Clinton’s Finest Hotel - The Taylor House

With the coming of the railroads in 1856 creating Clinton Junction, a new need arose. As many as  24 trains would cross the junction in a day. Passengers traveling by train often would need to eat and stay in Clinton Junction while waiting to transfer to a different train. The solution, hotels. Most prominent of these was the Taylor House.

The Taylor House was located just to the east of the railroad depot on the south side of the junction. It was a three-story wood frame construction with a watchtower to see approaching trains. The main section was approximately 75 feet by 50 feet with a kitchen addition of about 30X30 feet. There were outbuildings for a laundry, ice house, woodshed, coal house and two outhouses. One of the outhouses was connected to the main building at the 2nd-floor level.

Inside on the ground floor was a lunchroom, kitchen, dining room, sample room (for salesmen), offices, and a saloon.

Lote Taylor was born in Buffalo, NY June 16, 1829. He came to Wisconsin in February 1849, first to Geneva Lake and later Richmond before settling in Clinton in 1864 and opening the Taylor House. It was said, “by all travelers, the portly form of the ponderous and ever-welcome landlord is recognized.” His weight has never been estimated. Lote Taylor died on October 26, 1884 of a “cerebral affliction.” 

The Taylor House was described as, “the finest and most popular hotels in Southern Wisconsin.”

(The Taylor House) is situated at the junction of the C & N.W. and the W.U.R.R. The location makes it very convenient for the traveling public. Mr. Taylor has been in Clinton for upwards of ten years in the capacity of hotel keeper. During that time his tables have always been bountifully spread with good things to eat and the stranger was ever found a hearty welcome. Will Islet the chief clerk, looks carefully to the wants of every visitor. During the night the travelers are taken in tow by Mr. Reed. Another great attraction here is the fine horses to be seen at Mr. Taylor's stables. Should your desire to see the town, all you have to do is make your wishes known and the black horses will be brought out with Lote in possession of the reins. You will be privileged to look over one of the finest towns in Southern Wisconsin. (Clinton Independent (1875)

70 Came to Dinner

About 70 persons, four four-horse sleigh loads, from Roscoe, drove up here and took dinner at the Taylor House last Monday; could they have obtained horses two more loads would have come also. It did us good to see the older folks so lively and good natured. We heard one old gentleman remake that none who came felt to be over twenty-five, and many more were even gray. Still they all seemed to enjoy themselves, and they not only had the pleasure of the ride, but as they said, they struck a nice little place, received the best treatment, good fare, and moderate charges; all which speaks well for the place and out worthy and renowned host. Although a goodly share were aged they could see a joke; and when one Pat, got down behind the sleigh and pulled one of the blankets over his head and commenced emptying the contents of one of the hot water jugs down his spacious throat, they could not refrain from letting a smile overspread their countenances. And we cannot say we blame them. It would be needless to say that Pat is a Clintonian. Come again or any others who may wish to have a good dinner and see a snug little place, just call at Clinton.  (Janesville Daily Gazette, Wed., Feb 11, 1874)

Taylor House Events Timeline:

January 1, 1876:  Lote Taylor, that ponderous mass of geniality who has aforetime sold so many of the unwary, has now sold himself-out of house and home. Messrs, J. W. Mathes & Son, of Watertown, have bought the Taylor House, at Clinton Junction, and will take possession on the first of next March.

April 11, 1877: The Taylor House at Clinton Junction, recently owned by J. W. Mathes & Son, has been purchased by its former proprietor, Mr. Taylor, who has once again become its landlord.

June 30, 1879: The newly organized Rock County Pharmaceutical Association will hold a meeting at the Taylor House July 15. A number of druggists of Southern Wisconsin and Northern Illinois are expected to be present. Interesting papers will be read and important business relating to the drug trade will be brought up, and samples of chemicals and manufactured articles will be exhibited.

