Scott County Memories: German, Baseball, Church Bells and Slot Machines

These recollections were dictated by Richard Mertz of Shakopee in 1980 and originally shared in the collection “As I Remember Scott County”

Shakopee has been most fortunate in the type of people it has attracted over these many years. It has an interesting and colorful past so it us pure fun to remember and relate some of the most pleasant memories.

Today we have many nationalities and most of our families are such a mixture that we can only say we are Americans. Not so forty or fifty years ago when most of our families were first or second generation German - or a European nation of close proximity. All of our people are hardworking and completely honest, but English sentence structure was absolutely foreign and vocabulary was not unlike Archie Bunker’s

In one of the early grades, we had a kid who would say “I’m going the hall across”, which was much to the amusement of those who had moved to Shakopee from some town that had an English speaking background.

I recall the evening when five or six of us, all teenagers, were chatting at home not far from where we live today when a lady from out of state, visiting our friend’s mother, mentioned that there was a great deal of activity around the house.

“Ach Ja” she said, “This coming and this wenting and this wenting and this coming this is me something” . Many times she would call her husband George from the garden with “George, come once from the outside in the telephone is calling you”/

Another time a picnic was being planned when our neighbor lady said “Ach Ja No, we have to insulate our new minister that day”.

Over these many years I have enjoyed telling a story that occurred in about 1939 when Shakopee was hosting the State Baseball Tournament and Superintendent of Schools, John Metcalf (later a distinguished state senator) was the announcer. In those days we didn’t have a lighted ball field, so many of the games were played in the morning. John found it necessary to leave the press box which also served as the announcer’s office. He left just as there was an argument on the field that turned the microphone over to one of our leading fans who soon announced “Owatonna is playing this game under protest, claiming that the Beardsly left fielder is illegitimate”. It brought the house down, and I doubt if anyone an remember to this day who won the ball game

I wonder how many people remember the time that the Presbyterian Church bell was ringing every night at midnight? The town was rife with rumors and guards took up posts around the church - all to no avail. The bell kept ringing at the appointed hour. Eventually, some brave soul climbed to the tower in daylight. There he found numerous chunks of lead from 22 rifle shots fired by one of the town characters.

Or the days when Scott County ha slot machines in almost every bar (Shakopee had over 30 bars at the time), barbershop, and gas station. Liquor was served in the 3.2 beer bars. Every time the state liquor control officers came into the county, phones rang at all those 3.2 bars warning the bartenders of a possible raid. On one such occasion a feisty Irishman had hardly hung up the phone when two men in suits arrived and sat in a booths. Now most people didn’t wear a suit until Saturday, so this was a dead giveaway. Then, sitting in a booth confirmed the worst because no one ever sat in a booth unless he had a wife or girlfriend along - or unless he was a liquor control agent. One order charged water, the other ginger ale, Mac, the Irishman, went behind the bar, returned with the drinks, and rang up the register. The agents announced that there was no liquor in their drinks. Mac just said that it was policy of the house not to serve liquor to liquor control agents. The other patrons howled with laughter, and the agents left hurriedly without drinking their soft drinks.

Historic Breweries of Scott County

Shakopee Brewery

The first brewery in the Minnesota River Valley, Shakopee Brewery opened in 1855. The facility was founded by H.H. Strunk (also the proprietor of Strunk Drug). Strunk owned Shakopee Brewery until, interested in other pursuits, he sold the business to Andrew Winkler in 1863, who retained ownership until his death in 1870.

After 1870, Winkler’s widow, Mary, continued to manage brewery operations. Five years later, she married a German Master Brewer named Hubert Nyssen and the two continued to run Shakopee Brewery together.

Unfortunately, the building was destroyed by fire in 1885. Fire was a huge concern in early brewing due to the dangerous combination of wood or coal heating and the dry, airborne dust produced when grain was industrially ground. Luckily, the family had enough capital to invest in rebuilding the facility. Shakopee brewery remained a fixture of the community until prohibition forced it to close in 1920.

You can still see the ruins of the brewery today, along the Minnesota River bike path, on the northwest edge of the city.

