The Peoples Brewing Company
"Closed - 1972"1506-1512 South Main Street
Oshkosh, Wisconsin
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Brewery
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The Peoples Brewing Company"Closed - 1972"1506-1512 South Main Street Oshkosh, Wisconsin |
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Brewery |
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Wisconsin Breweries History: The Peoples Brewing Company
The Peoples Brewing Company was the first instance of African American ownership of a major Wisconsin Brewery. The plant was started in 1911 by Henry J. Durler, and located in Oshkosh, Wisconsin at 1506-1512 South Main Street. The brewery was sold to a group of African American investors in 1970. The Brewing Company president was Theodore Mack. While the plant was in operation, Peoples Brewing Company produced Wurtzer Beer, Old Derby Ale, Peoples Beer, Chief Oshkosh, Rahr's, Badger, and Liebrau, and in 1971 purchased the labels of the Oshkosh Brewing Company. It also made improvements on the existing company by installing a new tapping system, palletized inventory, and canned its beer in pop top cans. Despite these changes and growth, by November 1972 Theodore Mack ceased production. Discrimination and poor sales in Milwaukee, a $35,000 tax lien placed on the company by the Internal Revenue Service, and a suit that Mack brought against the Small Business Administration and the Defense Department seeking 100 million dollars in defense contracts contributed to this decision. The equipment was subsequently sold by the Small Business Administration to relieve the debt that was left by the closure. The sale provided only a fraction of the market value of the equipment and an investigation of the Small Business Administration and the Office of Minority Business Enterprises resulted. |
