An Abridged Timeline Part 2: Madame Extraordinaire, Amelia Berg

Posted on March 21, 2021 by stevenspointhistorian

This timeline is a work in progress. It is the initial first step in the process to create an article on what is known on the notorious Amelia Berg over the course of her time in Stevens Point, expounding on Wendell Nelson's previous work. We found Amelia's story so sensational that we could not help but share our progress with you. Mrs. Berg has already proven to be an interesting character of Stevens Point's past, but honestly, the story is just getting started. Please enjoy this next selection of our timeline on the life and literal trials of Madame Extraordinaire, Amelia Berg.

Mathias Mitchell Public Square circa 1895. Amelia Berg’s “boarding house” was just a block down to the left from the Curran House which is pictured in the back to the right. Amelia’s place would be behind the brick building at the left.
PCHS/UWSP archives circa 1895

After an eventful 1895, the year of 1896 was quiet in the newspapers for Amelia Berg and her “boarding house.” the next few years, however would not be quite as quiet.

1897 Slipping Through the Cracks

March 13, 1897. Amelia Berg sought out the protection of the “district attorney, city attorney and the sheriff.” She reported that two young men broke one of her windows at midnight on Friday. She chased them through the street barefoot, but police would not make arrests because they did not witness the crime.

June 1897 Ole Berg was granted a new liquor license “providing that all connection between his saloon and a questionable resort next door be dispensed with.”

Aug 23 1897 Amelia arrested again! Police again raided her brothel on First Street. When Amelia “opened the door and found that her caller was the chief of police, she tried to shut it in his face.” Jessie Ross was arrested and fined $24.50 for fines and costs. This was Amelia’s second arrest for “keeping a house of ill fame.” Two young men were also found in the house and arrested as well. Court costs and fines came to $13.50 each. Amelia paid a bond of $150.

Sept 2 1897 Amelia Berg’s case adjourned until Sept 4. “Mrs. Berg was arrested on the night of Aug 23, charged with keeping a disorderly house.” JH Brennan for the Defendant and FB Lamoreux for the city.

Sept 4 1897 Amelia Berg trial, charged with keeping a bawdy house, Six witnesses for the city, four for the defense. Adjourned until the following Monday.

Sept 6 1897 SET FREE! Amelia Berg freed due to technicality of the rescheduled date being set on a legal holiday, all charges dropped! And the Madame Amelia Berg “slipped out of the meshes of the law.”

1898 Her Own Niece Takes Her to Court

Jan 1898 Sanborn Map shows a saloon at 126 Clark Street and a boarding house at 114 S First, later listed as 115 S. First. The connecting building between the two is gone. The Commercial Hotel is now Hotel McGregor.

July 1898 Signe Anderson, niece of Amelia Berg, who came from Norway at Amelia’s request, took Amelia to court accusing her of refusing to return her clothes when she had moved out. Signe said Amelia owed her $5 for a watch, too. Settlement for the plaintiff.

1899 The Woitals

Aug 24, 1899 Matilda “Tillie” Michalksi Woital was arrested at the complaint of her husband for “being an inmate of a house of ill fame.” Tillie had been staying at Mrs Berg’s “boarding house.” He wanted “her to stay at home and do the housework, cook his meals and the like, but she says the living is too poor up there and that she prefers city life.” The Woitals were living in the Town of Hull (some reports of Town of Dewey) near Casimir. Apparently, Tillie left and took a job working as a cook at the Hotel McGregor across the street from Mrs. Berg’s, maybe finding it convenient to rent a room from her. But according to her husband, his runaway wife was also working for Berg in her house of disrepute. Tillie pleaded guilty and told to pay $15 in fines and costs or sit 30 days in jail. Amelia Berg paid her fine. Tillie was arrested again in October, but this time her husband paid her fine. She was sent back home to live with him but slipped out when she was given money for groceries and ended up back in the city and then in Waupaca. Soon after she filed for divorce.

