A. J. Wolfe - Tacoma (1903-1915)
Labeled Wine Bottle
Around late 1903, A. J. Wolff started his retail and wholesale liquor business in Tacoma. It was first located at 1137 Commerce St. but by 1905 it had moved to 1525 Pacific Avenue. In late 1910 Wolff took over the old location of the Warwick Liquor Company located at 1205 Pacific Avenue which was at that time more or less known as the "saloon district" of Tacoma. He remained at 1205 Pacific Avenue doing both a wholesale and retail business until closed by Prohibition in 1915.
Note: L&J on the wine bottle neck label refers to "Lachman & Jacobi," which was a large Calif. wine producer. They had wineries & vineyards in different areas of Calif., including Petaluma & the Fresno area (Lacjac). This port wine must have been produced by Lachman & Jacobi.
Vintage Storefront Photo - Then
A photo of the A. J. Wolfe storefront located at 1525 Pacific Ave. in Tacoma (circa 1908).
1525 Pacific Ave. - Today
Photo Courtesy: Google Street View
Claussen-Sweeney Brewing Co. - Seattle (1888 - 1893)
Beer Bottle
On November 1, 1888, a new corporation was formed with Edward Sweeney and Hans J. Claussen that established the Claussen-Sweeney Brewing Company. The new firm was capitalized at $80,000 with Edward Sweeney as president and Hans Claussen as secretary-treasurer.
The two men had worked together briefly in 1882 at the Fredericksburg Brewery in San Jose and in 1888, Claussen moved to Seattle to become Sweeney's brewmaster. Since 1875, brewers were not allowed to bottle their product on site, so when this rule was rescinded in 1890, Sweeney and Claussen immediately established a separate plant for retail ice sales and beer bottling. Their Washington Ice & Bottling Co. was located on the Grant St. Bridge, just north of the Bay View Brewery. In May of 1891, Hans Claussen decided to sell his interest in the brewing company to George F. Gund, in order to pursue other interests. Nearly ten years later, in March of 1901, Hans formed the Claussen Brewing Association. In January of 1893, Sweeney's brewery joined Albert Braun's Brewing Assn. and Hemrich's Bay View Brewing Co. to form a new corporation - the Seattle Brewing & Malting Co. (SBMCo). By the end of 1893, the Claussen-Sweeney plant and was now the core facility for the newly formed brewing association.
History developed in association with Gary Flynn - Website: www.brewerygems.com
Grant St. Bridge Area - Then
A photo of the Washington Ice & Bottling Co. bottlers of Claussen-Sweeney Lager Beer in Seattle (circa 1890).
Grant St. Bridge Area- Today
Photo Courtesy: Google Street View
Langert Wine Co. - Spokane (1910-1915)
Amber Whiskey Bottle & Shot Glass
Charles Langert was a wholesale liquor dealer who started in Tacoma in 1881 when he acquired a storeroom and warehouse for liquor distribution. He was the sole agent for a variety of whiskey brands and had a great knowledge of foreign winegrowers and distillers which helped him build a quality stock and aquire a reputation known throughout the country. The Langert Wine Company began operation in 1910 at 422 Sprague Avenue in Spokane and closed its doors 5 years later due to Prohibition. It was listed as a distributor - not a bar or saloon. This was the newest of the Langert Companies dealing in spirits and had an estimated net worth of between $10,000 and $20,000 at its closing.
422 Sprague Ave. of Spokane Photo - Then
A photo showing the Langert Wine Co. of Spokane (circa 1915).
422 Sprague Ave. of Spokane Photo - Today
Photo Courtesy: Google Street View
J. J. Kelley - Seattle (1906-1915)
Clear Whiskey Flasks
James J. Kelley started out in Seattle in 1905 at 1413 First Avenue which appears to have been just a saloon at the time. Sometime in 1906 he moved to 1315 1st Avenue where he operated an establishment called the "Art Palace". which was a wholesale and retail liquor outlet which lasted until Prohibition in 1915. Kelly was a noted local art connoisseur and used the Art Palace to showcase his various art collections. His business motto was "A Store Where Ladies Can Trade" and he expanded the business in Sept. 1913 to include the storefront at 1313 1st Avenue. Upon Prohibition, Kelly turned the business into a drug store and was arrested in May 1916 for illegally selling liquor to the public. The police raided the establishment, destroyed all the liquor but they were ordered not to damage any of the art. Kelly eventually moved to San Francisco where he opened a business selling mineral water, loganberry and grape juice. He returned to Seattle to manage the Rainier-Grand Hotel and showcased his art collection until the hotels eventual demolition in May 1930.
1315 1st. Ave. Seattle - Then
A photo of the J. J. Kelley storefront located at 1315 1st. Ave. in Seattle (circa 1907).
1315 1st. Ave. Seattle - Today
Photo Courtesy: Google Street View