One
of the earliest establishments at Glendale was the Brewery built by
John Mannheim in 1875, called the "Montana Brewery". Mannheim began his business
at Bannack City, Montana in 1863. With the shift in focus to the
Bryant Mining District, John Mannheim relocated to the new smelter
town of Glendale. When John arrived, Glendale had not yet chosen the
name for it's new community. He was among a handful of men who were
the first to settle this area but his time in Glendale was very short.
John Mannheim became involved in legal processes and his brewery would
then pass to Frank Gilg in June of 1878. John Mannheim would
pass away in Madison County, Montana in 1879. John Mannheim's
daughter, Elizabeth would marry the son of the Hecla Consolidated
Mining Company's founder at Glendale.
For a brief time, Gilg had a partner by the name of
Andrew Hemrich who eventually moved on to Seattle in 1883 and would
continue in the business of brewing with a partner by the name of
Kopp. Within two years, Andrew would go into business with his father,
John Hemrich and brother-in-law and form a Corporation, The Bay View
Brewing Company which in 1893 would merge with the Seattle Malting &
Brewing Company, becoming the largest brewing company on the west
coast.
Frank
Gilg sold to Louis Heinbockel and his brother-in-law Frank Sidell in
late 1879 or early 1880. In 1884 Frank Schultz, in partnership with
Albert Gamer, purchased it from Heinbockel. Schultz & Gamer put Peter
Wagner in charge of the daily operations. Later, Gamer sold his
interest in the brewery, at which time Schultz brought in Jacob
Schoenaur to serve as head brew master. Tragically on July 4, 1887
while the majority of the Glendalites danced in the big rink on the
hill, Jacob Shoenauer, Brewmaster, was burned to death in his home.
The man had retired and from all appearances had made no effort to
escape the fire trap. The roaring flames had gained so much headway
before attracting attention that nothing could be saved.
It is said that kerosene fumes were very noticeable in the area of the
conflagration and it was hinted by some that the fire culminated a
heinous and well plotted crime, The more forthright of the old timers
openly assert that Shoenauer was murdered in his bed and robbed; and
that the hand of the murderer saturated parts of the building with
kerosene and with a match, converted the place into a funeral pile for
the luckless German brewer. Not long after Shoenauer's death, a
heretofore indigent resident of Glendale set himself up in business to
the amazement of everyone, (At this point in the tale there is a
lifting of the narrator's eyebrows.) But whatever suspicions and
whether or not they were groundless, Glendale folk did not follow them
up with an investigation, and so another unsolved riddle rests on a
shelf of mining camp history. This was not the first evidence that the
“Company’s” water supplied fire suppression system was not to be
relied upon. Several major conflagrations occurred over the years and
were total losses.
(1887 JUL 6)
Glendale: To the Editor of the Dillon Tribune:
The 4th of July was celebrated here. Business houses and a number of
residences were decked with green trees and flags a flying. Horse,
wheel-barrow and foot racing occupied a part of the afternoon, until
the time came for base ball, when the two nines had a lively set-to
until 6:30 o’clock, when all adjourned for supper. After supper a
magnificent display of fireworks was set off near the rink, after
which the delighted spectators adjourned to the rink to indulge in the
light fantastic etc. The Glendale cornet band gave us some of their
sweetest and best music during the afternoon and evening.
Everything passed
off very pleasantly and several remarked what a joyous Fourth we are
having, but their joy was turned into sorrow, at 11:30 p.m., when the
cry of fire was heard, and the ringing bells called our citizens to
their duty. The Glendale Brewery was on fire in the upper story. The
hose was soon attached to the water plugs, but was found too short to
reach the building; a few buckets were procured, but water was too far
away to do much good with them. All at once the query was passed from
lip to lip, “Where is Jacob Schoenauer?” And was answered, “he must be
in the burning building,” but none believed it. Although every effort
was made to reach his room, without success, the entire building was
burned to the ground. By that time the water from the lengthened hose
began playing on the fiery mass and the blackened remains of a human
being were discovered therein. As soon as possible to get at the body,
several willing hands lent their aid in securing the same. On arriving
at the place they found that the head was burned off and supposed it
had fallen into the cellar; the body was lying over two joists, over
the cellar, in which was a fiery mass of coals: the limbs seemed to be
perfect but on moving the body the limbs crumbled to dust, leaving
only the bare trunk of what was once the portly frame of Jacob
Schoenauer. He was a native of Switzerland and at the time of his
death was 33 years old. At the last term of the district court he took
out papers of citizenship and became a citizen of the United States.
