Since 1858 an Inn has operated at 122 Ellis Street             

The Kewaunee Inn is a three story, 23 room luxury 1912 brick structure, which blends the best of the past with the best of today! An elegant lobby, friendly atmosphere, beautiful woodwork and antiques, plus great traditional service help the guest step back into the past. These themed, comfortable and airy rooms offer King, Queen, and Double bed accommodations, with 15 of these rooms offering a private Jacuzzi.  Future restorations include converting to the original porch and restoring the first floor to its original arts and crafts style.

HISTORY:

Since 1858, it was proven that a large hotel in this spot could be profitable. In 1836, the city Kewaunee was chosen to be the site of a trading post, because of it's natural harbor. By 1858, Kewaunee was a booming port town for lumber and commerce, where as many as 20 schooners and steamers arriving each day, for both commercial enterprises and carrying passengers / settlers as well, making the need for a large hotel evident. So in 1858 Charles Brandes built a wooden structure called The Steamboat House to accommodate visitors. Edward Decker bought the hotel in 1864 and sold it to John Erichsen in 1865, who changed the name to The Erichson Hotel. John Erichsen enjoyed running this hotel until he died in 1911. William Karsten then bought the hotel in 1911, which burned down in Feb. of 1912. Luckily, no one died in the fire.

William Karsten rebuilt a luxurious, three story brick hotel with a basement during 1912 for $55,000!!! This 55 room hotel was renamed The Hotel Karsten, offering 52 rooms for their many guests, opening up once again on February 14, 1913. The dining room could feed 90 people at once. The bar had its own entrance and was located in the ground floor basement.

William Karsten at this point in his life was a retired Sea Captain who had made his money establishing Pabst Brewing Company in Kewaunee. He was the mayor of Kewaunee, and was quite a heavy fellow, a whopping 375 pounds! All through his life he was blessed with excellent health, never catching any of the diseases which plagued sailing vessels and turn of the century towns. Even with this weight, he lived until he was 78, and died of a heart attack in his favorite suite of rooms, on January 4, 1940.

Always a gregarious fellow, despite his weight and arthritis problems, William Karsten's personality changed when the love of his life, his wife Catherine, died in 1928. He was lonely and not real happy, but found pleasure in looking at the view of Kewaunee Harbor and Lake Michigan from his second floor suite (205-210), sharing his memories with guests while sitting in his favorite chair in a fancy lobby, and most of all, enjoying the company of his very special grandson.

When William Karsten Sr. retired, his son, William Karsten Jr. ran the Hotel Karsten, up until his own death in 1964. Because William Karsten Jr. spent so much time at the hotel, his young son, Billy Karsten 111 spent every minute he could with his adoring grandpa, William Karsten Sr. The two of them were kindred spirits. Oddly three weeks after William Karsten Sr. died, young Billy became ill and died of complications of an upper respiratory sickness at the age of 5.

When William Karsten Jr. died in 1964, The Hotel Karsten closed and the building stood idle for two years. In 1966, new owners, Charles and John Schmitt gave the aging building a much needed "facelift." They sold the hotel to Tom Gottheardt and five other investors in 1984. Tom Gottheardt and friends sunk the money into remodeling and bringing up to code the basement, the first and second floors before reopening the Hotel Karsten.

Owners Doug and Toni Charles bought the Hotel Karsten in 1991, and completed a Victorian period renovation of the first floor in 1993.   The 50 room hotel was also remodeled on the 2nd and 3rd floors to 23 rooms with private baths. In 1996, Dave and Therese Jacek bought the Hotel, completed the renovations which both restored the hotel to its original splendor and adding "amenities" like private bathrooms and Jacuzzis, pleasing to current clientele, creating a more luxurious hotel steeped in beauty and history. It reopened once again with a new name, The Historic Karsten Inn.  After 8 years as The Historic Karsten Inn, it closed in June 2007.  Reopening on May 23, 2008 as Kewaunee Inn @ Hamachek Village and marking 150 years of the property hosting an Inn.  Current ownership is by Kewaunee Renaissance LLC, an economic and real estate development company committed to architectural restoration, the arts and the development of downtown Kewaunee, WI.

MANIFESTATIONS:

Three known spirits make the Historic Karsten Inn their home. They became active after the first facelift of the Hotel Karsten in 1966. The entities of Agatha the housekeeper, William Karsten Sr and young Billy Karsten 111 have made their presences known to the living. Two of the entities, William Karsten Sr and young Billy Karsten 111 are friendly and gentle, while the third entity, Agatha shows a variety of emotions and behaviors, ranging from being helpful to being mischievous, to showing disapproval to being a little nasty, but never evil.

