Built by Valentine Landgraf, a saloonkeeper who had arrived just five years earlier from Montana, the Landgraf Hotel's first section was built in 1871 at the intersection of Tayco and Main Streets. In 1877, he added on to the building and in 1880, he bought the building just east of his property to complete his hotel. In its prime, the hotel had 30 rooms, was gas-lighted and steam-heated. The hotel ran free buses to meet all trains and also offered a billiards room and a grocery. On this space, the Brin Theater was built around 1928.
The Landgraf Hotel in Menasha was one of several hotels in the state that served as brothels. Prostitutes were provided by Milwaukee gangsters Louis Fazio, Vincent Crupi and attorney Mario Megna (Menasha Public Library)
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