Shakopee Brewery, 1907. Photograph from the SCHS Collections

Hubert Nyssen, around 1920. Photo from the SCHS Collections.

Schutz and Hilgers Jordan Brewery

The Jordan Brewery was founded in 1866. Like the Shakopee Brewery, it was started by a prominent local businessman – in this case Frank Nicolin. The structure of Jordan brewery was built to last with limestone and brick walls more then 3 feet thick. Nicolin sold the building soon after it’s opening, and in 1867 it took on the name Sand Creek Brewing, run by partners Sebastian Gehring and Frank Paier, who ran the business for almost 20 years. In 1885 they decided to sell to Peter Schutz and William Kaiser. Kaiser left the partnership, and by 1902 the facility was owned jointly by Peter Schultz and Peter Hilgers, whose names have remained with the brewery building ever since.

Like breweries around the country. Schutz and Hilgers closed in 1920, but reopened immediately upon prohibition’s repeal in 1933. At its height, Schutz and Hilgers brewed 40,000 barrels of beer annually and distributed to seven states.

In 1946 the brewery facilities were bought by Mankato Brewing Company, but they were soon forced to shut down due to financial difficulties. Finally, in 1954, the building caught fire during construction work, and nearly burned to the ground. The ruins were left vacant for many years until the city considered demolishing the property. Today, it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and has been refurbished into retail property.

Schutz and Hilgers Brewery, around 1940. Photograph from the SCHS Collections.

Lable from Schutz and Hilgers, around 1940. From the SCHS Collections.

Kokes Brewery, New Prague

Kokes Brewry was started by brothers-in-law Thomas Kokes and Albert Minars in 1884. Kokes, like many other early brewery owners, was a prominent local businessman who also owned a general store. Located at the corner of Second Avenue NW and Fifth Street N, the brewery advertised itself as “using clear hops and malts” and having a modern “steam operated” plant. Minars left the partnership in 1887, but Kokes remained an active owner for many years. The brewery was a prominent local employer, and delivered barrels to many small communities nearby New Prague.

When prohibition hit in 1920, the facility switched to selling soft drinks and malted non-alcoholic cereal beverages. Unfortunately, this new business model was not as profitable, and the business closed in 1931. Today, the historic building houses apartments.

1891 plat map of New Prague. Kokes Brewery is marked with a black square, in the upper right-hand corner.

Schmitt Brewery, Belle Plaine

Schmitt Brewery was opened by Albert Swinger in 1860. It cost $500.00 to build, and was located Northeast of town along what came to be known (aptly) as brewery creek. In 1866, Schmitt Brewery fell victim, like many other early breweries, to a fire, and Swinger was forced to rebuild.

Ownership of the brewery fluctuated after the fire. City records list B. Osterfeldt as proprietor in 1870, but Christian Schmitt purchased the brewery in 1871.

In 1877 the building burned down yet again and was rebuilt by Schmitt. For many years, Schmitt brewery was a local business, with a capacity of 10 barrels per day. Schmitt began to expand, increasing the capacity to 500 barrels per year and starting a bottling line, but his health was failing. In 1905, Schmitt passed away, leaving the brewery to his sons. It finally closed in 1916 after being outsold by competition from larger, regional brewing facilities.

Schmitt Brewery around 1900. Photograph from the SCHS Collections.

Written by Rose James, SCHS Program Manager

The St. Paul House, 111 Years in Business

One of the oldest businesses in the county was the St. Paul House. Founded in 1854, the business operated for 111 years. During its long history it served many different roles, initially it was a railroad hotel and saloon. Eventually it transitioned to be a stagecoach stop. During the early 1900s the business changed hands several times. After years of being another saloon in town, it was bought and remodeled to be a hotel and restaurant in 1915.

 By 1936 the hotel received a major renovation by the new owner, Frank Wampach. The hotel had its appearance updated and had a bowling alley built. The St. Paul House was just one of many businesses in the county noted as being a Speak Easy and for having gambling machines. It wouldn’t be until the Shakopee’s police starting breaking up gambling dens that the machines were removed.

