Display at Brewhouse. By 1954, Heidelberg Brewing (formerly Columbia Breweries) had tripled in size in seven years. Over 350 local residents were employed by the brewery at an annual payroll of $1,750,000. Heidelberg had added a $700,000 three-story cellar building for storage and fermentation of beer and installed a second brewing line, doubling brewhouse capacity. On display at the Brewhouse was a step-by-step demonstrational chart of how beer is produced along with samples of grain in tile bins. On top of the display was a miniature metallic or ceramic team of horses pulling a cart full of beer barrels. Photograph ordered by Heidelberg Brewing Co. (TNT 9-3-54, C-16)
Representatives from Pendleton, Oregon, visited Heidelberg Brewery in April, 1954. The thirteen men and women pose in front of a Heidelberg doormat; it shows the familiar brewery symbol of a man quaffing a refreshing stein of beer. Heidelberg had purchased the brewery from Columbia Breweries a few years prior, although advertising until 1953 continued to emphasize the Columbia name. Carling Brewery eventually purchased Heidelberg in 1959; the plant was finally closed in 1979.
Brewing industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Heidelberg Brewing Co. (Tacoma)--1950-1960; Columbia Breweries, Inc. (Tacoma)--1950-1960;
Columbia Breweries. Brew kettle being dismantled. The kettle was used for brewing beer. Ingredients were added on the upper level of the kettle- barley malt, hops and water. The brewery had two enormous copper kettles with a capacity of 330 barrels each and made an average of 6 brews each day. Two deep artesian wells on the property supplied the water, pumping 66,000 gallons per day. The company was known as Columbia Breweries from 1900-1949. It was purchased by Heidelberg Brewing Co. in 1949 but continued to do business as Columbia. On July 15, 1953, the brewery officially changed its name to Heidelberg Brewing Company. They sold in 1958 to Carling Brewing Co. of Canada and closed their doors in Tacoma in 1979, after 3/4 of a century of brewing.
Columbia Breweries, Inc. (Tacoma)--1950-1960; Brewing industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Heidelberg Brewing Co. (Tacoma)--1950-1960; Kettles;
A line of parked cars outside the Columbia Breweries building indicates that people are still working late on a rainy January, 1953, evening. There are still lights on the first floor and partially on the second floor. Columbia Breweries was well known across the country for their production of Heidelberg beer and Columbia Ale.
Brewing industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Columbia Breweries, Inc. (Tacoma)--1950-1960;
Work continues on the Columbia Breweries' warehouse on a misty December, 1952, morning. Preparation is being made for the pouring of concrete. Columbia Breweries, producers of Alt Heidelberg beer, Columbia beer and Columbia Ale, had been undergoing massive remodeling and expansion since 1948.
Progress photographs; Building construction--Tacoma--1950-1960; Brewing industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Columbia Breweries, Inc. (Tacoma)--1950-1960;
Over fifty salesmen attended the Heidelberg Sales Clinic held at the Columbia Breweries in December, 1952. The men are posed in front of the main entrance to the brewery. Robert S. Jamieson, the company's sales manager, is believed to be the man seated on the extreme right.
Brewing industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Columbia Breweries, Inc. (Tacoma)--1950-1960; Sales personnel--Tacoma; Columbia Breweries, Inc. (Tacoma)--People;
Columbia Brewery truck with Indiana cab. Trailer being loaded with hops or grain from flue inside building. Man on top of truck bed loading grains. Ordered by Tom Jones Perry.
Brewing industry--Tacoma--1930-1940; Columbia Breweries, Inc. (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Trucks--Tacoma--1930-1940;
Seven men are enjoying Alt Heidelberg at Columbia Breweries. They each hold a bottle of the beer bottled in a short-necked "stubby" bottle. An insignia hangs on the wall behind them for Columbia Beer. In 1950 the company launched an advertising campaign featuring the theme of "Brewed in Tacoma" to emphasize the fine beer available right in the home community.
