Our History

Welcome to Knox’s Silver Valley!!! If the old Tavern Could Talk!!!

Repairing this old building was not an easy task, but in the process we learned we have a jewel we want to last. In its history we found a lot of happy times with family and friends.

It was built in the early 1900’s as a cheese factory by a German immigrant named Wolfgang Neumeyer, a brother to our great grandfather Joseph. He also did wood carving as a hobby. The carving of a man in a glass case in the barroom is what is left of his handy work.

Milton and Hattie Haupt bought this place in 1926. He added a meat market and later changed the business into a tavern. Milton and Hattie started Haupt’s Tavern with very little money. It was said that a local liquor store and the Kingsbury Brewery both helped out with initial contributions of beer and booze to be paid back at a later time.

The business soon thrived with the promise of friendly service and good food prepared by Hattie. Fish fries sold for 35 cents. Saturday night folks could enjoy a chicken plate for 50 cents. Sunday nights, free movies were shown on a large outdoor portable screen that was set up in the baseball infield.

As Haupt’s Tavern grew, so did the recreation. Milton and his friends began to meet on the west corner of the property for an unofficial gun club. When the club grew too big for the lot, the men purchased land in Clover, Wisconsin and started the Manitowoc Gun Club. The club still exists at that same location.

In 1960, at the age of 63, Milton Haupt decided to sell Haupts Tavern to Richard and Anna Muench, who added the large hall onto the tavern. They had many weddings and banquets throughout the years. She, too, was a wonderful cook and famous for her Kneecaps and home cooked meals. The business thrived for 30 years.

In 1989, they decided to retire and sold it to the Novy brothers who ran it for 14 years as a wedding/banquet hall. There was a fire in the kitchen that did a lot of damage. The building stood empty for a while until we purchased it in 2004.

After over 100 years, we’re so happy to continue the wonderful tradition established by our great grandfather’ s brother, Wolfgang, of great food and good times.

Owners: Jerry and Debra S Knox

Written by: Carol (Haupt) Wolf and Dolores (Neumeyer) Knox

Previous owners Milton and Hattie Haupt 1926 – 1960… . Richard and Ann Muench 1960-1989

It was built in the early 1900’s as a cheese factory by a German immigrant named Wolfgang Neumeyer, a brother to our great grandfather Joseph. He also did wood carving as a hobby. The carving of a man in a glass case in the barroom is what is left of his handy work.