Oblio's

Circa 1927

The building in color on the left is the home of Oblio’s Lounge. It was built in 1884 from plans drawn by Oshkosh architect William Waters. The first saloon there – the Schlitz Beer Hall – opened in the spring of 1885. When Prohibition began in 1920, the saloon became a speakeasy. This postcard shows the building during that period. The bar closed in 1927 after it had been raided by federal officials. It remained closed for nine years. It’s the longest stretch of time since 1885 that the bar there has been closed. The second-longest closure is about to come to an end. Oblio’s has been closed for the past six months due to the pandemic. The home of the old Schlitz Beer Hall – Oblio's Lounge – reopens Monday.