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UER Forum > Archived US: Great Lakes > gebhard brewery (Morris, IL) (Viewed 890 times)
BeowulfBrower 


Location: Mendota, IL
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gebhard brewery (Morris, IL)
< on 9/28/2011 10:09 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Has anyone been to the old Gebhard Brewery in Morris? I hear it's been empty since 1919 and is still explorable as of 2003. Anyone been there more recently?

Is that snow or asbestos?
MonoxideChild 


Location: Rockford, IL
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Re: gebhard brewery (Morris, IL)
<Reply # 1 on 9/28/2011 10:53 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
the brewery was closed in 1920. but the building was used for many things after that. its been sitting for about 25 years now unused. ive never made it out there to check it out. but ive done some research into it after a friend gave me a heads up about the place. there is a ton of info to be found about this place on line though.

here is some great info on the place.


"Gebhard Brewery
Louis Gebhard founded the Gebhard Brewery in 1866, when he came here and started a small brewery, which he operated successfully for 20 years. At that time he sold his interest to his son, William Gebhard, who operated the plant, which was continually growing, and in 1896 a new modern brew house, seven stories high and entirely of steel and brick was built.

The new addition was fire proof and had a capacity of 125 barrels daily. The Gebhard product was known throughout the state of Illinois at that time, due to the fact that only the finest quality of malt, grit and foreign and domestic hops were used in its creation. The reputation of Gebhard beer grew until many agencies were established in the northern part of the state and some in central Illinois.

Across the driveway to the south of the new brew house were the malt and bottling houses. The business grew so fast that it was impossible to malt the grain needed to supply the brewing department and the malt was purchased elsewhere and the malt house was converted into a bottling house.

In 1904 a four story and two basement stock house was built on the north side of the brew house. At that time the new addition was the latest development in refrigerating plants and was cooled by two large cooling plants. One was of 35 tons capacity and the other 50 tons capacity and the latest improved Corlis engines drove both.

No expense was spared in the erection of this new department. The walls were so well insulated that the room could be put down to a freezing point and the machinery shut off after which the temperature would not change a fraction of a degree for hours.

Cleanliness was the watchword of the entire Gebhard plant and all kegs and bottles were thoroughly washed and sterilized before being refilled.

William Gebhard was joined in the management and operation of this plant by his son, F. W. Gebhard in 1912, who continued with him until January 1920, when the 18th amendment was enacted and the owners closed the plant.
A short time later all of the machinery and brewing equipment was sold to William Hu of Shanghai, China, and was dismantled, marked and packed for export and shipped to Shanghai, China. The buildings at that time were sold to the Morris Milling Company and were converted into a flour mill."


keep us posted if you make it out that way. always been interested in what it look like inside.

~Quote By Thomas Edison~
I have far more respect for the person with a single idea who gets there than for the person with a thousand ideas who does nothing....
MKE_MFGng 


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Re: gebhard brewery (Morris, IL)
<Reply # 2 on 9/28/2011 11:10 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Man Morris is pretty far from Milwaukee. I would like to go down there some time though, the name Gebhard intrigues me as it's quite German and because there are all sorts of Gebhards here in MKE. When were you planning on exploring it? Nice history btw xxxmonoxidechild ;D
[last edit 9/28/2011 11:12 PM by MKE_MFGng - edited 1 times]

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Rockle 


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Re: gebhard brewery (Morris, IL)
<Reply # 3 on 10/4/2011 3:04 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
I'm pretty close to it and have been wanting to make the trip down.
A friend of mine got to scope it out and said it's worth it.
Technically, I've acquired permission to explore it from the historical society, but it's not as fun that way.

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BeowulfBrower 


Location: Mendota, IL
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Re: gebhard brewery (Morris, IL)
<Reply # 4 on 10/5/2011 12:49 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 

Technically, I've acquired permission to explore it from the historical society, but it's not as fun that way.


How difficult is it to obtain?

Is that snow or asbestos?
Clockwork 


Location: Minneapolis, MN
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Re: gebhard brewery (Morris, IL)
<Reply # 5 on 10/5/2011 8:53 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
I explored it a couple years ago with an explorer from Seattle (and he sprained his ankle jumping out of the window as we were exiting).

The building is not terribly big, and the interior is not so exciting. It's full of junk though, which might appeal to some people. Lots of junk cars and industrial debris, but not much actually historically linked with the brewery (although I did find an intact bottle with the brewery name on it).

If you are in the area, it's worth swinging by and checking out. If you live far away, then there are many more worthwhile places you should be traveling to instead.

The brewery is in a very busy active neighborhood with lots of people around (at least it was when I was there). There's a park in back that you can approach through, which is nice. Accessibility requires climbing to the second story.

It's neat and all, but not worth driving several hours to go see.

jimswside 


Location: Illinois River Valley
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Re: gebhard brewery (Morris, IL)
<Reply # 6 on 12/18/2011 11:50 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
First post here, I visited the Gebhard Brewery site a couple of months ago. Still there, and fantastic to photograph. I also know of a couple other former breweries in the Ilinois river valley.

A little about me, i live on the illinois river, write a food blog, and am obsessed with ilinois history. I am more of a voyeur than explorer. I like to take pics, but i do not go in buildings, etc.

Im still learning this site, but will try to post a couple pics of the Gebhard brewery site when i get on my pc vs the ipad.

jimswside 


Location: Illinois River Valley
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Re: gebhard brewery (Morris, IL)
<Reply # 7 on 12/18/2011 12:53 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
gebhard brewery photo:








[last edit 12/18/2011 1:01 PM by jimswside - edited 2 times]

MonoxideChild 


Location: Rockford, IL
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Re: gebhard brewery (Morris, IL)
<Reply # 8 on 12/20/2011 5:27 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
thanks for the pic.

you will find we are a mixed group really. most are into the photography part. im more into the history behind a building. i dont even take my camera on most trips just to keep it as light as possible.

~Quote By Thomas Edison~
I have far more respect for the person with a single idea who gets there than for the person with a thousand ideas who does nothing....
jimswside 


Location: Illinois River Valley
Gender: Male




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Re: gebhard brewery (Morris, IL)
<Reply # 9 on 12/21/2011 2:16 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Thanks, hopefully I can figure out the picture posting thing, other forums I post on(food), i just link my pics from my photobucket account.

The history is the big part of exploring old buildings/sites, I am also interested in local(Illinois River Valley) indian history, I visited the Indsain Creek Massacre site recently as well as some other local indian sites near Starved Rock.

The Gebhard site was neat, I am working with a friend to get access to a former brewery building(s) a couple of towns over, I know it takes the some of the excitement out of it getting permission and all but its all good.

DiVaMoNKeY 


Location: Grundy County, IL
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Re: gebhard brewery (Morris, IL)
<Reply # 10 on 12/27/2011 5:05 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Love that ya'll are talking about Morris. Did the brewery a few years back and it was (like mentioned above) mostly full of junk, but it was fun to look at if you're into that sort of thing.

I'm in Grundy, anyone else out this way?

I know more about blood than you
UER Forum > Archived US: Great Lakes > gebhard brewery (Morris, IL) (Viewed 890 times)



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