods stores in Wiscon-
sin, temporarily occupied the store
room whenever it happened to be va
cant, which was frequent. The sec
ond story was converted into apart
ment rooms.
The last occupants of the first
story were j. A. Seaton & Co., drugs,
etc, in the west part, and the post
office in the second'part.
The historical old building after
standing rs years, went down in the
fire of June, 1918. Two modern one
story buildings have since been
erected on the lot, ose by J. A. Sea-
ton, the other by Joseph P. OFT.
Other Historical Buildings.
In the great number of years in the
history of the village of Potosi, there
stood, until the fire of 1918, one
story frame building adjoining the
Wisconsin ohouse, that was at very
early period built by man by the
name of Goodsell. This ancient old
building during it's existence was oc-
cupied for various purposes. In the
early ffties an old German named
Bernard Kistler, occupied it as a
watch, clock and jewelry repair shop.
He subsequently removed to Platte
Vile. What the building was used
~ Nv ic+I a1s
l am unable to learn. In later years
James w. Seaton after retiring from
the mercantile business used the
building as a law office. Following
Mr. Seaton's death some years ago,
it became a barber shop and Joe OFT
was it's last occupant.
Adjoining the Goodsell building
there stood another one-story frame
structure erected by some one I'M
known to the writer. John Swale in
the early fifties conducted tin shop
in the building. 1t afterward be-
came a drug store, owned and occu-
pied by Charles knight. 1t was for
many years used as town office and
later by Joseph Gross, g. pioneer boot
and shoe maker. 1t was some years
later purchased by DR.. Thomas b.
Ennor, who dismantled it and built a
handsome one-story frame on the lot.
DIR. Ennor, prior to his death used it
as his Office After the death OF DR..
Ennor it was occupied by doctors
James and John McGoven and others
of the profession. 1t also went up in
smoke in the fire of 1918.
The lots where stood the last two
mentioned buildings stand vacant,
and are ornamented with all kinds OF
noxious weeds.
Adjoining on the north there stood
a two-story brick building erected by
Thomas l.. Hammond at very early
date and occupied by him as har-
ness and saddle shop. 1t was at this
building where the big fire OF 1918
originated. Mr.. Hammond moved to
a new frame building adjoining the
Mallette building, and afterward the
brick building was occupied for va
rious purposes. 1t was one time a
saloon. The second story was used
as an apartment. Previous and at
the time of the fire. Mrs. Sarah Swaie
conducted a restaurant and confee-