website watertownhistory.org
ebook History of Watertown, Wisconsin
Hartig Brewery
1884–1946
100 E
Cady
William Hartig
1851–1923
1897 image [WHS_005_061] labeled with following areas of the brewery
complex:
Office, Bottling Department, Wash
House, Shipping Room, Cold Storage,
Malt House, Elevators, Boiler House,
Fermentation, Stables.
OCCUPANTS OF THIS SITE:
Manz-Hartig Brewery 1884
- 1896
Hartig Brewery 1896
- 1947
National Tea
Grocery 1954 - 1977
Tom's United Foods 1977 - 2007
Breselow's Family
Market 2007 -
1884 –
1896: MANZ-HARTIG BREWERY
The
brewery was started in 1884 by cousins William Hartig and Carl Manz, both of
Milwaukee. William Hartig had come from
Slinger where he had been in the brewery business with Charles Storck.
Charles or Carl (Karl) Manz was the nephew of
the late August Krug, founder of the Schlitz Brewery in Milwaukee. Charles was the son of Anna Krug, August's
sister, and may have been a beneficiary to his late Uncle Krug's estate.
In
1896 Hartig bought out Manz and the brewery became known as the William Hartig
Brewery and operated until Prohibition.
William Hartig died in 1923 and is buried in Oak Hill
Cemetery in Watertown.
His
family re-opened the brewery in 1933 and ran it with modest success until the
early 1940s when they sold it to out of town
investors. The quality began to suffer and it shut down in 1946 and declared bankruptcy in
1947. The buildings were torn down in
1953 and a supermarket was built on the site in 1954.
Cross-Reference:
William Hartig Family Genealogy
& Brewery History [Compiled, Edited & Written by Mike Reilly]
c.1885
HARTIG & MANZ EMPLOYEES WITH WORK TOOLS
Banners: “Hartig & Manz
Maltsters, Watertown, Wis” and “Hartig & Manz Celebrated Watertown Lager
Beer”
c.1886
HARTIG & MANZ EMPLOYEES
1888
1890
01 22 ICE
HARVEST COMMENCED
Yesterday S.M. Eaton & Son commenced cutting ice for the brewery of Hartig &
Manz, which is the beginning of the ice harvest here for this season.
The ice is about 7 1/2 inches thick and of a clear, good quality. Last year ice cutting began Jan. 28, one week
later than this winter. An abundant ice
crop is assured on the river here, notwithstanding the great scare among ice
men only a little while ago. WR
01 29 BREWERIES CONNECTED TO THEIR BOTTLING WORKS
A bill based upon a
plan originated by the Pabst Brewing Company, Milwaukee, will be introduced in
congress, allowing breweries to be connected with
their bottling works by pipe lines.
Under the present law the bottling department must be separated from the
brewery, and a public highway must pass between. Beer must be barreled at the brewery, hauled
to the bottling house, and emptied into vats before bottling. This entails a large expense that the new
plan, which provides for meters, will save.
The internal revenue department favors the change. WR
02 12 HARVESTING DAY AND NIGHT
For some days past the work
of storing ice has been rushed through with rapidity, men being at work on the
river day and night. Monday the work of
filling the ice house of S. M. Eaton & Son was completed, 3,500 tons being
stored for summer's use by this enterprising
firm. The breweries of A. Fuermann Co.
and Hartig & Manz will be supplied with all the ice they want by the close
of this week. The former stores about
8,000 tons and the latter about 3,500.
S.M. Eaton & Son shipped several carloads of ice to Aurora this
week. WR
09 17 NEW MALT HOUSE
Hartig & Manz are
making rapid progress with their malt house, in the course of
erection in connection with their brewery.
The machinery is expected on the grounds the
present week. The malt house is being
fitted up on Gallant-Henning patent drum system of pneumatic malting and will
have a yearly capacity of 200,000 bushels.
Hartig & Manz’s plant will be quite an addition to the manufacturing
interests of Watertown. WR
11 19 HARTIG HOME
The residence of
William Hartig, of the firm of Hartig & Manz, in
the Fourth ward, is one of the handsomest and best finished dwellings erected
here during the present season.
