Name/Title
Photograph, Hotel, Exchange HotelDescription
Note: This was razed on September 7, 1977 to create a fire break between a massive fire on Main Street and a building with businesses.
Exchange Hotel, Waupun Village, August Spannagel, Prop. Fisher & Westevelt, Lessees. Drawing of the Exchange Hotel, from about 1863. Located at Washington and Fond du Lac Roads. The Museum collection has two of these pictures. On the back of the second is a complete early history, complete with genealogical information, regarding the Wilcox family. It is handwritten, and at this time, anonymous. "The Exchange Hotel--This was built by Seymour Wilcox in 1844. The name of the Hotel in 1844 was "The Old Stand." It was the second home of Seymour and his wife Lucy and their seven children. Thurston and Hermon, both born in Vergemres, Addison Co., Vermont, Mary Caroline (Wilcox) Brooks and George Silvias (Judd) were born in or near Clarkstown, Ontario, Canada, Emily Janet (WIlcox) Houghton born in Little Suamico, Wis., Nelson Newton born in DePere, Brown County, Wis., Ira Jason (1st white boy born in Waupun) all lived here until their new home, the 1st frame house was built in 1846. This house faced North Madison St. was about two or three lots north of the corner of Jackson St and at that time it was only a field. Seymour and Lucy had two more children after they moved into their 3rd home (and their last home). The two children were Thomas and Harriet. These two died very young and were buried in the "Old Cemetery" (now 1970) Wilcox Park, at corner of Watertown and Lincoln St. Their remains were never removed. Seymour died in the 1st frame house (built 1846) Jan. 17, 1879, had he lived until Jan 25th of the same year he and Lucy would have celebrated their Golden Wedding. THis house was burned down 1895 by their young grandson, April, 1895, Earl Newton Wilcox, age 7 yrs. was playing with matches, started a leaf fire under the back porch. The Nelson Newton Wilcox family was living in the old home caring for "Grandma Lucy" who was bedridden at the time of the fire, she was taken to the home of her daughter, Emily J. Houghton who then lived at the corner of No. Madison and Jackson St. in the small brick home still standing (1970) and now being used as a dentist office, owned by James J. Hendrick Dentist. At this home Lucy ((Newton) Wilcox passed away August 27, 1895. Both Seymour and Lucy (Newton) Wilcox are buried in Forest Mound Cemetery, Waupun, Fond du Lac Co., Wis. on their son's (Ira Wilcox) lot. Lucy (Newton) Wilcox was the daughter of Jason & Amy (Gage) Newton, Amy Gage was the daughter of George and M. (Dupper) Gage. George Gage was a Revolutionary soldier, as was his father William. Capt. William Gage. Capt. William's wife was Mercy Huddleton." Written in 1970 by UNKNOWN (perhaps someone whose great-aunt was the wife of Ira Jason Wilcox, Angeline Midaugh Wilcox.