Columbia Breweries, Inc. (Tacoma)--1950-1960; Brewing industry--Tacoma--1950-1960;
Columbia Breweries offered daily tours of their facilities. A large group of well-dressed men and women from Eugene and Corvallis, Oregon, pose for a photograph in November, 1951. Alt Heidelberg and Columbia Ale were well-known products of Columbia Breweries.
Group portraits--1950-1960; Columbia Breweries, Inc. (Tacoma)--1950-1960; Guests--Tacoma;
Group portrait 32 Columbia Breweries employees from the brewhouse, cellars and wash house posed for their photograph on October 30, 1951. Columbia Breweries had undergone massive expansion in the late 1940's; it would enable them to increase production of their Columbia Ale and Alt Heidelberg brands. Names are listed in the newspaper. (TNT, 1/8/1952, p.B-9)
Brewing industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Columbia Breweries, Inc. (Tacoma)--1950-1960; Group portraits--1950-1960; Columbia Breweries, Inc. (Tacoma)--People;
These six men comprise the security force at Columbia Breweries. They are, L-R, top row, George Hamilton, Archie Johnson, Carl Nolzan and Thomas Andres. Front, George Radke and George Bock. Their uniforms include caps with Alt Heidelberg Beer labels, dark jackets, shirts and ties. (TNT, 1/8/1952, B-4)
Group portraits--1950-1960; Brewing industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Columbia Breweries, Inc. (Tacoma)--1950-1960; Columbia Breweries, Inc. (Tacoma)--People;
Group portrait of Columbia Breweries' accounting and office staff in 1951. Columbia Breweries was a well established business by the early 1950's; their Tacoma staff alone would have totaled over 350 workers. Names are listed in the newspaper. (TNT, 1/8/1952, p.B-9)
Brewing industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Columbia Breweries, Inc. (Tacoma)--1950-1960; Group portraits--1950-1960; Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1950-1960; Columbia Breweries, Inc. (Tacoma)--People;
In 1948 Columbia Breweries appointed four new officers and announced that they would be going through an extensive expansion program. The expansion project will include a 20,000 square feet two story building which will house a new bottle shop, and a can beer line. View of man working with metal tank attached to numerous controls, perhaps the control board or fermenting tank area of the plant.
Brewing industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Laborers--Tacoma; Columbia Breweries, Inc. (Tacoma)--1950-1960;
Columbia Breweries began operation in Tacoma in 1900. By 1951 Alt Heidelberg beer and Columbia Ale, produced by Columbia Breweries, were being sold in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Northern California and were two of the fastest selling brews on the market. Chief Chemist Edward Ehmke, head of the breweries technical staff, helped maintain quality as the company expanded production to meet increased demand. By 1954 they were producing 750,000 barrels of beer a year. The Columbia plant was sold to Carling Brewing Co. in 1959. It closed in 1979. (TNT, 1/8/1952, p.B-4)
Brewing industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Chemistry--Tacoma; Scientists--Tacoma; Laboratories--Tacoma; Columbia Breweries, Inc. (Tacoma)--1950-1960; Ehmke, Edward; Columbia Breweries, Inc. (Tacoma)--People;
Kegging operations at Columbia Breweries. A Columbia Breweries employee, mallet in hand, stands behind a large black manifold which is part of the kegging process in this October, 1951, photograph. Tanks such as the above would serve as buffers between the flow of beer from filters and to the kegs. Columbia Breweries was well known for their Heidelberg brand of beer and Columbia Ale. (Additional information provided by a reader)
Brewing industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Columbia Breweries, Inc. (Tacoma)--1950-1960; Industrial facilities--Tacoma--1950-1960;
Chemist lab at Columbia Breweries. Two employees of Columbia Breweries shown at work in the chemist's laboratory in an October, 1951, photograph. According to a large ad placed in the News Tribune on November 13th, the four staff chemists carefully monitored every step in the brewing process from the selection of choice ingredients to the total sterilization of final kegs. All brews were scientifically checked and technically controlled in the company's modern and well-equipped laboratory. Columbia Breweries were well known for their production of Columbia Ale and Heidelberg beer. (TNT, 11-13-51, p. 11)
Brewing industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Columbia Breweries, Inc. (Tacoma)--1950-1960; Chemistry--Tacoma; Laboratories--Tacoma--1950-1960;
A large group of drivers was given a tour of the Columbia Breweries on July 28, 1951. Over thirty drivers from Everett participated in the tour of the plant which had undergone massive expansion and modernization. They are posed on the sidewalk before the main entrance to the plant. Columbia Breweries manufactured Alt Heidelberg and Columbia Ale, two very popular beverages.
