Pioneer history of Ingham County, compiled and arranged by Mrs. Franc L. Adams, secretary of the Ingham County pioneer and historical society.

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PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY

It looked better fifty years ago, when at that time it stood in the
western suburb of the north end.
Well, what about this old building? It stands today as the
ruins of an industry and two-score years ago was part of Weimann's brewery.
Sixty or sixty-five years ago there drifted into the north end a
tall German. He was accompanied by his wife and baby. He
showed by his movements and actions that he was full of energy
and hard work. In this he was helped by his short, sturdy frau.
He told the public that he was looking for a location, that he was
a brewer and intended starting a brewery.
After a time, we find him clearing and building on the northeastern corner of Pine and Maple streets. Why did he locate
here? At that time a small spring brook crossed Maple street
near the corner of Pine and meandered down across Franklin
street near Mr. Alfred Bigsby's place and emptied into Grand
river, east of our present gas works.
This creek could give him plenty of fresh water and the banks
could be utilized at small expense and not much digging as a
cooling cellar for his brewery. A vacant square just east of his
building which had a small grove of maples and other trees on its
north side could, if his business was a success and needed expanding, be bought or leased as a beer garden, also the creek flats
with its dark, rich soil was an ideal cabbage patch. The unfenced
commons south and west of his location afforded pasture, with no
expense, to his cows;
My earliest recollections of this brewery was the present building with its long porch on the east side, the brew house proper
set a short distance north, a young forest of hop poles along a
drive on the eastern side, for German thrift and custom made him
raise his own hops which he used in his business, his bustling wife
waiting upon customers in the front room while her good man
was busy with the brewing. Very distinct recollections come to
me now of this front room with its sanded floor, the tall hop poles
with their swaying vines, the smell of steaming malt, the tinkle of
cow bells on the common and the harsh, guttural tones of the
German customers, mingled with clouds of tobacco smoke from
some large porcelain pipes. The creek with the dark forest as its
background and impenetrable swamp-Bogus Swamp- that hid