Dec 1899 MURDER! Shooting in front of Citizen’s Bank! Woital shot his wife in broad daylight! She had come to Stevens Point from Waupaca to see her lawyer regarding divorcing her husband. She was staying again at Amelia Berg’s place. Tillie and Daisy Clark had just walked out of Brill’s store on Main Street when Constantine came up behind them and shot Tillie in the back of the neck. The bullet came to a rest just under the left of her jaw, taking a tooth with it. The paper provided a quite the gruesome description of the wound and event. Woital was apprehended almost immediately. It is reported that he said, “he was sorry he had not killed his wife and did not see how he missed hitting her directly in the back of her head or neck, as he intended,” but later denied saying it. Matilda Michalksi Woital was taken to the Bergs’ where she died 4 days later. She was about 23 years old. Woital was her second husband. He was charged with murder.

Dec 8, 1899 Stevens Point Daily Journal, Tillie was called Helen in the initial newspaper reports. This use of the name was never explained.

Much sensationalism followed with the trial throwing Ameila Berg even more in the spotlight. She testified along with Daisy Clark, one of Berg’s regular girls. Daisy was living in the brothel during the time that Tillie had been staying there and she, of course, was there when Tillie was shot. Constantine Woital was found guilty and convicted and sentenced to life in prison. He was shipped off to Waupun where he died in 1906 of gangrene.

In 1899 Ole and Amelia stopped living together according to an article regarding their divorce. Maybe the ordeal with the Woitals proved to be too much for the Bergs.

Downtown Main Street Stevens Point featuring Citizen’s Bank on the right. Portage County Historical Society/ UWSP Archives

Watch for Part 3 of our abridged timeline on the ever sensational life of the industrious notorious Mrs. Amelia Berg.

An Abridged Timeline Part 1: Madame Extraordinaire, Amelia Berg

Posted on March 15, 2021 by stevenspointhistorian

With lumbermen and river pilots filling the saloons on the Public Square during the latter part of the 19th Century, ladies of the lamplight were sure to follow. Amelia Berg, later known as Stevens Point’s “Madame Extraordinaire,” ran the town’s most famous brothels and has quite the story to follow. She kept her house of ill fame on S First Street, just off the square where Water Street runs today. Her husband, Ole Berg, conveniently ran a saloon next door on the corner of Clark and S First Street.

In the early 1990s late local historian Wendell Nelson wrote about his initial research on Mrs. Amelia Berg in the book, Portage County Shadows, edited by Janet Menzel Jurgella. He mentions in his musings that his work is incomplete and there is more research to be done. In honor of Women’s History Month we have had our heads buried in research putting together an in depth full length post on Mrs. Berg based on Nelson’s original research. Please enjoy Part 1 of our initial abridged timeline describing the life and literal trials of the notorious Amelia Berg. This is a work in progress.

Early years before 1895

1857 Ole C Berg born in Norway according to Census reports

1881 Ole Berg immigrated to the US per 1910 census records, it is not known where he originally settled.

It is unknown when Amelia was born or if or when she immigrated.

1884 Ole and Amelia married in Scandinavia according to an article regarding her divorce in 1905. It is not clear if that was Scandinavia in Wisconsin or Europe, but it is assumed that it is Wisconsin. No other documentation has been found yet.

1884 Sanborn Map shows a Flour and Feed Warehouse at 122 S First street, connected to a grocery and provisions store at 114 S First Street

1885 A gas street lamp was put up at the Corner of Clark and First

1891 Sanborn Map shows same Flour and Feed Warehouse at 122 and Grocery and Provisions at 114

By 1891 the Commercial Hotel is built across the way on the south east corner of Clark and S First Streets

1892-93 first mention in City Directory, Ole Berg, laborer, res Superior nr Central Ave, no mention of Amelia or spouse, Ole would have been about 35 years old.

1895: The First Year

1895 Much of 100 block on Clark Street was sold to the railroad for expansion, but the building at the south west corner, 126 Clark, remained.

