Name/Title
Business, Histories, Hotel, Brief History of Early Waupun HotelsDescription
Brief History of Early Waupun Hotels: Prepared by Edith Moul Scott, June 1959. Page 2.
1848: The Boston House, built by Calvin Carrington and sometimes called the Carrington House. It was located on the present site of the Classic Theater, corner of Washington and Carrington streets. Mr. Carrington conducted a stage depot in connection with the hotel, and previous to the coming of the railroad in 1856, it was not unusual to see twenty or more stages leave there daily.
According to the 1858 Directory of Waupun, we find additional hotels listed, probably opened before 1858.
OHIO HOUSE, Joshua Crawford, proprietor. He was the grandfather of the former president Warren G. Harding. The Ohio House was located on Washington Street, west of the railroad tracks. In 1865, S. C. Hills took over the hotel and renamed it the Western House. The Building houses several occupants in Apartments 11-13-15 West Main Street, at the present time.
NEW YORK HOUSE, Proprietor D. Brown. Located on the corner of State and Franklin streets. By 1868, the NEW YORK HOUSE had been taken over by Charles Simpson and renamed SImpson House. At a later date, Mrs. H. A. Simpson managed it. It was later sold to Christian Johnson, who made it into an apartment house. This house is still in use.
MILWAUKEE HOUSE, Mr. William Kreutzberger proprietor in 1858. Mr. Christian Johnson also purchased this hotel and made an apartment house. It is located at 21 N State Street and is still occupied.
KIMBALL HOUSE, 1871 A. B. Kimball, proprietor. Located on Washington Street.
In the 1876 directory some new names were listed, without the time of their opening.
THE BENNETT: J. T. Bennett, proprietor. It was located on S. Mill Street, just south of the old National Bank Building.
GASTHAUS: Phillip Kramer. It was located only a short distance west of the railroad tracks. It was burned before the second Gasthaus was built.
GASTHAUS: C. Hanisch. It was later known as the Commercial Hotel and was managed by Oscar Hanisch. It is still used today at 12 W. Main Street.
THE ROBBINS HOUSE: James Robbin Proprietor.
1886: THE REYNOLDS HOUSE: D. C. Reynolds, proprietor. Located on the site of the Chevrolet garage, 116 E. Main Street. IT was bough by Horace Shipman and managed by his brother Henry. After the late 1880s, Mr. and Mrs. John W. Blaisdell, known as Ma and Pa Blaisdell, took it over, renaming it the Brunswick Hotel.
1890--NATIONAL HOTEL, now the Hotel Waupun. Was built by the National Hotel COmpany, consisting of G. W. Mitchell, G. F. Wheeler, and L. D. Hinckley. Mr. and Mrs. P. Keuchenburg, as host and hostess for many years, were famous for their hospitality and good cooking.