Keystone Liquor Co. - Seattle (1902-1915)
1/2 Gallon Whiskey Bottle
Simon Weixel was the president and manager of the Keystone Liquor Company when it opened in 1902. It was located from start to finish at 1123 1st Avenue in Seattle until 1908 when a second establishment.was opened next door at 1119 First Avenue. Some of the newspaper ads of the day noted that they were the local distributor for Schlitz Beer and strictly a wholesale and family liquor store with no connection to a bar or saloon. In June 1915 they were reorganized into the Keystone Wine House as successors to the Keystone Liquor Co. in order to sell out their last bit of stock prior to prohibition.
1119-1123 1st Ave. Seattle - Then
A picture postcard of the Keystone Liquor Co. which was located at 1119-1123 1st Ave. in Seattle (circa 1905).
1119-1123 1st Ave. Seattle- Today
Photo Courtesy: Google Street View
Colfax Brewing Co. - Colfax (1893-1915)
Aqua Beer Bottle
The Colfax Brewery began in 1893 by Alvin Schmidt and cost over $5,000 to construct the brewery. The company usually employed around 10 men until the most of the building was destroyed in a fire 3 years later. Alvin Schmidt rebuilt and expanded the Colfax Brewery, reopening in late 1897. In 1902 he sold the company to Henry Schultz who operated the brewery as the Schultz Brewery Company until he sold it to brewmaster Max Hoefle (from Buffalo, NY) in 1911 for $65,000. Hoefle operated it as the Colfax Brewing and Malting Company and the company ran the only ice plant in Colfax which supplied the brewery, all the towns residents as well as shipping ice to other towns in the area. The brewery was forced to close with the start of Prohibition in January 1916 and dumped their last 14,000 gallons of beer into the Palouse River where a large crowd had gathered and observed that fish downstream began jumping in strange patterns.
Colfax Brewing Plant - Then
A photo of the construction of the Colfax Brewing Co facility in Colfax (Circa 1900).
General Vicinity of the former Colfax Brewing Plant - Today
Photo Courtesy: Google Street View
Hanson & Co. - Seattle (1904-1915)
Embossed Whiskey Bottle
The company had its beginning in 1904 when Gustave (Gus) E. Hanson and Arnold A. Zbiden opened a saloon and family liquor store at 621 - 623 1st Avenue. In 1906 they sold that location and opened up a saloon located at 2307 1st Avenue and in late 1907 they changed their wholesale operations to 103 Pike Street. The new saloon was kept separate from their wholesale end of the business and both operations continued until Prohibition in 1915.
621-623 1st Ave. Seattle - Then
A colorized photo showing the storefront of Hanson & Co. which was located at 621-623 1st. Ave. in Seattle (Circa 1905).
621-623 1st Ave. Seattle - Today
Photo Courtesy: Google Street View
Claussen Brewing Co. - Seattle (1901-1915)
Amber Beer Bottle and Advertising Glass
Hans Johanne Claussen came to Seattle in 1888, after working in the Fredericksburg Brewery in San Jose, CA and the National Brewery in San Francisco. Once in Seattle he took the position as brewmaster at E. F. Sweeney's Puget Sound Brewery. The following year Claussen became a principal in the firm which reorganized as the Claussen-Sweeney Brewing Company. The new firm was capitalized at $80,000 with Edward Sweeney as president, and Hans Claussen as secretary-treasurer. In February of 1901, Hans formed a stock company for the purposes of opening a new brewing enterprise - the Claussen Brewing Association. The venture was capitalized at $50,000 - all the stock having been subscribed for by local retailers, i.e. saloons. The Alaska-Yukon Exposition of 1909, gave the company a boost when the prizes were awarded to the many competing Northwest breweries. The Claussen Brewing Assn. was awarded the Grand Prize and a Gold Medal for its flagship, "Tannhaeuser Beer". This seemed to confirm their slogan: "Seattle's Best Beer." Also, their "Mother's Malt" and "Ye Olde English Porter" both received Gold Medals. In November of 1914, Washington voters adopted state-wide prohibition. This was to take effect the beginning of 1916, giving producers of alcoholic beverages all of 1915 to sell their stock and close their plants.
History developed in association with Gary Flynn - Website: www.brewerygems.com
3455 21st Ave. W. (Interbay) Seattle - Then
A photo of the Claussen Brewing Association plant which was located at 3455 21st Ave W. in the Interbay area of Seattle (circa 1915).
3455 21st Ave. W. (Interbay) Seattle - Today
Photo Courtesy: Google Street View