Category Archives: Facebook Sebewaing Group

The “Tapped In” Announcement

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Angie Noah submitted a post on September 5, 2014 in the Facebook Group “You know you are from Sebewaing, MI when …”.  She said:

“Announcing “Tapped In; the Sebewaing Brewery Theater Project”

About the project: “Tapped In” is my creative thesis project for my masters program in American Theater. I wanted to do something with the Thumb community–something specific to this place and its people. I came across The Sebewaing Brewing Company (thanks to some friends and Scott Thede’s website. www.sebewaingbrewingcompany.com) and I immediately knew that this was an entity once thriving–rich with story, community, and lots of personality. Plus–people like beer Recently, I discovered that our theater group in Sebewaing drew more patrons from surrounding communities–and that got me thinking: Why isn’t our own community interested in the stories we are telling? And then I thought–what story do they want to hear? This summer, the beer tent at the Sugar Festival featured beer brewed from the recipes from the brewery before it closed in 1966. To me, this was just further evidence that the brewery (and its beer) have great significance to this community and they are still interested in it. So with this project, I want to write, and craft, and devise, and commune, and brew with the people of Sebewaing. I want to TAP IN to this amazing resource and make a play that represents Sebewaing’s unique voice in the American theater. Will you help me?

I am seeking:
-Sebewaing residents (or regional residents that have direct ties to the community) who wish to help tell the story.
– people who are interested in helping with research and development over the next few weeks.
-ACTORS.
-STORIES or leads for stories. So if you know someone who worked there, or had parents or grandparents that could share stories, please put me in contact with them.
-SPACES. If you have space where we can hold rehearsals, public forums, or even a staged reading for free. Please let me know. Because this is a school project–I have no budget and everything comes out of my own pocket.

If you can and are interested in helping in one (or more) of these ways, please let me know and I will be happy to discuss the details with you further. Also, there will be a FB page or Website soon so that you can follow the project and keep up to date on its progress. There will be public meetings that I am hoping many of you will attend (even if you are not from Sebewaing, but are a thumb resident and have direct ties to Sebewaing–we want to have your voice involved). Thank you! I look forward to creating with you!”

Here are the comments from the post:

Mary Beers You go, Angie! Good idea!

Angie Noah Thanks, Mary! I’m super excited to make this piece!!!

Betty Guenther Try the library for meetings?

Thank you to Angie Noah for this post and all of those who took the time to comment in Facebook.

Photo of the Sebewaing Brewing Company

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Front of Building from LeftMark W. Rummel posted this photo on August 22, 2014 in the Facebook Group “You know you are from Sebewaing, MI when …”.  He said:

“We’ve shared this great photo before, and it’s featured on Scott Thede’s wonderful Sebewaing Brewing Company website, but here is a familiar shot of the Brewery on an average day in the early 1960s. (I can still smell some of the aromas that came out of that building…)”

Here are the comments from the post:

Scott M. Thede It was about a year ago I contacted Mark to ask for his advice on building such a site. Mark has been a great supported and resource to draw upon. Thank you Mark so much for your help. As the new school year starts up here at Ferris, it is a time that I can put towards research and adding more content to the site. I am looking forward to it.

Scott M. Thede I think this photo is from the fall of 1978 or the spring of 1979. This was when the deed was turned over to Sebewaing and they boarded up the lower windows and doors and were preparing for demolition. The broken windows and the fallen middle window pane above the word Sebewaing have been time markers for me in various photos. That horizontal piece of wood was slowly falling through the late 70’s and finally fell to the diagonal position just before the demo. I think the older car model shown in the drive is a coincidence. The village eventually put fencing around it shortly before the demo and there are pictures of that in the spring of 1979.

Mark W Rummel Makes perfect sense, Scott. I figured it based on the age of the vehicle. Thanks for the nice words — folks, DON’T MISS SEBEWAINGBREWINGCOMPANY.COM — it’s a truly GREAT page!

Joshua Seibel Thats my house off to the side of the picture, too bad the brewery is gone.

Scott M. Thede Joshua, the left or right side? I grew up in the home on the right.

Joshua Seibel The right

Mark W Rummel The house on the left was where Frank and Birdie Kaatz lived for many years, and both houses are still standing, I believe.

Brian Haag josh you alone could have supported that brewery..lol..

Bob Fournier I see the little office to the left is already boarded up. Those were the days. Every once in a while someone would come up with a in pronto party at night. We would go to the side door and get the night watch and see if we could pick up a 1/4 barrel. Otto Menzel was our favorite. He would look at you and grumble what you want it this time of night? We would explain it would be worth a couple bucks extra if we could get one. He would finally get the cart and come back with a barrel. Then with a twinkle in his eye , say , don’t you boys get in trouble.

Angie Noah Bob Fournier, I posted on this page last night about a project that I’m doing for my masters thesis… I’m collecting stories about the brewery… and I love the story you just shared here. I’m wondering if you would meet with me to share it for the project? Please read my post and let me know! Thank you.

Thank you to Mark W. Rummel for this post and all of those who took the time to comment in Facebook.

Old Style Bottle Opener

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Old Style Bottle OpenerMark W. Rummel posted this photo on August 10, 2014 in the Facebook Group “You know you are from Sebewaing, MI when …”.  He said:

“For Sale from Sebewaing today on eBay – it’s a 1930s or 40s era keychain “church key” or long-neck bottle opener for our own Sebewaing Brewing Company.

I hadn’t seen this style before. It has the manufacturer’s name and is stamped Chicago, plus the Old Style Beer name. You can buy it, if you’d like it…”

Thank you to Mark W. Rummel for this post.