Nevada Brewery facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Nevada Brewery
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Nevada Brewery, September 2018
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 Location in California
Location in the United States
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| Location | 107 Sacramento Street Nevada City, California United States |
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| Built | 1882 |
| NRHP reference No. | 85002303 |
| Added to NRHP | September 12, 1985 |
The Nevada Brewery is a very old and important building in Nevada City, California, United States. People also call it the Old Nevada Brewery, the Old Stone Brewery, or the Stonehouse.
A brewery first opened on this spot in 1857. The strong granite walls you see today were built in 1882. This building was very important between 1850 and 1899. Even though it started as a place to make beer, it has been used for many other things. Over the years, it has been a restaurant, a bowling alley, a stable for horses, and even a dance hall!
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What is the Nevada Brewery Building Like?
In 1882, a local businessman named George Gehrig wanted to build something special. He hired skilled Italian stonemasons (people who build with stone) and Chinese workers. They built this amazing three-story building using large blocks of granite stone. This granite came from nearby quarries.
The building is quite big, about 10,000 square feet (929 square meters). It is made of both stone and wood. Some of the beautiful old decorations inside came from the home of Sarah and John Kidder in Grass Valley, California. One owner even thought the fancy carved wooden doors might have come from their mansion too!
Secret Cave and Tunnels
When the brewery was built, workers dug a special storage cave into the hillside. This cool, dark cave was perfect for aging large casks (wooden barrels) of ale (a type of beer). You could get to the cave from inside the building.
Long ago, this cave was even connected to other parts of Nevada City by tunnels! However, these tunnels were filled in almost a hundred years later. This happened when California State Route 49 was built as a freeway.
New Life for an Old Building
After being empty for more than 20 years, the building got a new life. It reopened as "The Old Brewery," serving great craft beer and food. In 2004, it was renovated again and became the Stonehouse Restaurant. This restaurant even had an old bar from 1884 that came all the way from Chicago, Illinois!
From 2008 to 2010, the building was used as the Stonehouse Hospitality Academy. Many students learned there and now work in the community.
Since 2010, the Stonehouse has become a popular place for events. It has a full bar, the historic cave, two kitchens, and three dance floors. It's a very flexible space used for offices, meetings, classes, and festivals. You can find it right in the middle of downtown Nevada City, with a parking lot next to Little Deer Creek.
Why is This Building Special?
The Nevada Brewery is a very important historical site. It was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places on September 12, 1985. This means it's recognized as a place worth protecting because of its history.
There's a bronze plaque (a special metal sign) on the building that tells some of its story. It says:
"The Old Brewery
Built with granite blocks from the Sierras around 1882. Simon C. Hieronimus and his family made and served lager beer here. Nevada City was known as the 'Queen of the Northern Mines' and had many hydraulic mining communities at that time.
Dedicated April 21, 1985"
In 2008, the California Heritage Council also honored the Stonehouse. This shows how much people value its history and importance.
See also
In Spanish: Nevada Brewery para niños
