1855-1955
The First 100 Years
The long, colorful history behind Dick's Bar & Grill began back in
the days when the St. Croix Landing and Toll Bridge, located where
the dike is today, conducted traffic on and across the St. Croix River.
The bridge provided a steady flow of people and vehicles into Hudson.
It was the original route connecting Minnesota and Wisconsin - an old
fashioned I-94, so to speak.
From 1853 to 1866, new buildings and businesses came to Hudson.
One of those buildings was Hendees Hall. Built on the spot where
Dick's Bar & Grill stands today, Hendees Hall was not only a meeting
place for Hudson's council members and militia, but it also served as
a social gathering place.
In 1855 the most famous entertainers of the frontier, the Hutchinson
Family Singers, performed at Hendees Hall.
By 1860, Hendees Hall had evolved into a saloon owned by Frank
Keep. Unfortunately, Hendees Hall was burned to the ground in the
fire of 1866. Frank Keep's saloon was actually blamed for the cause
of the fire which devastated most of Hudson.
In 1867 a new building and saloon called The St. Croix Tavern were
created. This is the original building Dick's Bar would share.
The famous Lucky Dog LLama story can be traced to this era. The
northern area in the Wisconsin Room is known as the Lucky Dog
Llama Lounge. In the spring of 1877 a nameless fellow weary from
travel stopped at the saloon, which Dick's now occupies, with an
unusual request. The river boat carrying his cargo - four llamas -
needed repair. So the man was invited to sleep at the tavern with his
llamas out back.
An unusual and rare sight, the llamas were the center of attention for
the next couple days, and people came from far and wide just to see
them. B.A. Rice, the tavern owner, found himself to be one "lucky
dog," according to his friends, because of the extra dollars the llamas
created for Mr. Rice.
Dick's Bar & Grill celebrates this story by naming our exclusive beer
Lucky Dog Red and Lucky Dog Dark, and by giving the llama a spot
on our shirts for good luck.
For unknown reasons, B.A. Rice's name was crossed off the tax
assessment rolls as owner of the St. Croix Tavern and L. Yoerg's
written in. Louis Yoerg opened a brewery in 1870 and used the
saloon to market his beer.
J.A. Casanova bought Yoerg's Brewery and Saloon in 1896. He and
others kept the St. Croix Tavern open through prohibition by serving
"near beer," often spiced with pure alcohol sold by the local
pharmacist.
Don Cameron and Wid Cramer became the next subsequent owners
of the saloon, each naming the bar after themselves. Their good
friend, Dick Brunelle purchased the saloon in 1955. Like his buddies,
Dick named the bar after himself. Thus the name, Dick's Bar.
The First 100 Years
The long, colorful history behind Dick's Bar & Grill began back in
the days when the St. Croix Landing and Toll Bridge, located where
the dike is today, conducted traffic on and across the St. Croix River.
The bridge provided a steady flow of people and vehicles into Hudson.
It was the original route connecting Minnesota and Wisconsin - an old
fashioned I-94, so to speak.
From 1853 to 1866, new buildings and businesses came to Hudson.
One of those buildings was Hendees Hall. Built on the spot where
Dick's Bar & Grill stands today, Hendees Hall was not only a meeting
place for Hudson's council members and militia, but it also served as
a social gathering place.
In 1855 the most famous entertainers of the frontier, the Hutchinson
Family Singers, performed at Hendees Hall.
By 1860, Hendees Hall had evolved into a saloon owned by Frank
Keep. Unfortunately, Hendees Hall was burned to the ground in the
fire of 1866. Frank Keep's saloon was actually blamed for the cause
of the fire which devastated most of Hudson.
In 1867 a new building and saloon called The St. Croix Tavern were
created. This is the original building Dick's Bar would share.
The famous Lucky Dog LLama story can be traced to this era. The
northern area in the Wisconsin Room is known as the Lucky Dog
Llama Lounge. In the spring of 1877 a nameless fellow weary from
travel stopped at the saloon, which Dick's now occupies, with an
unusual request. The river boat carrying his cargo - four llamas -
needed repair. So the man was invited to sleep at the tavern with his
llamas out back.
An unusual and rare sight, the llamas were the center of attention for
the next couple days, and people came from far and wide just to see
them. B.A. Rice, the tavern owner, found himself to be one "lucky
dog," according to his friends, because of the extra dollars the llamas
created for Mr. Rice.
Dick's Bar & Grill celebrates this story by naming our exclusive beer
Lucky Dog Red and Lucky Dog Dark, and by giving the llama a spot
on our shirts for good luck.
For unknown reasons, B.A. Rice's name was crossed off the tax
assessment rolls as owner of the St. Croix Tavern and L. Yoerg's
written in. Louis Yoerg opened a brewery in 1870 and used the
saloon to market his beer.
