Poplar Inn

Introduction

Text-to-speech Audio

One of the oldest buildings in West Bend, this Cream City brick structure was original built around 1858 as a single home, probably by then property owner August Baer. It was converted to side by side homes around 1892, and by 1910 had revered to a single family residence. It remained a home until 1855 when businesses started using the space.

Images

The Poplar Inn. WCHS 021,347.

Backstory and Context

Text-to-speech Audio

The interior of the building boasts old beams with pegged construction, rather than nails. The building gets its name from George Irish. Although he did not build the building, a board with his name on it was found during renovations. Irish was was an early settler to the area who ran the sawmill. He probably cut the board used in construction and so his moniker was on the board.

By 1860 the Bauer family had sold the house to Jacob E. Mann. Mann was a Captain in the Union Army and ran an Inn out of the building. He sold it to Charles Fitnzer in 1869. In the 1880s, the County rented it for overflow storage from the Courthouse across the street and for storage while the current 1889 Courthouse was under construction. From the 1940’s on, the space has been used as offices, a tea room, and many restaurants.

Sources

Leadership West Bend Class of 2018. Historic Downtown West Bend Walking Tour. West Bend, Wisconsin. 2018.

Bradley, Kevin. "History of Poplar Street building unclear." The Daily News (West Bend) November 4th 2002.

Winkowski, Mary Beth. "Poplar Place." West Bend News (West Bend) . Unknown date. Access in the Washington County Research Center files.

Image Sources(Click to expand)

Unknown photographer. Original owned by the Washington County Historical Society.