11 21 NEW MALT HOUSE
Article on the Hartig & Manz’s new malt
house, one of the largest malt houses in America. WR
c.1890
HARTIG & MANZ BREWERY EMPLOYEES
William Hartig and Charles Manz with
employees
1891
01 21 THE HARVEST OF ICE
Last week S. M. Eaton & Son and the breweries of
the A. Fuermann company and Hartig & Manz сompleted
the work of filling their ice-houses, securing the
nicest stock of ice cut from the river here for some years. It is without any impurities and has an
average thickness of from 12 to 13 inches.
S.M. Eaton & Son stored 3,000 tons. WR
1893
08 26 A WATERTOWN BUSINESS HOUSE
HARTIG & MANZ, MALTSTERS, BREWERS AND BOTTLERS OF LAGER BEER, 100
CADY STREET
The brewing industry of
this country has become mighty in every section. and nothing has done more to
settle the temperance problem than the introduction by our-citizens of that
wholesome and delicious beverage, lager beer.
The Hartig & Manz
Brewing company's brewery is one of the largest, best appointed and most
thoroughly equipped concerns devoted to this line of business in the state of
Wisconsin, outside of Milwaukee, having a capacity of 20,000 barrels of beer
and 200,000 bushels of malt per annum.
The premises utilized comprise a substantial brick structure with
several annexes for ice houses, storage, malt house, bottling works and large
refrigerators, which keep at an even temperature the vast cellars, where the delicious beverage ripens and takes
its amber hue.
The machinery and appliances used in the brewing process and bottling
operations are of the most modern and approved make. The process of manufacture employed is
of the most improved character, and the beer brewed is steadily maintained at a
high standard which has given it notoriety. The Hartig & Manz
Brewing company’s beer is pure, wholesome and palatable, pleasing to the eye,
nutritious and exhilarating.
It is
moreover an honest beer and entirely
free from even a suspicion of adulteration, being’ the pure extract of barley, malt and
hops, and is allowed to mature naturally, no artificial ripening process being
used —hence its purity and excellence.
The superior brands
manufactured by this brewery, both in keg and bottle, are highly recommended
for their medical qualities and are great favorites for family use. This
establishment not only controls a large portion of the retail trade of the city, but makes extensive consignments to neighboring towns.
Messrs. Hartig & Manz are public spirited and always ready to assist in any
enterprise which tends to the advancement of Watertown.
This establishment is
prepared to meet competition squarely, and furnish an unsurpassed quality of
goods, while the methods of dealing are of a character which commend it to the favor of the trade and the public. It is strictly an
American enterprise, belongs to no foreign syndicate, is controlled by American
capital and is therefore worthy of American support and patronage. The Watertown News, Aug
16, 1893
1895
12 04 STORAGE VATS ADDED
Hartig & Manz are
placing in their brewery a dozen storage vats, holding 150 barrels each. WR
c.1895
HARTIG & MANZ SIGNAGE OUTSIDE S.
MOLZAHN SALOON
01 18 950,000 BUSHELS OF MALT
Over
950,000 bushels of malt were made here last year, of which the Wm. Buchheit
Malting Co. made about 700,000 bushels, and Hartig & Manz and the A. Feurmann Brewing Co. made about 250,000 bushels. This would indicate that Watertown is an
excellent barley market. WG
06 05 CHARLES TIMM, EMPLOYEE
Another
freak of nature is reported from the Sixth ward – it is a four-legged duckling,
hatched last Thursday, the owner being Charles Timm, an employee of Hartig
& Manz. The duckling is healthy and
thriving. WR
c.1897 HARTIG BREWERY ICE HOUSE BECAME HABHEGGER
COLD STORAGE
Ice house behind the Hartig
Brewery. Later the Habhegger Cold Storage plant.
1897
HARTIG AD
Is one of the most complete and the
quality of Beer that is turned out cannot be excelled. The plant covers an area of 80 x 300 feet and
is complete in every detail. The annual
product is about 20,000 barrels of Beer and 200,000 bushels of Malt. Bottled Beer for Family Use.
1898
11 30 WEIS BEER BREWERY
Albert Fuermann is making arrangements for establishing
a Weis beer brewery here. The plant will
be located in a portion of the old Fuermann brewery, now owned by William
Hartig, and it is expected that operation will begin
the middle of December. WR
12 21 FILLING THE ICE HOUSE
Ohm Bros,
began their ice harvest last week, and has been engaged in filling the large
ice house in the Sixth ward formerly owned by the A. Fuermann company and which
they recently purchased from William Hartig.
