Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Brewing Industry in
Rhode Island
Other Notable
Brewers in 18th
Century Newport
Included:
Anthony Young
John Wright
John Lance
Joseph Belcher &
Giles Hosier
The 18th Century
1795
Giles Hosier
Newport
1875 - 1879
Merchants
Brewing Co.
Very little is known of this small Rhode Island Brewery other than
it operated at 37 East Avenue in Pawtucket from c. 1875 - 1879.
1820 - 1957
The Brewery At the Corner of
Fountain & Jackson Streets
Providence, Rhode Island
Oliver & Otis
Holmes
When it began, the Holmes Brewery was a simply built one and a half
story structure. During its first year of operation, the brewery produced
8 barrels of beer per day.
Otis Holmes was born a year after his brother Oliver on October 16,
1793. On July 27, 1822, he married Olivers sister-in-law, Almira (or
Elmira) Fenner Hawkins of North Providence. Over the years,
Elmira and Otis would have eleven children. Two of their boys,
George Otis and Charles Butler Holmes, worked in the family
brewery.
Providence in 1818 by Alvin Fisher
Holmes
&
McCullock
Oliver Holmes passed away on April 24, 1841. At the time of his
death in Providence he was only 49 years old. Six years later, his 37
year old brother, Daniel, passed away on March 30, 1847.
"I, Otis Holmes, of Providence, in the State of Rhode Island, brewer, fifty years
of age, depose and say: That on Sunday, the 26th of June, 1842, my house in
Providence was entered by a body of armed men. They searched the house,
breaking the locks, though I offered to give them the keys. I was laying on the bed,
and taken by two men, who seized me by the collar. One was named Samuel
Thomas; the other I did not know. Charles Harris, at the same time, put a pistol
to my breast. They found nothing at my house but my training musket, which I
had many years; they took it, and have never returned it. They carried me to my
brewery, and broke in there; I had previously offered them the keys to my
premises. In the brewery they found two old ducking guns, without locks, and one
old musket with a shattered lock and no ramrod. They took these, and they have
never been returned. There was also a hunting powder-horn, with about half a
pound of powder, and a canister of about a pound of powder, which belonged to
another man who left it there. They also broke into my store and counting room,
and ransacked that, my private papers, and then marched me to the office of
Henry L. Bowen, Esq., justice of the peace. I was carried through the streets by
two men having hold of my collar, and another in front with a pistol. There were
about thirty men with muskets; I made no resistance. The course lay through the
principle street of the city. ...
The Deposition of Otis Holmes, Brewer
... I heard no charges, and was not examined before Mr. Justice Bowen, but was
marched to jail with a file of soldiers, in company with ten others. I was put in a
room in the jail, and remained there seven days, and then, with-out examination,
put into one of the cells of the state prison, with seven others. It was large enough
for us to lie down, by lying heads and points. I remained there twenty-one days.
The suffering was extreme, from heat and want of air, with plenty of vermin.
The health of the prisoners suffered materially. During this time I was examined
by the commissioners. They charged me with keeping arms to aid the suffrage
cause. No proof was shown. I was remanded. I then got a writ of habeas corpus
before Judge Staples, of the Supreme Court, and went before him in a room in the
jail, and, upon a hearing, was discharged. I was then immediately committed by the
deputy sheriff, on a warrant from Henry L. Bowen, on a charge of treason. I
then applied for another writ of habeas corpus, which Judge Staples ordered to be
heard before the whole court in Newport. I was there heard, and allowed bail of
twelve thousand dollars, with surities. In the next sitting of the court in the
county of Providence, the grand jury found no bill against me, and I was
discharged. I was in close prison fifty-nine days.
Otis Holmes"
Otis Holmes & The Dorr Rebellion of 1842
Tavern Keeper "General" Jebeddiah Sprague was Thomas Dorr's Chief Military Advisor. During the
Rebellion of 1842, his tavern was used as Dorr's Headquarters. It was here that the Dorrites made their
final stand. Contract Troops from the State forced their entry into this building during which time George
Bardine was wounded in the thigh. Ironically, when this photograph was taken at the turn of the 20th
century, the Inn proudly displayed a corner sign from the James Hanley Brewing Company, a future
descendant of the Otis Holmes Brewery. The tavern still operates to this day as the Tavern on Main.
