TW Martins01

Waupaca County Post

January 26, 2006

T.W. Martin’s Public House Wins Chamber’s Business Facelift Award

By Angie Landsverk, Post Staff Writer

When T.W. Martin’s Public House opened in downtown Waupaca last summer, it was the realization of a dream for Terry Martin.

He shared that dream with business partners David Forsythe, Paul Mayou and Denis Wandtke as they worked together to turn the two lower levels of Martin’s building on East Fulton Street into a smoke-free pub.

The project was named the grand facelift winner during the Waupaca Area Chamber of Commerce’s annual banquet and awards ceremony Tuesday evening at Foxfire.

Martin said that their project being chosen the winner of that award was the “frosting on the cake.”

He said they had worked for some time on remodeling the two lower levels and then opening the pub.

“To get recognized for the design is just a plus,” Martin said. “What I like most is that people recognize what we tried to accomplish in creating a pub – a warm, comfortable place that has a great feel to it.”

Martin has owned the Jens Hansen building since 1992.

The top floor of the 138-year-old building is apartments, while the street level is office space, including Martin’s - he is an architect.

A trip to the British Isles in 1994 inspired him to run the two lower levels into a pub. Construction began in September 2004.

The pub is located on Cooper Street, which is located behind Main Street along Riverview Park. It is a newly named street that honors one of the first female settlers in Waupaca who lived in that area of the city.

“I thought that was a nice touch,” Martin said of the name. “It’s one more way of preserving our past and recognizing it.”

The recognition of their project is especially rewarding to them because he said they “took an old b uilding that was in dire need of help in an area that was in even worse shape.”

Main Street Waupaca and the city worked together to develop Riverview Park.

“I wouldn’t have done this if not for the park development,” he said. “I applaud the city, the city council and staff in their efforts.”

He sees everything coming together and believes that the projects are springboards for projects currently under way in the area and for others in the future.

T.W. Martin’s Public House was one of several businesses that were nominated for the award.

Terri Schultz, president of the Waupaca Area Chamber of Commerce, said the other businesses that were nominated were Strongwood Log Homes, ABC Computers, Advanced Family Eyecare, Paca Pub and Walgreens.

Each business that is nominated must be a chamber member in good standing.

“It can be a new or existing business that makes changes to either the interior or exterior of the building or a new or existing business that moves into a new location,” Schulz said of the criteria for the grand face-lift award.

She said, “T.W.’s took a portion of a historic building in the city in need of repair and turned it inot a beautiful location. It is a very nice place.”

Martin thanks his business partners for “sticking with me through all of this and helping me to realize my dream and the vision.”

He said many helped with the construction process.

“I especially want to thank Bauer Electric, Westly Heating, Woolsey Plumbing,Torborg’s, Noffke Lumber, Paul’s Concrete, Golke Roofing, Don Schroeder Construction and Marquard Construction,” Martin said. “I apologize for anyone I miss. Obviously, all my partners are really happy. It’s an acknowledgement for our efforts. I have a couple of personal thank yous to Ken and Aaron Troedel in making this a reality. Craig Welch for his efforts in demolition and construction. My son Jake for his efforts and a special thank you to my brother Jim who made a lot of the dreams come to life and for literally giving a part of himself to the project. And finally, to my daughter Sarah whose creative talent had the greatest impact in creating the warm, comfortable, inviting space that we have.”

The project being named the grand facelift winner was also especially meaningful for Martin.

He designed several of the previous years’ winners – Dairy Queen, 2000, Janssen Accounting, 2002 and Clearwater Harbor, 2003.

“It’s nice to get recognized for my own project,” he said.

Of his 138-year-old building, Martin said, “the building is probably as sound as it’s ever been. T will be preserved for another 138 years. It’s important that we preserve history and culture.”