USA > New Jersey > Essex County > Newark > A History of the city of Newark, New Jersey : embracing practically two and a half centuries, 1666-1913, Volume II > Part 55
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Around Hamburg place (it cannot be ascertained to what circumstances this place owed its name) were located at various times places of amuse- ment of great popularity. Perhaps one of the oldest among those was the "Hamburg Garden," now long since vanished from the face of the earth, which was located on Paterson street and Hamburg place. Though con- structed of framework, it was a very stately two-story building, to which access was gained by a high and spacious stairway under a veranda sup- ported by columns. It was here that the singing society, "Concordia," was organized, and here the German-English school of the Twelfth ward found temporary quarters after its foundation, until it was removed to a newly constructed building on the corner of Paterson and Niagara streets.
One was also close to the Kossuth woods, where many a German festival was celebrated, the participants of which, for the greater part, are now resting in their graves. The "Eintracht" and "Aurora" held their singing festivals here, and the first dedication of the colors of the "Concordia" took place here in August, 1858. To some of the older people this name may recall unforgetable days; to the younger generation, however, it is of no significance. Out of a hundred young people not one will know that in the region of the present "Elm Road" there were formerly standing stately shade-trees. It was a veritable oasis amidst swamps and undergrowth, which formed by far the greater part of the "Neck."
The "Kossuth Woods" were to the right of Napoleon street. To-day not even a single tree is left, but "Kossuth Street" still recalls the memory of the leader of the Hungarian Revolution of 1849, just as "Komorn Street" reminds us of the time when Newark, and especially its Germans, were enthusiastic over the struggles for Hungarian liberty.
Another pride of the "Neck" was Wiedenmayer's woods on the Ham- burg place road. Wiedenmayer's "woods" are still in existence, but have become a baseball ground.
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CHAPTER XIII .. THE BEGINNING OF THE BREWERY INDUSTRY IN NEWARK.
THIE BEVERAGES OF THE OLD SETTLERS-HOW A WITCH WAS DISCOVERED IN A BREWING VAT-JOHANN NEPOMUK SCHALK AND SONS THE FIRST LAGER BEER BREWERS-RAPID DEVELOPMENT OF THE BREWING INDUSTRY-SMALL BEGINNING OF ALL OUR LARGE BREWERIES-CHANGES WHICH TIME BROUGHT ABOUT.
Among all the industries and trades that have been planted on American
soil by Germans for two hundred and fifty years-that of brewing has most particularly preserved its German character. In many instances Americans or men of other nationalities may be the owners of breweries, but those on whose activity the reputation of the establishment and its product depend are, with rare exceptions, Germans. American beer has begun to be appre- ciated all the world over, and it speaks well for the skill of the American brewer as well as for his business ability, that, to-day, the greatest breweries in the world are to be found in the United States. Only one generation ago in this country, the total production of beer, ale, porter, etc., scarcely amounted to more than two hundred thousand barrels, while, to-day, America occupies the second place among the beer-producing countries of the world.
The first colonist who settled in the region where Newark is now situated did not have a large assortment of beverages. Coffee, tea and chocolate were scarcely known. Some Swedes, who lived in this vicinity, brewed a beverage from sassafras roots and Indian corn, which had a stupefying effect upon the mind when taken in strong draughts. In 1662 there must have been several breweries, which, for the most part, were ran by Hollanders; in the Swedish colonies on the Delaware, the city fathers of Chester decreed this same year that the heads of the brewer's trade should pay a tax, namely: Two pence had to be paid for every quart of beverage in which malt was used. And so, even as early as those times, the brewers had to pay taxes for the privilege of brewing.
Even now there is a considerable number of people who can remember the time when lager beer was not known in Newark. At that time ale was the common beverage, and those who had no liking for this drink had to content themselves with the so-called small beer. William Schilling is said to have brewed the first small beer in Newark, and his brewery stood first in William street, on the property owned by Dr. Christoph Elrich, and later in Walnut street. Joseph Atkinson, in his "History of Newark," relates the following amusing incident, which is said to have happened in Schilling's
brewery: "The beer had a peculiar taste which could not be explained. In vain the brewer sought to ascertain the cause. He even believed that the place was bewitched, that a sorceress had exerted her evil influence on the beer. But one day a workman found a large piece of soap floating around in the spring from which the water for the brewery was taken. He went to Schilling and handed it to him in a joking way, winking, as he said: 'Here, boss-here's the witch.' "
William Bauer is said to have been the first who dispensed small beer, and that, too, in a little frame house, which was situated in the vicinity of Rector street and was a favorite and well-frequented place of recreation for the Germans. At the end of the forties and the early fifties, Leonard's brewery on Canal street was also a popular gathering place'. Leonard's brewery was later used for an ale brewery by Rumpf and Frelinghuysen, and still later acquired by Lyons.