Oliver & Otis
Holmes
As the United States entered and endured a bloody Civil War from
1861 to 1865, George Otis Holmes brother, Charles Butler, was
listed as a brewer at 60 Fountain Street in Providence. It is likely
that he took over his fathers share of the family business by this
time. Otis Holmes was not listed as a brewer in 1856, yet 60
Fountain street was listed as his home. This likely implies that his
residence was still at the brewery but that he was retired.
Oliver & Otis
Holmes
1867 was the last year in which a member of the Holmes family was
either residing at, or brewing beer, at the corner of Jackson and
Fountain Streets in Providence. By 1868, a gentleman by the name
of John Bligh was listed as operating as a brewer at this location.
In 1865, John Bligh was deeded the brewery that was owned by Otis
Holmes and his wife Elmira for $13,350. He called his new
enterprise the Narragansett Brewery. While it would be natural
to assume that this brewery was the "Famous" Narragansett
Brewing Company that was incorporated in 1890 and located in the
Arlington Section of Cranston, it, in fact, had nothing to do with it.
John Bligh
John Cooney was married to Ann McCabe. The couple had six
children: Edward J., John Philip, Mary, Angela, Helen, Catherine
and Ann. He was elected to the Providence City Council in 1875,
being the first Irish American to serve this position where he
headed the Building Projects Committee until his passing.
While James Hanley was running his brewery, he and his brother,
Thomas, continued to run their import & liquor wholesale
business in Providence. In 1884, their establishment was listed at
32 Exchange Place. In 1886, the address changed to 30 Exchange
Place. They advertised that they sold wines and liquors,
Kentucky and Pennsylvania Rye and Bourbon Whiskey, as well
as India Pale Ale, Stock Ale, and XXX Ale from the Silver
Spring Brewery.
James Hanley
Importer & Wholesaler
Stoneware Jugs for 32 Exchange Place (Left) & 30 Exchange Place (Right)
The Rhode Island Brewing Co.
This company are extensive brewers of ale and porter, which are noted
throughout New England for their purity and excellence. Their India
Pale Ale is equal, if not superior, to any Bass or Allsop pale ale ever
imported, while their Canada Malt Ale is very rich in nutriment, a
delicious family beverage, and especially adapted for invalids. Their
Stock Ales and Porter cannot be excelled by any brewery in the
country.
The Rhode Island Brewing Co.
The business was founded here in 1867, by Mr. John Bligh, who was
succeeded in turn by Cooney & Hanley in 1876, and by James Hanley &
Co. in 1879; and in 1886 the present company was incorporated with a
capital stock of $500,000, and with James Hanley, president and treasurer.
This gentleman is an authority to everything pertaining to brewing, and
he is constantly effecting improvements which serve to place him in a
position to promptly meet the growing demand for his justly celebrated ale,
and to maintain it's high standard and superiority.
The plant comprises a ground area of 25,000 square feet, on which are
erected a series of five-story brick buildings, all equipped with modern
appliances, apparatus and machinery, while the mash tubs, vats, settling
tanks, pumps, refrigerators and storage vessels all bespeak the watchful
care and intelligent enterprise of the management. The brew kettle has
the capacity for brewing 200 barrels at a brew, while there is storage room
for 8,000 barrels, and the annual productive capacity of the brewery is
100,000 barrels.
According to State incorporation records, the Rhode Island
Brewing Company officially became known as the James Hanley
Brewing Company on May 29, 1895. The brewery thrived with
its production of Peerless, India Pale, Pale Export and Cream
Ales. It also produced a popular Porter.
"James Hanley, a life member of the American Irish Historical Society, died in
Providence, August 31st, 1912.
He was born in the County Roscommon, Ireland, September 7th, 1841, and came
there to Providence, where, at an early age, he entered an active business life which he
followed to the time of his death. His early boyhood knew the hardships of toil and
little of the school, but he had the gift of clear thinking and an ambition to know, and
as he grew in years, knowledge of men and things and books came, and with it a
broadness of character and a business ability of wide and successful range. His
experience as an investor and his familiarity of values were quickly recognized by his
business associates, and his judgement was considered of rare value to the banks and
large corporations with which he was associated.