 In 1954, on the business’ centennial, the St. Paul house received on last remodel and also re-branded itself into the “New St. Paul House”. It was advertised as the same homey feel with modern style. The hotel also received its iconic, massive carriage house lantern. The St. Paul House has a stage where it performed dinner theater and other shows. Unfortunately, this updated restaurant would not last long. In 1965, the St. Paul House would burn down and the building was never restored.

Few businesses and buildings in Scott County have as long and storied history as the St. Paul House. Today, the Order of Eagle Aerie sits where the St. Paul House used to at 2nd and Fuller in Shakopee. Rare is a business that can survive 100 years and even beyond. Scott County is fortunate to have a prime example of such a business that was able to change and adapt with the changing face of the county.

Breweries of Scott County in Prohibition

Prohibition was no a surprise to those who owned breweries. The tide of “Drys” were growing for years before 1920. In Scott County, most towns had a brewery that had to decide how to handle this transition. That is what this post is about, the Shakopee Brewery, Jordan Brewery, and New Prague Bottling Works.

Shakopee Brewery, 1907

Firstly, the Shakopee Brewery was a long established business in Scott County. At the time the brewery was owned by M. J. Doherty. While most breweries began the process of switching to a different industry, the Shakopee Brewery instead closed its doors for 16 years. It wasn’t until repeal in 1933 that the brewery was bought and rebranded as Northwestern Distilleries, opening in 1936 but only last for about 4-5 years before closing for good.

The Jordan Brewery, 1940

The Jordan Brewery during Prohibition was called Schultz and Hilger’s Brewery, and like the Shakopee Brewery, it was closed during Prohibition. However, the building of Jordan Brewery was used as a chicken hatchery. The space was rented from the owners, and after repeal the business reopened and began producing Jordan Beer.

New Prague Bottling Works had its own brewery that it maintained, and by the late 1910s was a thriving business. When Prohibition came about, the business transitioned to soda production and closed down its brewery building. When repeal came about the company never reopened its brewing business, instead it became a distributor for Scheel’s Beer.

Prohibition had impacts that are still being felt today. If you found this little piece of history interesting, come visit our Prohibition exhibit opening in April to learn more about Scott County in Prohibition.

Written by Dave Nichols, Curator

Bandits and Bank Robbers

In October of 1929 the stock market crashed in the United States. This financial disaster led to a worldwide recession, and the United States entered The Great Depression. This was a difficult time for most Americans, and while some had little choice but to grit their teeth and bare it, others took to a life of crime to get by. In Scott County, the months following the stock market crash saw a rash of bank robberies and heists throughout the county.

In November of 1929, the First State Bank of Savage was the first to be hit by a crew of robbers from St. Paul. The thieves were eventually caught and tried, but not before making off with over $1200 in cash and bonds ($18,000 in today’s dollars). Shortly thereafter, the First National of Bank of Shakopee was robbed, though this time by a different group of thieves. Here they made it away with $5997 (or 89,811 today). This second crew wasn’t content with their massive haul though, and on December 9th 1929, they struck again at the First National Bank of Shakopee.

The increase in violence and robberies (both bank and in private homes), had put the people and police on high alert. An early tip informed the police that the thieves were on their way, and so the police set up a look out. When he didn’t come out after the appointed time, they knew the heist was in progress. This second crew was gunned down by police and locals, though all of the robbers survived. They had taken $1500 from Shakopee’s vaults (some $22,400 nowadays). All three robbers went to try and were sentenced to prison.

Scott County has an interesting history during the 1920s, from bank robbery, to speakeasies, to rum running. In the decades that followed, Shakopee in particular would gain the nickname of Little Chicago due to its gambling parlors. IF you want to know more about the bank robberies, check out our exhibit case at the Scott County Courthouse. One of our recent interns, Ben Malacko, did a whole small exhibit on the matter. We also have Prohibition coming soon to our main gallery. If you have any prohibition stories from the county, or would be interested in placing any Prohibition era items on loan as part of the exhibit, please give us a call or email Dave Nichols.

Written by Dave Nichols, Curator of Collections

Research Conducted by Ben Malacko, Exhibits Intern