Agatha - Her history is a sad one. In 1921, young Agatha was raped by a drunk neighbor near her father's farm. She had a child as a result of the sexual assault which her parents raised. They needed more money, so Agatha went to work. She became a housekeeper who worked at Hotel Karsten, from 1925-1937. It is said she fell in love with William Karsten Sr., who didn't love her back. She was given a room on the third floor, 310. Some claim that she hung herself in 1937, but the truth is that she left the Hotel Karsten to take care of her ailing father. She then stayed and lived out her years on the family farm.

It is not surprising that Agatha is the most active entity.

* Apports, such as old-fashioned gray hair pins are found by staff.

* Her apparition has been seen and heard sweeping the halls endlessly.

* While cleaning a mirror, a staff member saw a woman in a 1930's maid uniform standing behind him, with her hair up in the customary bun of the time.

* Room 310 - An unexplainable cold spot is felt in her old room, 310, and in the southwest corner where the maids quarters were located. One guest became cold while sitting in the bed in room 310, and was treated to a misty form floating through the room, into the wall. An example of Agatha getting some chuckles at the expense of the living!

* She can be helpful. One Christmas, an employee was standing on a stool to get down the boxes from a third floor storage closet. She would take each box down to the first floor lobby. After taking two of the three boxes down from the shelf, and transporting them down, she returned to get the third box, which she had left high on the shelf. Imagine her surprise when she found the box had moved itself down to the floor of the closet!

* Agatha shows her displeasure with the living when they do things which she disapproves of.. She pushed an employee in the back so hard that this employee fell down the stairs.

She also dislikes men in general, and hates workmen and drinking. Imagine how annoyed she was when workmen came to work on the Hotel! During the 1984 renovations, workmen were treated to the full treatment: Tools were moved and turned off without any help from the living. Open doors closed by themselves, lights had a mind of their own and they experienced annoying cold spots.

* Agatha likes to tease the staff by knocking over the sugar bowls and salt shakers, and likes to turn the heat on the burners up!

William Karsten Sr - A gentile spirit, who on occasion gets annoyed or has a mini temper tantrum, stays to remember good times, in a place he loves.

* An unpleasant odor is sometimes noticed on the second floor, which drifts through the building on occasion.

* When annoyed, he likes to move the furniture around in his room. When upset, a sour smell is in the air.

* Women on the second floor feel a male presence staring at them, but when they turn around, no one visible is seen.

* Cold spots are sometimes felt in his old suite.

* His apparition likes to sit in the bar and drink a beer on occasion, as one guest discovered.

Billy Karsten 111 - A sweet-natured entity, aged 5 years old, with all the energy of an active boy, even in this state of existence.

* His favorite activity is running down the hall to his Grandpa's rooms. People have heard the running footsteps.

* Children have reported playing with a young boy, on the second floor, who strongly resembles the boy pictured in Billy Karsten 111's portrait.

Still Haunted?

Yes Indeed!

Guests are encouraged to write in a diary the experiences they have with the ghosts who exist here.

A Green Bay psychic, Rita Anne Freeman was the first to describe who was haunting the place, confirming what the owners and staff already knew; They were sharing the place with some long-time unseen residents.

Wisconsin Ghost Investigations team in 2002 certified that Inn is haunted.

AN INSPIRATION FROM

THE PAST REVISITED

       In 1858, a hotel called The Steamboat House was built on the present site of The Historic Karsten Inn by Mr. Charles Brandes, Sr., one of Kewaunee’s earliest pioneers.  The land on which it is situated was purchased from the U.S. Government for a total price of $8.95 in 1835.

              The Steamboat House fast became a center for early Kewaunee County activities and for travelers who wanted comfortable lodging, good food, and a stable for their horses.  It was a social center for the community and its kerosene lamps and chandeliers shone for many gathering.  Serving a double purpose, the ballroom was also used as Kewaunee County’s circuit courtroom until 1873.  Many important trials were held at the hotel.

              During the Civil War, the ballroom served as a meeting place.  In August of 1862, Charles Cunningham called upon a group of area men to serve their country.  Thus began the Kewaunee Rifles Company “A”, 27^th Infantry Division.

              Brandes sold the hotel to Edward Decker, a prominent Kewaunee settler, in 1864.  After several owners, John “Hans” Erichsen, bought the hotel in March of 1876 and operated the hotel successfully until 1911 when he sold it to William Karsten. 