Until 1895, 126 Clark Street is listed on maps as a Feed Warehouse which was connected by way of S First Street to a Grocery and Provisions store at 114 S First Street. Have not been able to identify original owner.

1895 Wisconsin State Census, Ole Berg is listed as living in Stevens Point, accounts for 1 other in household. Photo clip above.

1895 City Directory lists a saloon under the name of Ole Berg, corner Clark and S First

May 29, 1895 Bergs mentioned as owning the property on S First Street in article regarding paving the Public Square

June 18 1895, first mention of Ole Berg being granted a saloon license, Stevens Point Daily Journal

Aug 7, 1895 ARSON! At Ole Berg’s residence. A passerby noticed smoke and alerted Mr. Berg. Ole Berg’s house is described as “located on First Street, about midway between Main and Clark streets.” A hole was found in the siding about four feet from the ground, and another smaller one made to give air to the fire. The fire was started inside the walls. The smell of kerosene was “plainly noticeable.” Mrs. Berg was out of town at the time, “visiting relatives in the country.”

Oct 24 1895 Another arson was reported at a the home of James Murphy at 351 Fourth Ave. Three auger holes filled with kerosene and saturated rags lit with matches. Family woken by smell of smoke. Children mentioned running to the fire station.

Oct 30 1895 First Ameila Berg raid, midnight raid at “maison de joie” “Anna Thompson and Ida Davis are given the option of leaving the city in twenty four hours or taking sixty days in jail. “They took the latter” Contradicted by the Gazette who say they left town, which they may have as their names are never mentioned in conjunction with Mrs. Berg again.

Jan 1896 Chief of Police and Mayor declared war on disorderly houses which were apparently becoming a major issue in Stevens Point

Watch for Part 2 of our timeline on Madame Extraordinaire, Amelia Berg!

An Abridged Timeline: The Nymphea Becomes the Showboat

Posted on February 22, 2021 by stevenspointhistorian

Life as the Showboat

*this story is a work in progress

The Nymphea was purchased by ambitious entrepreneur, Jeff Jones, in 1930 for use as a lunch counter at his newly proposed cabin campground. Jones, a Milwaukeean, bought property on Second Lake where he first built a “modernized” cottage for himself and family. He later intended to build a private road and other cabins for a resort type style property. The land already boasted a private power plant and spring fed well for fresh water. To reach it’s new home the retired Nympea was moved by river to Second Lake and then hauled up to the hill near a main road about 6 miles northwest from Stevens Point.

“Decorated in colors of red and yellow and equipped with gasoline pumps to match, tables, ice cream, cold drink, and light lunch dispensaries, the boat… serves as a stopping place for autoists.” Jones named his new lunch counter, The Showboat.

While going through his grandmother’s things, Thomas Becher found an amazing photo negative of the Showboat as the original refreshment stand. The photo is likely circa early to mid 1930s before the cabin building was added. Note the car on the right and the barn roof in the back ground. Deerwood Coffee served here! Deerwood Coffee was produced by the Copps Coffee Company in Stevens Point from 1917- 1948.

Over the next decade there are a number of news stories about the Showboat baseball team and games held at the diamond behind the building. The team must have brought people out to the remote spot bringing popularity with them. It looks like the team had done well with Jones as their regular manager over the years.

Tragedy struck in 1938 when a Milwaukee boy drowned in Second Lake on the Showboat property. This was the second death associated with the boat. There was much press about the incident and it is possible that Jones left town after. He is not mentioned in local papers after that time and it is noted that the next owner purchased the property from the First National Bank so it’s possible Jones may have lost the property. The sale consisted of the family cabin, the Showboat itself, and 27 acres of land. It appears Jones never did complete his cabins.

Jeff's Showboat open for the summer of 1932

In 1939 an ad ran in the newspaper mentioning a new proprietor, Anton Kruzitski. The same year his name appears applying for a liquor license. Kruzintski seems to only be involved for the one year. He is mentioned as the new manager of the Showboat baseball team in May 1940 as well, but not after.