In a manner Mr. Hanley was reserved but cordial, and his relations with his fellow
members in this Society and the public in general were always marked by a quiet
dignity and courtesy. His purse was ever open for charity and his heart true to his
friends who will always remember him.
Mr. Hanley, at the time of his death, was President of the old established corporation
of Hanley-Hoye Company, President and Treasurer of the James Hanley Brewing
Company, President of the Providence Brewing Company, director in the National
Exchange Bank and in other corporations.
He was a large owner of real estate in his home city, and in all his enterprises he
depended almost entirely upon his own judgement and financial accumulations. The
secret of his success was a combination of industry, clear business judgement and
fairness towards those with whom he dealt.
Mr. Hanley had a love for horses, and during his career was the owner of the finest
and fastest driving horses in the State, an of very notable horses of the American
turf.
Not actually put into widespread use by the brewery until after
the repeal of prohibition in 1933, this bulldog became synonymous
with the brewery as the 20th century progressed. This painting
hung in the administration office of the brewery until its final
closure. In fact, The James Hanley Brewing Co. considered this
image of the bulldog so valuable to its identity that it insured the
painting with Llyod's of London.
CONNECTICUT
RHODE ISLAND
December 5, 1933
The 21st Amendment of the
Constitution of the
United States is Passed
Prohibition is Repealed
Although the first ale put out by Hanleys in 1935 was disliked by many, the
present ale is acceptable to a worth-while section of the market.
In May 1935 Hanleys Ale was put on the market. Local distribution was
wide enough to give many ale drinkers an opportunity to try the product.
Sales at first were encouraging, but after a few weeks they fell off sharply.
Accompanying the drop were a number of complaints from distributors and
consumers. Most frequent criticisms named a bitter taste, an offensive odor,
or a laxative effect...
Rumors founded on dislike of the first product have seriously reduced sales.
The rumor that a certain beer has a marked laxative effect is a hardy
perennial of the brewing business, and such basis in fact as it has is founded on
the fact that all beer has a mildly laxative effect. Whether or not the first
Hanleys had a much more pronounced laxative effect than other beers is
immaterial now. Dislike, founded on this or some other basis, gave wide
currency to the rumor. As dislike spread, the rumors gained impetus and
variety, but the ale itself bore the brunt of the attack...
Ja
ck
so
n
W
ay
Ja
ck
so
n
W
ay
HOLMES BREWERY
c. 1820 - 1862
JOHN BLIGH NARRAGANSETT BREWERY
1867 - c. 1876
COONEY & HANLEY
"MERCHANT'S BREWERY"
1876 - 1879
JAMES HANLEY & CO.
"SILVER SPRING BREWERY"
1879 - 1883
RHODE ISLAND BREWING CO.
1883 - 1895
JAMES HANLEY BREWING CO.
1895 - 1920
THE JAMES HANLEY CO.
1934 - 1957
Reeds Brewery
Fletcher & Co.
Providence, Rhode Island
1830 - 187?
Reeds Brewery
1838 - 1855
1866 - 1920
Kelly & Baker Brewery
Kelly & Woefel Brewery
Woefel & Molter Brewery
This small brewery began life as the Kelly & Baker Brewery
in 1866. Despite being listed with a Providence, Rhode
Island, address, it was actually located on Spectacle Pond in
Cranston. Today, this site is known as Molter street, a dead
end drive located in a neighborhood next to the famous
Rhode Island landmark, Twin Oaks Restaurant.
c. 1878
Nicholas Molter Brewery
What Cheer Brewery
Nicholas Molter Brewery
What Cheer Brewery
Molter & Oehm
What Cheer Brewery
N. Molter & Sons
In 1895, Henry T. and John N.
Molter assumed all
responsibilities of the brewery
f r o m t h e i r f a t h e r. H e n r y
Molter passed away one year
later in January of 1896.