WR
01 18 ICE
MACHINE INSTALLATION TO IMPACT ICE HARVESTING BUSINESS
William
Hartig is having placed in his brewery an ice machine, or in other words, a new
process for cooling beer. Lager beer, to
be kept in prime condition, should have an even temperature, and this is almost
impossible to secure under the old system.
This comparatively new process gives the desired result regardless of
the extremes of weather. The new outfit
consists of a Corliss engine and ammonia compressor, and between 5,000 and
6,000 feet of piping. This piping is
carried all through the cellars, overhanging the large beer cask, and is
continually covered by a uniform coating of ice. The expense of the new outfit will exceed
$5,000.
This
change will be regretted by a large number of men who
find the labor of cutting and storing ice very profitable work during an otherwise dull season, but
brewers find the old system not only very cumbersome but not thoroughly
reliable. This brewery produces an
excellent quality of beer, and Mr. Hartig will not stop at any expense to
maintain its already high standard. WR
05 23 FENCE AROUND
WASHINGTON PARK
The members of the baseball
association are very thankful for the donation of
Wm. Hartig, the brewer. He was asked to
subscribe to the fund, and forthwith agreed to erect the necessary fence around
Washington
park.
WR
Sept HARVEST FESTIVAL, 1899, HARTIG FLOAT
Lining up for the parade
William Hartig Brewing Co. float as entered in
the Harvest Carnival, Sept. 1899. The man on the far left wearing a hat is
thought to be William Hartig. This image
was taken at the intersection of Jones and North First Streets. The Fuermann Brewery office can be seen on
the far left.
09 22 HARTIG
FLOAT CATCHES ON FIRE
Watertown
s first attempt in the carnival line last week was a great success, a success
as regards attendance, entertainment and a good time for the thousands of
visitors. The weather was delightful throughout, and a larger or better-pleased
crowd was never attracted to any interior city of the state, and the visitors
were provided for in a manner that speaks well for our citizens. One pleasant feature of the carnival was that
it was not necessary to make a single arrest for unruly conduct, and the
immense crowds of people behaved themselves admirably
well . . . The float of Wm. Hartig Brewing Co. in the latter part of the parade
took fire as it reached Main Street from red fire
sticks carried by attendants. The alarm
of fire was sounded, the float was drawn to First Street when the department
put the fire out. This was the only
accident during the entire carnival.
Many persons
have speculated as to whether all that was seen here during carnival week was
the product of Watertown genius, some professing to believe it to be
impossible. To all those we desire to
assure them that no outside help was sought or accepted, and that what was seen
in our parades or otherwise was not in the least taken with borrowed
plumage. WG
1900
11 28 RAILROAD SIDETRACK FOR HARTIG BREWERY
It is
rumored that a side-track from the Northwestern railway to the William Hartig
brewery is a probability of the not distant future. This facility is needed to assist in the
transportation of the brewery’s product, which now has to
be hauled by team to the railway stations, entailing a considerable item of
expense. It is said that the
right-of-way has been secured through certain property in the Fifth ward and
that the side-track will be laid from a point north of the James Hall crossing
east to the river and thence along the west shore of the river to Rock
Street. From the foot
Rock Street a
trestle bridge is eventually to be built across the river to the
brewery. WR
Cross Reference:
See chapter on railroad spur
12 07 RAILROAD SIDETRACK
The
opposition to the building of the sidetrack of the C. N. W. Ry. in the fifth
ward asked for by Wm. Hartig, is gradually dying out, as it should. Mr. Hartig's business is one of the greatest
in the city, and is of much benefit to our people, and everything so reasonable
asked for by him should be granted. This
side track would also be of great benefit to S. M. Eaton & Son, the
Woodard-Stone Co., the Watertown Cold Storage Co., and other large shippers
here. We hope to see the side track a reality in a short time.
WG
12 12 WILLIAM HARTIG PETITIONS FOR RAILROAD
SPUR
William Hartig petitions the
City for privilege of building one on the west side.
