Published on: Tue, 10/23/2007 - 15:37
by Andrew Hine
Note: this article first appeared in the Community Reporter
During the first week of October, over 2,000 historic preservationists from across the country converged on the RiverCentre for the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s annual conference. They attended educational sessions and went on tours, including a grand one of our beloved West End. Twice, forty tourists actually paid to admire your homes and gardens. In addition, 40 National Trust Advisors got into the Schmidt Brewery Rathskeller.
The tour originated at the RiverCentre, from where Mr. T. Brock of Garfield Street and this author, Mr. A. Hine of Armstrong Avenue, led the unsuspecting visitors, on foot, to the Armstrong-Quinlan House. After a clockwise circumnavigation of the house, they walked into Irvine Park where the lovely Ms. K. Lindenberg of the A. Ramsey House gave them an informative and smiley tour of the Park. They also got a peek inside the famed Ohage House, now home to HIPA President Mr. D. Dantuma and his First Lady Ms. R. Dantuma. One splinter group got to witness the historic weekly bocce ball game hosted by Mr. D. Cossetta, free of charge.
From Irvine Park they walked up to Exchange Street where Ms. Lindenberg, dressed snugly in full Victorian splendor, told one more story and then bid farewell. The tourists moved on to the commercial-medical district to admire El Justus Ramsey Cantina, and to hear about the American Dreams-Come-True of famed immigrants, Gaspar, Sharif, Nasseff, Folliard, and Bhalia. Mid-flashback, they were startled by a mini-bus that pulled up next to them. They boarded the bus without incident and were taken to the river.
The very capable driver took them extremely slowly up Shepard Road, past the Upper Landing and all the tree plantings, to Randolph Avenue. They ogled Island Station and the recently decommissioned High Bridge Plant. The results of a straw poll were “save the chimney.”
After a quick drive-by of the Schmidt Brewery and surrounds, they alit at 151 Goodrich to meet local architectural legend Mr. J. Yust. Yust and his son Chas. had recently completed an impressive renovation of this bluff-top home, and the tourists were very impressed with the outcome. One woman appeared to want to move in.
West End homes on the tour
After a brief description of the project by Yust, including some interesting tidbits on railroads and sewers, the ambulatory among them set off again on foot. With colorful commentary, Yust led them through several blocks of Uppertown to McBoal Street. Here the tourists could see more of his work – an award-winning porch renovation at the Ms. A. & Mr. T. Schroeder House, and a work-in-progress at Yust’s own Martin Weber House next door. It was all very entertaining. Cookies and beer were also involved.
Back on the bus, the guides did their best to answer questions, act pleasant, and make everything sound as interesting as possible while distracting everyone from seeing peeling billboards and graffiti. Instead the riders were shown Mancini’s, the CSPS Hall, the Lauer Flats, the tracks of the Empire Builder, and the Dahl House. The entire brewery neighborhood was given special attention, and soon they arrived at the James Street Gate to the Schmidt Brewery.
Mr. P. Gagner, Brewmaster, and Mr. C. Cohen, Developer, were there to let everyone in. As if in a German movie, the mini-bus crept past the Stahlmann Wall. The gate clanged shut behind them, and a kind of hush came over the yard. The passengers’ heads turned, their ears pricked up, and their eyes got wider. Suddenly the silence was broken by someone in the back of the bus: “Mmmmm… beeeer….”
They spilled out of the mini-bus once more and entered the Office Building. Down into the Rathskeller they found the beer. It was Pig’s Eye, naturally, courtesy of the Brewmaster. There were notebooks, images, and other memorabilia to look at, and stories and ideas were exchanged.
The bus was reloaded for the last time and its occupants transported back to the RiverCentre.
Schmidt Breweriana Collector Extraordinaire
On Saturday, October 6, the National Advisors of the Trust went on a top-secret, metro-wide coach tour. The Schmidt Brewery was a stop on that tour, and so once more the James Street Gate creaked opened.
Mr. D. Davis, Schmidt Breweriana Collector Extraordinaire, was on hand with remarkable artifacts from the 20th Century. The National Advisors were beside themselves with glee as they milled about the wonderfully cool Rathskeller. Cohen, Gagner, and Hine each said a few words before opening up the discussion. One fellow, quite possibly channeling Pig’s Eye Parrant himself, suggested a re-use for the silos — diving in beer.
Soon they were on their way to the Head House, and the Conference essentially ended. It is possible that the West End Tour will be offered to locals at a reduced rate, so watch this space.
