Arlington Heights Bringing Back the Past: Wheeling House-Lauterburg Tavern

The latest Arlington Heights: Bringing Back the Past feature.

The Wheeling House, formerly located at the corner of Evergreen Avenue and Campbell Street, was built by Stephen Briggs in 1855 and offered food and lodging for people travelling through town – including salesmen attempting to sell their goods to local merchants.

In 1867, the building at 25 E. Campbell Street was purchased by Rudolph Lauterburg, and it became known as the Lauterberg Tavern, according to the Illinois Digital Archives. Rudolph’s wife Catherine and their 11 children helped to run the establishment, and offered free lunch to area farmers, but the farmers were charged for beer and liquor purchases.

Catherine’s sister provided entertainment in the front room by playing piano, and bedrooms were located on the second floor. A large kitchen was situated in the back of the building, which had an icebox filled with ice from Meyer’s Pond.

The building was torn down in 1957, and the Arlington Federal Savings was built in its place. Today, the property houses Citibank.

To revisit previous Arlington Heights: Bringing Back the Past features, click here.

Information provided by Arlington Heights Historical Society via Illinois Digital Archives and the book Chronicles of a Prairie Town: Arlington Heights, Illinois.