Property Record
CROOKED CREEK LANE
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | ZIEGELMAIER BOSCOBEL BREWERY |
|---|---|
| Other Name: | BREWERY-RUINS |
| Contributing: | |
| Reference Number: | 43968 |
| Location (Address): | CROOKED CREEK LANE |
|---|---|
| County: | Grant |
| City: | Boscobel |
| Township/Village: | |
| Unincorporated Community: | |
| Town: | |
| Range: | |
| Direction: | |
| Section: | |
| Quarter Section: | |
| Quarter/Quarter Section: |
| Year Built: | 1866 |
|---|---|
| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 1982 |
| Historic Use: | brewery |
| Architectural Style: | Astylistic Utilitarian Building |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Stone - Unspecified |
| Architect: | GEO. ZIEGELMAIER |
| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
| Demolished Date: |
| National/State Register Listing Name: | Not listed |
|---|---|
| National Register Listing Date: | |
| State Register Listing Date: |
| Additional Information: | A 'site file' exists for this property. It contains additional information such as correspondence, newspaper clippings, or historical information. It is a public record and may be viewed in person at the Wisconsin Historical Society, State Historic Preservation Office. THIS BREWERY HAS A STONE FIRST FLOOR. THE THIRD FLOOR IS PRESENTLY COLLAPSING. THE BUILDING IS BUILT INTO A CLIFF TO THE REAR. IN 1886, GEORGE ZIEGELMAIER REBUILT HIS BREWERY AFTER A FIRE. IT CLOSED IN 1952. ARCHITECTURAL STATEMENT: THE ZIEGELMAIER BREWERY IS SIGNIFICANT AS AN EXAMPLE OF A TYPE OF STRUCTURE. THE BREWERY IS LOCATED SOUTH OF TOWN ON CROOKED CREEK, AND IS SHELTERED BY THE BLUFFS. NOW IN RUINS, THE STRUCTURE WAS CONSTRUCTED OF STONE TO APPROXIMATELY THE THIRD STORY, WITH THE UPPER STORIES FRAME. DORMERS AND TOWERS ONCE ENLIVENED THE ROOF. THE REMOVAL OF BEAMS HAS RESULTED IN THE CAVING OF THE UPPER STORIES. THE MAJORITY OF THE STONE BASE, WITH SQUARE WINDOW OPENINGS AND LARGE ARCHED DOORS, REMAINS STANDING. THE MAIN BUILDING CONTAINED THE MALT FLOOR, BREWHOUSE, FERMENTING CELLAR AND STORAGE CELLARS. THE ICE HOUSE ADJOINED TO THE NORTH AND THE BOTTLEING WORKS WAS A SEPARATE STRUCTURE. (D) HISTORICAL STATEMENT: ZIEGELMAIER VISITED BOSCOBEL IN 1857 RETURNING IN THE 1860'S TO OPEN A BREWERY. THIS WAS DESTROYED BY FIRE IN 1866, BUT HE REBUILT SHORTLY AFTER. HE HAD BUILT PRODUCTION UP TO 400 BARRELS ANNUALLY BY 1880. VARIOUS OWNERS RAN THE PROPERTY UNTIL PROHIBITION. AFTER THE REPEAL, JOHN B. BLASS PURCHASED THE BREWERY PRODUCING 800 BARRELS OF AMBER BREW. IN 1939, JOSEPH DOLL ACQUIRED THE BREWERY AND HIRED TONY SEMROD OF HIGHLAND AS MASTER BREWER. HARRY GEISLER AND GEORGE DOLL JOINED THE FIRM. (A) COMPETION FROM MILWAUKEE BREWERIES CONTRIBUTED TO THE CLOSING OF THE BREWERY IN 1942. (B) BARLEY WAS OBTAINED FROM LOCAL FARMERS AND THE BEER WAS SHIPPED TO TOWNS IN THE AREA, FENNIMORE, ETC. |
|---|---|
| Bibliographic References: | A. MICHAEL MATUCHESKIE, HISTORIAN, SHS SITE FILES. B. BOSCOBEL DIAL, JUNE 19, 1969, P. 1. C. KROLL, WAYNE, BADGER BREWERIES PAST AND PRESENT, 1976. D. SANBORN PERRIS MAP OF BOSCOBEL 1912. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |