Brewerytown, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
Brewerytown is a neighborhood in the North Philadelphia district of the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
, United States
. An unofficial region, Brewerytown runs approximately between the Schuylkill River
's eastern bank and 25th Street, bounded by Cecil B. Moore Avenue to the north and Parrish Street to the south. Brewerytown got its name because of the numerous breweries
that were located along the Schuylkill during the late 19th century and early 20th century. It is now primarily a residential neighborhood, with an active commercial sector along Girard Avenue. Despite struggling with poverty in recent decades, Brewerytown has seen a recent influx of young professionals
, and it is considered a neighborhood on the rise.
, former home of the Philadelphia Athletics major league baseball team, was located at 30th and Oxford Streets in the neighborhood.
At its peak, 700 breweries operated across Philadelphia, several in a ten-block area of Brewerytown. Unfortunately, with the collapse of local industry later in the 20th century, originally started by the implementation of Prohibition
in the United States, and beer production moving primarily to the Midwest, every single brewer had vanished by 1987. The industry has slowly returned to the city, but at nowhere near the capacity of its heyday. Ironically, there are currently no operating breweries in Brewerytown. During this late 20th-century slump, the entirety of North Philadelphia, Brewerytown included, was hit hard by economic depression, white flight
and a myriad of other factors. Much of the area was deemed blighted by the city government. For the last few decades, Brewerytown has been a predominantly poor, African-American neighborhood.
In 1991, the Brewerytown Historic District was certified by the National Register of Historic Places. The district contains 380 buildings and is roughly bounded by 30th St., Girard Ave., 32nd St. and Glenwood Ave.http://www.nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com/pa/Philadelphia/districts.html
. The Girard Avenue commercial corridor has seen new businesses move in and property values increase, along with increases in property values in other sections of the city associated with the influx of young professionals to Center City.
), a proposed mecca for black culture. In August 2006, AABRA leader Alston overturned a city government decision that deemed the proposed Songhai City property blighted. The location, a dilapidated garage, was set to be acquired by Westrum Development, razed, and rebuilt as townhouses in accordance with the developers' massive reconstruction efforts in the neighborhood. The decision, a surprise to Westrum, who had considered the matter settled, will now force the developer to build around the property, which sits close to what will become the heart of Brewerytown Square. Alston has reopened the garage as a community center, though by his own admission it is decidedly targeted at the older, poorer Brewerytown community and not the younger and wealthier incoming residents. Little compromise has been reached, and the Westrum development continues to be a source of contention between the residents of Brewerytown, new and old.
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. An unofficial region, Brewerytown runs approximately between the Schuylkill River
Schuylkill River
The Schuylkill River is a river in Pennsylvania. It is a designated Pennsylvania Scenic River.The river is about long. Its watershed of about lies entirely within the state of Pennsylvania. The source of its eastern branch is in the Appalachian Mountains at Tuscarora Springs, near Tamaqua in...
's eastern bank and 25th Street, bounded by Cecil B. Moore Avenue to the north and Parrish Street to the south. Brewerytown got its name because of the numerous breweries
Brewery
A brewery is a dedicated building for the making of beer, though beer can be made at home, and has been for much of beer's history. A company which makes beer is called either a brewery or a brewing company....
that were located along the Schuylkill during the late 19th century and early 20th century. It is now primarily a residential neighborhood, with an active commercial sector along Girard Avenue. Despite struggling with poverty in recent decades, Brewerytown has seen a recent influx of young professionals
Hipster (contemporary subculture)
Hipsters are a subculture of young, recently settled urban middle class adults and older teenagers with musical interests mainly in alternative rock that appeared in the 1990s...
, and it is considered a neighborhood on the rise.
History
The earliest indications of this legacy can be seen on maps from the 1860s, which list several minor brewers and distillation facilities in this region. Proximity to the river and nearby farmland allowed these establishments to flourish, and as demands increased, so did development in Brewerytown. Much of the expansion into the early 20th century was handled by architect Otto Wolf, who oversaw the construction of over 60 buildings in the area, bringing a distinct German texture to the houses, saloons, and breweries of the area. Some of his buildings are still standing, including the Bergdoll Brewing complex, and F.A. Poth Brewing. Columbia ParkColumbia Park
For other places known as Columbia Park, see Columbia Park Columbia Park or Columbia Avenue Grounds was a baseball stadium that formerly stood in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania...
, former home of the Philadelphia Athletics major league baseball team, was located at 30th and Oxford Streets in the neighborhood.
At its peak, 700 breweries operated across Philadelphia, several in a ten-block area of Brewerytown. Unfortunately, with the collapse of local industry later in the 20th century, originally started by the implementation of Prohibition
Prohibition
Prohibition of alcohol, often referred to simply as prohibition, is the practice of prohibiting the manufacture, transportation, import, export, sale, and consumption of alcohol and alcoholic beverages. The term can also apply to the periods in the histories of the countries during which the...
in the United States, and beer production moving primarily to the Midwest, every single brewer had vanished by 1987. The industry has slowly returned to the city, but at nowhere near the capacity of its heyday. Ironically, there are currently no operating breweries in Brewerytown. During this late 20th-century slump, the entirety of North Philadelphia, Brewerytown included, was hit hard by economic depression, white flight
White flight
White flight has been a term that originated in the United States, starting in the mid-20th century, and applied to the large-scale migration of whites of various European ancestries from racially mixed urban regions to more racially homogeneous suburban or exurban regions. It was first seen as...
and a myriad of other factors. Much of the area was deemed blighted by the city government. For the last few decades, Brewerytown has been a predominantly poor, African-American neighborhood.
