Conrad Seipp Brewing Co.
Life Span: 1876-TBD
Location: Paulina and Augusta streets
Architect: Unknown
Chicago Sunday Tribune, April 25, 1875
CONRAD SEIPP.
Among the many great manufactories which help to make Chicago a manufacturing centre is the magnificent brewery of Conrad Seipp. This establishment is located east of Cottage Grove avenue, at the foot of Twenty-seventh street, where it occupies a space from Twenty-sixth to Twenty-seventh street, and two blocks east and west. The brewery was: founded in 1856 by Conrad Seipp, in a very small way, using for the brewery proper the space now occupied by his office. About two years after the inauguration of the new enterprise by Mr. Seipp, Mr. Fred Lehman was admitted as a partner, and the business was very successfully conducted under the firm name of Seipp & Lehman until 1872, when Mr. Lehman was killed by being thrown from a buggy. Mr. Seipp bought out the interest of Mr. Lehman’s estate, after his decease, and has since conducted the business alone.
The present building is probably the largest used for the manufacture of lager beer in the United States. The main building is 500 feet front and 150 feet deep, and is a handsome four-story brick structure, convenient and capacious. The other buildings are the office, stable, and malt house. Mr. Seipp is now erecting a two-story brick office, and will use the present office building for a boiler room. He is erecting a chimney to be, including the foundation, 150 feet high. New improvements are constantly being added, and his facitities are constantly being increased. Mr. Seipp employs about 100 men, with a monthly pay-roll of $6,000 to $7,000. He has about sixty horses constantly in use, and has sixteen teams regularly delivering in the city and suburbs. His trade is
almost exclusively in the city, and last year used the enormous amount of 100,000 barrels of beer. The cash capital invested in the business is $1,000,000. The brewery yearly consumes 300,000 bushels of malt and 300,000 pounds of hops. Mr. Seipp has his own side-track, which is very convenient for receiving barley, coal, etc., large quantities of these articles being required for such an immense business. To accommodate his trade, Mr. Seipp has a branch office and depot at 298 Milwaukee avenue, with an ice-house, by which means his customers in that neighborhood can always secure cool and fresh beer. It is impossible in this article to give a full description of Mr. Seipp’s brewers, but it is there to-day as a monument of what perseverance and energy will accomplish.
One Hundred Years of Brewing; a Complete History of the Progress Made in the Art, Science and Industry of Brewing in the World, Particularly During the Nineteenth Century. H.S. Rich & Co., 1903
Conrad Seipp, the founder of the brewing company of that name, was born in 1825, near Frankfort on-the-Main, Germany, his early trade being that of a carpenter and joiner. In 1849 he came to this country, locating at Rochester, N. Y., but after a brief stay there, during which he followed his trade, removed to Chicago. For the succeeding five years he was proprietor of a hotel, but in 1854 rented a small plant, known as the M. Best Brewery, at the foot of Fourteenth street. In the following year his brewery was destroyed by fire, but in the fall he rebuilt on the site of the present plant of the Conrad Seipp Brewing Company.
In 1854, Conrad Seipp commenced business in Chicago, investing $18,000 and turning out $8,960 worth of malt liquors the first year, but in 1857 the entire capital invested in breweries, outside of Lill & Diversey, did not exceed $70,000.
The main building, of brick, had a frontage of about fifty feet, the beer cellars being underground, the malt floors on the ground, the living rooms for Mr. Seipp and his three children on the second floor, and the storage rooms for the barley and malt above. In 1858 Mr. Seipp formed a partnership with Frederick Lehmann, the firm of Seipp & Lehmann continuing until the death of the latter in July, 1872.
The surviving partner purchased the interest of the Lehmann heirs and in 1876 incorporated the Conrad Seipp Brewing Company, of which he remained president up to the time of his death, in January, 1890. During this period also Wm. C. Seipp, his son, served as vice-president, and T. J. Lefens as secretary and treasurer. From the founding of the business, in 1854, until its incorporation in 1876, the output increased from 1,000 barrels of lager beer to more than 100,000 barrels. The founder of the company was a man, not only of remarkable strength of character, but of rare domestic and philanthropic virtues. After his death different local charities received bequests from his estate which amounted to more than $100,000.
In April, 1890, a few months after the death of the founder of the business, the Conrad Seipp, the West Side, and the F. J. Dewes’ breweries, with the L. C. Huck and the George Bullen malt houses were amalgamated to form the City of Chicago Brewing and Malting Company.1 By this time the Conrad Seipp plant had expanded into one of the most extensive establishments in the country, with an annual output of 240,000 barrels of lager beer. It was one of the pioneers in the adoption of artificial refrigeration, the first of its machines being installed in 1881.
Chicago and Its Resources Twenty Years After, 1871-1891, The Chicago Times Company, 1891
CONRAD SEIPP BREWERY COMPANY
On five acres of land at the foot of Twenty-seventh Street, overlooking Lake Michigan, is located the plant of the Conrad Seipp Brewing Co., incorporated in 1876—Conrad Seipp, President; William C. Seipp, Vice-president; T. I. Lefens, Secretary, and I. A. Orb, Manager, and Superintendent of the West Side Brewery, located at Paulina and Augusta streets. These two form one of the largest and most perfectly appointed plants in the country, brewing during 18S9 over three hundred thousand barrels of beer. The Conrad Seipp Salvator Export has more than a national reputation, and for a light beer none is superior to their Extra Pale Pilsener. During the past year the company has placed on the market a new brand, called Muenchener Hof Brau, which has become popular throughout the West. The company employs 300 hands in the breweries, malthouses, and elevators.
Conrad Seipp, one of the pioneers in the brewing business in Chicago, and one of the most prominent business men of the city, was born at Langen, Germany, near Frankfort-on-the-Main, in 1825. He removed to Chicago in 1849. He was educated in the common schools, and adopted the business of brewing. He started in a small way, his business growing rapidly until he became one of the most prominent brewers in the city, as well as one of its wealthiest and most respected citizens. He was often urged to accept office but always declined. He could frequently have been elected to any office, he might have desired, in the gift of the people of Chicago, but for his native modesty or his dislike for political life. Mr. Seipp was a self-made man. He began the brewing business at 14th street, Chicago, in 1854. From there he removed to the foot of 27th street where he established himself, and remained until his death in 1890, during which he built it up to great proportions.
Chicago and Its Resources Twenty Years After, 1871-1891, The Chicago Times Company, 1891
WEST SIDE BREWING CO. Corner of Augusta and Paulina streets
Brewers of lager beer, this concern was started in November,1880, with small capital, but it has grown steadily since until it carries on hand a stock of about40,000 barrels of beer, while its annual annual sales reach 120,000 barrels. The brewery premises occupy the entire block bounded by Paulina, Augusta and Rumsey streets. The power is furnished by four engines of an aggregate of 318 horsepower. It has three ice machines, and employs 125 hands in its severaf departments. The President of the concern is Wm. C. Seipp; Vice-Piesident and Treasurer, John A. Ord; Secretary, William Legner. The product finds market mostly in Cook county, but it Is sold somewhat extensively in Springfield, Ills. Mr. Wm. C. Seipp served one term as County Treasurer, and also one as City Treasurer. Mr. Lefens, the Secretary, is at present a Director in the World’s Columbian Exposition.
Seipp & Lehmann’s Brewery
20th to 27th on Cottage Grove
1873
West Side Brewery
Augusta and Paulina streets
1886
Leave a Reply