Gottlieb Storz
Encyclopedia
Gottlieb Storz was a pioneer entrepreneur in Omaha, Nebraska
. Born in Benningen, Wurttemberg, Germany
, Storz was the founder of the Storz Brewery. He was an important member of Omaha's German immigrant community
, and an important businessman in Omaha history. Storz was regarded as a "giant in the brewing world".
In 1891 Storz founded the Omaha Brewing Association, with himself as president. After purchasing the company, in 1892 Storz built a state-of-the-art facility at 1819 North 16th Street in North Omaha, located at the intersection of Sherman Avenue (North 16th Street) and Clark Street.
Storz also owned many saloons, also called "tied house
s", and ran one next to his plant. In response to pressure from the Prohibition Movement
, in 1907 the Nebraska Legislature
passed the Gibson Law which made it illegal for breweries to own saloons. In response, Storz transferred his saloons to the Independent Realty Company. While this appeared to meet the letter of the law, in 1914 the Nebraska Supreme Court
revoked an Independent Realty Company saloon's liquor license
, finding that the grounds were still controlled by Storz Brewery. Additionally, they also found that the company's president was Storz's wife, Minnie; the vice-president was Maggie Buck, who was also the Storz brewer
and Minnie's cousin, and; the secretary/treasurer had also previously worked for the brewery.
The brewery won medals in international competitions at the Trans-Mississippi Exposition
in Omaha in 1898, at the Lewis & Clark Exposition in Portland, Oregon
in 1905, and in Paris in 1912. In 1891 Storz founded the Omaha Brewing Association, with himself as president. In 1905 Gottlieb had a had a mansion
built at 3708 Farnam Street that today is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
.
Statewide prohibition went into effect in Nebraska in 1916, with the law taking effect in 1917. On January 16, 1919, Nebraska became the required 36th state to ratify the Eighteenth Amendment
. Nationwide Prohibition began exactly one year later. When Nebraskans voted to repeal the state's constitutional prohibition in 1934, Storz was again in business and quickly was making up to 150,000 barrels a year.
Gottlieb Storz died in 1939. The brewery made beer until 1972.
that today is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
, as is his own home
. His first son, Aldoph Gottlieb Storz, was born in 1884. Arthur Charles Storz was born in 1890, and Robert Charles Storz was born in 1898. Robert Storz's son, Todd Storz
, is credited with being the father of the Top 40 radio format
.
Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha is the largest city in the state of Nebraska, United States, and is the county seat of Douglas County. It is located in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about 20 miles north of the mouth of the Platte River...
. Born in Benningen, Wurttemberg, Germany
Benningen
Benningen is a municipality in the district of Unterallgäu in Bavaria, Germany....
, Storz was the founder of the Storz Brewery. He was an important member of Omaha's German immigrant community
Germans in Omaha, Nebraska
Germans in Omaha immigrated to the city in Nebraska from its earliest days of founding in 1854, in the years after the Revolutions of 1848 in the German states. They continued to immigrate to Omaha in large numbers later in the 19th century, when many came from Bavaria and southern Germany...
, and an important businessman in Omaha history. Storz was regarded as a "giant in the brewing world".
Biography
After immigrating to the United States in 1870 from Germany, in 1876 Storz moved to Omaha and became the foreman of a brewery founded in 1863. Storz learned brewing in Wurttemberg and had several years experience in New York and at the William Lemp Brewing Company in St. Louis. After arriving in Omaha to work at Joseph Baumann's brewery in 1876, Bauman died. Storz learned brewing in Wurttemberg and had several years experience in New York and St. Louis. Baumann died in 1876 and Storz renamed the foreman under Baumann's widow, then rented the brewery from her to run it himself.In 1891 Storz founded the Omaha Brewing Association, with himself as president. After purchasing the company, in 1892 Storz built a state-of-the-art facility at 1819 North 16th Street in North Omaha, located at the intersection of Sherman Avenue (North 16th Street) and Clark Street.
Storz also owned many saloons, also called "tied house
Tied house
In the UK a tied house is a public house that is required to buy at least some of its beer from a particular brewery. This is in contrast to a free house, which is able to choose the beers it stocks freely.- Definition of "tied" :...
s", and ran one next to his plant. In response to pressure from the Prohibition Movement
Prohibition in the United States
Prohibition in the United States was a national ban on the sale, manufacture, and transportation of alcohol, in place from 1920 to 1933. The ban was mandated by the Eighteenth Amendment to the Constitution, and the Volstead Act set down the rules for enforcing the ban, as well as defining which...