1866 - 1920
Keily & Sullivan Brewery
1873 - 1877
1890 - 1983
Narragansett Brewing Company
1890 - 1983
1898
Narragansett Brewing Company
1890 - 1983
President:
Constand A. Moeller
Vice-President:
John H. Fehlbert
Treasurer:
Joseph H. Gerard
Brewmaster:
Otto Henn
Plant Manager:
Emil Schierholz
Narragansett Brewing Company
1890 - 1983
After remaining neutral for
three years, the United States
entered the European Great
War on April 6, 1917. Before
the Armistice was finally
declared on November 11, 1918,
116,516 American servicemen
lost their lives for their country
and 204,002 were wounded.
As her troops returned from the "War
that would end all wars", the United
States came under pressure to recognize a
rapidly growing and national temperance
movement. This ensuing storm
dramatically changed the lifestyles and
livelihoods of many Americans,
particularly those in the liquor and beer
industry. Despite an earlier veto of the
proposed bill by President Woodrow
Wilson, the United States ratified the
18th Amendment of the Constitution of
the United States on January 19, 1919.
Known as the "Volstead Act", the
production, importation, exportation and
sale of alcoholic beverages became illegal
throughout the United States. This
National Prohibition Act went into effect
on January 29, 1920.
Rudolph Haffenreffer
was an aficionado of
cigar store Indian
carvings. He would hire
the talents of his sons
Dartmouth College
friend, Theodore Geisel
(a.k.a. Dr. Seuss), to
help market the
Narragansett name.
Narragansett Brewing Company
1890 - 1983
Test Labels
Narragansett Brewing Company
1890 - 1983
Test Label
Narragansett Brewing Company
1890 - 1983
Narragansett Brewing Company
1890 - 1983
Narragansett Brewing Company
1890 - 1983
Narragansett Brewing Company
1890 - 1983
1954 Boston
Narragansett Brewing Company
1890 - 1983
Narragansett Brewing Company
1890 - 1983
Narragansett Brewing Company
1890 - 1983
Narragansett Brewing Company
1890 - 1983
Narragansett Brewing Company
1890 - 1983
Narragansett Brewing Company
1890 - 1983
Rudolph F. Haffenreffer
passed away on October 9,
1954. The Narragansett
Brewing Co. was then run
by his sons, Rudolph
Haffenreffer III
(President) and Carl
Haffenreffer (Executive
Vice President).
Narragansett Brewing Company
1890 - 1983
Steven Toppa
Narragansett Brewing Company
1890 - 1983
Ed Sally
Theberge Pierce
Narragansett Brewing Company
1890 - 1983
Narragansett Bock Beer Festival with Joseph Garrahy and William Deveraux
Narragansett Brewing Company
1890 - 1983
BOSTON BRUINS 1969 - 1970
Coach Harry Sinden Celebrates the Stanley Cup Victory with a Gansett!
Narragansett Brewing Company
1890 - 1983
Narragansett Brewing Company
1890 - 1983
Narragansett Brewing Company
1890 - 1983
Narragansett Brewing Company
1890 - 1983
Narragansett Brewing Company
1890 - 1983
Narragansett Brewing Company
1890 - 1983
1892 - 1927
American / Providence
Brewing Company
1892 - 1927
Providence Brewing Company - Boston Branch - Photo Courtesy Boston Public Library
American / Providence
Brewing Company
1892 - 1927
Providence Brewing Company - Boston Branch - Photo Courtesy Boston Public Library
American / Providence
Brewing Company
1892 - 1927
Tower
Above the Line is Gone
Location
The Providence Brewing Company as it looked in 2008 - 431 Harris Avenue, Providence
The Park Brewing Company
Providence, Rhode Island
1899 - 1913
Park Brewing Company
1899 - 1913
1898 - 1938
Hand Brewing Company
1898 - 1933
HAND BREWING
COMPANY
1898-1933
RHODE ISLAND
BREWING COMPANY
1933-1938
Hand Brewing Company
1898 - 1933
Michael Hand, Sr., and his first wife, Bridget, had four
children. One of these children, Michael, Jr., followed in his
father's footsteps and became a brewer. He was born in Utica,
New York on September 12, 1866. In 1890, he married Annie
E. Connell from Scranton, Pennsylvania. After moving to
Rhode Island with his father, Michael, Jr., took up residence at
161 Cottage Street in Pawtucket.
"Michael Hand, Jr., Charged With Two Assaults. Mother-In-Law and Sister-In-
Law Complainants - Held In $100"
Pawtucket Times: December 10, 1902
"Says Wife Like His Would Drive The Judge To Drink. Michael Hand, Jr., Makes
Fierce Attack On His Wife And Her Brother While Testifying In Action She
Brought For..."