At the
last meeting- the following petition was presented to the common council and
referred to the committee on streets and bridges, the board of public works and
the aldermen of the Fifth ward:
The
undersigned freeholder and taxpayer respectfully petitions your honorable body
to grant the privilege, consent and permission to build and construct a spur
railroad track, leading from the main track of the Chicago & Northwestern
Railway company, from a point north of the North Church Street crossing to Rock
Street in the Fifth ward of said city, and in this building, further asks the
privilege, consent and permission of your honorable body, to cross the
following named streets in said ward in the manner as the plan herewith
submitted will more fully show, viz: La
Belle Street, between blocks 1 and 2; Warren Street, between blocks 2 and 8,
and Berlin Street, between blocks 8 and 4, south of Silver Creek bridge, Spaulding
& Prentice addition; likewise to cross North Water Street on the north end
of the same between out lots 3 and 2 in said ward, and Elm Street and West
Green Street in Dennis’ Emmet addition on the east ends of said streets near
the bank of Rock river;
and
further to use and occupy for said purpose a strip of sufficient width for said
spur track along and off of the east side of North
Water Street, between said West Green Street and Rock Street, until such time
that the ownership of block No. 8. Dennis’ Emmet addition aforesaid, will, or
can be acquired by me. The ownership of
the land owned by private parties, which said spur track is to cross, has
already been acquired by your petitioner at his own expense.
-
William Hartig
Mr.
Hartig desires the accommodation to facilitate his shipping requirements. We understand there is some opposition to the
building of the track among Fifth warders, but so far as we are posted, we can
see no particular reason why the prayer of the petitioner should not be
granted. We have spur tracks in other
portions of the city to accommodate shippers and no harm or damage has thus far
resulted.
Mr.
Hartig’s business is among the host of the city’s enterprises
and he should receive every encouragement possible to remain an important
factor in Watertown’s industrial life.
Besides benefiting the petitioner, the track would also accommodate
other large shippers, among whom could be mentioned S. M. Eaton & Son, the
Watertown Cold Storage company, the Woodard-Stone factory, etc.
Therefore,
let it be built. Watertown
Republican, 12 Dec 1900
1901
06 21 TEAMSTER EDWARD
RIMESTEAD INJURED
Fell from hook and ladder truck
During the noon hour last Monday a fire in an
outhouse in the rear of Herman Dobbratz’s brought out the fire department. It was promptly extinguished. Edward
Rimestead, while trying to board the hook and
ladder truck at the corner of Main and First streets, fell and narrowly escaped
death, being flung against the wheel of the truck with terrific force. He was taken to Dr. Werner’s office and
medical attention given him at once. He was badly shaken up and bruised, and his
injuries will lay him up for several days.
He is employed as a teamster by Wm. Hartig.
1902
HARTIG BOTTLING
Destroyed in 1914 tornado
Cross Reference: 
Image
Portfolio on tornado
1903
05 20 TOUR OF THE HARTIG BREWERY
ONE OF WATERTOWN’S BEST ENTERPRISES
The
Watertown Brewery, Owned and Operated by Wm. Hartig,
One of
the Old Standbys of the City
Employs
Thirty Men.
It is
said that the inhabitants of the United States are a beer drinking people. Be that as it may, the fact cannot be denied
that the manufacture of beer is one of the great industries of the country and
the source of a vast amount of revenue to the government. In the front ranks of this great industry is
the state of Wisconsin with its countless lines of manufactories.
The
citizens of Watertown who relish the amber fluid need not go out of their own
city to secure a brand of the highest quality.
Occupying a leading position among our prosperous industries is the old
established brewery owned and operated by Wm. Hartig.
Undoubtedly
a large number of our own citizens fail to realize the
importance and magnitude of this industry in their midst and the important part
it plays in the prosperity of the community.
This establishment has been conducted under the management of Mr. Hartig
for the past 19 years, with a constant increase in trade. The manufacture of the cooling beverage is
now conducted in a brick building 90 by 300 feet, three stories in height. In addition, there is a neat brick office
where the gentlemanly manager, Mr. Tanck, waits on the numerous customers.
A
large malt house, where thousands of pounds are stored, occupies an extensive
space. Much of the malt in this building
is consumed at home and a vast amount also shipped out of the city. North of the office is a commodious wash
house where the emptys are
cleaned on their return to the plant.
