Schoenhofen Brewery Historic District facts for kids
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Schoenhofen Brewery Historic District
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| Location | Chicago, IL |
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| Built | 1878 |
| Architect | Administration: Adolph Cudell Powerhouse: Richard Schmidt, Hugh M. G. Garden |
| Architectural style | late-Victorian, Prairie School |
| NRHP reference No. | 78001128 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | December 27, 1978 |
The Schoenhofen Brewery Historic District is a special area in the Pilsen neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois. It was once home to the Peter Schoenhofen Brewing Company. This district is important because its buildings show a lot about Chicago's history and architecture.
Contents
A Look Back at the Schoenhofen Brewery
Peter Schoenhofen started his brewing company in the mid-1880s. He was one of many brewers in Chicago who changed how they made their products. They also used new ways to transport their goods. By 1900, Chicago had sixty breweries. Together, they made over 100 million gallons of beer each year.
The Schoenhofen brewery buildings were strong. They survived a time called Prohibition. During Prohibition, it was against the law to make or sell alcohol in the United States. The brewery also survived competition from bigger national brands.
By the mid-1900s, Chicago was known for its factories. Breweries, food factories, and stockyards were common. The Schoenhofen Brewery was a typical example. These large businesses were often built along new rail lines, not in the city center.
The Brewery's Water Source
An interesting fact about the Schoenhofen Brewery is its water source. In the basement of the old brewery building, there is an artesian well. This is the only artesian well still working in the Chicago area. It is 1600 feet deep. This well can produce one million gallons of water every day. It is expected to keep producing water for another 100 years.
The Buildings of the District
At its busiest in 1910, the brewery site had seventeen buildings. It could produce 1,200,000 barrels of product each year. Today, two of the remaining buildings are very important. They show how building styles changed around the year 1900 in the United States.
The Administration Building
The brewery's administration building was built in 1886. It has many fancy and detailed designs. These designs are typical of the late-Victorian era. This style often used lots of decoration.
The Powerhouse
The powerhouse was built later, in 1902. It shows a different style called "Chicago School" architecture. This style is known for being simpler. It uses ornamental brickwork between the windows. The brickwork on the window piers and spandrels is more simple.
Protecting History
The Schoenhofen Brewery Historic District was recognized as important on December 27, 1978. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This list includes places across the country that are important to history. Later, on July 13, 1988, the Administration Building and Powerhouse became Chicago Landmarks. This means they are special buildings protected by the city of Chicago.
