Pottstown in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Pottstown Brewing Co.
Historic Pottstown Walking Tour
In 1886, Joseph M. Selinger moved his brewery from a stone building about a mile from Pottstown at Glasgow to a three story brick building at High & Manatawny Sts. near the “Barn Houses” that were built on the foundation of the stables for The Red Lion Inn, one of Pottstown's earliest inns. The brewery changed hands frequently in its early years and was sheriffed in 1897 due to financial problems brought on by competition with rival breweries.
The new owners razed the brewery and the “Barn Houses” to erect the building in the photograph at the right. The Pottstown Brewing Company was born. In 1910, it was incorporated with a capital investment of $125,000. By 1911, investors had added a brewery in Allentown and established a number of satellite depots in eastern Pennsylvania. At its high point, the Pottstown Brewing Co. produced 40,000 barrels a year. Prohibition sounded the death knell for the brewery; and in the latter part of 1920, the machinery and equipment were sold to investors from Cuba for a brewery there.
In 1921, the buildings and property were purchased by the Pottstown Wholesale Grocery Co. that operated from that location until 1935. The Kleen Mattress Co. occupied the buildings from 1946-50 and the Kiwi Shoe Polish Company from 1953-79. During that period, the eastern buildings were torn down for parking and in the 1980's all existing brewery buildings were erased from memory.
—David R. Kerns
Erected 2002 by Pottstown 250th Anniversary Committee.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Man-Made Features • Notable Buildings. A significant historical year for this entry is 1886.
Location. 40° 14.78′ N, 75° 39.342′ W. Marker is in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, in Montgomery County. Marker is at the intersection of High Street and Manatawny Street, on the right when traveling east on High Street. Marker is adjacent to the parking lot for Montgomery County Community College's North Hall. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 16 E High Street, Pottstown PA 19464, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Elks Home (about 700 feet away, measured in a direct line); First Iron Bridge (approx. 0.2 miles away); Pottsgrove Manor (approx. 0.2 miles away); The PECO Building (approx. 0.2 miles away); Reading Passenger Station (approx. ¼ mile away); The Shuler House (approx. ¼ mile away); Weitzenkorn's Clothiers (approx. ¼ mile away); a different marker also named Pottsgrove Manor (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Pottstown.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on October 30, 2009, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 2,291 times since then and 46 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 30, 2009, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.