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The introduction of lager beer into Newark was due to the arrival and enterprise of Messrs. Schalk, father and sons, who in 1847 not only brewed the first lager beer here, but succeeded immediately in winning for the Newark product a reputation which extended far beyond the boundaries of the State. Johann Nepomuk Schalk, a native of Mosskirch in Baden, had built the first brewery at Hamburg place and Napoleon street, and here originated the present great Newark brewing industry. After the founder had retired and settled in Germany, the business was continued by his sons,
Adolf and Herrmann, with great success. Herrmann Schalk was later police justice and died a few years ago. A new brewery was then built on Freeman street, between Bowery and Ferry streets, but this has now been absorbed by Ballantine & Sons. On the site of the first Schalk brewery there arose later the brewery of Christoph Wiedenmayer, so that the cradle of the Newark lager beer breweries is to be sought in the "Neck."
The Nestor of the local brewers here, and, at the same time, one of the most prominent citizens of our city, is Gottfried Krueger, at this time president of the Brewers' Association of Newark and its vicinity. Mr. Gottfried Krueger was born on Nov. 4, 1837, in Sulzbach, Baden, but not until he was seventeen years old did he come to America, where he first found work in the brewery of his uncle, John Laible, (of the firm of Laible & Adam), and where he advanced to the position of manager. Mr. Krueger started at the bottom of the ladder, as did all the successful pioneers among the brewers of the country who brought the brewing industry to a condition of prosperity and high standing.
Some time ago Mr. John Baier drew up a list of the breweries which were started in the fifties and early sixties, and as he possessed an excellent memory his statement may be regarded as reliable. In accordance with this information we must add to the brewers already named, the Clinton Hill brewery, established by Charles Vincenz, the same brewer who first set up his business in East Newark on the site of the present Hauck brewery. The foundations of the brewery mentioned were still visible not long ago. They could have been considered as the remnants of the vanished glory of Clinton Hill. This name to-day has lost the significance which it had for the former generation. Clinton Hill, that fair spot covered with woods, where the earlier Germans rejoiced in the pleasure of sociable gatherings, has disappeared; it was sacrificed to the street opening mania. The Clinton HIIll brewery already mentioned was located on Avon avenue. The Union Hill brewery passed from Chas. Vincenz into the possession of Henry Schlegel and then to Keer and Knecht. After the purchase of this property by the city, Julius Keer ( for many years connected with Hensler's brewery) founded the brewery on Belmont avenue, near Avon avenue.
Quite as old, even older than the establishment mentioned, were the breweries of J. Diebel, on Madison street; Herzog and Lemmer, on the location of the present Wiedenmayer brewery on South Market street; Kolb and Geissele, on High street, approximately on the site now occupied by St. Mary's Convent. Deibel's brewery, after the dissolution of the firm of Kolb and Geissele, was taken over by Charles Geissele. Mr. Kolb, in later years, was interested in various brewing enterprises, among others in the one managed by Wackenhuth and Adam, on Orange street. At the same time, about 1853, were founded the breweries of Adam and Laible (at present Krueger's brewery), and of Dietz and Doelger, subsequently Laible's brewery, and now used as the bottling department of Krueger's brewery. Among the number of the oldest breweries must be included that of Meyer, on Springfield avenue, opposite the present Fergg brewery-
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which was later sold by Meyer to the brewer Ehehalt, and for many years was continued by Aurnhammer & Schilling. On the site occupied by the present Fergg brewery, there formerly stood Kochler's brewery, and even in those days the bar connected with the brewery was a well frequented place. John Neu later brewed "Danziger" beer at this place. In the estab- lishment of Kochler, John Baier was employed; he later became the owner of Baier's brewery. Franz Gerth, who built the old "Dramatic Hall" was brewing "Lagerbier" and had spacious beer cellars near the junction of Clinton avenue and High street. Finally one of the oldest of the breweries, that of Joseph Harth, should not be forgotten. It stood on the ground now occupied by the bottling department of Lisiewski's brewery on Hayes street and Prospect place. Already in the forties Harth