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Samuel Adolph founded the first Salem brewery in 1866 as the Pacific Brewery, located at on the south side of Trade Street, between Cottage and Church. When Adolph's brewery burned in 1869, he rebuilt and named it the Salem Brewery, but relocated to the southeast corner of Trade and Commercial, three blocks west from his old location. In 1885 Adolph sold the brewery to two of his employees, Maurice Klinger and Seraphin Beck. They then renamed it the Capital Brewery, shown in the photo below. Later, the partners purchased a lot across the street on the northeast corner of Trade and Commercial (268 South Commercial St.) where they constructed a larger brewery that, by 1891, had an annual output of 3,500 barrels. As late as 1899 the new facility produced mainly draught beer but also had a small bottling plant behind the brewery which could bottle three or four barrels in ten hours. They also had an attached saloon for locals to enjoy the freshest Salem Beer at 5¢ a glass. |
Bill head for Mrs. Beck's
Capital Brewery & Ice Works, c.1901 -
brewery close-up
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Seraphin Beck died in early 1900, at which
time the partnership of Klinger & Beck was dissolved and the property sold
at public auction. Beck's widow, Margaret retained the property with
a $29,000 bid. She operated the Capital Brewery & Ice Works (see
above) as a sole
proprietor until selling out in June 1902 for the sum of $75,000.
To supervise this new branch operation, Schmidt sent one of his most trusted associates, Frank M. Kenney, who had been Olympia's secretary. Kenney became the brewery president, with Frank G. Deckebach, vice-president. In 1906 the brewery's secretary was William Schuldt, but with the startup of the Acme Brewing Company in 1907, Schuldt was sent to San Francisco to oversee that operation as secretary/manager. Kenney and Deckebach continued to manage the plant until state-wide Prohibition closed the brewery in 1915.
The word "salamander," in this case, is derived from the term "Sauft alle mit einander" (All drink together). However, the word Sauft means more than just drink; it is one of those over the top words meaning "get sloshed" or "guzzle." To have a Rubbing of the Salamander ("einem einen Salamander reiben") proposed to you is evidently considered a great honor. As the leader, or toast giver, proposes to honor a guest or special person, all stand and lift their steins at the words of the leader, "Ad exercitium salamandris praeparatiestisne?" (Are you prepared to do the salamander?) The drinkers say in unison, "Sumus" (we are). The leader further orders, "Salamandes inciptur, eins, zwei, drei," (Begin the salamander, one, two, three) and each drinker rubs his stein on the table three times. The leader further instructs them with, "Bibte eins, zwei, drei" (Drink up, one, two, three) and all steins are emptied in unison to the count one, two, three. They are then rattled on the table till the leader once again says, "Eins, zwei..." (one, two...) and all steins are held still until the leader says,"Drei!" (three) whereupon all bang their steins on the table.
About the same time that the Albany plant was purchased, Leopold was looking at a possible presence in Northern California. In May of 1908 he was in Redding looking at property, and the following month the Western Brewer reported that the Salem Brg. Ass'n. was beginning construction of a brewery there. Apparently the Redding project was soon abandoned and instead, a Beer Depot was established. Joseph Hoefer, who was the Weiland & Fredericksburg agent & bottler, was chosen to bottle and distribute "Salem Beer" in the Redding area.  With the Albany and Shasta plants closed, the company concentrated on the main plant. Doubling the size of the Salem ice plant enabled them to provide hygienic ice made from distilled water for family use, and cheaper ice to be made for cold storage.  Construction was started on a new brewhouse in 1910 followed by a lagering (cellar) building, modern cooker, kettle and tanks. They also added a larger bottling works (above-right). By 1912 the Salem Brewery had been enlarged to a four story structure (left), and with their new building and equipment the Salem Brewery became one of the most modern on the West coast, with triple the capacity of the old plant. |
 etched glass, c. 1905 |
 stein, c. 1907 |
 etched glass, c.1907 |
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click on images for larger view |
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click on images for larger view |
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While the City of Salem adopted the
"local option" and voted to go "Dry"
in 1909, the brewery was not required to close. Beer could still be sold
outside the City limits. However, in early 1914 further limitations were imposed.
The Association then moved to Portland where warehouses were
established, but in November of 1914 state-wide Prohibition was approved.
The Salem Brewery Ass'n. ceased brewery operations on 31 May 1915,
four and a half years before national Prohibition.
Deckebach and Neis' "Marion Creamery" continued operating until the entire
plant was purchased in 1933. The creamery business was then moved across
the street and carried on. |
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Salem Brewery 1943
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 Affectionately referred to as "cab lights" by collectors. |
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| After Repeal in 1933, the Salem Brewery Association re-incorporated, but no longer as a holding of the Olympia Brewing Company. However, it was purchased by a member of the Schmidt family. Leopold's second son, Frank T. Schmidt took over the Salem brewery, and operated it for the next ten years. This was a period of economic adversity, but he managed to hang on as a regional brewer. In addition to his flagship "Salem" brand, he also produced a Schmidt's Beer. Three variations of this label are known: the brown bear [below], a black bear, and a white bear - probably to differentiate three different styles of beer. However, he must not have marketed the Schmidt brand heavily since only a couple of old bottles are known to exist with these labels (one black bear & one white bear), nor are there any promotional items known that show the bear motif. Then in 1938 he introduced both the Polar Brew, and Victory Club brands of beer. Another brand from this period was Balco Beer, but rather than a Salem brand it was a contract brew (I believe for a market chain). Salem was also one of the few brewers who contracted to brew Brown Derby for the Safeway market chain before WWII. Another curious arrangement was Salem's production of Oldstyle Pale Export, for
the Silver Springs Brewing Company, Port Orchard, WA. It may have been an effort
to enter the Oregon market by Silver Springs or a temporary arrangement to meet
a production shortfall of this Washington brewery. An example of this rare can
can be seen below.
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 Label copyright 1934 |
 limited brand - registered in 1934 |
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Brand used from 1938 to 1942 |
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The Salem Brewery Association was then
reorganized the remainder of the plant as a branch of Olympia's "Northwest Fruit Products Company" and that year
began marketing a loganberry fruit juice called "Lo-Ju". By the end
of the year it was being distributed to California and the Southwest.
