...dare I say it...

 

*NIGHTCLUB!!!*

I think Mynt should open a 2nd location there.

...and call it Fyre.

Historic breweries never burned down while I was living in Cincinnati! Shape up!

Fire is mostly contained, but there is really no roof left to speak of.

Man fires suck. At least Cincinnati still has some gorgeous and promising structures that have been saved and put to good use. 

Whenever I see fires like these I keep thinking of Washington, NJ, where I used to live... :|

sad, that block has very little hope with that building staying empty.  Maybe now someone can acquire it for cheap.

It was for sale for 1.6 million i think.  I wonder what they are saying is the cause. 

This is pure speculation on my part, but I wonder if a homeless person lit a small fire inside the building to stay warm, and it got out of control.

 

That has certainly been a problem in the past in that building, but Orten has been working on the building recently and has kept it pretty secured as they had new tenants getting ready to move in.

 

I would guess a temporary heater was the cause.  The barrelhouse is the portion of the building that caught fire, and was wood floors and structure.  Looking at it this morning, the bottling house appears relatively intact, and hopefully can be saved.  The walls of the barrelhouse actually are pretty intact, and could be saved ala the Odd Fellows building, but it will depend on what insurance Orten has.

^ Gotcha. I hope they're able to salvage the bottling house and the shell of the barrelhouse. Keep us posted.

More Than Just An Old Warehouse

 

CINCINNATI -- Cincinnati firefighters spent several hours trying to salvage a historic building that caught fire in Over-the-Rhine Friday night.

 

No one was hurt in the blaze, but the fire is affecting people in the neighborhood.

 

Some good news, though:

 

From initial reports, it's very likely that the building can be salvaged, something that has residents excited about the future of the neighborhood.

A collection of Enquirer articles from different timelines:

 

Firefighters battle four-alarm blaze

By Carrie Whitaker, Cincinnati Enquirer, January 8, 2010

 

OVER-THE-RHINE - Firefighters spent hours battling a four-alarm blaze that broke out shortly before 8:30 p.m. Friday at the former KD Lamp building at 1910 Elm St., a building that was part of a multimillion-dollar redevelopment project.

 

Unsafe conditions in the building forced firefighters to attack the fire from outside, making every effort to keep the blaze from spreading to nearby buildings.

 

--

 

Christian Moerlein plant, hit by fire, may be lost

Historic brewery was Cincinnati landmark

By Quan Truong, Cincinnati Enquirer, January 9, 2010

 

OVER-THE-RHINE - From the outside, passersby may think it's just another abandoned building in the heart of a struggling neighborhood.

 

But those familiar with the area's history cringed Saturday at the thought of losing one of Over-the-Rhine's most treasured structures.

I was meaning on walking through the Brewrey District on one of my Cincinnati walks.  Looks like I better hurry up and do that before they tear this down.

OTR building flares, not likely to be razed

By Eric Bradley • [email protected] • January 10, 2010

 

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20100110/NEWS01/1110329/OTR+building++not+likely+to+be+razed

Just a heads up for anyone interested in the Brewery District and old brewery buildings, tickets are now on sale for the Prohibition Resistance Tour on March 6-7.

 

http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,21856.0.html

I guess this is kind of a mute point after the fire damages aren't as bad as originally thought (which is great news), but I was thinking if they lost the investors on this project that this builidng would make a great "Artist Market". Pretty much the same thing as the Torpedo Factory in Old Town Alexandria, VA. http://www.torpedofactory.org/history.htm A large industrial building that was renovated into artist studios. This would be a great draw for Northern OTR, and with Findlay right there it would get a lot of traffic.

I'm curious about the Findlay Market extension that was mentioned in one of the earlier Enquirer articles.  Mcmicken, do you have any insight on this, and what about the other tenants that were mentioned in the article...are these legit, and if so, when might we expect to see progress?

I was down there today and a huge section of the top of the right wall is collapsing onto the alley and the fire escapes.  You can see the sky through the windows.  It does appear from the outside that it was only in the one building.  I didn't have my camera. The ice covering it all would have made for a good photo. That was a big fire.

I don't know all the details about tenants, but the "artist market" idea was something they were thinking about.  The Torpedo Factory sounds like the Pendleton Art Center.  If what I heard was correct it was more craft based vendors they were looking for, similar to vendors at the Market already. I don't think that idea was ever settled upon and believe they were looking for more light industrial tenants.