Brewing industry--Tacoma--1950-1960; Business enterprises--Tacoma; Industrial facilities--Tacoma; Columbia Breweries, Inc. (Tacoma)--1950-1960; Group portraits--1950-1960;
Columbia Breweries began expanding and rebuilding their facilities in 1949, throughout 1948 the company had been preparing to go through a massive expansion project. View of the new canning machinery at Columbia Breweries, three unidentified laborers are working with the new machine.
Brewing industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Industrial facilities--Tacoma; Equipment; Machinery; Laborers--Tacoma; Columbia Breweries, Inc. (Tacoma)--1940-1950;
In 1948 Columbia Breweries appointed four new officers and President Norman Davis announced that they would be going through an extensive expansion program. The expansion project was to include a 20,000 square feet two story building housing a new bottle shop, and a can beer line. View of the new canning machinery at Columbia Breweries.
Brewing industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Machinery; Laborers--Tacoma; Columbia Breweries, Inc. (Tacoma)--1940-1950; Cans;
Columbia Breweries began a massive expansion project in 1949. Three men watch as a large crane lowers a new tank into one of the Columbia Breweries' aging cellars. It has a storage capacity of 800 barrels, or 12,000 cases, or 288,000 bottles of beer. It was one of the dozen of similar size which were included in the brewery's expansion program. (TNT, 1/8/1952, p.B-3)
Hoisting machinery; Storage tanks--Tacoma; Brewing industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Industrial facilities--Tacoma; Columbia Breweries, Inc. (Tacoma)--1940-1950;
Columbia Breweries was about to begin a massive expansion project, this would enable them to increase production of their Heidelberg beer and Columbia Ale. Columbia advertised "We are serving Alt Heidelberg. So good--and good for you." Aerial view of Columbia Breweries plant, prior to expansion project, located between Jefferson and C Streets.
Brewing industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Aerial photographs; Business enterprises--Tacoma; Remodeling--Tacoma; Columbia Breweries, Inc. (Tacoma)--1940-1950;
Longtime Carling Brewing Co. employees received awards on June 29, 1970 in the company's Tap Room. Length of service to the company ranged from 20-35 years. Two clocks, a watch, and engraved beer steins were given out to commemorate the event. Carling had purchased the Heidelberg Brewery in 1959 and had completed a new addition to the plant in 1970. The plant would close in 1979. Photograph ordered by Carling Brewing Co.
Archie Waterbury, Heidelberg chief engineer, was the host chapter chairman for the first annual Northwest Regional Conference of the Washington National Association of Practical Refrigerating Engineers to be held on June 1, 1957. Delegations were expected from Seattle, Yakima, Olympia, Spokane and Tacoma. Heidelberg Brewing would be host to a luncheon for the group. View of Archie Waterbury (L) perhaps making arrangements for the upcoming one-day conference. (TNT 5-26-57, B-8)
ca. 1949. This aerial photograph featuring Columbia Breweries (center) was taken either in December of 1949 or early January of 1950 as snow has blanketed the rooftops and surrounding streets. It appears identical to C87485, image 8, except for the missing Heidelberg logo in the upper left corner. The massive plant had opened in 1900 as the Columbia Brewing Co., underwent several remodels and expansions and purchases, and would survive until 1979 when it finally closed.