September 1, 1881:  Mr. Albertson, of the Chicago Citizens’ League, who has been hired to do some detective work in this county, to secure evidence against parties supposed to be selling liquor without a license, has given considerable business to the Municipal court. Lote Taylor, Clinton’s fat boy, cheerfully pleaded guilty to one charge yesterday afternoon and paid his $25 and costs, but hard hardly put his wallet back in his pocket before another, still another warrant was served on him. He got his mad up then, and proposes to fight those two cases in the court. C.L. Woodard, the Clinton druggist, was also successfully trapped by Albertson. Woodard says he took pity on him when he complained of being sick with bowel trouble, and as he looked like a very respectable gentleman,  sold him a little bottle of brandy as medicine. That bottle cost Woodard about $20, and he went home vowing he would accommodate no more sick strangers.

October 9, 1882:  The case of the State against M. H. Colby for selling liquor without a license at the Taylor House, Clinton Junction, is being tried before Judge Patten today. 

August 12, 1885:  About 2 o’clock on the morning of the 6th, as Baggageman Eldredge was passing the Taylor House, at Clinton Junction, he was confronted by two burglars who pointed their revolvers at him and forced him to throw up his hands. After “sizing up” his pile, which amounted to about $15, they returned it with the remark that they did not want his money. They then marched him along the railroad track quite a distance and bade him return very slowly, thus giving them a chance to escape. The safe at the Taylor House was found to have been partly bored through.

May 22, 1889:  The Taylor House at Clinton Junction is now in charge of Prescott Longley, of Milwaukee. Longley has previously ran the Longley House and Metropolitan in Milwaukee and the Revere House in Oshkosh,  

April 18, 1891:  Henry Cheeseman, proprietor of the Taylor House, at Clinton, passed out foaming glasses of beer and small tumblers of whisky in a “blind pig”. Ever and, soon, persons who were thirsty, found their way to Cheeseman’s back room. The officer called upon him and he was called into court and fined fifty dollars and cost, which he paid. A few days ago he was arrested again and off to Janesville with fifty dollars in his pocket this afternoon to settle. But he didn’t settle. Judge Palterson said one hundred dollars and costs this time, and Cheeseman looked surprised. He paid fifty-six of the fine and went home to drum up the other fifty dollars. Selling liquor in Clinton is expensive business.

February 1, 1895:  Mr. Cheesman, proprietor of the Taylor House at Clinton Junction, paid $72 for the alleged illegal sale of liquor.

Big Blaze at Clinton

Fire Bugs Get in Their Work on the Taylor House and the Depots

Loss Will Not Fall Short of Ten Thousand Dollars, With a Partial Insurance

Once again the fire fiend has got in its work on our neighboring village of Clinton.

At an early hour yesterday morning the Taylor House, Chicago & Northwestern depot, Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul depot and American Express company’s office were totally destroyed by fire, entailing a loss that will reach not far from ten thousand dollars. The loss is partially covered by insurance.

The fire was discovered about 2:30 o’clock in the morning and as the water works are not in operation the buildings were at the mercy of the flames and were entirely consumed. The contents of the depots and express office were saved. Some of the guests  in the hotel had a close call and escaped in their night clothes. No one was injured.

The hotel was owned by Henry Cheeseman who was in Nebraska at the time of the fire campaigning his trotter. His loss is estimated at about $5,000. The hotel is one of the landmarks of the place and will probably not be rebuilt at once. The fire is supposed to be the work of an incendiary.

At 2:50 o’clock yesterday morning a call for help came to (Janesville) Chief Engineer John C. Spencer. The call “606” struck once upon the tower bell was given and the department assembled at the station to receive their orders. In the south there was a blaze of light that was plainly seen even in this city showing the location of the conflagration. Assistant Engineer George Osgood was deputized  to go to Mayor Baines’ residence  to ask his permission to leave the city with the apparatus and having obtained that the engine was loaded on a flat car but just as the train was pulling out of the yards a telegram was received that it was too late for assistance to be any avail and the department returned.

Clinton is indeed in hard luck.

Frank Gogan, of this city, lost his trunk in the hotel and John Smith came near leaving all his music there as he took supper at the Taylor House Sunday night and was to play in that village last night.

(Janesville Daily Gazette - June 8, 1896)