Property Record
230 MILWAUKEE AVE
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | Barney J. Wentker Saloon |
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| Other Name: | Triangle Tavern |
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| Reference Number: | 102302 |
| Location (Address): | 230 MILWAUKEE AVE |
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| County: | Racine |
| City: | Burlington |
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| Year Built: | 1908 |
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| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 19982011 |
| Historic Use: | tavern/bar |
| Architectural Style: | Queen Anne |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Brick |
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| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
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| National/State Register Listing Name: | Not listed |
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| Additional Information: | A 'site file' exists for this property. It contains additional information such as correspondence, newspaper clippings, or historical information. It is a public record and may be viewed in person at the Wisconsin Historical Society, State Historic Preservation Office. Barney J. Wentker immigrated to the United States from Westphalia, Germany, at the age of nineteen in 1880; settled in Burlington; and worked at the Finke-Uhen Brewery for nine years. He began operating a non-extant tavern at the corner of Milwaukee Avenue and State Street in 1892. In 1897, he purchased the triangle-shaped block bounded by State Street, Milwaukee Avenue, and McHenry Street on which stood a non-extant tavern and a boarding house, historically known as both the Farmers House and the Hillside Hotel, which he continued to operate. Soon after, he constructed a non-extant horse barn north of the hotel. He sold his hotel, tavern, and livery businesses to Dick Kelly and Al Reuschlein in 1903. Upon Kelly and Reuschlein’s retirement in 1908, Wentker demolished the horse barn and hired Joe Dreesman to construct a brick tavern building in its place. With the financial assistance of William Finke, the new tavern’s interior was lavishly finished. The Barney J. Wentker Saloon is located at 230 Milwaukee Avenue. After Wentker’s death in 1936, the hotel fell into disrepair and was demolished during the 1950s. Wentker’s widow, Eunice Krueger, continued to own the tavern building while selling the business, which has continued operation to this day. Additions and renovations to the building were completed in 1968 and 1977, with a major restoration taking place in 1998. Today the building houses a tavern by the name of B. J. Wentker's Triangle Tavern & Grill. 2012: Influenced by the saloon fixtures he admired at the 1893 World's Colombian Exposition, B.J. Wentker (owner) ordered a mahogany bar with matching ice chests, cabinetry, and humidor. The back bar was completed in 1895 and stored until the building was finished. The bar was open only to men, a separate area called the "Auntie" room was provided from women. Female patrons used their own entrance. In 1997, brothers Mike and Joe Raboine began to restore the building using salvaged artifacts and preserved the mirrored bar, intricate tile floor, tile walls. |
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| Bibliographic References: | General Files. On file at the Burlington Historical Society, Burlington, Wisconsin. Preservation Racine, Inc., Newsletter: Summer 2012. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |