Waukesha in Waukesha County, Wisconsin — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Club 400

Photographed by Linda Hansen, 2007

1. Club 400 Marker

Inscription. Opened in August 1894, the Northwestern Hotel provided year-round services to travelers and train crews. The building became a boarding house, cigar store, soft drink shop and then a tavern.

On January 6, 1948, George and Ralph Polfuss (Les Paul's father and brother) opened the Club 400 after major renovations changing it to a nightclub. It was named after the Chicago Northwestern train “400” that stopped across the street at the depot. Les Paul and Mary Ford played their guitars together for the first time at the grand opening.

George Polfuss owned a grocery store in 1903 three doors west of the Club 400. The Club 400 has been on the National Register of Historical Places since 1995.

Erected 2007 by Waukesha County Historical Society funded by 400 Club. (Marker Number 34-01.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Entertainment. A significant historical month for this entry is January 1841.

Location. Marker has been reported missing. It was located near 43° 0.344′ N, 88° 13.976′ W. Marker was in Waukesha, Wisconsin, in Waukesha County. It was on Williams Street west of North Grand Avenue, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker was at or near this postal address: 322 Williams Street, Waukesha WI 53186, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker was in Southeast Wisconsin and in Greater Milwaukee.

It was also in the American Midwest,

on the Great Lakes,

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it was in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it found itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers.

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At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this location: Milwaukee and Madison Railway Depot (a few steps from this marker); Lindholm Vocational & Adult School (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Old Cutler Home (about 800 feet away); Waukesha City - Cutler Park (approx. ¼ mile away); American Legion Home (approx. 0.3 miles away); Carroll College (approx. 0.3 miles away); Dunbar Oak (approx. 0.4 miles away); Cohn's Shoe Store (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Waukesha.

Other markers no longer nearby. Les Paul (was approx. 0.2 miles away but has been confirmed missing); Prehistoric Indian Mound (was approx. ¼ mile away but has been confirmed missing).

Additional commentary.
1. Marker was removed.
This marker was removed by the owners of Club 400 and replaced with a large guitar.They also have painted a large mural on the side of the building depicting Les Paul and Waukesha’s history.

— Submitted July 9, 2020, by Linda Hansen of Waukesha, Wisconsin.

Photographed by Linda Hansen, 2011

2. Club 400

Credits. This page was last revised on July 9, 2020. It was originally submitted on June 15, 2011, by Linda Hansen of Waukesha, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 2,183 times since then and 33 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 15, 2011, by Linda Hansen of Waukesha, Wisconsin. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.

Editor’s want-list for this marker. Photo of mural on east side of Club 400. Photo of reported guitar. • Can you help?