Two blocks north of the main building is another large structure used as
the bottling house, where the different brands of bottled beer are put up in
the cases.
On
making so much of a survey, the reporter could not resist the temptation to
inspect the interior of the brewery proper and learn
somewhat of the process gone through with in the manufacture of this popular
beverage. Consequently Mr. Hartig, Jr.,
was hunted up and the enjoyable tour of inspection commenced through the
building, the courteous guide making brief explanations as each point of
interest was reached. This particular journey was commenced in
the engine room where the large boilers and 30 horse power engine furnish the
energy which drives the machinery throughout the plant.
From
the engine room the way led into the room where the ice machines, propelled by
a 50 horse power engine, supply the artificial frost to the large storage rooms
above.
A number
of rooms were gone through, which will be described in their order in
regard to the brewing process.
The
barley is taken to a number of mammoth bins holding
from 500 to 4000 bushels. This place is
known as the elevator tower. In starting
on its journey the barley first goes through the oat
cleaning and barley separator. Later it
is spread in six large vaults in the basement where the sprouting process takes
place. Following this is an intricate
series of processes and machinery to travel through. The grinding machine, masher, malt cleaner
and polisher, pneumatic drums for malting purposes, the air from which is drawn
up by large fans, the steeping vat, a large copper kettle of 80 barrels
capacity, then to the hop barrel, whence it issues a pure malt and hop product.
This
is followed by numerous processes of fermenting and cooling — all done in large
vats in cold rooms—running through the filter which is supplied with coke from
a large tower. Then comes the trip
cellar, after which it is carried up to the top where the ice machines keep the
air near the freezing point.
In the
top story are also located the enormous storing vats. From the cooling it comes back to the racking
room where it is either placed in kegs and barrels or put through the final
process for bottling at the works two blocks north.
In the
upper story are two tiers of drying rooms where the malt is dried and
downstairs several vaults where the barley is dried after sprouting. This is by
no means a description of the process of beer making but simply the swiftly
passing picture as presented to a visitor making a rapid survey of the
plant. The brewery is supplied with a
dynamo which furnishes the electric lights.
Thirty men are employed by this establishment throughout the year. The capacity is 16,000 barrels and the
consumption of barley about 200,000 bushels.
It is
an interesting visit to anyone interested in manufactories of any kind and the
neophyte in the beer business has an opportunity to learn of
the vast amount of work required in producing a drink which so many of the
people enjoy. Watertown Republican, 05
20 1904
c.1903
BREWERY COMPLEX
1905
FLOOD OF 1905
1906
04 20 OLD ICE HOUSE REMOVED
William
Hartig, the enterprising and progressive brewer, has equipped his institution
with a large new boiler, reshingled his barn and
removed the old ice house north of the brewery and cleaned things up generally
and is making everything about the establishment as neat as a new pin.
1908
HARTIG’S BREWERS BASEBALL TEAM
1910
CORNER OF N. SECOND AND CADY.
Jacob Hoeffner home
1912
11 20 JOHN KEHR, OFFICE MANAGER
John
Kehr, office manager for the Hartig Brewery, and the late Anton von Heiden made
an election bet.
Von Heiden lost and as a result had to give Mr. Kehr a ride in a
wheelbarrow along Main Street. Hundreds
turned out to cheer.
1913
07 03 HAVE NEW RAMBLERS. Edward L. Schempf and
William Hartig have recently purchased two of the latest model
Ramblers. WG
HARTIG BOTTLING DESTROYED IN 1914 TORNADO
06 23 
Chapter on
1914 tornado
12 10 FIRE AT CLYMAN / Hartig
[assumed] Saloon and Hotel Building
Fire destroyed about
$20,000 worth of property at Clyman.
This city was called on for assistance to help fight the fire, which
threatened to destroy all the business portion of Clyman. A number of our
firemen and one of our fire engines and hose carts were sent to the scene of
the fire on the C.&N.W. Ry. and Juneau also sent their fire apparatus. The engines were not unloaded at Clyman,
owing to there being no water available.