              On Wednesday, February 14, 1912, a fire originating in the kitchen completely destroyed the building in less than three hours, wiping out one of the oldest historical landmarks in northeastern Wisconsin.  Plans were formulated by Mr. Karsten to construct a new hotel.  Expected costs were $30,000, but actual construction costs were almost double that figure.  The new hotel was completed in December of 1912.  On February 14, 1913, exactly one year after the fire, a grand opening was held.

              Ownership changed hands a few more times over the following years.  Toni Michalek Charles (a Kewaunee native) and her husband, Doug, purchased the hotel and once again renamed it “The Karsten”.

              Using a city development loan program, along with assistance from the State Bank of Kewaunee, a major renovation was undertaken.  A Victorian décor and atmosphere greet you as you enter through the front door.  Over 50 rooms on the two upper floors were renovated into 20 quaintly appointed rooms and three lavish suites.  Each is named and is uniquely decorated with its own theme.  Many have king and queen size beds, two person Jacuzzi whirlpools, a romantic sitting area, and period furniture.  Antiques compliment the décor.  Although in years past the hotel had charm, it also had outdoor plumbing, chamber pots, galvanized bathtubs, and no electricity.  Today’s Karsten Hotel still has the charm, but discreetly includes many modern indulgences.  A journal in each room gives guests an opportunity to log their visit.  Baskets of wine, champagne, fine chocolates, and flowers are available.

              In addition, the first floor dining room offers thoughtful, yet discreet service as you dine on German or Classic American cuisine, amid warm, intimate surroundings.  Or if you prefer a more casual setting, relax in the hotel’s lounge.  Facilities are available for business meetings or social gatherings.

              The downtown location makes it easy to reach all that Kewaunee has to offer.  Walk to the nearby marina, museum, or quaint shops.  You can watch the sunrise or set, hear the seagulls chatter, and feel the breeze from nearby Lake Michigan as you walk its beautiful, sandy beach.

William Karsten

A Life in Review

 William Karsten was born in Rostok Germany, April 5^th, 1861.  He ran away from home at fourteen and went to nearby Hamburg to become a cabin boy on a sailing ship.  He returned home a year later, but was soon drawn back to the sea.  He became a crewman on a sailing merchantman.  He sailed for several years, seeing many countries.  Karsten settled for a short time in St. Johns, Newfoundland.  There he met and married Miss Katherine Spearns in 1885.  In 1886 they settled in Milwaukee.  Karsten’s grandparents had settled there in 1845. 

William Karsten enjoyed telling stories of his amazing sea adventures.  Some of these stories have been published in various prints.  According to those stories, he helped to transport Chilean troops during the Chilean-Peruvian War (1879-1881).  Karsten was reported to have been in Africa during the 1879 Zulu War.  A vessel he sailed on carried coal to the English fleet in African ports during the Egyptian Wars (1874 – 1876).  In 1870, Karsten sailed Cardiff Wales by way of Africa through the South Sea Islands to Valpariso and for 157 days saw no land.  He sailed the Indian Ocean when pirates were aplenty, and was supposedly also on the Wendola (ship) sailing when it wrecked on a reef in the coast of Jutland (north Denmark).  The Vessel sank.

Karsten was, even by today’s standards, a very large man.  It is reported that he weighed as much as 375 pounds.  He was a very active and healthy man.  He outlived by decades some of the people including doctors, who worried that his health would suffer.  They were afraid his heart would not hold his frame.  Apparently his heart was as big as his body.  In a local paper from 1928, it was written that Karsten had, at that point (age 67) never been ill, and had never gone to a professional doctor for a visit.  Prior to that, he had been in Cape Town during small pox, Rangoon East Indies during the black plague, Rio de Janeiro during yellow fever, and been aboard a ship full of scurvy.

William Karsten held some odd jobs when not sailing the seas and the great Lakes.  He was a mason, drove a horse drawn streetcar, held several public offices, managed and owned several hotels, and worked for the Pabst Brewing Company.  William was the man responsible for Pabst distributing station being location in Kewaunee.  It was actually the position that moved him to Kewaunee.  He became known as “Captain Bill” on his Great Lakes trips and later as “Big Bill” and the larges Mayor in the United States because of his large frame and friendly personality.  He became a continuous resident of Kewaunee in 1893.  He did all this on very little education.  His early schooling occurred mostly in Milwaukee and Glasgow Scotland.  His formal education was limited to mostly night school.  He was a very intelligent man who loved to read.  