was brewing "Schmalbier" and later began to produce "Lagerbier." Breweries in those days seem to have been a popular investment of capital, but in this connection it must be noted that a brewing plant of that time did not demand very large sums of money, and that money had a far greater value then than now. Whoever had $5,000, Mr. Albert Fehleisen, the late well-known brewer on Orange street, once said, was regarded at that time as a well-to-do man. The Newark lager beer industry grew steadily with the increasing German immi- gration and the growing taste and liking for beer, and the following enter- prises deserve mention in this connection. The present Wiedenmayer brewery in South Market street enjoyed a high reputation under the firm of Schiener, Tauwaldt and Hartmann. The present Hensler brewery (formerly Lorenz and Jacqueliard) is almost as old as the "Neck." Only an old set of scales remained some time ago of the Apostles' brewery on Niagara street, so called because it was founded by twelve stockholders, who acquired the old Herderich brewery, situated in the same place. Fred. Lahr, Risch, Hafner, P. Heckendorn, belonged to the stockholders. The "Apostle-beer" enjoyed for a time great popularity. The brewery of the present Essex Brewery Co. (formerly Ziehr's brewery) was established on Clifton avenue, by Hartmann & Co. The establishing of the Kastner, Baier (later Hill) and Trefz (formerly Ehehalt) occurred in the best time of the thriving industry. The large brewery on Freeman street, now run by C. Feigenspan, was established by Charles Kolb, a brother of the above men- tioned Fritz Kolb, who returned to German and died in Stuttgart. Last of all we must mention the Court street brewery ( lator Brock's, then Weiss', and then Weiss and Mander's brewery), which was built by C. Holzwarth, on the corner of Fifteenth avenue and Morris avenue;' Hauslor & Rist's brewery, in Hecker street; Haas' brewery, in Belmont avenue, where the auditorium now stands; Gruber and Keer's brewery, in Belmont avenue.
The enormous growth and the present state of the brewing industry is best shown by the following table, the statistics of which are taken from the last census:
1899
1909
Number of establishments
16
14
Capital invested .
$12,176,000
$19,928,000
Number of men employed.
1,180
1,540
Officers and members of firms
208
311
Wages annually
$775,000
$1,041,000
Salaries of officers
$490,000
$714,000
Cost of material.
$1,654,000
$2,799,000
Value of product.
$8,236,000
$12,361,000
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CHAPTER XIV. THE GERMAN PRESS IN AMERICA.
THE PRESENT DAY STAND OF THE GERMAN DAILY PRESS-THE SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST AS EXEMPLIFIED IN THE HISTORY OF GERMAN NEWSPAPERDOM- GERMAN PRESS ONLY A LITTLE YOUNGER THAN THE ENGLISH-FIRST GERMAN PAPER ISSUED BY BENJAMIN FRANKLIN-THE GERMAN PRESS IN NEWARK-BENEDICT PRIETH AND THE HISTORY OF THE "NEW JERSEY FREIE ZEITUNG," FOUNDED BY HIM.
The German press in America has, perhaps, reached the climax of its development. The establishment of new German daily newspapers is not probable; on the contrary, during the last few years, their number has dwindled down very markedly. Whereas, in 1883, according to Rowell's "American Newspaper Directory," the number of daily German newspapers amounted to eighty-two; the same source mentions for 1908, twenty-five years later, only sixty-seven-exactly as many as in 1873-several of which, in the course of the year, discontinued their issue; that is, they consolidated with other German dailies, which were in a vigorous and prosperous con- dition. Their number now stands at sixty. The chief reason for this numerical retrogression of the German daily newspapers in the United States is, however, to be sought less in the fact that they have lost their influence and readers, than that there has been' a total change in the conditions essential to their existence, and an extraordinary increase in the claims which are made upon their content, especially on their intelligence department.
The cost of establishing a vigorous and thriving German newspaper has become greater and greater. A very large amount of capital is neces- sary to render it possible; and who would be willing to risk it, in view of the uncertainty of success and the constant complaints about the so-called retrogression of Germanism in America? It is, indeed, a "so-called retro- gression," for in reality it exists only in the imagination of those journalists who have been deceived in their hopes and have gone to the wall because of sharp competition, and of those Americans imbued with nativistic views, who interpret falsely every sign of temporary weakness and abated enthus- iasm-and always to the disadvantage of the Germans.