J.A. Casanova bought Yoerg's Brewery and Saloon in 1896. He and
others kept the St. Croix Tavern open through prohibition by serving
"near beer," often spiced with pure alcohol sold by the local
pharmacist.
Don Cameron and Wid Cramer became the next subsequent owners
of the saloon, each naming the bar after themselves. Their good
friend, Dick Brunelle purchased the saloon in 1955. Like his buddies,
Dick named the bar after himself. Thus the name, Dick's Bar.
Dick's Bar & Grill through the Ages
Dick's Bar & Grill
It turned into a favorite stopping place for locals and
others to see friends, share stories and unwind from the
day's trials. Dick's wife, Mary Jane, put her mark on the
establishment by servging her famous hto dago
meatball sandwiches. Times were good and Hudson
was growning. Dick's was a thriving place much like it
had always been.
When the new bridge connecting Minnesota and
Wicsonsin was built in 1951, the toll bridge closed and
business declined. But the following of locals was too
strong to have any long-lasting effects on Dick's Bar.
Dick Brunelle sold his bar in 1977. The bar retained its
name, but downtown Hudson was losing some business
to the new developments by the freeway. Dick's Bar
remained where it was and changed little except in
ownership.
Not until 1982 did a major transformation of Dick's Bar
take place when the run-down and tired building that
had served so many before was bought by Fred Kremer.
With some restoration, and plenty of spirit, the bar was
brought back to life and expanded.
In 1984 the two buildings east of Dick's were purchased
and a kitchen and grill were installed. Breakfasts for 99
cents, chicken-in-a-hubcap, and 99 cent burgers were
soon to be a part of the Dick's menu. Dick's Bar had
become Dick's Bar & Grill. One more building was added in
1986 to the bar and grill. The fourth room, howev er, had its
roof removed and an opne-air eating area was created. This
marks the last structual addition or change to Dick's Bar &
Grill.
Fred Kremer's vision had come to fruition, and in 1994 he
invited his son, Paul Kremer, to join with him. Paul served
faithfully with his father in the Dick's Bar & Grill tradition for
seven years until Fred's death in 2001. The long history of
owners increased by one to this oldest continous running
Wisconsin saloon.
And now you know that since 1860 there has been an
established saloon, bar, pub or grill on the lot Dick's Bar &
Grill sits on Today. In the early years, city officials met with
citizens to discuss ideas and plans. Fine entertainers
performed. Today, politicians and city organizations meet to
discuss their ideas and plans. World famous entertainers
perform, and friends and family come to meet, relax and have
some fun. Dick's Bar & Grill continues on much like it always
has for over a century.
It turned into a favorite stopping place for locals and
others to see friends, share stories and unwind from the
day's trials. Dick's wife, Mary Jane, put her mark on the
establishment by servging her famous hto dago
meatball sandwiches. Times were good and Hudson
was growning. Dick's was a thriving place much like it
had always been.
When the new bridge connecting Minnesota and
Wicsonsin was built in 1951, the toll bridge closed and
business declined. But the following of locals was too
strong to have any long-lasting effects on Dick's Bar.
Dick Brunelle sold his bar in 1977. The bar retained its
name, but downtown Hudson was losing some business
to the new developments by the freeway. Dick's Bar
remained where it was and changed little except in
ownership.
Not until 1982 did a major transformation of Dick's Bar
take place when the run-down and tired building that
had served so many before was bought by Fred Kremer.
With some restoration, and plenty of spirit, the bar was
brought back to life and expanded.
In 1984 the two buildings east of Dick's were purchased
and a kitchen and grill were installed. Breakfasts for 99
cents, chicken-in-a-hubcap, and 99 cent burgers were
soon to be a part of the Dick's menu. Dick's Bar had
become Dick's Bar & Grill. One more building was added in
1986 to the bar and grill. The fourth room, howev er, had its
roof removed and an opne-air eating area was created. This
marks the last structual addition or change to Dick's Bar &
Grill.
Fred Kremer's vision had come to fruition, and in 1994 he
invited his son, Paul Kremer, to join with him. Paul served
faithfully with his father in the Dick's Bar & Grill tradition for
seven years until Fred's death in 2001. The long history of
owners increased by one to this oldest continous running
Wisconsin saloon.
And now you know that since 1860 there has been an
established saloon, bar, pub or grill on the lot Dick's Bar &
Grill sits on Today. In the early years, city officials met with
citizens to discuss ideas and plans. Fine entertainers
performed. Today, politicians and city organizations meet to
discuss their ideas and plans. World famous entertainers
perform, and friends and family come to meet, relax and have
some fun. Dick's Bar & Grill continues on much like it always
has for over a century.
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