THE WILLIAMS BREWING COMPANY BOTTLING WORKS (Updated 7/2023)

  

THE WILLIAMS BREWING COMPANY BOTTLING WORKS

COPYIGHT; ALL RIGHTS RESERVED (5/10/22)

Revised 7/2023

    

Close up view of the site

(Images from Williams, Arizona Sanford Fire Insurance Maps, 1898; December 1901: Library of Congress, Geography and Map Division)

    A small, but unique structure is indicated on the Sanford Fire Maps. This was the Williams Brewing Company Bottling Works.  It was located just north of the Saginaw and Manistee Planing Mill, at the west end of town. To a small town like Williams, having its own brewery would prove advantageous.

    The story of this brewery began in the early years of Williams. According to the map, starting in 1898, this brewery was owned by Mr. A.M. Conrad. The Williams News posted a notice on April 4, 1905, indicating that Mr. George H. Barney and Mr. J.H. Attwood, then proprietors of the plant, sold their interests to Mair and Zobelein Brewery, for $2,000. Mr. Attwood was retained as manager. 

    The brewery continued to bottle beer, and in 1906 Mr. Attwood took a much-needed vacation. In his absence Mr. Robert Burns would manage the establishment. It was noted that upon his return, improvements would be made to the brewery (Williams News, 10/06/1906.)

    The brewery, under the ownership of Mair and Zobelein, became an important bottler of Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer. As indicated in an advertisement they bottled the beer that was made by Pabst in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

 (Williams News, 9/14/1907, page 4)

    The brewery must have been a money maker, as plans were revealed to modernize the plant. In 1908, Mr. Attwood is said to have made extensive improvements costing some $9,000. These included a stable, a coal house, and other structures at $2750; a new ice making machine at $5900. The main building was 60x40 feet, at sixteen feet in height. A stone and brick foundation were laid. A cold storage building, at 18x15 feet, 9 feet high was added (The Williams News, Saturday January 25, 1908.) 

    The article continued; the ice plant and new machinery were provided by the United Iron Works of Los Angeles. This included a vertical steam engine, a new gas compression pump, an ammonia condenser of "double pipe style in coils of one and a half and two-inch pipe, of twenty feet diameter four feet high... the freezing tank is of Douglas Fir, three inches thick, is eleven feet long, seven feet wide and forty-six inches high." Numerous other pieces of equipment were also purchased. 

    The February 18, 1911, edition of the paper carried the following unfortunate news: "Williams Brewery Goes Up in Smoke." A wind had been blowing; the establishment was outside of the city's fire limits, and the flames consumed the building.  The Saginaw firefighting crew and apparatus made a good attempt, but it was hampered by the lack of water pressure. The entire facility was a total loss. Thankfully for the thirsty denizens of the city, the plant was owned by the Maier Brewing Company of Los Angeles and was fully insured. Mr. Attwood, who was away in Texas on business, lost a considerable amount of personal property in the fire. Mr. Ed Hoffmeyer, local manager, did not know what started the conflagration.

    Soon thereafter, on February 25, 1911, the paper announced that the Brewery would be rebuilt. Mr. John Bauder, the representative of the Maier Brewing Company, stated that the insurance adjustment was between $6000 and $7000. Mr. Attwood, having returned from Texas, noted as being the former manager of the brewery, lost approximately $5000. Mr. Bauder said it would be rebuilt to a larger, substantial structure, possibly located closer to the main track of the railroad (Santa Fe.)

    On March 11, 1911, it was announced by the newspaper that plans and specifications for the new plant had been sent to Los Angeles, and rebuilding would soon begin. The Maier Brewing Company hoped to build such a large facility as to provide refreshment for the entire northern region. The paper waxed eloquent, with flowing words stating that all of the necessary ingredients to make a good brew existed in the area, and as such Williams should become a brewing center for the region.

    The new brewery became a mainstay of the city of Williams. In 1912 it was bottling Blatz Beer. Taylor and Edgington were the distributers. 

(Williams News, 2/3/1912.)

    Time continued to pass. By 1919 the "Old Brewery" was still standing. Little is said if the brewery was still bottling beer. It was a place where old furniture was stored, and where youths broke in to steal whatever may be of value. Whatever happened, or how the establishment met its end, lies buried in the annals of time. By 1943 the site was covered by Route 66.   

(Williams Station Plat; AT&SF CO. Coastlines; June 30, 1915.)

A later map showing the Brewery. The structure has substantially changed, indicating that this was the new one built after the fire(s).