Author Archives: Scott Thede

City Fathers, Sitting in Brewery, Ask Aid

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Now that is a headline in a newspaper back in 1935 that would get someone’s attention! During a significant flood in Sebewaing, MI around March 5, 1935, automobiles were not very practical in the flood waters of the Sebewaing River. It just so happened that the Sebewaing Brewing Company was situated on one of the higher elevations of town. The town council decided to hold a meeting using rowboats to get to the brewery. This headline would suggest that the members of the council gave up and decided to drink away their worries!

Check out the article here. 

The Huron County Brewing Company

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Article From Sebewaing Blade on March 28, 1918

A common publication (click here) found in a Google search of brewery names for what is commonly referred to as the Sebewaing Brewing Company has the Huron County Brewing Company as the name from 1905-1919.  This is incorrect since a newspaper article from the Sebewaing Blade published on July 18, 1903 has the following story:

“The Huron County Brewing Co. have erected a 60 barrel vat in their plant this week.”

On March 4, 1904, the same paper reported:

“Fred Kroll was a t Bad Axe and other points in the county, in the interest of the Huron County Brewing Co., and reports business is very good.”

On June 18, 1904, the same paper reported:

“F Kroll was in town, Tuesday, in the interest of the Huron County Brewing Co.”

This name seemed to end when prohibition started.  It appears that the name was retired Tuesday, April 30, 1918.   This was the last day the brewery could be open before prohibition started.

The advertisement to the right appeared in the Sebewaing Blade on March 28, 1918.

The Feature on Sebewaing Beer

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This article appeared in Michigan Magazine back in 2008:

THE FEATURE 

ON SEBEWAING BEER (January/February 2008) revived memories of hunting, fishing, eating and dancing in the western Thumb region. The beer was an essential element of the Zeitgeist of the area.

Before World War II, my father and his buddies from Birmingham took me with them to fish in the Bay and Mud Creek. We shot ducks and pheasants from Unionville to Caseville. Those men drank beer while I had to have soda pop.

But after the war, my friends and I discovered another range of pleasant experiences to enjoy before and after the sport. Some churches and schools in several communities served breakfasts for hunters, and some churches held dances on Saturday nights, after sausage or pork and cabbage dinners. I well remember those plump, pretty girls with German names at the dances at Lutheran churches. The dances usually ended about 10:00 P.M., and then folks drifted into the taverns for beer.

Author: Fred T. Reed, Jr., Fort Gratiot. Dated March/April 2008 from Michigan Magazine (Vol 92, Issue 2)