Site of new pub has a varied history that goes back almost to Belleville’s beginning

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One of the great things about Belleville is its history, which goes back more than 200 years. One of my favorite parts of that history are the buildings that have been here for the majority of that time.

In my recent column about The Harp Pub , located at 1110-1112 W. Main St., I mention that the building dates back to around the mid-1800s and that some recent updates were made.

While looking to the future is typically a good thing, it’s also important to remember the past. And this building has a past that was filled with life and commerce.

With the help of Belleville Historical Society historian Bob Brunkow and the BND’s archives, I was able to put together a timeline with some highlights from the building’s history:

1850s-1890s

In 1857, German immigrant Ernst Weissenborn bought the property now known as 1110-1112 W. Main St.

According to Brunkow, a map of the area from 1863 shows the building. A map of Belleville from 1867 also shows the building at the site at the corner of West Main and Silver streets. (Silver Street was later renamed 11th Street.)

He said that the building was likely there by the Civil War.

Weissenborn was the “mover and shaker” of the town, said Brunkow.

He owned a quarry and provided the limestone used to build the rock road from West Main Street to East St. Louis, said Brunkow. Weissenborn was the town weigher, weighing wagons bringing coal and hay into town.

Weissenborn was also involved in coal mining.

The April 11, 1850, edition of The Daily Advocate ran an item that stated, “Ernst Weissenborn and Son became proprietors of the Harmony coal mines on the Pittsburg road.”

In the 1880s, William Wagner utilized the east side of the building (1110 W. Main) as a tin smithy, according to Brunkow.

Belleville city directory editions from 1884, 1891-92 and 1894-95 include listings for Wagner’s stove and tinware shop at 1110 W. Main St.

People typically resided in the upper levels of the building while the main level continued to house businesses.

Brunkow said that “things happened” between 1890 and 1897, and by the turn of the century, Frank J. Schaeffler became the owner of the property at 1110-1112 W. Main St.

1900-1910

Schaeffler, who was Weissenborn’s stepson, resided at 1112 W. Main St. He operated multiple businesses at that address, among them a general merchandising store, a series of saloons, a gaming parlor and a confectionery.

West Belleville saw a lot of business turnover in the early 1900s, said Brunkow.

A variety of saloons – very trendy at that time – opened on the west side of town.

A couple of establishments operated at 1110-1112 W. Main St. between 1900 and 1910 such as Frank Schaeffler’s and The Oak Bar, which, based on ads in The Daily Advocate archives, had multiple proprietors including H.M. Wagner (July-October 1905), George Hessler, Jr. (October 1905 - November 1906) and Henry Conrath (December 1906).

1931-1983

Schaeffler died in September 1931 at the age of 71, and both the business and property were taken over by his daughter, Eleanora Schwarztrauber, and her son Eugene Schwarztrauber.

By 1933, mother and son ran the establishment, marketed as Schaeffler’s West End Hotel. In addition to lodging, Schaeffler’s offered lunches, sandwiches, beer, wine and liquors, and the hall next door was available as a rental for card or lotto parties.

By the end of the 1930s, the hotel and restaurant was renamed Gene’s West End Hotel, also known as Gene’s Place, Gene’s Good Food, Gene’s Fine Foods, Gene’s Restaurant and Gene’s.

The restaurant served food until its closure in the 1950s. The last reference I found in the archive was for Thanksgiving dinner at Gene’s Good Food 1958.

While the Schwarztraubers remained on West Main Street, other businesses came and went, most notably Clark’s Shoe Salon, which was better known as Cancellation Shoe Store, at 1110 W. Main St.

The shoe store opened in 1953 and held its grand opening on July 18 of that year. The store’s last day was April 27, 1985.

Eugene “Gene” Schwarztrauber died Oct. 13, 1983.

From 1985 to Today

The building at 1110-1112 W. Main St. remained within the same family from 1857, when built by Weissenborn, until its sale in 1985 by Eugene Schwarztrauber’s widow Ethel, who sold it to restauranteur Norman J. Davis.

Davis was the owner and operator of establishments that included the General Candy and Supply Co. at 4507 North Belt, the Green Parrot (former Capitol Restaurant) at 15 E. Main St. and the Davis Cup Restaurant, which occupied multiple addresses in Belleville, Freeburg and Smithton during its run, including a brief stint at 1110-1112 W. Main St. in 1986.

Belleville attorney Kevin J. Kubitschek bought the building on Dec. 31, 1986, and moved his law office to 1110 W. Main St.

Over the years Kubitschek also leased space in the building to other businesses that included:

• Barry Moon, barber;

• Color Concepts;

• Harry J. Deppe, Ph.D., licensed clinical psychologist;

• Slugwerks;

• Hamilton Security and Investigations, Inc.;

• Olde Fashioned Bakery – The bakery was co-owned by Tracy Tarrant and her then fiancé Glen McElligott, who co-owns the building today. The bakery opened in December 1996 and closed one year later.

• Little Bohemia Coffee House & Café – This was owned by Kubitschek. It opened in January 1999 and closed in February 2000.

• Gatlin’s Pizza & Pasta – Opened in September 2000 and closed in March 2002. It reopened as Gatlin’s in April 2002 at 400 S. Illinois St. In mid-December 2002, the BND reported that a sign posted at the business said the space was for lease.

Kubitchek owned the building until spring 2021, when it was sold in auction to Glen McElligott and Greg Partelow, who are currently working on the building to open The Harp Pub later this year.

BND Clips for West Main Building by Jennifer Green on Scribd