California Wine House - Tacoma (1890-1915)
Aqua 1/2 Gallon Bottle
The California Wine House had its beginnings as a wholesale liquor outlet in late 1890 where it was located at 1150 Pacific Avenue in Tacoma. Fred and Mrs. Clare Schaeffer Williams (Fred died in April 1894 due to "stricture of the stomach" and then later Charles V.G. Rowland - (Williams & Rowland) were listed as proprietors. They advertised that they were the "Sole Agents" for Old Taylor Whiskey and Schlitz Milwaukee Beer in Tacoma. The company had additional outlets in Snohomish and South Bend. The Snohomish outlet was in operation from 1904 until 1908 and the South Bend outlet was in operation from 1912 until 1915. The Tacoma outlet remained in business until closed by Prohibition in 1915.
1150 Pacific Ave. Tacoma - Then
A picture postcard of the California Wine House in Tacoma (circa 1900).
1150 Pacific Ave. Tacoma - Today
Photo Courtesy: Google Street View
Star Brewery - Vancouver (1894-1915)
Advertising Beer Tray
The Star Brewery was a successor to one of the earliest brewing enterprises in the Washington Territory. It was originally John Muench's Vancouver Brewery, established in 1856, near Fort Vancouver. A young, immigrant brewer from Germany, Henry Weinhard, joined Muench for about six months and then went across the river to the city of Portland where he started his own brewery, but the settlement was growing too slowly, and he shut down his brewery and returned to Fort Vancouver. In 1894, the company was sold to Louis Gerlinger, who formally changed its name to the Star Brewery, and then three years later to the Star Brewery Company. Gerlinger may have been the one who introduced the "Hop Gold" brand, since its use hasn't been documented before the late 1890s. The brand was in use in Sept. 1898, when 330 cases of "Hop Gold" beer were shipped to their agent in the Philippines, on news that Commodore Dewey had destroyed the Spanish fleet in the Bay of Manila. In 1904, the Star Brewery Co. was purchased by the Northern Brewery Company, but they continued to refer to the plant as the Star Brewery, and carried on with the popular "Hop Gold Export" beer".
History developed in association with Gary Flynn - Website: www.brewerygems.com
6th & Columbia Vancouver - Then
A photo of the construction of the Star Brewery facility in Vancouver (Circa 1894).
6th & Columbia Vancouver - Today
Photo Courtesy: Google Street View
Our House Cafe - Seattle (1889-1915)
Amber Whiskey Bottle
John R. Rogers opened the Our House Saloon on 2nd & Washington St. in Seattle sometime in 1889 and remained in business there until 1901 when he sold the business for an enormous amount of money and became the manager of The Seattle Hotel. Rogers was arrested in San Francisco in November of 1909 on a variety of charges including robbing a saloon, holding a fake identification card (James R. Rogers) and claiming that he owned the "J. R. Rogers Wholesale Wine and Spirit Company in Seattle whose address was located at 1123 First Ave. in Seattle - the same address as the Keystone Liquor Co. at the time. Rogers was thought to had been traveling the world when he was arrested in San Francisco. Police claimed that he may have had lost his mental powers and had gone crazy. He remained in San Francisco for a few years then drifted out of sight.
The "Our House" at 151 Washington St. was always listed as either a wine house, saloon or cafe except for the year 1907 when they were listed as a wholesale liquor operation. Joseph Bacher and Louis Grimminger operated the business until closed by Prohibition in 1915.
151 Washington St. Seattle - Then
A photo showing the Our House storefront located at 151 washington St. in Seattle (Circa 1915).
151 Washington St. Seattle - Today
Photo Courtesy: Google Street View
Durkin Wines & Liquors - Spokane (1897-1915)
Amber Conical 1/2 Gallon Bottle
James "Jimmie" Durkin (1859-1934) gained notoriety in the Inland Empire of Eastern Washington as Spokane's legendary liquor tycoon. By 1872 he was working in a bar. Eventually Durkin moved on to learning the wholesale liquor business in Perham, Minnesota, where on August 8, 1882, he married Margaret Daily and they went on to have three sons and two daughters. In 1886 Durkin headed out west to Washington Territory. He arrived in Colville W.T. and with the $2,500 he'd saved, Durkin opened Colville's 10th liquor outpost. Within a few years his nest-egg had grown into a small fortune totaling over $65,000. The draw of the big city attracted Durkin and in the spring of 1897 he relocated in Spokane. Durkin eventually had three shops (at Mill & Sprague Avenue, 121 Howard Street, and 415 W Main Avenue) which lasted until Prohibition in 1915.
Mill (Wall) St. & Sprague Spokane - Then
A colored postcard of Durkin Wines & Liquor storefront located at the corner of Mill (Wall) St. and Sprague in Spokane (circa 1915).
Mill (Wall) St. & Sprague Spokane - Today
Photo Courtesy: Google Street View