37  Austin's East Troy House Bar & Restaurant
2093 North Division Street

Austin McCracken built the first building on this lot in 1836--a log structure that was the first licensed public inn in Walworth County. in 1842 ownership passed to Emery Thayer, who built the present building. A part of this building is the old Catholic Church, purchased by Roger and Clark, who moved the building to the West Side of the inn. Various people have operated the East Troy House: Emery Thayer, Jim Jude, E.L. Brooks, William Wood, George Shields, Bill Tess, Wenzel Jude, and Jake Austin. Carol Umbright, Karen Shayer, Carol Semrod, Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Christison, and Heidi Spangenberg also leased the business at one time. Fron 1941 to 1982 there was a bowling alley in the rear. In 1982 the bowling gutters were shifted over to make a dance floor for a ballroom and banquet facility. The hardwood floor is made up of one-inch wide by two-inch thick boards-a very sturdy dance floor indeed! In the middle of this building is East Troy Basketry Company, which took over the offices of Dr. Wanezek D.D.S. when he moved up to the Alpine Shoppin Center in 1998. In the mid-1940's Fred Lieber moved out of Zinn's (where he spent WWII) and established Lieber's Drug Store here. Before Dr. Wanazek opened his office in 1982 two different doctors had already occupied the space: Dr. Slattery and Dr. Voskuil. The door next to the basketry shop has a walkway to the back room of the East Troy House, called the "Sample Room." Traveling salesmen brought in their trunks and displayed their wares on the tables for the local merchatns to see. At one time this was the Eagle Telephone Company Offices, which later moved upstairs next door. It then became David Mitchell's Watch Repair shop. It is now a private residential apartment.