A post card mailed in the 1940s lists Mr. & Mrs. Eders as owners. John and Mary Ann Eders purchased the property in 1939 and moved their family from Glidden in September. By the time this photo is taken the boat seems to have been moved completely around and an addition added. The signage has completely changed as well. It is unknown if Jeff Jones built the cabin addition, but it is likely since he had intended to build other cabins on the lake. The gas pumps were also from the time of Jones. Note the sign that mentions credit cards.

John Eder Showboat, Chicken Booya - — Stevens Point Daily Journal, September 1940

Locals mention remembering Tom Eder running the bar in the 50s with his parents. Mary Ann died in 1959. After Mary Ann’s death John moved to Milwaukee and remarried. It seems the bar was passed to Tom. John later came back to Stevens Point passing at the age of 94. Tom committed suicide on his sister’s farm in December of 1964. He was 43. His obituary mentions that he had recently sold the bar.

Ed & Millie's Showboat Dev 1973 - — Stevens Point Daily Journal, December 1973

Ed and Millie Hojnacki were the ones who had purchased the property from Tom. Many locals remember Millie today. Per her obit, “Millie owned and operated the Showboat Tavern in Junction City for many years and later worked at Del Monte in Plover. She enjoyed gambling, going to the South Point Restaurant and the chicken wings at Rusty’s Backwater Saloon.” Mille died in 2013 at age 82. Ed committed suicide at age 58 in 1985.

Don and Rosie Widman bought the property from Millie in 1979 and owned it until 1982. Later the tavern was owned by Roy and Judy Churchill. Today the property is known as Donna’s Showboat.

It isn’t documented when the boat became built into the building. Some say it slowly disappeared, eventually consumed by the building, and t is part of the walls today.

This is an unfinished piece.

If you have any information on the Showboat building and property please contact us! We are always happy to hear from you to “get the story straight!” Sometimes the best information comes right from our readers. Thank you!

contact@historicstevenspoint.com

An Abridged Timeline: JJ Bukolt’s Pleasure Yacht, The Nymphea

Posted on February 22, 2021 by stevenspointhistorian

In April 1916 the riverboat Nymphea was built for JJ Bukolt by his employees in his Automatic Cradle Factory. It was the largest pleasure boat on the river at the time in the area, could carry 80 passengers, had a kitchen and a toilet on board. It is often referred to as Bukolt’s yacht in the papers.

Official Gala Launch, July 3rd 1916 (pictured): Several hundred people attended the event. The boat was hauled by horse and cart to the river at the end of Main Street and launched into the Wisconsin River.

July 15, 1916: The boat caught fire 2 weeks after maiden voyage causing significant damage, but not sinking the boat. The fire was blamed on oily rags tucked under the rear deck at the back of the engine that apparently had spontaneously combusted. The cabin was the most damaged, but the hull was sound. The fire was reported in numerous Wisconsin Newspapers. The watercraft was immediately cleaned up and put back to work with in two days. Papers mention that is was chartered for a picnic the next day, it unlikely made that date since they didn’t have it back in the water until Sunday. That day it is said the boat ferried 500 people to an island event.

In the fall of 1916 The Nymphea was pulled in to be dismantled and rebuilt of over the winter at Bukolt’s factory.

Summer of 1917: Bukolt’s riverboat was rebuilt with a Ford Model T engine. The ship was enlarged and specialties were added. A player piano was brought on board and a 12 foot deck with a canopy was added at the stern giving the Nymphea a classic riverboat appearance. Once again the boat was launched into the Wisconsin River.

The Nymhea was used as transportation for many picnics and events that were held on Martin’s Island and at Waterworks Park. There are numerous mentions of it’s use in the newspapers. It seems Bukolt was generous with his boat and often lent it for use to ferry riders to the islands.

In July 1917, a 9 boy drowned while waiting for the Nymphea at the dock at the end of Main Street. He was playing with friends, slipped, and fell into the water. None of them could swim and efforts made to save the boy were too late. It is the only known death associated with the boat while it was still on the water.

