The Racine Journal-Times Sunday Bulletin from Racine, Wisconsin • Page 47

GONE-BUT NOT FORGOTTEN Plenty of Breweries in Racine In Old Days; None in 1956 Itaelne Joaraftl-ltinei Simday Bolletiii HOOP SKIRT Harper's Weekly illustration of 1859 depicted the inside of a hoop skirt factory in which 1,000 girls were employed. Approximately 500 labor saving machines were used, including one which cut 200 clasps a minute. Each employe turned out three or four garments a day. The average pay was $4 a week, contrasted to one textile mill where seamstresses worked 14 hours for cents a day. It was to be years yet before women could engage in occupations other than needlework in factories, teaching, domestics and governesses.

In 1870 women employed totaled 1,500,000. By 1950 the number topped 18,000,000. "Ernst Klinkert's Bottled Beer, Healthful and Invigorating," was a familiar advertisement for many years in Racine's pre- prohibition days. The E. Klinkert Brewing 822 Washington which began operations in 1881, was the largest of several Racine breweries in existence at various periods in the city's history.

Ernst Klinkert was born in Frankfort, Germany, Nov. 11, 1844, and came to this country in 1862. He lived in St. Louis for six years, and in 1868 moved to Milwaukee, where he was employed by the Blatz Brewing Co. His next job was at the Fred Heck Brewery in Racine, and after six years there, he built his own Racine brewery in 1881.

Closed in 1920. The brewery operated steadily until 1920, when prohibition caused Klinkert to shut down. For a short period during prohibition, Klinkert manufactured near-beer in the plant, but the building was abandoned and most of it razed in the 1920s. ROUGH Theodore Roosevelt and his "Rough Riders" at San Juan Hill, Puerto Rico, Spanish-American War. This photo is from an original made in 1898.

From 20 to 50 persons were employed at the brewery at various times. Most of the beer was sold in the Racine-Kenosha area. Klinkert, to meet the competition of the large Milwaukee breweries, purchased many tavern buildings in Racine. He then leased the taverns to persons who would sell his beer only. The business was incorporated in 1904 with a capital investment of $50,000.

Heck Brewery Here in '48, Among the other Racine breweries was Fred Heck's Beer Brewery, which opened for business in 1848 at Eighth and Center Sts. Heck at one time brewed 5,000 barrels a year. The City Brewery was organized in 1868 by Erhardt Schilling and a partner named Klenger. The brewery, on Washington sold its entire production of 3,000 barrels a year in Racine. In 1879, the Star Brewery, 1627 Douglas made its first beer.

Proprietors Engel and Hadwig took over the building which had been used by Gsorge Schlenk for the brewing of ale. The North Side Brewery was established by A. R. Deinken in 1877 on the Old Milwaukee Rd. Deinken later was a partner in two other breweries.

They were Biwer and Deinken Brewery, and Deinken and Reiplinger Brewery. W. H. Weber began brewing beer on Racine's lakefront in 1878. The enterprise, known for a time as the Lake Shore Brewery, went out of business about 1908.

Three Different Names. A brewery at 620 Stannard St. in the 1880s operated under three different names. In 1885 it was Wedemeyer and Maas in 1887 it became John Maaas and and in 1888 it was known as the Joseph Bezucha Brewery. Other Racine area brewers in the 1880s included Charles Goehring, Robert Grant and Charles Wolf, whose brewery was In the Town of Mt.

Pleasant. In the early 19003, the Belle City Brewing Co. manufactured beer at 1506 State St. Except for Klinkert and Weber, most Racine breweries went out of business after a few years. In Burlington, Jacob Muth erected a brewery in 1852.

He ran the brewery until 1872, then tore it down and built a malt house. Muth sold his malt to Chicago and Milwaukee breweries. W. J. Finke began brewing operations in Burlington in the 1870s.

The firm became the Finke-Uhen Brewery, and was housed for many years in the present Haylofters Playhouse on Burlington's Main St. The Burlington Brewing Co. manufactured Van Merritt beer for a number of years. An artists's conception of "Teddy" Roosevelt at the head of his charging Rough Rider regiment of the Spanish-American War. GROWING WITH RACINE 25 Yeors Experience Plus a Complete Line of Modern Equipment Means A Job Well Done CHARLES SUISSE SEWER CONTRACTOR EXCAVATING GRADING CRANE DUMP TRUCK SERVICE SERVICE BY THE HOUR DIAL ME 2-1343 Milci Road The old Klinkert Brewery, Eighth and Washington.

Photo THE BIG Ruth was the all-time home run king for the major baseball leagues. In 1927 he hit 60 home runs which still stands as a season record. He died Aug. 16,1948. LIFE-FIRE-HOSPITAL-AUTO INS.

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