Encyclopedia Dubuque
"Encyclopedia Dubuque is the online authority for all things Dubuque, written by the people who know the city best.”
Marshall Cohen—researcher and producer, CNN
Affiliated with the Local History Network of the State Historical Society of Iowa, and the Iowa Museum Association.
NORTHWESTERN VINEGAR WORKS
NORTHWESTERN VINEGAR WORKS. An important industry in early Dubuque. In the 1800s, Dubuque residents were able to purchase vinegar in barrels, cans, and waterproof sacks. One of the major suppliers was the Northwestern Vinegar Works which became one of the largest businesses of that kind west of the MISSISSIPPI RIVER.
Originally located on Iowa Street, the Northwestern Vinegar Works moved to a new plant in 1873. Located at the intersection of Eagle Point and Couler Avenue, the four-story building could produce one hundred barrels of vinegar. With the use of the latest machinery, the production soared. The annual production reaching 10,000 barrels with a net return of $100,000.
Vinegar in the 1800s had a variety of uses. In the developing West, it was often used in the production of various alcoholic beverages. Joseph Kaufmann, the chief chemist at the plant, developed an exclusive formula for a vinegar considered the finest for use on salads or in making whiskey. The company motto was "Whatever you use it for, it's the best."
A series fires and a decrease in demand brought an end to the Cushing's company. One of the few reminders of its economic importance in the community was the naming of Kaufmann Avenue for its chief chemist.