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Fuermann Brewery

 

August Fuermann, Sr and Jr

 

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 business man 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.

 

1906

   05 08 1906

 

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, he 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.

 

1948

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.

 

 

Image Portfolio

Click to enlarge

                     

 Hartig Brewery &          Cady St Bridge, south      Bursinger Brewery, later Hartig, left

 Malt House left           Fuermann Brewery left      Ice house and Fuermann Brewery, right

 Fuermann right        Now City Hall, Police/Fire Dept 

 

Cross Reference:

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