 

I do know the micro-brewery startup is legit.

 

With the damage, I don't know what time frames are now.  Hopefully Orten will do the right thing.

I don't think that idea was ever settled upon and believe they were looking for more light industrial tenants.

 

A light industrial use there would seem to make a lot of sense.

 

I do know the micro-brewery startup is legit.

 

Any details you want to share with us?  :-D

I do know the micro-brewery startup is legit.

 

Any details you want to share with us?  :-D

 

can't at the moment.

Good news about the Moerlein/KD Lamp building:  It appears the damage was very contained to the upper floor.  The distinctive sawtooth roof over the barrelhouse probably saved the rest of the building as the fire went up through it rather than out into the rest of the building.  The first floor of the barrelhouse was concrete, so nothing spread below that and there is no damage to the bottling house or connecting buildings.

 

I'm told Orten is still committed and will be moving forward with their plans.

That's great news. With that and the Enquirer (!) finally joining the party, things are looking better than ever in OTR.

One of the benefits of very old buildings that once had great value is that they were built in an era when fire was a really big problem - so the building was built not to burn down.

If they could save Odd Fellows, I am sure this will be OK.

The articles by the Enquirer really are great.  The only downside is the name of their campaign: "Vanishing Cincinnati"

 

Couldn't it have been something a little more hopeful like Rediscovering or Saving or something?

 

Anyway, good news if this adds steam to the OTR renaissance.

Odd Fellows really took it on the chin. It looked bad.  Also in Covington the Bank of Kentucky building at the foot of the Suspension Bridge looked like a goner 10 years ago and they did a fantastic job with it. 

OTR Brewery District could blow this place out of the water.

 

National Brewery Museum receives a $449,574 grant from the Federal Highway Administration:

http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/aw/rr/archives/pubs/RR860.pdf

 

 

Redevelopment

 

After the demolition and removal of hazardous

materials, the Potosi Brewery Foundation was

able to begin restoration of the building. The

building, encompassing more than 28,000 square

feet, required a new roof, shoring up of walls and

new plumbing and electric.

 

In 2004, Potosi beat out Milwaukee and St. Louis

when the American Breweriana Association

selected The Potosi Brewery as the home of the

National Brewery Museum. The building also

houses the Potosi Brewery Museum, the Great

River Road Interpretive Center and a restaurant

and gift shop. The gushing artesian spring, while

unsafe for use as a drinking water source, is an

attractive water feature for guests to enjoy as they

dine on the outdoor patio.

 

The Potosi Brewery Foundation received other funding, such as a $400,000 Brownfields Grant from the Department of Commerce, $250,000 from The American Breweriana Association, $449,574 from the Federal Highway Administration’s National Scenic Byways Program, a $400,000 challenge grant from the Jeffris Family Foundation and $17,745 from the Dubuque Racing Association.

Apparently Christian Moerlein is planning an official announcement tomorrow morning regarding a brewery in Over-the-Rhine. Stay tuned.

That's some big news to be droppin. Hope it's true!

Yes, I overheard the owner of Arnold's talking about it last night. It's going to be exciting.

Moerlein brings beer back to Cincinnati's Over-the-Rhine brewery district

 

Christian Moerlein Brewing Co. will start making beer by early next year in the former Husman potato chip plant in Over-the-Rhine.

 

Greg Hardman, Moerlein’s owner and CEO, said he intends to initially shift production of some specialty beers from out-of-state breweries where he’s been making his beer under contract. He also has got some new labels in the pipeline in addition to Northern Liberties India Pale Ale, the latest of his Moerlein lagers and ales set for release next month.

 

Read more

Now they just need to save the Hudepohl smoke stack

Actually, what I really think they need to focus on is the quality of the beer.  While OTR ale is satisfactory, none of their product is yet at the level of Bells, Great Lakes or Dogfish Head. 

 

Maybe they should make some potato chips there too.

great news.  which building is this? 

^ 1621 Moore St., the old Kaufman Brewery/Husman's factory.

 

Beer brewing to resume in OTR

 

Christian Moerlein Brewing Co. plans to expand brewing operations to Cincinnati's historic Over-the-Rhine Brewery District, the company said Friday. The site will be the former Husman Potato Chip plant at 1621 Moore St. just north of Liberty and east of Vine.