The hose, however, was attached to a standpipe reservoir there and put
into service as long as the water lasted. The firemen, however, with the assistance of
residents of Clyman, controlled the fire in a short time and confined it to the
vicinity where it originated. The double
store building owned by Mrs. G. Coler and occupied by H. Lekachman Mercantile
Co. was totally destroyed, with contents, and the saloon and hotel building adjoining, owned
by Wm. Hartwig [Hartig assumed] of this city, and occupied by Emil Kressine, was also badly damaged. The fire is said to have originated by the
explosion of the gasoline lighting system in the Lekachman store while the
proprietor was lighting it. He was badly
burned about the face and neck. WG
c.1915
BEER DELIVERY WAGON
1916
09 08 HARTIG BREWERY OFFICE
William Hartig and possibly John Kehr
DOG COMMITS SUICIDE (article headline)
“Muhnka,” an Airedale pup
belonging to John L. Kehr (office manager for the Hartig Brewery), committed
suicide early this morning by jumping from the roof of Hartig’s Brewery. Death was instantaneous. The pup has always been an avowed enemy of cats and it was because of this hatred that he met his
death. Having chased a cat through the
brewery, he reached the roof through a skylight. In the chase he came to the edge of the roof
and jumped to a lower roof. Landing on
his head, he was stunned and fell from there to the ground. When found he was dead. The dog was a familiar figure to citizens and
will be greatly missed. Persons who knew the dog say he had been grieving over the
Volstead Act and the world series. – Watertown Times. Reprinted in The Representative (Fox Lake, WI), 10 27 1921, pg
3
1923 WILLIAM
HARTIG DIED, buried in Oak Hill
cemetery.
c.1920s WILLIAM HARTIG HOME
1930 TASTING
ROOM, Hartig Brewery
Donated to the city in 1930 by Mrs. Carry
Mowder Hill in memory of the Mowder and Hill families and installed in Memorial Park.
View is to the north and the building in the
background was the tasting room of the Hartig brewery. Statue moved to Octagon Museum grounds in
1970.
04 16 HORSE STABLE
REMOVED
Another relic of the good old wet days in Watertown is passing. The big red stable on the banks of the Rock
river in which the Hartig Brewery housed its horses has been taken down and
with it, too, has gone the big wagon shed that stood nearby. To those of us who used the vicinity of the
old brewery as a playground the tearing down of these old buildings reflects
the melancholy trend of the times.
1932
12 12 "NEWLY WEDS” ICE CREAM CAKE
New ice cream product, manufactured by Hartig.
A new product is now being manufactured by the ice cream department at
Hartig's. It is a combination of devil's
food cake and vanilla ice cream and is being sold under the name, "Newly
Weds." It is made by rolling
vanilla ice cream in the cake and then freezing the combination. The product,
placed on sale for the first time Sunday, attracted
considerable attention and drew new compliments.
1933
09 05 BOTTLED BEER TO BE SOLD IN ANOTHER MONTH
Bottle beer will be available at the Hartig company in about another
month. Facilities to bottle the beer are
now being added. The section in which
cars and trucks now are housed is to be remodeled and equipped with bottling
machinery. A new seven car garage is
nearing completion, to replace the present garage, which is more adaptable to
house the bottling equipment than a new unit would be.
1936 FLOAT IN
CENTENNIAL PARADE
Hartig’s Beer and Ice Cream, parade
portfolio
1939
PoliceDept, photo taken in Memorial
Park, Hartig Brewery in background
1946
11 01 BEER
IS ORDERED DESTROYED
MADISON
— The U. S. district attorney's office announced today that 1,703 cases of beer
were destroyed at the Hartig Co. in Watertown yesterday on order of the federal
distinct court in Madison. The beer was
condemned in court proceedings after Harold F. McEvoy, president of the Hartig
Co., had declined to contest charges of food and drug law administrators that
the beer was adulterated by a type of acid resulting from the use of molasses
in brewing. The government's charges
specified that the adulteration was not harmful. AP story
Brewery tunnels, cellars, of early days discovered
1940s
THREE IMAGE SET
1950
10 06 CUPOLA
MUST BE REMOVED
Official
notice was served on the Hartig Brewery Co., stating
that the concern has 30 days in which to remove a cupola atop the closed
brewery building here, since the structure has been ruled unsafe and a danger
and hazard to the public.
