A business plagued by disaster

GREEN BAY – Sebastian Landwehr opened the Green Bay House hotel on the southeast corner of Main Street and Adams Street — at 328 North Adams Street — in 1865 and set into motion a business plagued by disaster.

In June 1873, a man was found dead in the hotel with an open bottle of “sulphate of morphine” lying on a table in the room.

“An open knife lay on the table with the substance still adhering to the point,” the Press-Gazette stated.

Days later, a local paper offered up a possible cause to his death as an “unsuccessful love suit.”

“A number of small trinkets, perfumery, gloves, jewelry, etc., scattered about on the table gives color to the report. His effects will be forwarded to his friends,” the Weekly Gazette stated.

In August 1877, a fire that originated in the Green Bay House barn destroyed the center of the block bordered by Adams, Jefferson, Main and Pine streets.

“As to the origin of this fire, Mr. Landwehr thinks that it caught fire in the upper part and was either purposely set or caught fire by a flying spark. He was in the barn 10 minutes before when everything seemed to be all right,” a Green Bay Advocate article stated.

“Under the circumstances, the fire department did well to save any of the block, which included the Green Bay House, armory and several fine brick stores and residences.”

Landwehr had no insurance on the barn, but was able to repair it and put it back into operation.

That November, fire struck again, damaging the first and second stories of the hotel.

“Nothing positive is known of the origin of the fire,” a Green Bay Advocate story stated.

But the finger was pointing at a young woman who was recently dismissed from the hotel.

“This girl is of more than questionable character. She was at one time in the Cadie Home but was discharged on account of her loose character. She had recently been discharged from the Green Bay House and it is claimed was seen leaving the locality where the fire occurred shortly before its discovery,” the article volunteered.
With insufficient insurance to cover the damage, renovations were slow, but the hotel came back better than ever in 1878.

Then in 1881, the Landwehrs’ 16-year-old daughter ran off with a hotel employee.

While they were later intercepted at another train station, by the time she was returned to the Landwehrs’ custody, they had already been married.

From 1887 to 1899, Landwehr was advertising the hotel for sale, with interest buyer he held on to the troublesome property.

Later owners included: H.B. Cleereman, John Knaepple, Olaf Anderson and F.P. Crowley.

On July 12, 1927, the hotel was purchased by the Cady-Barnard Land Company.

“The Green Bay House property, having a frontage of 100 feet on Adams Street and 115 feet on Main Street, is regarded as one of the most desirable business sites in the city,” a Press-Gazette article stated.

“At one time, the Green Bay House, which is a two-story structure, was the leading hotel in this city. During its early career, it was the stopping place for many notables and it had a wide reputation because of its excellent cuisine. When the hotel was erected, it was the center of one of the city’s nicest residential districts. Soon the march of progress surrounded it with business buildings and within a short time its first class patronage was taken by the Beaumont Hotel.”

In January 1929, the Cady-Barnard Land Company announced that they would be razing the structure.

“Several plans for building on the lot have been considered during the past year, but none have as yet materialized. The occupancy of the building, making a delay necessary to have it vacated, has been considered a handicap in making plans for its permanent use it is said. For that reason, the building has been vacated and will be razed,” a Press-Gazette article stated.