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The Story of Taylor & Dunn’s Public House

In 1836, twelve years before The Wisconsin Territory was granted statehood, a carpenter named Taylor Heavilon came to Milwaukee from Chicago. Prior to his arrival in the new Wisconsin Territory, he was credited for building the first Catholic Church in Chicago. Within a short time, he acquired about 640 acres in what is now Section 35 of Ozaukee County, upon which he lived. Being among the early settlers here, his nearest neighbors lived four miles away. In November of 1838, Taylor Heavilon exercised his preemptive right to purchase his claim from the Federal Government, at a special Wisconsin Territory land sale, at a price of about fifty cents an acre.

A few years later, Andrew Dunn, an Irish immigrant and eventual Wisconsin legislator, purchased property in the same section of Ozaukee County where he helped the new settlement of Mequon flourish. His travels took him through Portage County, Wisconsin where he was elected chairman of the county commissioners, but he eventually settled in the town of New Lisbon in Juneau County where he was dubbed “The Godfather of New Lisbon”. Andrew Dunn was responsible for early road and land surveys and was elected to the Wisconsin State Legislature in the mid-1850’s.

According to Ozaukee County’s Register of Deeds Office, Taylor Heavilon and Andrew Dunn were two of the first landowners of what is now the area of Donges Bay and Cedarburg roads.

Taylor & Dunn’s was originally built as a rooming house. The building has seen many changes since its construction nearly 80 years ago. In addition to other dining establishments, it was most recently Mille’s Spaghetti Factory.

In keeping with the finest traditions of Ozaukee County, we, at Taylor & Dunn’s, are committed to providing a place to enjoy a tasty meal, spend some time with friends, and cheer on your favorite Wisconsin team.

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