website watertownhistory.org
ebook History of Watertown,
Wisconsin
Fuermann Brewery
Founded
1848, Closed 1896
August Fuermann, Sr
and Jr
WHS_006_310
August
Fuermann Brewery and Buildings. Fuermann home is
to the right of brewery
Today
the site of City Hall, Police and Fire
Departments
August
Fuermann, Sr,
1822 - 1894
“The History of Jefferson County, Wisconsin”, published: Chicago: Western Historical Company, 1879.
August
Fuermann, Sr, brewer; was
born in Germany Jan. 8, 1822; came to Wisconsin in 1847, locating in Milwaukee,
where he opened a grocery and saloon; he then moved to Watertown and engaged in
the brewing of lager beer.
He
married, in 1846, Christiana Hengott, of Prussia; he
has nine children – Charlie, August, Amelia, Julius, Aida, Henry, Lette, Albert
and Gerhard.
August
Fuermann was uncle of Henry
Daub
Watertown
Gazette, 09 07 1894
Death
claims another old citizen this week-August Fuermann,
who passed away at 2:10 P.M. on Wednesday, September 5, 1894, the cause of his
death being stomach troubles, with which he has suffered for several months
past.
Deceased
was born in Germany on January 8, 1822, hence was in his 73d year. He came to America in 1847 locating in
Milwaukee, where he opened a grocery and saloon; he shortly afterward came to
Watertown and engaged in the brewing of lager beer in a building 24 x 50 feet,
and gradually made additions to the same, until at the time of his death he was
president of one of the largest breweries in the state.
He was
married in 1846 to Miss Christiana Hengott, of
Prussia, who died several years ago.
His
surviving children are: Charles, Albert and Gerhardt Fuermann,
Mrs. F. Bursinger and Mrs. A. Weis, of this city,
Julius and Henry Fuermann, and Mrs. Henry Wollering, of Chicago.
Mr. Fuermann was a fine businessman an enterprising citizen,
and a good neighbor. His death is much
regretted by his extensive acquaintance.
On Sunday afternoon his funeral will be held from his late home on North
First Street.
August Fuermann,
Jr, 1850 - 1893
August
Fuermann, Jr., son of August Fuermann,
who established the A. Fuermann Brewing Company, died
at the Wauwatosa sanitarium on November 10, 1893, at age 42.
Deceased
had been in failing health for more than a year, a sufferer from softening of
the brain, and his death was therefore not unexpected.
Mr. Fuermann was a person of pleasant, quiet demeanor and
possessed a host of warm friends.
He
leaves a wife and two children.
The
body was taken to his home at 506 Third St.
The
funeral was held under the auspices of Washington lodge, I. O. O. F., of which
Mr. Fuermann was a member for many years. Rev. Dr. Jewell of St. Paul’s Church
officiated.
The remains
were laid to rest in Oak
Hill Cemetery.
Watertown
Gazette, 11 15 1893
August
Fuermann, Jr., proprietor of saloon; born in
Watertown Sept. 3, 1850; associated with his father in the brewing business
here, and Chicago agent of the Fuermann Brewing
Company from October, 1871, until he returned to Watertown, and engaged in
present business in February, 1878. Dec. 19, 1874, he was married to Eliza
Speer (daughter of Ferdinand Speer); she was born in Watertown; they have one
child – Amanda, born April 29, 1878. Mr. F. is a member of A. F. & A. M.,
I.O.O.F., Turners and Concordia Musical Societies.
“The History of Jefferson County, Wisconsin”, published: Chicago: Western Historical Company, 1879.
_____________________________________________
1859
05 19 Fuermann’s Best
[Letter
from Omaha] To the Editor of the Watertown Democrat: If emigration is any test, the times have
been harder in Wisconsin than any where else as eight-tenths
of the teams passing here are from that State . . . There are now from one
hundred and fifty to two hundred teams passing here daily, beside foot men,
hand carts, etc . . . Many have inscribed the place whence they hail on the
side of their wagons . . . Many of my acquaintances from Janesville, Ft.
Atkinson and Jefferson have passed but as yet not one from Watertown that I
have been able to find, but am anxiously looking for the advent of “Doc” and
his company. I shall stick it out until
he comes, as he promised to bring a keg of “Fuermann’s
Best” with him and not to touch it until he reached this point, and if he will
keep his promise—especially the last part of it—won’t we have one good nip
before we leave for the diggings? But
I’ll not let my mind dwell upon it for after all “Doc” is an indifferent ox
teamster and may upset and spill it . . . D.S.P. WG
1894
12 12 A peculiar accident happened
last Wednesday afternoon at the A. Fuermann Brewing
Company. Two workmen, Albert Behnke, of 1413 North Second Street, and Fred Fleuter, of 319 North Warren Street, were engaged in
“pitching” barrels – that is, coating them with hot melted pitch. They were on the inside of a large cask, when
in some unaccountable manner, the pitch was ignited,
enveloping the men in flames. For a few moments death by fire stared Flueter
and Behnke in the face, but they luckily escaped from
the barrel before they were seriously burned. Their hands and faces, however, were quite
painfully affected. Dr. Feld attended the injured men and they are getting along
nicely. WR
1897
03 31
Albert
Fuermann, who recently severed his connection with
the A. Feurmann Brewing Company, has made arrangements to start a carbonated
beverage factory here about May 1. It
will be located on his property at 1026 North Second Street, where there is
excellent spring water convenient for the manufacture of the line of beverages
he will handle. Mr. Feurmann was in
Chicago last week purchasing the necessary machinery and supplies for his
business. WR
1906
05 08
Mr.
Brautchek, the Milwaukee tanner, was in the city Saturday conferring with the
members of the Advancement Association relative to removing his business to
Watertown. A proposition was made to
William Hartig, the owner of the old Fuermann brewing building, to repair the
old building and gave free rental for two years, at the end of which time the
building should be bought at a price to be agreed upon at the beginning and
paid for in yearly installments. Mr.
Hartig very generously offered to give the rental free for one year and the
tanning company could repair the building to its convenience and at the end of
that period purchase the building at a price that would be satisfactory and pay
for it out of the profits of the building.
Watertown wants the tannery and it is hoped that a satisfactory
arrangement will yet be perfected by which the industry will locate here and
give employment to labor and wealth to the city.
Beer and Cheese Cellars of Early Days
Uncovered
More
people here are familiar with the old beer cellars that are located under Memorial Park,
which was once the site of the Fuermann brewery. After the brewery was destroyed and remained
only a ruin and an eyesore the old cellars came into partial view and boys
playing on the lot used them for hideouts.
When the city acquired the property and the development of the park
began one of the first tasks was to fill in the old passages. A part of the park area caused trouble for
years. A lot of old refuse, tin cans,
etc. had been used to fill in a portion of the place and over the years a
section of it began to cave in. This
caused a great deal of trouble for city and park board officials and the great
memorial arch, which originally stood at
the southwest entrance of the park, had to be repaired and replaced, as the
settling ground caused it to crack and break.
After repairs had been made several times and a portion of the original
arch had been removed entirely the entire structure was torn down and rebuilt
at the southeast entrance of the park where it now stands. That section of the park had never been used
for cellars and consequently provided a better location for such a heavy
structure as the arch.
Cross References:
Henry Fuermann visited
relatives and friends here on Tuesday.
This celebrated photographer, who of late has gained such a record in
Chicago that his two sons have been forced to take a hand in the business in
order that the demands on the concern will receive attention. Watertown people in Chicago are probably not
aware that Henry ranks among "the first." Watertown Gazette, 10 16 1908
Hops processing
plant considered, 1986