One may confidently express the conviction that the future of the German press in America is assured for years, in spite of the fact that their number decreases from year to year. The number of German daily news- papers-and it is only they which are now under discussion-will, after twenty-five years, have dwindled even more, but, as far as quality is con- cerned, those which remain in the field, in order not to share the fate of their less vigorous sisters, will, in rich measure, repair the damage sustained by the German press as far as quantity is concerned. If every large city in America, or every State with a large German representation, should produce only one good, strong German newspaper, this could satisfy absolutely the need which is actually felt.
The history of the German press is only forty-two years younger then that of the American press. The first little leaflet which was printed on American soil appeared on September 25, 1690, when Benjamin Harris, of Boston, published his "Public Occurrences" in note-paper size. The first German newspaper in America, the "Philadelphia Zeitung," appeared in 1732, but had only a few issues, and its printer was no less important a man than Benjamin Franklin. However, to the great annoyance of its
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great entrepreneur, the paper succeeded in gaining only fifty subscriptions, and the great man could never forgive the Germans of Pennsylvania for this. In 1739, Christoph Sauer established a paper, which enjoyed a larger existence in Germantown, after he had, in the preceding year, built a print- ing establishment, and had used German characters for the first time in America. The German-American press originated in Pennsylvania, the cradle of German immigration, and was restricted to this area.
The oldest German paper published in Newark was "Die Friedenspfeife" ("The pipe of peace"), a humorous weekly publication, and quite popular among the Germans, which was established by Dr. Carl Friedrich Benjamin Edler. Later on Dr. Edler established "Die New Jersey Staats Zeitung" and conducted its editorial department up to the time of his death, October 18, 1865.
"Der Nachbar" (The Neighbor) was established in 1851 by Conrad Hollinger. This was a humorous weekly paper and had a large circulation while it lived. In 1856, Mr. Hollinger began the publication of the "New Jersey Volksmann." At first the paper was issued weekly, then semi-weekly, and finally as a daily paper. There were a number of other publications, but even their names cannot be recalled any more, among them "Der New Jersey Democrat," published by Franz Umbscheiden in 1868, which con- tinued about one year. "Die New Jersey Reform," established in 1872 by Dr. C. F. J. Lehlbach, which was in existence only a few weeks. "Die Newark Post," published in 1874, died the year after. There were pub- lished at different times weekly papers, but none of them with lasting success; among them were "Der Beobachter am Passaic" and "Der Pionier," which was published by the "Pionier Association" and edited by Mr. F. E. Adler, and "Die Zukunft," published by Mr. Noah Guter, in the interests of the "Deutsche Central Bund" The "Deutsche Zeitung," a Democratic paper, was started in 1879 by Joseph Knorr, and died after a more or less precarious existence in 1898. In Orange was "Der Orange Volksbote," established in 1872 by Ludwig Darnstaedt and Erdman, and is still in exist- ence, the property of Rev. Mr. Kern. Among the other German publications which existed for a while is the "Arbeiter Zeitung," a Socialistic paper, which appeared in 1884 and died in 1890.
THE NEW JERSEY "FREIE ZEITUNG" AND ITS FOUNDER, BENEDICT PRIETH.