Pawtucket Times: March 26, 1904
"Mrs. Rutledge Charges Brother With Cruelty. Tells Pitiful Story, Alleging
Michael Hand, Sr., Was Abused"
Pawtucket Times: April 21, 1914
Porcelain over Metal Corner Sign of the Hand Brewing Company c. 1900
Hand Brewing Company
1898 - 1933
Tasting Glass & Account Book of the Hand Brewing Company c. 1900
Hand Brewing Company
1898 - 1933
After the passing of his father, Michael Hand, Jr., took over the
operations of the Hand Brewing Company. Unfortunately, this
duty would only last four years. Michael Hand, Jr.,
unexpectedly passed away after a two week bout with
pneumonia on February 2, 1915. He was only 49 years old. His
untimely death left his widow, Mrs. Annie E. Hand, to serve as
both the brewerys president and treasurer.
Just like the family that proceeded him, James Lavell was fined
on numerous occasions for producing illegal beer at his newly
acquired brewery. Many of his sales transactions reportedly
went down at his Realty Company located at 42 Fountain
Street.
Rhode Island
Brewing Company
1933 - 1938
The Hand / Rhode Island Brewing Company as it appeared on January 28, 1942
(Providence Journal Archives)
Hand Brewing Company
1898 - 1933
The Hand / Rhode Island Brewing Company as it appeared on January 28, 1942
(Providence Journal Archives)
Hand Brewing Company
1898 - 1933
The Hand / Rhode Island Brewing Company as it appeared on January 28, 1942
(Providence Journal Archives)
Hand Brewing Company
1898 - 1933
The Hand / Rhode Island Brewing Company as it appeared on January 28, 1942
(Providence Journal Archives)
Hand Brewing Company
1898 - 1933
1886 - 1979
George B. Boydens Crescent Park
1891?
The Mount Hope Brewing Co.
1891 (?)
Whether or not this brewery ever got off the ground and
produced beer is another question. There is no other
information available to either confirm or deny its existence.
Where this brewery was to be located is also uncertain. As the
certificate was issued in Rhode Island, and the brewery was to
be named the Mount Hope Brewing Company, it is possible
that it was planned to be built in one of the towns bordering
Mount Hope Bay. Was it to be built in Warren, Bristol,
Tiverton or Portsmouth? We just don't know.
c. 1890 - 1927
The Jacob Wirth
Bottling Co. & Hofbrau House
c. 1890 - 1927
Jacob Wirth
(June 2, 1840 - August 10, 1892)
The Jacob Wirth
Bottling Co. & Hofbrau House
c. 1890 - 1927
1877 Lithograph
(Boston Public Library)
The Jacob Wirth
Bottling Co. & Hofbrau House
c. 1890 - 1927
In 1880, Jacob Wirth and his wife, Maria, had a son by the
name of Jacob. That year, the elder Jacob opened a wholesale
and bottling franchise at 160 (and later 164) Broad Street in
Providence, Rhode Island. While Jacob Wirth continued to
run his Boston headquarters, his nephew, Henry R. Wirth,
managed the Rhode Island branch.
By 1892, the Providence location of the Jacob Wirth & Co. was
listed at 186 Weybosset Street. Here, in addition to importing
and bottling fine wines, beers, and ales, the company also
established a restaurant known as the Jacob Wirth & Co.
HofBrau Haus. Like its Boston relative, this establishment
was quite popular within the community. The Jacob Wirth &
Co. also had addresses of 25-27 Page street and 17 North Main
Street in Pawtucket.
With his passing of his father, Jacob Wirth (Jr.) took on the
responsibility of managing the family business. His mother,
Maria, passed away in 1989.
By the year 1900, the Providence branch of the Jacob Wirth &
Co., under the direction of Henry R. Wirth, would be listed at
227-231 West Exchange Street. They would become one of the
largest wholesalers and bottlers of domestic wines, beers, and
mineral water in New England.
