DUBUQUE BREWING AND MALTING COMPANY

Photo courtesy: Colin Lamb

Invitation to the grand opening of the Dubuque Brewing and Malting Company. Photo courtesy: Bob Reding

Dubuque Brewing and Malting circa 1909

Founders. Photo courtesy: Bob Reding

DUBUQUE BREWING AND MALTING COMPANY. Once the Midwest's premier beer-brewing facility. Increased demand for beer prompted four local BREWERIES to consolidate in 1892. Joining together to form the Dubuque Brewing and Malting Company were the DUBUQUE BREWING COMPANY, NORTHERN BREWING COMPANY, IOWA BREWERY, and the Western Brewing Company.

Employees pose for a picture. Photo courtesy: Don Davidshofer

The resulting company at 30th and Jackson STREETS covered ten acres with modern buildings and machinery costing $500,000. The annual production capacity was 300,000 barrels of beer. Water was supplied from an artesian well on the premises and cooling was done by ice machines.

Designed by Louis Lehle, a respected Chicago brewery architect, the building was one of Dubuque's outstanding examples of ROMANESQUE ARCHITECTURE. The plant, then considered the most modern of its type in the country, was estimated to have 224,500 square feet of floor space. Delivery vehicles that drove thirty miles before the batteries needing replacing were used.

Reverse glass counter sign. Photo courtesy: Jim Massey

Token

In 1916 PROHIBITION closed the brewery. Legends persist that Alphonse CAPONE used the facilities and shipped out its illegal beer in milk cans.

Corn Belt Packing Company, a local meat packing firm, opened for business in the former brewery on October 15, 1919. Fred Kretschmer succeeded A.B. McCue as president and was generally given credit for making the company profitable. The beginning of the Great Depression, however, closed the plant.

Image courtesy: Cathy's Treasures

In 1934 the brewery was purchased by Joseph Marko and M.L. Blumenthal who spent an estimated $100,000 remodeling the plant which was never reopened. Beginning in 1940 the company, which the two investors had renamed the Julien Dubuque Brewing Company, was used by the DUBUQUE PACKING COMPANY as a ham storage warehouse. The H & W Motor Express Company used the location as a home office and terminal.

In 1977 the home of the former Dubuque Brewing and Malting Company was placed on the NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES. After protests by the two corporate owners, the Division of Historic Preservation of the Iowa State Historical Department removed the buildings from the Iowa register.

The city council hastily established a conservation district in November 2005 after learning the owners sought a demolition permit. The original plan was to sell the bricks and steel at a hefty profit, but historic preservationists pursued an avenue to prevent the structure's loss. As part of a conservation district, the Historic Preservation Commission gets first review of demolition permits.

In the fall of 2008 the city considered including the building in a new urban renewal district. The concept developed because the DUBUQUE STAMPING AND MANUFACTURING, INC. was planning a multi-million dollar expansion project. The city could create tax incentives that would make it less expensive for a developer to expand, or restore a building here.

In 2010 the building became subject to the city's Demolition by Neglect enforcement ordinance. The building's condition made the cost of repairs exorbitant. The owners requested the conservation district be removed to provide them an opportunity to demolish the most deteriorated parts of the structure. They also contacted DUBUQUE MAIN STREET, LTD. for help in finding grants and funding sources. Potential funding included tax-increment financing, federal and state historic tax credits and new-market tax credits.

Although bricks sometimes fall from the facade, the structure in 2010 was considered sound. Outside walls are 2 feet and seven bricks deep.

Early deliveries depended upon teams of horses. Photo courtesy: Bob Reding

Employees of the Dubuque Brewing and Malting Company advertising Vimalt tonic about 1912. Photo courtesy: Bob Reding

Advertising light for Dubuque Brewing and Malting Company. Photo courtesy: Bob Reding

Dubuque Brewing and Malting Company railroad car

Brewing room. Photo courtesy: Bob Reding.

Metal sign. Photo courtesy: Potosi Brewing Company

Antique bottle openers. Photo courtesy: Bob Reding

Early delivery method. Photo courtesy: Bob Reding

Harnesses used by the delivery teams. Photo courtesy: Bob Reding

Dubuque Brewing and Malting Company barrel room. Photo courtesy: Bob Reding

Bottles used by the brewery. Photo courtesy: Bob Reding

Dubuque Brewing and Malting Company machinery. Photo courtesy: Bob Reding

Photo courtesy: Bob Reding

Photo courtesy: Jim Massey

Ink blotter. Photo courtesy: Jim Massey

Photo courtesy: Jim Massey

Letterhead circa 1940. Photo courtesy: Jim Massey

Newspaper. Photo courtesy: Jim Massey

Etched glasses

Upon the death of an employee, the company gave the family this certificate into which a photograph could be added.

Match safe. Photo courtesy: Jim Massey

Bottom of a bottle marked for the company

Letterhead. Photo courtesy: Jim Massey

Photo courtesy: Jim Massey

Photo courtesy: Jim Massey

Keg Token-front

Keg Token-reverse

Token advertising $1.00 refund for 1/4 keg return.

Leather memo book

Ceramic porcelain bottle stopper-- This stopper once was held by a Lightning wire assembly on top of a blob top or crown top bottle which was typical for beer bottles made from the late 1880s through the invention of the crown cap and the crown top style of bottle. Beer bottles with ceramic stoppers like this were meant to be filled, a paper label applied to the unembossed side, possibly a neck label would also be applied, and the stopper set in place. The bottle was placed into a wooden case for delivery to a home or tavern.

Victorian embossed roses mat.

Reverse

Front

Shipping case.

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Source:

(Photo Courtesy: http://www.dubuquepostcards.com)

Information booklet accompanying Bob Reding's display of Dubuque memorabilia from 2007-2010 at the Old Jail

What is the Future of Dubuque's Iconic North End Brewing and Malting Complex?--www.preservationiowa.org/news/newsItem.php?id=106