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Grandson has fond memories of grandfather's stories

By DAN RETZKI
Special to The Gazette
Stevens Point has much to be proud of. It is a city that has grown over many years of development. Much of this we owe to our founders and those that have started businesses and were a part of the early days of Stevens Point. Many of you can recall the well-known leaders of our city.

On Sunday, Aug. 1, Stevens Point lost another great man and supporter of our city. He was not well known and he was not written about much but, when people talked about the square and its history, they could not leave out his or his dad's name. On Sunday, Aug. 1, my grandfather, Leo Retzki, passed away and so to did a large part of our downtown history.

In many recent articles about the downtown, you have read about the old days when the downtown was the central social area of our city. Much of my family history dates back to my great grandfather, Max Retzki. My grandfather shared and continued in that great history.

My grandfather was born in 1912 and has lived his entire life in Stevens Point, although the last several years were spent with my parents, he was still very much a part of the city. When he talked about Stevens Point, he spoke of it with pride.

My grandfather owned and operated a tavern on the square. For 35 years Retzki's Tavern was where he did business and before that my great grandfather. My grandfather had the honor of holding the longest tavern license at the time of his retirement in 1971.

He was the traditional tavern keeper that Jim Schuh talks about in his article on old-time bars. On many an occasion, my grandfather reminded me of the good ole days when a customer would order a shot and a beer, put a nickel down and get change. He would tell me about when cigarettes were 10 cents and talk about his many years behind the bar.

As I recall those stories I remember the pride and excitement he had in telling those stories. All the stories, all the little bits of information came from his many years behind the bar listening to, as he put it, the "old timers" speak of happenings and events.

Many of my younger years were spent driving my grandpa around town. It was fun to hear the many stories he had about our city. I learned a lot from him as we drove, things like taking time out for family ("the Sunday drive") and enjoying the many things our city has to offer.

There have been many changes since his days in business. Things like a drive to Wausau lasting an hour or longer because of the winding road of old Highway 51. Or the days when his father let him drive down Highway 66. But remember, those were the days of the Model T, and it was easy staying on the road when the ruts of the road were there to guide you.

He would talk of former buildings and what was housed in them. Like when Skipps used to be an office building and then it had three floors of bowling lanes. Or when the firehouse was almost located near the corner of Division and Ellis streets.

He had many stories and some passed down from the "old timers." One such story was about the Courtwright Brothers and that they were hung on the corner off of Water street where the Portage County Home is located.
Yes the Public Square does not look much like it did in the old days. And more and more the social atmosphere is being driven out. The square, as it is more affectionately known, is not that same meeting place. It no longer houses a meat market or a grocery store and I don't think you can trade furs unless a patron or two is around for deer season.

And, of course, the famous location of the taverns has also changed. No longer are the days of the many taverns, loud, dark and heavily traveled. The working people still travel this way. The drinker has changed and I'm not sure any taverns still cash payroll checks.

But the square is still the square. It could use some more life and it could use some more rowdiness. But the square will always share a special part of my life.

My grandfather owned many buildings downtown and even a hotel on the banks of the Wisconsin River (the Edgewater Manor sits there now). Over the years he has sold many of the buildings. I was lucky enough to have purchased one from him. And believe it or not have continued to share in a long history of tavern keeping.

I'm entering my sixth year of owning a tavern on the square. I've learned a lot from my grandfather. My grandfather loved this city. He was not well known and he was not written about much, but he was my grandfather and I am proud of him.



	Grandson has fond memories of grandfather's stories By DAN RETZKI Special to The Gazette Stevens Point has much to be proud of. It is a city that has grown over many years of development. Much of this we owe to our founders and those that have started businesses and were a part of the early days of Stevens Point. Many of you can recall the well-known leaders of our city. On Sunday, Aug. 1, Stevens Point lost another great man and supporter of our city. He was not well known and he was not written about much but, when people talked about the square and its history, they could not leave out his or his dad's name. On Sunday, Aug. 1, my grandfather, Leo Retzki, passed away and so to did a large part of our downtown history. In many recent articles about the downtown, you have read about the old days when the downtown was the central social area of our city. Much of my family history dates back to my great grandfather, Max Retzki. My grandfather shared and continued in that great history. My grandfather was born in 1912 and has lived his entire life in Stevens Point, although the last several years were spent with my parents, he was still very much a part of the city. When he talked about Stevens Point, he spoke of it with pride. My grandfather owned and operated a tavern on the square. For 35 years Retzki's Tavern was where he did business and before that my great grandfather. My grandfather had the honor of holding the longest tavern license at the time of his retirement in 1971. He was the traditional tavern keeper that Jim Schuh talks about in his article on old-time bars. On many an occasion, my grandfather reminded me of the good ole days when a customer would order a shot and a beer, put a nickel down and get change. He would tell me about when cigarettes were 10 cents and talk about his many years behind the bar. As I recall those stories I remember the pride and excitement he had in telling those stories. All the stories, all the little bits of information came from his many years behind the bar listening to, as he put it, the "old timers" speak of happenings and events. Many of my younger years were spent driving my grandpa around town. It was fun to hear the many stories he had about our city. I learned a lot from him as we drove, things like taking time out for family ("the Sunday drive") and enjoying the many things our city has to offer. There have been many changes since his days in business. Things like a drive to Wausau lasting an hour or longer because of the winding road of old Highway 51. Or the days when his father let him drive down Highway 66. But remember, those were the days of the Model T, and it was easy staying on the road when the ruts of the road were there to guide you. He would talk of former buildings and what was housed in them. Like when Skipps used to be an office building and then it had three floors of bowling lanes. Or when the firehouse was almost located near the corner of Division and Ellis streets. He had many stories and some passed down from the "old timers." One such story was about the Courtwright Brothers and that they were hung on the corner off of Water street where the Portage County Home is located. Yes the Public Square does not look much like it did in the old days. And more and more the social atmosphere is being driven out. The square, as it is more affectionately known, is not that same meeting place. It no longer houses a meat market or a grocery store and I don't think you can trade furs unless a patron or two is around for deer season. And, of course, the famous location of the taverns has also changed. No longer are the days of the many taverns, loud, dark and heavily traveled. The working people still travel this way. The drinker has changed and I'm not sure any taverns still cash payroll checks. But the square is still the square. It could use some more life and it could use some more rowdiness. But the square will always share a special part of my life. My grandfather owned many buildings downtown and even a hotel on the banks of the Wisconsin River (the Edgewater Manor sits there now). Over the years he has sold many of the buildings. I was lucky enough to have purchased one from him. And believe it or not have continued to share in a long history of tavern keeping. I'm entering my sixth year of owning a tavern on the square. I've learned a lot from my grandfather. My grandfather loved this city. He was not well known and he was not written about much, but he was my grandfather and I am proud of him.