Reymann Brewery is an abandoned brewery in Wheeling, West Virginia. The city was once known as the “Beer Belly” of the state for its 130 taverns and robust German community.
History
Anton Reymann was born in Gaubickelheim, Germany, in 1837 and immigrated to Wheeling, West Virginia, in 1853 with his father, George Reymann, who was a schoolteacher. 1 5 George and Peter Paul Beck formed the Franklin Brewing Company, 3 the first brewery in Wheeling, in 1849. 1 4 Anton enrolled in the local school district until it closed because of a smallpox outbreak. He then began working as an apprentice for the company his father co-founded for four years. The brewery blossomed in size and eventually relocated to 15th Street between Market and Main. 3
George Reymann later retired from the brewery, 5 and in 1863, Beck quit because of health complications. Anton was then named manager of the brewery. 3
Larger Facility
After operating the brewery on 15th Street for several years, Reymann erected a larger facility along the north bank of Wheeling Creek in the Manchester neighborhood 1 2 on the site of a tavern in 1865. 3 The brewery soon became the largest in the state, with its caverns in the hill having a capacity of holding between 7,000 and 8,000 barrels of beer. 3 4 Natural springs at the complex provided fresh water and coal from a nearby mine provided a source for electricity. The Reymann brewery offered stock for the first time in 1881, and by 1904, it was producing over 150,000 barrels of beer per year. 5
Reymann later became known as a stockholder in the Wheeling & Elm Grove Railroad (W&EG) and president of the Wheeling Park company. 1 3 He modernized the narrow-gauge horse-drawn W&EG with standard gauge and steam engines 5 and added attractions to Wheeling Park. Reymann was also president of the State Fair Association and co-founder and vice president of the German Fire Insurance Company and later became involved in the founding of the German Bank, which later became WesBanco.
Reymann acquired the luxurious 40-room Mt. Belleview Hotel in 1891 and renovated it for Altenheim, later known as the “Home for Aged and Friendless Women.” 5 It was populated with immigrant women who came to work in the United States as domestic servants and worked in the homes of the wealthy; they often had nowhere to live in their later years.
Decline
After West Virginia became a dry state through the passage of Yost’s Law in July 1914, Reymann’s brewery was forced to close. 1 2 The Reymann Packing Company was formed by Paul O. Reymann, son of Anton Reymann, and operated in the former brewery until it was purchased by Wilson Packing Company of Chicago. 3 Later, portions of the brewery complex were reused by the Central Beverage Agency.
During World War II, the caves and cellars that extended from the brewery were considered for use as an air-raid shelter. 3 Henry C. Miller, of the Wheeling Realty Company, who was also in charge of shelters for the local Civilian Defense Corps, proposed the idea because bombers from the Atlantic coast could reach Wheeling in trying to avoid heavily fortified and defended coastal cities in an attempt to bomb inland industrialized regions.
On November 30, 2008, Anton Reymann was inducted posthumously into the Wheeling Hall of Fame for his contributions to Wheeling philanthropy. 5
Gallery
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Sources
- “Breweries of the 1800s.” Valley Magazine Nov. 2005: 25. Print.
- Hoffmann, Joe. “Lager-Lapping Land.” News-Register [Wheeling] 29 Oct. 1978: n. pag. Print.
- “Ancient cellars once used to store beer may serve Wheeling as air raid shelters.” News-Register [Wheeling] 8 Feb. 1942: n. pag. Print.
- J. H. Newton. History of the Pan-Handle, Wheeling, J.A. Caldwell, 1879.
- Comins, Linda. “Brewer to Join Wheeling Hall of Fame.” Intelligencer / Wheeling News-Register [Wheeling] 23 Nov. 2008: n. pag. Web. 18 Dec. 2010.
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I can’t figure out if the old picture is the current location on Rock Point. None of it makes sense?
Went over Rock Point Road everyday to get to Central Catholic High School. Passed this place everyday. It is a shame that the bridge at the bottom of the hill over the creek was not maintained and is now closed. That property could be renovated and turn into a brewery, eatery and event center with a bit of Wheeling History thrown in for fun.
I have a beer bottle from there. Any idea what it is worth?
Not
Probably not much. Better give it to me
Does anyone know if the property is up for sale? Very interested.
Does anyone know if this still exists? Thanks!
Yes it still exist just tricky to find
Thanks. I was wondering if you could share the location (cross streets, address, anything)? I am interested in the history of this, and would love to see it. Thanks in advance.
17th st. And rockpoint road. I nelieve
Starting at ovmc stay on right side of creek and go up stream can’t miss it
Yes, if you’re still interested. A little tricky to find
Was such a great article my grandmother immigrated here from Germany in 1922 I found a Reymann bottle in our yard here in North Wheeling it was built around 1867 so a very meaningful tie in
ANYONE KNOW THE ADDRESS ? GREAT PICS TXS !
I wonder if I am related?
My two brothers and I, would play hookey in the brewery back in the 40’s.
A German Heritage festival would be a great tourist event. Suggestion: A Reymann and Schmulbach beer festival in September – during the Sternwheel festival. And name some streets in Wheeling, WV for these entreprenurial gentlemen. German culture is missing in Wheeling, especially since local and federal prohibition, WWI, and WWII scapegoated their business establishments.
Excellent plan. I have mentioned similar ideas for years. The Wheeling city officials need to make amends for the injustices to German culture and heritage.
wheeling should do more to honor its german heritage..we have festivals for everyone
except those immigrants who built the city-schmulbach and reymann in particular. not
to mention steinmetz and good. not even a street is named for one of these people
who brought so much wealth to this city.
I have learned that my great great great grandfather, Johann George Weist, was a brewmaster here in the mid 1800s!
I remember the building on the left as the O'Henry Club in the 1960s and 1970s. My grandparents lived right across the creek on 17th St, and they used to hang out there, I remember attending a New Year's Eve party there in the late 70s! I did not know that it had originally been a brewery!