The newspapers include The Farm and Fireside, The New York Weekly Witness, and a paper from Wisconsin published in Milwaukee. The newspapers line the wall at the bottom of a stairwell in what once was the blacksmith shop.
Up the stairwell built into the south wall was a wood panel from a shipping crate stamped Barton, Wis. On the far corner of the panel was a small-case letter ‘r.’
According to the book Josiah Taylor (1754-1838) by Linda Taylor Stark it appears the blacksmith shop where the crate was found was once home to a Charles and his brother John Roots Taylor.
The flowing paragraphs are from Taylor Stark’s book.
“Charles was a carpenter and the two brothers erected a building in which they housed boarders for four years. They also started a blacksmith shop and made wagons. Later, Mr. Taylor was a dealer and sold farm machinery.
His first blacksmith work of any importance in the West Bend area was the iron works on the first gristmill. The Blacksmith trade was very hard and complicated work. He manufactured his own horseshoe nails and many other articles which were needed in the blacksmith shop. He shod all the oxen in the County within a 25-mile radius.
John Roots Taylor took a $10 premium at the State Fair for the best pair of horseshoes. His wagons and blacksmith work were well known in many states, getting orders from Michigan, Illinois, Iowa and Minnesota for bob sleighs and wagons. His manufactured vehicles were hauled to Allenton to be shipped by rail.
John purchased most of the poperty situated behind Lots 2,3 and 4 from Barton Avenue to the Milwaukee River and that is where his farm was located. The house they occupied still stands on the corner of Barton Avenue and Roosevelt Drive next to the old bank building (currently Woodland Iron and Firearms).
His blacksmith shop was replaced many years ago by a dwelling. His barn was southeast of Barton Avenue and the lane over which the cattle were driven to pasture is now Roosevelt Drive East.”
         Wisconsin House Woodworks
         Albiero PlumbingÂ
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Bob’s Main Street Auto & Towing
Joker’s 5 Bar & Grill, 1642 Barton Avenue
Small Town Bait & Tackle
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The Sign Shop of West Bend, 1624 Schmidt Road All exterior signage including Banners, Yard Signs, Sandblasted, Illuminated and Monument.
Interior signage including, Engraved, Way finding, and  Room Identification Decals include: Corporate branding, Security, Serialized, Safety/Warning/ OEM decals, and Control Panels.
Vehicles graphics for Corporate, City, and County fleets, Recreational and Personal Vehicles, and also Window Decals identifying business name, and hours of operation.
West Bend Glass Block, 1527 N. Main Street