Bio: Blunck, John/Laura –
Withee Livery/Hotel Business
Transcriber:
stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org
Surnames: Blunck, Calhoun, McKenzie, Fagan, Breitlow, Rusch
---------Source: Withee Centennial (Owen, Clark County, Wis.) 2001
Laura and John Blunck started business in Withee around 1920. My Dad bought
the livery business on Main Street and also rented and managed the Douphner
Hotel for a year in 1925-26 while the Douphners were away.
The livery stable was located where the Hardware Specialty was. My Dad had
several horses and buggies. The building was like a stable with an office.
My Uncle Bill Blunck worked for my father. My Dad would meet the passenger
trains, at that time the salesmen came on trains, then he would take them to
Redville, Clark, Longwood, Owen and Curtiss. They would stay at the hotel at
night and go somewhere else on the train the next day. I remember two of the
girls that worked at the hotel, Helen and Laura Bruchert. The goods that
were ordered came in by train also. A dray man would meet the train and
deliver the supplies.
My Dad also had a school bus that looked like a box car. A window in front
and back and also on the sides. A long bench was on each side for the kids
to sit on. I was very young then but he let me ride along in front with him.
There were runners on the bus in the winter so it was like going on a sleigh
ride. No heat, but everyone dressed warm. I remember a few of the kids'
names that rode the bus: Calhoun's, McKenzie's, Fagan's.
When people started getting cars the livery business was sold. I believe
part of the building was torn down and the Hardware Specialty was built in
front. I can remember it was very hard for my Dad to sell his beautiful
horses.
The hotel was sold and made into apartments. I can re-member the Breitlow
girls, Mildred and Norma (Rusch) had an apartment there so they could stay
in town to go to school. Several children found places in town to stay so
they could go to high school.
Then my folks bought the building south of the school and ran a restaurant,
sold some groceries, school supplies, ice cream and candy. That building was
sold and became the "Come and See Shop". Then the building was torn down and
the new Withee Bank was built there.
My Dad was Village President from April 1949 to April 1955, also in 1961 to
April 1963 and was on the county board many years.
By Vie Jailing
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