The
order was issued by the city council after City Engineer Vaso Bjelajac made a report on the structure. He was recently ordered to inspect the place
after fears had been voiced regarding the safety of the cupola. He said he found the supports
worn and dangerous and recommended complete removal of the cupola. However, if the company decides to make
repairs it has the privilege of doing so, just as long as
the cupola is rendered safe and offers no further hazard. It was reported it would be cheaper to remove
the structure.
A copy
was also served on officials of the Merchants National
bank which holds a mortgage on the property.
The brewery has been closed for several years.
ONE WAY
OR ANOTHER . . . HARTIG BREWERY CUPOLA TO BE REMOVED
City
Council Proceeding of 10 13 1950
By
Councilman Johannsen. Whereas The Hartig
Brewery Company, Wisconsin Corporation, is the owner of real estate hereinafter
described on which are located various buildings formerly used in the operation
of their brewery, said real estate being described as follows, to-wit:
Lots 2
and 3 and the west 2 feet of Lot 4 Block 51 and the South 18 feet of the west
85 feet of block 52 Cole, Bailey and Co.’s Plat in the City of Watertown,
Jefferson County, Wisconsin.
And,
whereas the cupola and its supports on one of the buildings located on said above described premises has become so out of repair as to
be dangerous, unsafe and otherwise unfit for human habitation, occupancy or use
so that it would be unreasonable to repair the same;
Now,
therefore, be it resolved, That the Hartig Brewery Company, the owner of said
aforementioned described premises is hereby ordered within thirty (30) days
from the date of the service of a certified copy of this resolution upon it, to
raze and remove the cupola and its supports from the building located on the
aforementioned described premises or if it can be made safe by repairs to
either repair and make the same safe or to raze and remove the same at its
option.
Be it
further resolved, That a certified copy of this resolution be served on the
Hartig Brewery Company, the owner of record of said aforementioned described
premises or its agent or trustee, if an agent or trustee is in charge of said
buildings, and upon the holder of any incumbrances of record in the manner
provided for in the service of a summons in the Circuit Court Be it further
resolved, That il neither the owner or holder of in cumbrances of record can be
found, that this resolution may be served by posting it on the main entrance of
one of the building located on said aforementioned premises or by; publication
of the same in the Watertown Daily Times, the official newspaper o this city,
for two consecutive publications at least ten days before the time limited in
this resolution commences to run.
Be it
further resolved, That in the event said Hartig Brewer Company fails or refuses
to comply with this resolution within time prescribed herein, that the
inspector of buildings of the City of Watertown, Wisconsin or other designated
officer, shall cause such cupola and its supports to be razed and removed
either through any available public agency or by contract or arrangement with
private persons and that the cost of such razing and removal be charged against
the real estate aforementioned, be a lien thereon and be collected as a special
tax.
Motion
adopted
1950,
cont.
11 20 HARTIG LION MASCOT TO COME OFF BREWERY
The
city is expected to proceed shortly with the removal of the cupola atop the
Hartig Brewery Co. building here, now that 30 days of grace for its removal by
the company have elapsed. The bronze
lion which served as the trademark for Hartig’s beer in years past is also to
come down and just what disposition will be made of this is not yet known.
The
council recently adopted a resolution ordering the removal of the cupula because it was held to be a hazard and a danger to
the public safety.
The
resolution called on the company to remove the structure within30
days. If not complied with in that time,
the order provided that the work be done by the city and charged to the
company.
Since
the company has not complied with the order after a copy of it was served on
its agent, Wright Hallfrisch, Fort Atkinson attorney,
the city will do the work in accordance with the council resolution.
The
brewery plant here has been closed for several years with no prospect of its being reopened in the immediate future, if at all.
c.1951
07 22 PRIOR TO DEMOLITION
09 04 RAZING THE OLD HARTIG BREWERY Co. BUILDING
The first walls came crashing
down today in the demolition of the old Hartig Brewery Co. building on
Cady Street to make room for the new and modern supermarket which is to be
constructed on the site.
Workmen for the Allen Wrecking Co. of
Madison started demolishing the huge structure this morning. The start of tearing down the building is
being made at the north end of the structure, in what was once the bottling
department of the brewery. A truck, with
cable, was used to bring down the first wall this forenoon. Later on, as the
work proceeds to the higher sections of the building, special equipment will be
brought in to speed the demolition.