Columbia Breweries, Inc. (Tacoma)--1940-1950; Brewing industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Aerial views; Aerial photographs; Commercial streets--Tacoma--1940-1950;
ca. 1917. A print of a photograph of the Columbia Brewing Company as it appeared in 1917 has been outlined, the date added and measurements written on the left and bottom margins, possibly for use in an advertisement. Stamps have been affixed to the back of the mock-up for Sterling Engraving Company at 1417 Fourth Avenue Building and How. J. Ryan & Son, R Advertising in the Joseph Vance Building, Seattle, Wash. Copies of old prints ordered by Heidelberg Brewing Company in December 1954.
Brewing industry--Tacoma--1910-1920; Columbia Brewing Co. (Tacoma);
ca. 1923. The rear of Columbia Breweries showing the Northern Pacific Railway tracks and properties across the tracks that faced west to Jefferson Avenue including J.J. Gunlocke Auto Tops who were located at 2121 Jefferson Avenue from 1918 through 1925. Copies of old prints ordered by Heidelberg Brewing Company in December 1954. (This was a copy print made by the Richards Studio of a Marvin D. Boland photograph #B14364)
Brewing industry--Tacoma--1920-1930; Columbia Brewing Co. (Tacoma);
ca. 1948. This is a drawing, an enhanced photograph, of Columbia Breweries as it looked towards the end of the 1940's. The brewery was anticipating additions to its facilities and the purchase of the property to the rear of these buildings along Jefferson Avenue. This drawing, used as an inset over a photograph of Tacoma in C87,485-45, is signed in the lower, left corner, Fred J. Meinzinger, Detroit, Michigan. Copies of old prints ordered by Heidelberg Brewing Company in December 1954.
Brewing industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Columbia Breweries, Inc. (Tacoma)--1940-1950; Drawings;
ca. 1938. The dark exterior of Columbia Breweries has the name Alt Heidelberg beer painted on the north edge of the top of the main brewery. West Coast Grocery's Coffee Department is seen on the right at 2114 South C Street. West Coast Grocery was at this location from 1928 through 1945. Copies of old prints ordered by Heidelberg Brewing Company in December 1954.
Brewing industry--Tacoma--1930-1940; Columbia Breweries, Inc. (Tacoma)--1930-1940; West Coast Grocery Co. (Tacoma);
ca. 1920. A fan of Columbia Brew, a "near beer" produced by the Columbia Brewing Company, models a suit for not-just-any occasion. The jacket and pants have been made by pasting labels for Columbia Brew on pants and a striped shirt. The top hat also displays an enlarged label for Columbia Brew. The Columbia Brewing Company opened their brewery on South C Street between South 21st and South 23rd in 1900. They made "Columbia Brew" during the dry period of prohibition. Columbia Brewing Co. was purchased by Heidelberg Brewing Co. in 1949; which was purchased by Carling Brewery in 1959. The plant closed in 1979. (Copies of old prints ordered by Heidelberg Brewing Company in December 1954.) Format 6" x 8". TPL-5565
Brewing industry--Tacoma--1910-1920; Columbia Brewing Co. (Tacoma); Costumes; Prohibition--Tacoma;
ca. 1937. A new copper brew kettle is being installed on top of several legs at Columbia Breweries. The brew kettle was located between two floors - the structure for the floor has not yet been built. Employees could add the ingredients for a "brew", barley malt, hops, and water, on the upper level through the sliding doors seen just above the rim near the top of the kettle. Dismantling of the kettle in 1953 can be seen in photograph D76,717-4. Copies of old prints ordered by Heidelberg Brewing Company in December 1954. TPL-8854
Brewing industry--Tacoma--1930-1940; Columbia Breweries, Inc. (Tacoma)--1930-1940; Kettles;
