Columbia in Monroe County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Monroe Brewery

602 N Main St

— Historic Main Street —

Monroe Brewery Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Thomas Smith, January 1, 2021

1. Monroe Brewery Marker

Inscription. John Gundlach built this building in 1856. He and several relatives were partners in the business until the Reconstruction era. In 1883 the brewery was operated by Klausmann Brewery Co. of South St. Louis. Its annual capacity was 6,000 barrels of beer. Underneath the building were beer caves capable of storing 3,500 barrels. There was also a malt house and mineral water establishment connected with the business. In 1941, the Columbia American Distillers began a distillery operation in the building. During WWII they produced wood alcohol, later resuming production of whiskey named "Old Monroe" & "Columbia Whiskey." Operation ceased some time in the 1960s.

Erected by Kaskaskia-Cahokia Trail; Columbia, Illinois.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1856.

Location. 38° 26.875′ N, 90° 12.272′ W. Marker is in Columbia, Illinois, in Monroe County. It is on North Main Street just south of Burns Street, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 603 N Main St, Columbia IL 62236, United

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater St. Louis.

It is also in the American Midwest,

in the Lewis & Clark Corridor,

in the Corn Belt,

and in the Great River Road Region.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Gundlach-Grosse House (within shouting distance of this marker); Gundlach-Wagner House (approx. 0.2 miles away); Corporation Line Sign (approx. 0.2 miles away); Koch House (approx. 0.2 miles away); Locust Street Whistle Post (approx. 0.2 miles away); Weinel Hardware & Lumber (approx. ¼ mile away); American Legion Memorial Park (approx. ¼ mile away); The Spirt of the American Doughboy (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Columbia.

Photographed by Thomas Smith, November 1, 2021

2. Monroe Brewery Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on November 1, 2021. It was originally submitted on November 1, 2021, by Thomas Smith of Waterloo, Ill. This page has been viewed 670 times since then and 49 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 1, 2021, by Thomas Smith of Waterloo, Ill. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.