The colorful and charming history of the Pickwick begins in 1888 in the "Old Saloon" which was located in the Fitger Brewing Co. owned by Mr. Fitger and P. S. Anneke. In 1914 they closed the "Old Saloon" and moved to the present site. When the Pickwick first opened its doors at its present site, one of the bartenders was Joseph Stanley Wisocki. At the age of 17 he had immigrated to the United States from Augustow, Prussian Poland, a small town about 30 miles from the Russian border. When prohibition was enacted in 1918, Joseph was given the chance to purchase the business. In 1919, he borrowed $200.00 from his father-in-law and became the proud owner of a business, but not of the building. During prohibition, which lasted 15 years, near beer (which looks and tastes like real beer) was sold, along with such things as sandwiches, polish sausages, and sauerkraut. In 1933, prohibition was repealed and, as the story goes, Joe drew the last stein of near beer from the tap, tasted it, and threw it into the fireplace in the Dutch Room to mark the end of prohibition. The Pickwick remained open 24 hours that day and served between eight and nine thousand people. A stein of beer, at that time, was a nickel. In July, 1945, the building was purchased from the Fritger Brewing Co. (John Beerhalter, Sr., owner) for the sum of $11,000.00.As you walk into the Bar Room and the Dutch Room (originally called the German Room), you will notice the beautiful white oak woodwork. The architect, Anthony Puck, designed these two rooms with the intention of accentuating the style of European architecture. The woodwork is all glued without surface nailing. The panels and pilasters were secured in place by screws from the back. The tables and chairs, which are also white oak, were imported from Vienna and were brought over from the "Old Saloon." The cost of building the Dutch Room in 1914 was $965.00. The paintings on the left side and rear of the wall as you enter the room, were executed in 1893 by Mr. F. W.Luertzer.The paintings on the right side of the room over the door, were executed by Mr. John Fery who later became an artist for the Great Northern and Northern Pacific Roads, painting the pictures of Glacier National Park, which they are still using.Several items of interest in the Dutch Room are as follows:A monk in discussion with others, has five fingers and a thumb on his left hand.The first paintings were executed in 1893 at the time of the grasshopper plague and a grasshopper can be seen with "1893" just above.Bock Beer is symbolic of the old-time Spring tonic.The painting of the barmaid on the barrel, is a copy of a long-famous German trade mark.Going to the right wall, you will note the painting showing gnomes hard at work in the brewing of beer. This shows the old-time method when beer was brewed in open kettles during the winter time only and stored in underground caves from which it was sold during the summer season.Over the entrance is a scene showing the Fitger Inn. This was Mr. Fitger's home in Bremen, Germany. In the yard can be seen two boys playing. One of them is Mr. Fitger and the other, his brother.The present Dutch Room was built in 1914, and the lion plaque was imported from Pompeii, Italy by Mr. P. S. Anneke in the year 1914.Many of the steins that are displayed throughout the Bar Room and the Dutch Room came from Germany. The three blue beer steins, located on the right side of the back bar, were hand-carried from Germany by Mr. Fitger and were given to Joseph, Sr. The beer mug that reads "Pickwick - Dutch Room - J. Wisocki," was used by Joseph as a promotional gift in 1919, his first year as proprietor.Upon the death of Joseph, Sr., in 1954, his son, Joseph John, Jr., became the proprietor of the Pickwick.Upon Joe Jr's. retirement in 1977, his sons Stephen and Anthony became proprietors. Since then, they have remodeled the banquet room adding large windows and completely renovated Joe's room, adding solid oak walls and ceiling requiring 2900 individual pieces of oak molding.Joseph John Wisocki, Jr. died in October of 1994.Christopher Wisocki, eldest son of Stephen, became proprietor upon the retirement of Stephen and Anthony in January 2001. Christopher now carries the future of a long and rich legacy.
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