More than fifty-five years ago, on April 25th, 1858, at a time when it was a bold venture to edit a German paper, the New Jersey "Freie Zeitung" was established by Mr. Benedict Prieth in Newark. Liberty, Justice and Truth was the motto of the newspaper, as they have continued to be even to the present day. The enterprise prospered in spite of the hard times which preceded the war, and, notwithstanding all opposition, it soon became a political power in the city as well as in the State, especially as its owner and editor enlisted it in the services of the Republican party, and thereby gave it its characteristic spirit for all time. Even to-day it still carries this banner, but, notwithstanding this, the "Freie Zeitung" has never degenerated into a party tool. Whenever deluded leaders wanted to encroach upon the rights of the people, it always faced these men and protected the jeopardized principle! A Sunday paper was the first step forward made by the new undertaking. It was, to be sure, only a tiny little paper, twelve inches long by nine inches wide, but it did not remain long at this stage, and now it is second to none of the best German papers,
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with its thirty and more pages, its illustrations and advertisements, as well as its supplement "Für die Damenwelt" (Woman's Section). In 1873, the "Freie Zeitung" moved to its own home at 75 Market street, where it remained until the occasion of its golden jubilee in 1908, when it changed its residence to the "Deutsche Haus" at 225 Washington street. After the death of Mr. Benedict Prieth, the founder of the paper, which occurred in 1879, his widow, Mrs. Theodora Prieth, assumed the management of the enterprise, and she directed it with increasing success until her sons had grown to manhood and could continue the work of their parents. At the celebration of the twenty-fifth anniversary, the paper could give evidence of very successful activity, in spite of all hostility and bitter competition, and it looked forward to a brilliant future. And this expectation has been fulfilled. Under the present ownership of the paper, Mr. Benedict Prieth, who assumed a share of the management in September, 1893, and his younger brother, Mr. Edwin Prieth, who entered the business in 1900, the paper has grown in every respect. Since the death of Mrs. Theodora Prieth, which took place on January 30, 1906, these two gentlemen have been the sole owners of the newspaper. A new home was built at 225 Washington street, and at the celebration held in honor of its fifty years of existence, the "Freie Zeitung" issued a richly-illustrated jubilee-number, comprising 140 pages, which, in regard to its contents and make-up, is one of the best that has ever been achieved in this direction by a German newspaper in America. The New Jersey "Freie Zeitung" is a paper of eight pages, which is increased as the need arises to ten, twelve or more. To-day it has the distinction of being the only German newspaper in the State of New Jersey which appears daily. Its contents are those of a clean family paper, and the "Freie Zeitung" in the half century of its existence has remained a treasure house of German life, German manners, language and culture. This is the road which the founder of the paper marked out for it, and under his sons and their offspring it will proceed still further in the battle for Liberty, Justice and Truth.
Mr. Benedict Prieth came to America in August, 1857. He was born in Graun, Tyrol, and had been destined for a forensic career. He studied at Innsbruck, Graz and Vienna. In the Austrian Imperial city, he had, in 1848, joined the Students' Association, "Die Burschenschaft" there; because of this, the Austrian government, after the suppression of the revolution, put him as a political prisoner in the fortress of Salzburg. When he finally gained his freedom, Mr. Prieth won his first journalistic spurs in work on the "Bozener Zeitung" and as a collaborator of the "Bund" in Bern, but he continued his studies in Munich and Tübingen, and at the last named university secured the degree of Doctor of Law. One can easily understand that the old world would possess no charms for this martyr to the cause of freedom of thought, and Mr. Prieth came to America, where he imme- diately settled in Newark. His predilection for politics and his rhetorical and journalistic talents led him involuntarily to choose the career of journal- ist and editor, and the project of editing a newspaper in Newark was fulfilled. In the inaugural article of the New Jersey "Freie Zeitung" of April 26, 1858, entitled "Liberty, Justice and Truth," he asserts his chief and fundamental aim in the words "to make the German element in our community recognized and respected," and he faithfully kept his vow until his last hour.
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CHAPTER XV. ENDEAVOR TO TEACH THE GERMAN LANGUAGE IN PRIVATE AND PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
THE HISTORY OF THE GERMAN-ENGLISH SCHOOLS IN NEWARK-ENDEAVOR TO INTRODUCE THE TEACHING OF GERMAN INTO PUBLIC SCHOOLS-THE PRINTING OF LAWS AND ORDINANCES IN THE GERMAN LANGUAGE.
The first non-sectarian German-English school in Newark was founded in 1856. The history of its development is full of interesting incidents. It was on March 5, 1856, that a number of German-Americans met together at 320 Broad street, under the chairmanship of F. Anneke, with J. Hauer as secretary, and determined to organize a society for the opening and maintenance of a strictly non-sectarian school. Membership was open to everybody who would pledge himself to pay at least $3.00 a month into the treasury. Fifty-two subscribed at once, contributing a total of $272. A committee of fifteen was appointed to collect further subscriptions and submit a constitution and by-laws. The men chosen on this committee were Messrs. Nenninger, Dietzel, Widmer, Umbscheiden, Huber, Anneke, Camerer, Hauer, Keer, Kurth, Sautter, Hollinger, Kolb and Hild.
That was the beginning. The committee set to work at once. Meetings were held at 320 Broad street and 20 Shipman street, and on March 12th it was reported that $1,213 had been subscribed. A tentative constitution was presented and the committee was directed to locate a suitable place for the projected school.
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