In 1991, the Brewerytown Historic District was certified by the National Register of Historic Places. The district contains 380 buildings and is roughly bounded by 30th St., Girard Ave., 32nd St. and Glenwood Ave.http://www.nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com/pa/Philadelphia/districts.html
Breweries
Breweries that operated in the neighborhood included:- Bergner & Engel Brewing Company (Thompson Street between 32nd and 33rd, east side)
- Charles Eisner Brewery (Thompson Street between 32nd and 33rd, west side)
- F. A. Poth Brewing Company (31st & Jefferson Streets, NW corner)
- H. Mueller Centennial Brewery (31st & Jefferson Streets, NE corner)
- J. & P. Baltz Brewing Company (31st & Thompson Streets)
- Arnholt & Schaefer Brewing Company (31st and Thompson Streets, NE corner)
- G. Keller's Brewery (31st Street, west side, between Jefferson and Master)
- J. Bentz' Brewery (31st Street, west side, between Jefferson and Master)
- Thomas Perot Brewery (31st and Master Streets, NW corner)
- W. S. Perot (32nd and Thompson Streets, NW corner)
- Goldbeck & Eisele (31st and Thompson Streets, NE corner)
- Geo. F. Rothacker Brewery (31st Street, West side, between Thompson and Master)
- Eble & Herter (33rd Street and Pennsylvania Avenue)
- Francis Orth (later Burg & Pfaender, later Bergdoll Brewery; 33rd Street, south of Master Street)
- Henzler & Flach Brewery
- City Park Brewery (29th and Parrish Streets)
- Commonwealth Brewing Company (28th and Cambridge Streets)
- Keystone State Brewery (27th and Parrish Streets)
- Peter Schemm and Son (West College Ave. and Poplar Street)
- India Pale Ale Brewery (38th Street and Girard Avenue)
Gentrification
Recently, Brewerytown has seen a trend of gentrificationGentrification
Gentrification and urban gentrification refer to the changes that result when wealthier people acquire or rent property in low income and working class communities. Urban gentrification is associated with movement. Consequent to gentrification, the average income increases and average family size...
. The Girard Avenue commercial corridor has seen new businesses move in and property values increase, along with increases in property values in other sections of the city associated with the influx of young professionals to Center City.
Brewerytown Square
In 2004 The Westrum Development Company announced a multi-million-dollar real-estate project known as Brewerytown Square, which is to create hundreds of housing units aimed at middle class buyers. The project is opposed by the community group AABRA, or African-American Business & Residents Association, which is led by Al Alston. This group of one claims that Westrum is attempting to drive out long-time, lower-income residents in favor of wealthy, young urban professionals, by driving up property values. AABRA is engaged in a lawsuit with the city of Philadelphia over Brewerytown land rights. Despite the ongoing legal proceedings, the first Westrum housing units are already for sale. AABRA has threatened to create an alternative development called "Songhai City" (in reference to the Songhai EmpireSonghai Empire
The Songhai Empire, also known as the Songhay Empire, was a state located in western Africa. From the early 15th to the late 16th century, Songhai was one of the largest Islamic empires in history. This empire bore the same name as its leading ethnic group, the Songhai. Its capital was the city...
), a proposed mecca for black culture. In August 2006, AABRA leader Alston overturned a city government decision that deemed the proposed Songhai City property blighted. The location, a dilapidated garage, was set to be acquired by Westrum Development, razed, and rebuilt as townhouses in accordance with the developers' massive reconstruction efforts in the neighborhood. The decision, a surprise to Westrum, who had considered the matter settled, will now force the developer to build around the property, which sits close to what will become the heart of Brewerytown Square. Alston has reopened the garage as a community center, though by his own admission it is decidedly targeted at the older, poorer Brewerytown community and not the younger and wealthier incoming residents. Little compromise has been reached, and the Westrum development continues to be a source of contention between the residents of Brewerytown, new and old.
Supermarket
On October 30, Farm Fresh Produce and Poultry announced that they were purchasing land at Girard Avenue and North 31st Street from Westrum Development Company, with the intent to create a 35000 square feet (3,251.6 m²) supermarket, according to an article in the Home News.Civic Association
The local civic association is called Brewerytown-Sharswood Community Civic Association. It covers the Brewerytown and Sharswood neighborhoods and its boundaries are 33rd St. on the west, to Ridge Ave on the east, Girard Ave to the south and Cecil B Moore Ave to the north. Public meetings are every third Thursday of the month, except during the summer break, at the Daniel Boone School at 26th and Jefferson. Meetings start at 6:30 p.m.External links
- Central Brewerytown Blight Recertification, City Planning Commission, 2005
- African-American Business & Residents Association
- "Strange Brew: What Ales Brewerytown," Gwen Shaffer, Philadelphia Weekly
- Video Tour of Brewerytown
- Historic Photographs of Brewerytown, PhillyHistory.org