Molson Brewery (Edmonton)
| Molson Brewery | |
|---|---|
 The former Molson brewery in 2008. | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| Location | Edmonton, Alberta |
| Country | Canada |
| Completed | 1913 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect(s) | Bernard Barthel |
The Molson Brewery in Edmonton was a commercial brewery that served the province of Alberta, Canada, from 1913 until 2007 when it was closed.
History[edit]
The building was built in 1913 by local hotelier, politician and businessman William Henry Sheppard, a former mayor of Strathcona, after he had purchased land in Groat Estates to expand his brewery company. Chicago architect Bernard Barthel was hired to design the building, who had built a reputation for designing breweries modelled on the castles of his German homeland. The building cost $250,000 to construct.[1]
The brewery was sold to Fritz Sick of Lethbridge in 1927, and acquired by Molson in 1958.[2]
In 1961, the company built a decorative building meant to resemble a fur trade fort in front of the brewery. Named Molson House, it was used as a hospitality lounge to entertain customers.[1] In April 2008, Molson-Coors, the owner of the site, offered to give the building away to any organization that would pay to move it off the property.[3] The building was dismantled and moved in 2011 after it was bought by an anonymous Edmonton family.[4]
Molson closed the brewery in August 2007 due to an ongoing worker's strike, the shift in consumer preferences from bottled to canned beer and the company's loss of a contract to brew the Foster's Group brand. As a result of the closure, 136 people were laid off.[5]
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The site was redeveloped as the Edmonton Brewery District, integrating the former brewery with residential, retail and commercial space.[1]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c Herzog, Lawrence (March 18, 2010). "The Molson Brewery". Real Estate Weekly. The Canadian Press. Archived from the original on March 8, 2011. Retrieved October 22, 2010.
- ^ Simons, Paula (August 2, 2007). "Castle beer built should be saved from wrecking ball". Edmonton Journal. Canada.com. Retrieved May 4, 2014.
- ^ "Free to a good home: Molson House". CBC News. April 9, 2008. Archived from the original on October 26, 2012. Retrieved October 22, 2010.
- ^ Mah, Bill (November 19, 2010). "Edmonton's Molson House finds new home". Edmonton Journal. Archived from the original on November 20, 2010. Retrieved May 4, 2014.
- ^ The Canadian Press (July 31, 2007). "Molson Canada to close Edmonton brewery". CBC News. Archived from the original on December 5, 2008. Retrieved October 22, 2010.
- Buildings and structures in Edmonton
- 1913 establishments in Alberta
- 2007 disestablishments in Alberta
- Manufacturing plants in Canada
- Defunct breweries of Canada
- Brewery buildings
- Molson Coors Beverage Company
- Cuisine of Alberta
- Food and drink companies established in 1913
- Provincial Historic Resources in Edmonton
- Canadian companies established in 1913