Ray Kern, Watertown businessman,
purchased the property some weeks ago from the Merchants National Bank, and
announced that he will erect a 70 by 135 feet supermarket building which he has
leased to the National Tea Co.
In addition to the building, plans call for parking space for 100
automobiles on the property.
09 22 RAZING THE OLD HARTIG BREWERY BUILDING
09 26 OLD BREWERY BRICKS USED FOR NEW CHURCH
150,000
Bricks Being Salvaged from Ruins of Hartig’s Brewery
At least
150,000 bricks will be salvaged from the old Hartig
brewery building which is now being demolished to make room for a modern
supermarket, it was announced today by O. E. Carlson, local fuel and brick dealer at 1501 South Third Street. Mr. Carlson said that under ordinary
circumstances the salvage would run to around one million bricks, but because
of the process of demolishing the building, which is taking speed into consideration,
most of them will be useless.
Mr. Carlson said the bricks are being
hauled to his yards and will be cleaned there.
He said some of the bricks will go into a new church at Palmyra.
The bricks used in the brewery came
originally from the same brick yard which Mr. Carlson now occupies.
The bricks used in the brewery are in
good shape, some as good as any used today and some even superior in quality to
present day manufactured bricks.
Mr. Carlson said that most of the
bricks and rubble are being used to fill in the old cellars which lined the
site of the brewery and hence are of no use to him. But he is taking as many of the bricks as he
can get and after they are sorted and cleaned he
expects to have about 150,000 for future use.
Some of, the
walls in the brewery are four feet thick, Mr. Carlson jointed out.
Much of the brewery is now down and the
remaining walls will come down shortly, as the work proceeds. Bulldozers and a crane
re being used in the process. The 50 foot chimney came down some time ago.
The brewery site will be occupied by
the supermarket which is to be operated by. the National Tea Co. stores. The market will be built by Bay Kern, local
business man who acquired the property from the Merchants National Bank of this city some months ago. He has completed arrangements with the food
chain to occupy the market. In addition
to the modern market, there will also be room on the site for parking 100 cars.
09 28 RAZING THE OLD HARTIG BREWERY BUILDING
………..
On September 28, 1953, the Allen Wrecking Co. of
Madison continues the demolition of massive edifice.
10 18 HARTIG BREWERY SITE CLEARED
1953-54
BREWERY BUILDINGS WERE TORN DOWN
The Hartig brewery buildings were torn down in 1953-54 for a National
Tea Store. Later the site for Tom’s
Grocery (United Foods), still later Breselow's Family Market. The building wrecker came from Madison. They hired a crane and operator locally from
Jim Rudolph to get the buildings on the ground.
1957
05 14 DEATH OF ED KAERCHER
Edward F.
Kaercher, 85. Was born Jan. 16, 1866,
a son of Mr. and Mrs. John Kaercher and lived all of
his life in Watertown. He had worked at
the Hartig Co. plant for 40 years, retiring at the age of 77.
1971
RELIC OF A HAPPIER ERA
An
object which many older residents of Watertown will view as a sentimental relic
of a happier era was taken from Rock River here the
other day by Bruce Kaesermann, aged 11, son of Mr.
and Mrs. Ronald Kaesermann,
The
keg still has on it a brass plate bearing the name of the Hartig Brewing Co.
whose plant was located in the block which now houses the National Food Store
in
The
brewery was the largest single building in Watertown. It was but one of several breweries here, but
it was the last to survive, having gone through the Prohibition era when it
converted to making “near beer” and ice cream.
When Prohibition ended it converted back to making beer. Along, with most smaller breweries in the
state, it finally faded from the scene, leaving the field to the major
breweries and monopolies which now turn out beer that does not even approach
the fine brew which Hartig’s and other smaller breweries produced years and
years ago.
Cross-References:
Philip
Hartig, obit, president of Hartig Co after father’s (William) death and up until
business was sold to outside interests in 1947.
Goose
Brand Beer, reference to Watertown Stuffed Geese
Hunting
for the Hartig recipe, Tim Sullivan, WDTimes
Hops
processing plant considered, 1986
Presentation on Beer Brewing
(YouTube video clip)
History of Watertown,
Wisconsin