Feature on Wooden Shoe. Topic: INDUSTRY
Written by Tom Homan in April, 1996
WOODEN SHOE: A BREWING TRADITION IN OHIO'S DUTCH COUNTRY |
What do Albert Einstein, Henry Ford and Abraham Lincoln have in common? They have all achieved a level of greatness that will not be easily surpassed. With a little help, inanimate objects can do the same, and I believe the former Wooden Shoe Brewing Company of Minster, Ohio, falls into this category. Ask anyone in this West-Central Ohio community about the brewery; and you should be prepared to pack a lunch, as there are so many enjoyable stories to be heard. It brings back vivid memories to everyone who lived in the area at the time. As you will see, this was more than a small local brewery, it was a way of life for the residents who lived in the vicinity. Wooden Shoe was the major employer in the Minster area, and from 1933 until approximately 1943, the tax money from the brewery met the entire operating expenses of the town. Operating this brewery was not all fun and games, though. The business experienced many hardships, such as a complete loss by fire, the death of the manager, prohibition, the passing of the brew master, a shortage of materials, and finally, stiff competition from the large national breweries. Let's go back and take a brief look at the history and legacy of the local brewery. It all began in 1869 with a man named Franz Lange constructing his brewery from stone and brick. It was modeled after a lager beer brewery in Piqua, Ohio, (which would later be purchased by the Lange family and named after them). There were two other breweries in Minster at the time, one company was owned by George Luckman, and the other by Bernard H. Nienberg; however, they both produced a "brown beer," that was not to the liking of the townspeople. By 1870, the new beer began to flow, and Lange's brewery did well, as the local brew was well received by the residents. Peter Mittler became brewmaster in 1875 and would hold that position 23 years until leaving in 1898. He would eventually sell his ownership share to J.B. Meyer in 1899. [ Back ] [ Next ] [ Up ] [ New Search ] |