While working for Pabst Co. in Kewaunee, Karsten expanded the beer business into wholesale liquors.  He also became interested in other ventures.  Karsten took over operations of Kuke and Read Houses (well known hotels of their time) ran the Erichsen House until it burned in 1912 and rebuilt and opened the present building of the Karsten Inn.  He ran the Karsten Hotel until just a few years before his death.  He then turned over the management to his son, William Karsten Jr., but remained active in the properties operation and remained residence there.

William Karsten was also a great politician with influence.  He served as mayor of Kewaunee from 1922 – 1938, serving eight terms, he also served as an alderman for ten years, thirteen years chief of fire department and fifteen years as county supervisor and board member.  In total, he spent thirty-one consecutive years in public office.

As a public servant, he was responsible for the beginnings of several great things in Kewaunee.  As chairman of the building committee, he started the county courthouse, annexed more territory to the city, building the water works and sewer, concrete roads, and the cemetery association.  Approximately 1900 he served as county board supervisor.  In 1902, he began to advocate for the build of the county courthouse.  Until that time the courthouse was located in the Erichsen Hotel (later to become the Karsten).  Around this same time frame, he was also alderman and fire chief (1900-1910).  At that time, there were horse drawn fire “trucks” and hand pumpers.

William Karsten Sr. passed away on January 4, 1940.  It was shortly before his 79^th birthday.  His death announcement read that he was a “beloved character and community servant” and that he was “truly a great and unusual man”.  Karsten spent the last hours of his life sitting in his chair in the lobby of his hotel.  He then went upstairs to his living suites and went to bed.  At 4:15 AM early that Thursday morning, William’s heart stopped.  Prior to funeral services, his body lye in wake at the hotel.  The church was crowded to capacity with people standing outside for the funeral service.

Catherine Spearns Karsten preceded her husband in death by approximately twelve years.  She was born on June 7, 1866 and passed away July 5, 1928.  Newspaper articles report her name as Katherine, but cemetery records have it listed as Catherine.  Their infant children Charles and Clara preceded them both in death.  Two daughters and a son survived them.  Isabel, or Miss Bell, who was born July 20^th 1892 and died October 10 1985, was a teacher in Milwaukee.  Dorothy was the wife of Mayor C.L. Duvall.  They also had a son, William Jr.  He was the manager of the Karsten Hotel at the time of William Sr. Death.  He continued with the hotel until 1948 when he sold it to J. Herschel Hardy.  William Jr. was married to Lenore Masse whose parents were Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton F. Masse.  Karsten Jr. was born April 16^th 1899 and died August 12^th 1964.  He was a World War One vet.  He entered Marquette Navel on November 1^st 1918, and was discharged on December 20^th 1918.  The Senior Karsten’s also left grandchildren as a legacy.  There was Jean and William Karsten III and C.G. Duvall. 

William Karsten III was said to be the apple of his grandfather’s eye.  He was born on November 3^rd, 1934.  At the tender age of 5 years and 3 months, he became ill with influenzal meningitis.  After suffering for a month with this illness at St. Vincent Hospital in Green Bay, little Billy Karsten passed away.  He died on February 21, 1940 on month to the day from entering the hospital.  His death announcement read that he was “exceptionally bright and friendly boy”.  His body was also at the Karsten apartment in the hotel prior to final arrangements.

The Karsten Hotel (a.k.a. Steamboat House, Erichsen Hotel, Hotel Karsten, Coach Inn, or the Historic Karsten Inn) had a lot of memories made there.  There were weddings, dances, receptions, war duty calls, funerals, and court hearings, just to name a few.  Many families loved, laughed, and enjoyed themselves there.  The Karsten’s spent many years living there.  Perhaps some of them still enjoy it and watch over it to this day?

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HIS HONOR, MAYOR WILLIAM KARSTEN of Kewaunee and, with 735 votes of confidence at Tuesday’s election, starting his fifteenth ... Celebrated his 75^th birthday on Sunday ... In splendid condition physically and mentally ... Widely known as host at the Hotel Karsten, and expert authority on municipal law and rummy champion of the middle west ... His hobby is making Kewaunee the best small town in America ... Served as Alderman, member of the County Board and Mayor during 40 years of community service ... Reads incessantly, mostly about municipal management ... Knows his job and does it without bunk or ballyhoo ... To Mayor Bill Karsten, on his diamond jubilee and on his re-election, Kewaunee says “CONGRATULATIONS!”

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