There's an old building on 119th Street, east of where most of the action is today. But in its heyday, it was in the heart of downtown. I probably first noticed it about 10 years ago when I looked up and saw in the stonework at the peak of the building the word "Soltwedel."
I had never heard of the Soltwedels before, then one day I received a wonderful old photo from a woman in Colorado, a descendant of the original builder, George B. Soltwedel. He was her great-grandfather and in 1901, George and his brother John bought the land on 119th Street and built this large building that housed many stores. Back in 1906, the double storefront housed a tavern, a real estate agent, a jeweler and a billiard hall. The sidewalk in front was wooden.
In this 1906 photo she sent, the words "Office Block of Soltwedel Bros." were painted on the front. She said her great-grandfather owned a lot of property and one of the pieces of land he had is leased to one of our well-known restaurants until the year 2033.
The building, from what I have surmised, soon will be torn down. I think it's been abandoned for many years. The woman wrote there had been nine owners since her great-grandfather's day. The stonework Soltwedel name at the top of the building has been covered over with siding for a long time. I always hate to see old buildings torn down and especially this one, because now there's a person to go with its history.
In 1863 George Soltwedel was born in Walstein, Germany. When he was 17, he came to Valparaiso. As a young man, he moved to Hammond, where he joined the volunteer fire department. Six years later he moved to Whiting, where he was appointed deputy sheriff.
Four years later he went into the insurance business, a business in which he was highly successful. After a while, he became the wholesaler for Seips Brewing Co.'s goods in all the territory from Whiting to the middle of Porter County.
He was a member of St. John's Lutheran Church and a family man, having seven children. He had also been nominated for treasurer of Lake County. When he died in 1946, his obituary states that during 1902 he was president of Whiting's town board and right before it was incorporated as a city, he served as acting mayor.
In the flowery descriptions often used to talk about important citizens back in "The Whiting Sun," it was written that Mr. Soltwedel is "blest with a genial disposition and his affable manner combined with his integrity has made him a general favorite with all."
I know I'm being sentimental about a building that probably needs to be razed and about a man I never knew, but for me that old building is a tribute to one of Whiting's early pioneers and I'm sad to see it go.
- Gayle Faulkner Kosalko is secretary of the Whiting-Robertsdale Historical Society. The opinions expressed are her own. Reach her at puccini99@aol.com or (219) 659-8129.