John
P. Hulsizer and Schoenauer were partners in the saloon. The latter at
10 o’clock went up stairs to bed taking with him a miner’s candlestick
and candle and also his dog and cat. Hulsizer kept open until about 11
o’clock and went to his cabin and retired and was awakened half an
hour later by the cry of fire. He thinks Schoenauer must have fallen
asleep and left the light burning, and it must have been knocked down
by one of the animals, or dropped down through the candle stick on to
some inflammable substances, thus causing the fearful destruction of
life and property. The adjoining building, owned and occupied by John
T. Murphy as a warehouse, was also destroyed with its contents. There
was no insurance on any of the above property. John G. Schmidt, of
Glen station, was the owner of the brewery building, which is valued
at about $3,000. The funeral of Jacob Shoenauer took place last
evening at 5 o’clock. He was followed to his last resting place by a
goodly number of our citizens, who sincerely mourn his sudden and
tragic fate.
This is the old,
old story, houses mostly of wood; a small fire which quickly spreads
until it becomes entirely beyond control, destroying thousands of
dollars worth of property. Here is a town containing everything
needful for the conflagration and with a large amount of valuable
property at risk. Had the Hecla Smelter shared in the destruction
(which, by the way, looked very, probably at one time during the fire)
the loss would have been up at least to $75,000; and for protection of
all this against fire, dependence is placed upon an inadequate water
supply and about 400 feet of decomposed hose.
Had the town been
equipped with one good hand engine even the fire could have been
stayed and the life of Jacob Shoenauer could probably have been saved.
By this time our business men must see the necessity of having a fire
department; hand engines may do, but steam is preferable. Insurance
companies will fight shy, if there is no show to extinguish a fire.
One
of the earliest establishments at Glendale was the Brewery built by
John Mannheim in 1875, called the "Montana Brewery". Mannheim began his business
at Bannack City, Montana in 1863. With the shift in focus to the
Bryant Mining District, John Mannheim relocated to the new smelter
town of Glendale. When John arrived, Glendale had not yet chosen the
name for it's new community. He was among a handful of men who were
the first to settle this area but his time in Glendale was very short.
John Mannheim became involved in legal processes and his brewery would
then pass to Frank Gilg in June of 1878. John Mannheim would
pass away in Madison County, Montana in 1879. John Mannheim's
daughter, Elizabeth would marry the son of the Hecla Consolidated
Mining Company's founder at Glendale.
Frank
Gilg sold to Louis Heinbockel and his brother-in-law Frank Sidell in
late 1879 or early 1880. In 1884 Frank Schultz, in partnership with
Albert Gamer, purchased it from Heinbockel. Schultz & Gamer put Peter
Wagner in charge of the daily operations. Later, Gamer sold his
interest in the brewery, at which time Schultz brought in Jacob
Schoenaur to serve as head brew master. Tragically on July 4, 1887
while the majority of the Glendalites danced in the big rink on the
hill, Jacob Shoenauer, Brewmaster, was burned to death in his home.
The man had retired and from all appearances had made no effort to
escape the fire trap. The roaring flames had gained so much headway
before attracting attention that nothing could be saved.
John
P. Hulsizer and Schoenauer were partners in the saloon. The latter at
10 o’clock went up stairs to bed taking with him a miner’s candlestick
and candle and also his dog and cat. Hulsizer kept open until about 11
o’clock and went to his cabin and retired and was awakened half an
hour later by the cry of fire. He thinks Schoenauer must have fallen
asleep and left the light burning, and it must have been knocked down
by one of the animals, or dropped down through the candle stick on to
some inflammable substances, thus causing the fearful destruction of
life and property. The adjoining building, owned and occupied by John
T. Murphy as a warehouse, was also destroyed with its contents. There
was no insurance on any of the above property. John G. Schmidt, of
Glen station, was the owner of the brewery building, which is valued
at about $3,000. The funeral of Jacob Shoenauer took place last
evening at 5 o’clock. He was followed to his last resting place by a
goodly number of our citizens, who sincerely mourn his sudden and
tragic fate.