1906 Advertisement
The Jacob Wirth
Bottling Co. & Hofbrau House
c. 1890 - 1927
Like many other fine establishments, the Jacob Wirth & Co. in
Rhode Island hit hard times during the dark years of
Prohibition. In order to survive, the business became known as
the Wirth Concorde Ade Co. in 1927. Still listed at West
Exchange Street, they produced "a delicious and refreshing
drink made from grapes." Like most businesses serving alcohol
during these years, the HofBrau Haus closed its doors forever
around this time.
c. 1880
Henry Wilkens
Lunch Room
One of the reasons for doing this was the issue of language. For
the past two years, Local No. 114 was composed primarily of
German speaking immigrants from German based breweries. To
accommodate the many English speaking members from the Irish
based James Hanley Brewing Company, Local No. 166 was
established on November 15, 1898.
Rhode Island
Brewery Workers Unions
Until the last door was locked with the closing of the
Narragansett Brewing Company, the brewery workers of Rhode
Island had a trade union.
Sullivan Brothers
Distribution
Providence, Rhode Island
1881 - 1918
Sullivan Brothers Distribution
1881 - 1918
The D.R. Sullivan Family Liquors located on 78 Ives Street in Providence. This branch of the
family business was under the management of Dennis R. Sullivan who is likely one of the two
gentlemen standing in the foreground. Note the large Narragansett Lager sign in the left front
window as well as the Hanley's Ale corner signs to the left and right of the front entrance.
Coutu Brothers
Coutu Brothers
Coutu Brothers
Warwick Brewing Company
1902 (?)
The Warwick Brewing Co.
1902 (?)
1933 - 1936
The Warwick Brewing Co.
1933 - 1936
Very little is known about this mysterious brewery that opened its
doors shortly after the repeal of prohibition in 1933.
Irregardless of its actual location, the brewery did not fair well
during its three year existence as it permanently closed its doors in
1936.
The Warwick Brewing Co.
1933 - 1936
Keg Label
The Warwick Brewing Co.
1933 - 1936
Roger Williams
Brewing Corporation
Providence, Rhode Island
1933 - 1940
Roger Williams Brewing Corp.
1933 - 1940
1933 - 1938
The Consumers Brewing Company
1933 - 1935
The Consumers
Brewing Company
The Hollen
Brewing Company
The Hollen
Brewing Company
The Hollen
Brewing Company
The Hollen
Brewing Company
The Hollen
Brewing Company
The Hollen
Brewing Company
The Hollen
Brewing Company
The Hollen
Brewing Company
Kent Brewing Company
West Warwick, Rhode Island
1933 - 1934
The Kent Brewing Company
1933 - 1934
The paint was hardly dry when the Kent Brewing Company
closed its doors after opening them with the repeal of prohibition
in 1933.
1993 - 1996
Emerald Isle Brewing Co.
1993 - 1996
This wonderful little brewery was located just around the corner
from the old Kent Brewing Company in West Warwick, Rhode
Island. Like the Kent, the Emerald Isle Brew Works was located in
an old stone mill building adjacent to the Pawtuxet River. It had a
street address of 1454 Main Street.
The Emerald Isle was started in 1993 by dentist Ray McConnell and
his son, Mike. It produced fine cask-conditioned ales. The brewery
was famous for its Bank Street Ale, Emerald Isle Ale and Emerald
Isle Porter. It also produced a Holiday Ale and Beaver Tail Ale.
Emerald Isle Brewing Co.
1993 - 1996
All of these brews required the use of an expensive beer engine, more
commonly known as a hand pump, to be dispensed. This method
harkened back to the days when beer was kept in a pub's cool cellar
(50-55 degrees fahrenheit) and the publican dispensed his offerings by
pumping them up from the cellar by hand. This method can still be
seen in the pubs of England and Ireland.
Despite the outcries of many (your author included), the Emerald Isle
Brew Works closed its doors in 1999. Many of us have still not
forgiven those responsible for doing this to us.
Our good friends, Ray and Mike, have since moved to the great state
of Maine. Ray and his wife, Marilyn, run a bed and breakfast in
Damariscotta. Appropriately enough, it is called Alewives and Ales.
Emerald Isle Brewing Co.
1993 - 1996
Private Stock Lager Beer Label
Bottler A.F. Cappelli
Atwells Ave., Providence