Category Archives: Fire!

An Abridged Timeline: The Infamous Life of T. Charles Kobella and his Notorious Polski Hotel: , Part 1

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Blasphemy & Bicycles

Note that this work is incomplete.The timelines we write are meant to be fluid and changing. That is one of the reasons they are described as abridged. Not only do we not include all the details in them, but there is always more to find, and always more to write. Overtime more sources are found, more stories are heard, and more tips are followed until a full article is ready to be written.

Stevens Point lost an interesting landmark this past month, a building that is said to have quite the sordid past. The Belke Manufacturing Company building was razed recently, and rumors have been floating around about its history beyond the lumber company for many years. But none that told much of the story behind the building, or maybe we should say the story ‘inside’ the building.

The Belke Manufacturer Company building circa 2018, Courtesy of Tammy and Chris Larson

Just as our work on Amelia Berg began with Wendell Nelson, so does on our research on the history of Kobella’s Polish Hotel. We are grateful to him, as always, for his work before us and hope we are able to expound on his considerable research overtime. We only wish we had the opportunity to speak with him about this notorious Stevens Point building, and so many others, before he passed. Alas, we pick up, hopefully near where he left off.

Please enjoy the beginning of our research on the infamous T. Charles Kobella and the history of his notorious disorderly house, The Polski Hotel.

Theophilus Charles Kobella was born in Poland around 1864 and arrived in the states with his family in 1882. He likely came to the Portage County with his parents, John and Rosalie Kobella shortly after arrival. According to genealogy records, by 1887 he had found a wife. Charles married Augusta (Augustina) Hintz/Hinca, on a cold day in January at a small Catholic church in Polonia, when he was 23 and she just 17. Together they had at least six children, three who survived to adulthood, Martha, born 6 months after the wedding, John, and Frank. Rose and Peter didn’t survive infancy. At some point after marrying, the Kobella family moved to 203 Portage Street (today 701 Portage Street) and began their, at first seemingly normal, but later, quite infamous and often difficult twenty years in Stevens Point.

The area circa 1896. Historic Stevens Point Collection

June 1894 first known Stevens Point Daily Journal entry, Chas Kobella, 28, reported as fireman. He was hurt and bruised after being dragged by a team of horses while on the job. Kobella attempted to claim damages of $78.30, ($2,490.73 today) but it was rejected and disallowed by the Finance and Claims Committee.

1895-96 City Directory, ‘Kobila’ Charles, fire dept No 1, 203 Portage. He does not appear in previous editions

St Peters Church, before the fire. 1876-1896, PCHS Archives

October 1896, And so it begins… Kobella remained a member of the fire dept likely until he was arrested for stealing $20 ($636.20 today) in beer and wine from St Peter’s Church during a horrible fire on October 18, 1896. The original church building and adjacent properties were a total loss and a crushing blow to the Polish community. Kobella and the other gentleman involved pleaded not guilty and posted $100 bail each, the witness eventually dropped the suit, but the damage to his reputation was already done.

Feb 1897 Kobella builds a “gun and bicycle repair shop on North Second Street” with plans to open May 1. Bicycles were extremely poplar at the end of the decade due to the invention of the Safety bike with chain. Over 150 bicycle manufactures existed across the nation at the time so a bicycle repair shop would not have been a bad business venture. “He is now engaged in erecting a two story frame building 18×26 feet, just north of the slough. The upper story is to be finished off for living rooms.”

1898 Sanbon Fire Insurance Map

June 1897 Ad for bicycle repair appears in SPDJ, Hans Nielson, in the basement of 245 N Second Street

June 1897, SPDJ

Nov 1897 Kobella family is living in a one story house at the corner of Portage and West Street, there was a small fire that began in the cellar of the property which was reported in the papers

701 Portage Street today. West Street can be seen to the right, which has been a dirt alley like road for decades. Clipped from Google Images 2021, circa 2019

Dec 1897, uh oh, Little Martha ‘Kobiela’ is first on the list for tardy first graders in the Fourth Ward, but manages to be “promoted to Second Grade, in June of 1898.

1900 City Directory, ‘Kobela’ T. Charles, bicycle repair, res 245 N 2nd‘

1900 Census lists, Charles, 34, Gusta 30, Martha 12, John, 9, Frank 5, Peter 1, and servant Katie Worzela 17, notes that Gusta has birthed 6 children and only 4 are living. Peter died young and does not appear in 1905 records, nor the 1910 census.

April 1900 Ad in SPDJ for ‘Kobela & Raizner’ Bicycles, Hardware, Musical Instruments, 121 S Second Street, where The Cabin bar is located today.

April 1900, SPDJ

May 1900, Kobella wheel stolen by woman who said she was going to Plover, but went to Mosinee and did not return it!

Aug 1900 Kobella charged with assault, first known recorded incident. A drunk man had caused some issues in Kobella & Raizner’s bike shop on S Second Street. The man swore in front of Kobella’s wife and young daughter, as well as a female patron. Kobella asked him to leave several times eventually throwing him out by the shoulders. The man claimed he was kicked in the stomach, but no one could corroborate the story. Kobella pleaded not guilty, and the case was dismissed.

Sept 1900 Jas. Pusdrowski paid a $50 fine for a Sept 15th assault on Charles Kobella

Sept 23, 1900, Kobella placed ad in SPDJ that he “has removed [his business] from Bishop’s block to 233 N Second Street, first building north of the Slough bridge.” This is the only time this address is used.

Sept 23, 1900, SPDJ

Oct 1901, Another wheel stolen from Kobella, 245 N Second Street. He placed ad with a description of the bike hoping for its return.

Mar 1902, Kobella opens a bicycle livery and repair shop on Clark Street at the rear of Strong’s barber shop with Cychoz, likely John Cychoz, Clark Street near Third

March 1902, SPDJ

Nov 1902 Kobella begins an addition to his building on N Second Street

1903-04 City Directory, Kobela T. Charles (T. C Kobela & Co) bicycle repairs, 247 N 2nd, Leon Kobela listed as barkeep at same residence.  

Aug 1903, Kobella announces that he will “embark in the hotel business and will cater especially to the Polish trade.” He had the “old Ciecholinski blacksmith shop moved from Portage Street” to the back of his building near the incline of the Slough to become a hotel stable.

Kobella’s new hotel at 245-247 N Second Street was soon to become a popular address, some would say, for all the wrong reasons…

Sanborn Fire Insurance Map 1904,

Note: Kobella is spelled a variety of ways, we chose to use this spelling for uniformity as it is most commonly used in records and in both Augusta’s and Charles’ obituaries.

Watch for Part 2 coming soon!

An Abridged Timeline Part 1: Madame Extraordinaire, Amelia Berg

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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.

What Amelia Berg may have looked like

Early years before 1895

Sanborn Fire Insurance Map 1884

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.

Sanborn Fire Insurance Map 1891

1895: The First Year

1895 Wisconsin State Census

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: JJ Bukolt’s Pleasure Yacht, The Nymphea

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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.

HSPC
Stevens Point Journal Photo

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.

Stevens Point Journal Photo

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.

Stevens Point Journal

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