City Hall & Garage

Located where the current City Garage stands, once stood a large one story frame store building that was occupied by Samuel Wilson, an early pioneer merchant. Previous to this Wilson had been a clerk for D. A. McKenzie. He purchased the stock of merchandise from parties (names unknown) who in 1840 were doing business in this building. Wilson continued in business until his death in 1856. He was a particular friend of Latimer, the attorney, who was killed by Glouster in a duel on the street of Potosi in 1845. Latimer died in the arms of Wilson.

This old building was torn down by David Banfield in 1870, who at that time erected a stone barn at the foot of the hill back of the old store building which withstood the fire in 1916. It has since been removed. A buggy shed was built in front of the barn and that also went down in the fire of 1916.

In the very earliest days of Potosi, Jonathan Huey conducted a saloon in a log cabin near where the stone barn once stood. He later moved into a frame building on the street. He continued doing business here until he failed, and then Conrad Kaltenbach bought the place and moved his hardware store into the frame building. An addition was made in the rear for a tin shop. Mr. Kaltenbach continued business here for many years in this building, and later retired with a fair income.

H. E. Coons succeeded Mr. Kaltenbach to the business and was occupying the old building until it went down in the fire of 1916. The Vogelsberg garage was built upon the lot soon afterwards. The building later housed the Potosi Volunteer Fire Department and today is the City Garage.

A three-foot alleyway between the Huey saloon and Wilson's store was used by Sunday patrons to the back entrance of the Clark and Woods' saloon, later owned by Coons. This was done for at intervals the front entrance to saloons were closed. There was also a four foot space between Simon E. Lewis' store building and the Clark and Woods' saloon. The front part of the saloon building was used for other purposes, with a stairway leading to the upper story.

Some time in the forties, Myron Patterson, an early arrival to Snake Hollow, began the construction of a large building adjoining the Huey saloon. About the time he had the foundation completed, his funds gave out, and not receiving financial aid that he was depending on, the building proposition was abandoned. The foundation for about twenty years stood as an eyesore to the inhabitants.

In 1864 Celestin Kaltenbach built a two-story stone store building on this foundation, it still being in good condition. Mr. Kaltenbach continued doing a general merchandise business at this location until he retired from active business. He still retained the post office.

The building was afterward converted into a grist mill by Peacock and Downs. After a few years this proved an unprofitable venture and the mill business was given up.

Andrew Kern of Ellenboro, bought the building with the intention of doing milling, but this he abandoned. In 1877 he bought a lot of Centennial furniture and bedding that he brought to Potosi and stored in this stone building. Some of this he disposed of at auction, and the remainder was destroyed by a mysterious fire.

The city then purchased the building for a hall and engine room. The second story walls were damaged by the fire to such an extent that it was unsafe for use. Therefore the walls were removed down to the first story walls, and the second story was replaced by a frame structure several feet longer, that made it a handsome and commodious hall, equipped with a stage, scenery and chairs.

On the main level an office and engine room, with a calaboose (jail) in the rear was constructed. It was in here that the fire of 1916 originated, started by an unfortunate man who was confined for the night, and was burned to death before his cries for help were heard. Located too in this building was the large hand-brake fire apparatus which also perished and hence hampered extinguishing the blaze.

Adjacent to the hall once stood an old frame building that was used for a saloon and ten-pin alley that was conducted by many different persons. Warren Dailey, a former circus clown, ran the establishment for some time until the outbreak of the Civil War. He soon after returned to being a circus clown. Chris Scheppell, who afterward removed to Dubuque, and operated a grist mill there, was the last man to run this saloon and ten-pin alley. The old building was taken down and removed many years ago.