In November of 1919 The Nymphea almost went over the Consolidated dam but was luckily saved by paper mill employees when they shut the damn gates slowing the water. It is said that the boat hovered over the edge of the water fall and was pulled to safety with the use of a pole. It This is one of the last articles mentioning the boat.

The Nymphea seems to disappears from the papers after the fall of 1923 with no mention of it being permanently docked or why. John J Bukolt died in 1929. But that is not where the story of the legendary riverboat ends.

Follow the story with the second part of the time line here

The Emerson School Property Part 4: A New Start

Posted on February 19, 2021 by stevenspointhistorian

This is the final installation of the Emerson School Property Series

Photo courtesy of Dave Simonis,
circa early 2000

Nearly a decade after complaints were raised about the aging structures on Clark Street, a new vocational school was completed on Michigan Avenue in 1962. An incredibly modern building, the new facility was welcomed by the city. The vocational school moved to the new building and vacated the ailing 19^th century property slated for demolition.

By 1962 fresh dirt covered the ground where the original imposing red brick Queen Anne structure once stood. No sign was left of the decrepit 40-year-old temporary barracks. Some of the space was paved over for parking and on the Reserve Street side of the property playground equipment was eventually installed.

During the 1960s the Annex continued to be used by the junior high. As Stevens Point’s population continued to increase, classroom space was again needed. Benjamin Franklin Junior High opened the fall of 1968, and later, in 1970, a new up to date three-year high school opened, today’s Stevens Point Area Senior High. That same year Emerson’s seventh and eighth grades moved to the PJ Jacobs building to join the freshmen, and Emerson began life as an elementary school for grades three through six, with the younger students attending nearby Jefferson Elementary.

Circa 1980s. Note the stone with in front on the left near the flag pole. It had a plaque donated by the graduating class of 1907. The location of the stone is unknown to author today. Photo source unknown.

In 1982 the property changed hands from the City of Stevens Point to the newly independent Stevens Point School District and usage shifted. The building sat vacant for a bit. It was later used by Jefferson Elementary students while an expansion was added to their school. Various extracurricular activities were held at the building over this time like aerobics classes, wresting practice and tap dance lessons. Emerson hosted its final students over the course of the last decade in the 20^th century. During 1991- 2001 it was used for the growing SPASH Alternative Programs which had moved from the old Grant Elementary School, another building slated for the wrecking ball. Parts of the Emerson facility were off limits during that time due to safety concerns. The aging building was nearing its end.

Note the fencing in front of the school. This photo was taken most likely after a condemn order was imposed. Circa 2002. Photo Source unknown.

The final 79-year-old brick structure was demolished in 2002. Long gone were the days of cramped classrooms, the barracks and basketball at the Parish House and Normal School. “The large smoke stack [sic]…tumbled with one hit to the center by a massive crane…” and thus ended the 109-year era of public school buildings on the property.

Over the course of a century, the Emerson property served the area’s students well. It is only right that after nearly 20 years of vacancy that the land continues to serve the children of the city in one of the best ways known, as a public park with space to grow and be free.

For more information on the project plans for this property please see Friends of Emerson Park and consider making a donation

Read Part 1 here / Read Part 2 here / Read Part 3 here / Read Part 4 here

Sources Used

Stevens Point Daily Journal
Portage County Gazette
Stevens Point High School yearbooks
Emerson High School yearbooks
Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps
Personal accounts

Historic Stevens Point

Stevens Point History

Author Archives: stevenspointhistorian

An Abridged Timeline Part 2: Madame Extraordinaire, Amelia Berg

An Abridged Timeline Part 1: Madame Extraordinaire, Amelia Berg

An Abridged Timeline: The Nymphea Becomes the Showboat

An Abridged Timeline: JJ Bukolt’s Pleasure Yacht, The Nymphea

The Emerson School Property Part 4: A New Start

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