, in 1907 the Nebraska Legislature
Nebraska Legislature
The Nebraska Legislature is the supreme legislative body of the State of Nebraska, in the Great Plains region of the United States. The Legislature meets at the Nebraska State Capitol in the City of Lincoln, Lancaster County....
passed the Gibson Law which made it illegal for breweries to own saloons. In response, Storz transferred his saloons to the Independent Realty Company. While this appeared to meet the letter of the law, in 1914 the Nebraska Supreme Court
Nebraska Supreme Court
The Nebraska Supreme Court is the highest court in the U.S. state of Nebraska. The Court consists of a Chief Justice and six Associate Justices. Each Justice is initially appointed by the Governor of Nebraska; using the Missouri Plan, each Justice is then subject to a retention vote for additional...
revoked an Independent Realty Company saloon's liquor license
Liquor license
-Alberta:In Alberta, liquor licences are issued by the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission.-United Kingdom:Throughout the United Kingdom, the sale of alcohol is restricted—pubs, restaurants, shops and other premises must be licensed by the local authority. The individual responsible for the...
, finding that the grounds were still controlled by Storz Brewery. Additionally, they also found that the company's president was Storz's wife, Minnie; the vice-president was Maggie Buck, who was also the Storz brewer
Brewer
Brewer may refer to:*Brewer, someone who makes beer by brewing*Brewer , a disambiguation page that lists people with the surname Brewer*Brewer, Maine, a city in southern Penobscot County, Maine, United States, near the city of Bangor...
and Minnie's cousin, and; the secretary/treasurer had also previously worked for the brewery.
The brewery won medals in international competitions at the Trans-Mississippi Exposition
Trans-Mississippi Exposition
The Trans-Mississippi and International Exposition was a world's fair held in Omaha, Nebraska from June 1 to November 1 of 1898. Its goal was to showcase the development of the entire West, stretching from the Mississippi River to the Pacific Coast. The Indian Congress was held concurrently...
in Omaha in 1898, at the Lewis & Clark Exposition in Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
in 1905, and in Paris in 1912. In 1891 Storz founded the Omaha Brewing Association, with himself as president. In 1905 Gottlieb had a had a mansion
Gottlieb Storz House
The Gottlieb Storz House is located at 3708 Farnam Street in the Blackstone neighborhood of Midtown Omaha, Nebraska. Built in 1905 by Omaha beer magnate Gottlieb Storz, the mansion was designated an Omaha Landmark on December 21, 1982, and was listed in the National Register of Historic Places on...
built at 3708 Farnam Street that today is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
.
Statewide prohibition went into effect in Nebraska in 1916, with the law taking effect in 1917. On January 16, 1919, Nebraska became the required 36th state to ratify the Eighteenth Amendment
Eighteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution
The Eighteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution established Prohibition in the United States. The separate Volstead Act set down methods of enforcing the Eighteenth Amendment, and defined which "intoxicating liquors" were prohibited, and which were excluded from prohibition...
. Nationwide Prohibition began exactly one year later. When Nebraskans voted to repeal the state's constitutional prohibition in 1934, Storz was again in business and quickly was making up to 150,000 barrels a year.
Gottlieb Storz died in 1939. The brewery made beer until 1972.
Family
Gottlieb's brother, Charles, built a fine homeCharles Storz House
The Charles Storz House is located at 1901 Wirt Street in the Kountze Place neighborhood of North Omaha, Nebraska. The Arts and Crafts style house was designed by the Omaha architectural firm of Fisher and Lawrie and built in 1909...
that today is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
, as is his own home
Gottlieb Storz House
The Gottlieb Storz House is located at 3708 Farnam Street in the Blackstone neighborhood of Midtown Omaha, Nebraska. Built in 1905 by Omaha beer magnate Gottlieb Storz, the mansion was designated an Omaha Landmark on December 21, 1982, and was listed in the National Register of Historic Places on...
. His first son, Aldoph Gottlieb Storz, was born in 1884. Arthur Charles Storz was born in 1890, and Robert Charles Storz was born in 1898. Robert Storz's son, Todd Storz
Todd Storz
Robert Todd Storz is credited with being the father of the Top 40 radio format, which Gordon McLendon then went on to perfect with great commercial success during the 1950s and 1960s.-Biography:...
, is credited with being the father of the Top 40 radio format
Radio format
A radio format or programming format not to be confused with broadcast programming describes the overall content broadcast on a radio station. Radio formats are frequently employed as a marketing tool, and constantly evolve...
.