As I recall from about 1960, every Thursday a truckload of Sebewaing Beer would leave the brewery, heading for the A & P Warehouse in Detroit, where A & P trucks would deliver our beer to their stores throughout Michigan. It was A & P’s “cheap” beer, probably costing around $1 for a six-pack of those beautiful long-neck bottles. Stores had two or three main brands plus maybe one cheaper beer, not the hundreds of choices like today.
These smaller trucks here would deliver to local restaurants, bars and grocery stores, and to the non-A & P dealers. About 25 local men were employed in this memorable local business until it closed about 1965-66.
Mark
it is great seeing all these pictures and knowing how it is related to people that are on this site and to our past. I look forward to your posts. Aways very interesting.
Keep up the great work
My grampa Sam Rupert like his sebewaing beer always keep it in the milk cooler refreg with the milk cans.and of course some fell into our hands on a hot summer day
I started a new page on the website just last week that lists brewery employees from 1933 to 1966 (for now). It is work in progress but maybe a relative or friend would like to see a name they might know. There is a comment section at the bottom of the page if anyone has a missing name, dates of employment, and positions held. The page URL is https://sebewaingbrewingcompany.com/employees/
@Chuck, thanks. Everybody who posts stuff here (or comments) helps us recall the good things from our little town’s past. @Curt, sounds like you kids, stealing grandpa’s beer!!! (We always got a sip too, but that’s another story.) @Scott, GREAT idea to list Brewery employees. Everybody should check out Scott’s work on his fascinating website. Keep it going, folks!!!
My Dad always purchased Sebewaing beer when we were kids so when I met Warren and found out he was from Sebewaing and his last name was Beers, I was sure he was not being entirely truthful then when he told me his Dad’s name was Ford and he was a Ford Dealer, I was sure of it!
@Mary, that’s funny (and true.) I dated a girl from Birmingham (MI) in college and she took me home to meet her mother. The mother said, “Sebewaing?” She’s the result of a six-pack of Sebewaing Beer,” she said, pointing at my girlfriend, who was embarassed. I was, too, but it’s funny now!
Don was weaned on it……Sebewaing beer! Tasted salty to me but then I’m not a beer “coni-sewer” !
Patty, some of my friends were “common-sewers” of our Pheasant Beer!
Dale Pobanz just contacted me, and he’d like to comment here but has some technical reason he can’t (we’re trying to work that out.) Anyway, Dale just texted me, saying “I remember as a kid going in the brewer with my dad and sitting at the picnic table while he had a beer . and he took me trick and treat at the old hotel I got alot of nickels”
I believe that Mark!
Mark here is your challenge ..how many employees are still alive that worked at the brewery?
Wow, Rob, good question. Let’s start counting them (you probably have the best knowledge on that.) What number do you guess?
Two….I know one for sure…my dad.
Broke my collarbone on the sledding hill they kept up for us in the winter – behind the main bldg.
Wow, Alice. THAT is a steep hill! Pretty brave, young lady…
WE did the hill sliding plus Carl Rummel had a 10or12 hp AMF snowmobile WE took turns towing a saucer around. The only danger was the well cover that supplied the breweries “sparkelling deep” well water.
Paul, where was the well cover you are referencing?
Northeast corner of the property not to far from the drain pipe that went into the river.
My Uncle Ken Bolzman is still alive, he worked 1955-1961 Driver- Salesman
I remember having a ride in that coupe with my dad when I was little kid.
Was it across the alley from the Storage House (where the labels and bottle caps were stored and where they lifted off the roof to install and remove tanks) and sort of on the downward side of the hill into the gully? And then if you kept going across the gully, there was an open field next to the river where the drain was located? I am trying to figure out where well house #1 was located. I know where #2 and #3 were, but not #1.
Thank you Ron, I have your uncle added.
Robin, my dad, William Thede is still around. He lives in Harbor Beach.
Hey that makes three with Mr Bolzman and yes your dad I new lived in hb..I think there’s another person but I cannot think of his name. It’s interesting to hear the old stories of the brewery.
Thank you to Mark W. Rummel for this post and all of those who took the time to comment in Facebook.
Scott M. Thede posted this information on March 24, 2014 in the Facebook Group “You know you are from Sebewaing, MI when …”. He said “Relative to the Sebewaing Brewery, I stumbled on a gem of a document that I call “The “Ellen Taschner Report” written by the late Ellen Taschner of Owendale, MI. It was found in the Sebewaing Township Library. Has great information.”