 

Greg Hardman, CEO of Christian Moerlein, said he plans to initially move office operations there from Middletown. Then he plans to phase in beer production over two years for some of its specialty beers and from the expected growth of its brands. Brewing operations are scheduled to begin in 2011, Hardman said.

 

Keep reading

This really is good news. I believe OTR becoming a brewing haven again is a vital part of putting the city back on the map. It brings back recognizable history and culture.

Actually, what I really think they need to focus on is the quality of the beer. While OTR ale is satisfactory, none of their product is yet at the level of Bells, Great Lakes or Dogfish Head.

 

The upcoming Northern Liberties IPA is pretty good.

 

great news. which building is this?

 

If anyone went to Bockfest this year, Bockfest Hall was part of the building.  The actual brewery space will be at the north end of the building, though.

^This was part of Kauffman, correct?

^ From the Enquirer article:

"The site was the malt and lager house of the former Kaufman Brewing Co. from 1869 through 1919."

 

Damn prohibition...

Whoops, thanks for that.

 

From what I have in my file:

 

1866, a new brewery structure was completed at 1622 Vine Street

The Kauffman Building was built in 1876, which housed brewery employees (the one that was under the wrap facade due to the fire and partial collapse)

Closed in 1919 due to Prohibition (damn you!)

 

Brewery became incorporated as the John Kauffman Brewing Company in 1882 (formerly Kauffman and Company).

 

What is the 1869 date referring to?

Actually, what I really think they need to focus on is the quality of the beer.  While OTR ale is satisfactory, none of their product is yet at the level of Bells, Great Lakes or Dogfish Head. 

 

The upcoming Northern Liberties IPA is pretty good.

 

 

On par with Two Hearted Ale.  I haven't tried the dry hopped version, so that might take it over the top.

Christian Moerlein to bring back brewing to Over-the-Rhine

 

My short blurb on it, with it's connection with the Kauffman Brewery.

Whoops, thanks for that.

 

From what I have in my file:

 

1866, a new brewery structure was completed at 1622 Vine Street

The Kauffman Building was built in 1876, which housed brewery employees (the one that was under the wrap facade due to the fire and partial collapse)

Closed in 1919 due to Prohibition (damn you!)

 

Brewery became incorporated as the John Kauffman Brewing Company in 1882 (formerly Kauffman and Company).

 

What is the 1869 date referring to?

 

1869 is the date of construction of the malt house.  The brewhouse (Guildhaus) was built in 1886. The oldest brewery on that site was the Vine St Brewery from 1846 (it was originally started as the Franklin Brewery on Reading Road)

Im curious why they didn't choose to occupy the former CM brewery instead of the Kauffman site. Was it because it is in need of more renovation, or because the Kaufman brewery still had the lagering cellars, etc? Anyone know?

The former Moerlein building (AKA KD Lamp) was originally built as the bottling house.  It was looked at, but required quite a bit of work including a new roof.  It was also lacking a large enough water service, which would have required a new tap (and thousands of dollars of tap fees).  The Kauffman/Husman building was last used as an industrial food production facility and has all of the required services and is in pretty much move in shape.

Whoops, thanks for that.

 

From what I have in my file:

 

1866, a new brewery structure was completed at 1622 Vine Street

The Kauffman Building was built in 1876, which housed brewery employees (the one that was under the wrap facade due to the fire and partial collapse)

Closed in 1919 due to Prohibition (damn you!)

 

Brewery became incorporated as the John Kauffman Brewing Company in 1882 (formerly Kauffman and Company).

 

What is the 1869 date referring to?

 

1869 is the date of construction of the malt house. The brewhouse (Guildhaus) was built in 1886. The oldest brewery on that site was the Vine St Brewery from 1846 (it was originally started as the Franklin Brewery on Reading Road)

 

Thanks :)

Great news!!!! I celebrated with an OTR at the Comet tonight!

Some unfortunate brewery news....a portion of the Sohn/Mohawk/Clyffside brewery collapsed this morning.  This particular structure is the oldest brewery structure in the city, built in 1845 as the Hamilton Brewery by Johan George Sohn and George Klotter, located at 246 West McMicken Avenue.

 

The owner has not made a final decision on repairs.

 

 

 

I wondered why McMicken was closed yesterday en route to Findlay Market (where we saw you at).

 

When the fire gutted this part of the complex, it was rebuilt with steel structural supports, correct? The brick wall isn't load-bearing and is now only decorative?