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Fesenmeier Brewery Helps Central City Celebrate Its Centennial 1894 - 1994 Excerpts from an article by Steve Fesenmaier
(Summer 1994)
On July 30 & 31 & August 1, 1994, the village once known as Central City, now part of Huntington's west end, celebrated its 100th anniversary.
The most famous organization in the old Central City was West Virginia's last brewery, the Fesenmeier Brewing Company. Local Fesenmeier beer expert Earl Bush exhibited part of his extensive collection of Fesenmeier breweriana during the celebration, including a beer barrel at least 80 years old.
In 1899 the Fesenmeier Brothers purchased the old American Brewing Company, moving the family brewing business from Cumberland, Maryland. Central City was named because it was half way between Guyandotte, West Virginia and Catlettsburg, Kentucky - which were thriving towns in the late 1800s.The brewery was sold and renamed "Little Switzerland" in 1968 and finally closed in 1971 after a Columbus based company [August Wagner] purchased the brewery. The only member of the Fesenmeier family still living in West Virginia is the widow of the owner. There are many theories on just WHY the brewery went out of business. West Virginia is one of the smallest consumers of beer in the country, ranking 35th in 1970. It is also the ONLY STATE with legalized beer distribution monopolies.
Just recently the law forbidding the advertising of beer was struck down. Another new law has permitted the creation of micro-breweries. One already exists in Morgantown - the One Onion. If you love beer, visit your local library and check out the six-part video series The Beer Hunter, hosted by the world's greatest beer expert, an Englishman by the name of Michael Jackson ( who calls the Schell Brewery in New Ulm, Minnesota "the most beautiful brewery in America".)
1894-1994 Centennial Celebration Events Included:
Tours of Central City, Farmer's Market, Book Sale at the Library; Auction, Flea Market, Parade featuring The Kanawha Valley Pipes & Drums, and Tours of three museums beginning at the library with the Fesenmeier Display. Transportation was provided from the library to the Radio Museum and Perry's Heritage Museum by Tri-State Transit Authority. Mike Perry, president of the First Huntington Bank, has turned many of his barns at the farm into "living museums".
The photo above was shot during the 1937 flood in January, and shows the floodwaters lapping around the Fesenmeier Brewing Company on the southwest corner of Madison Avenue and West Fourteenth Street in the former Central City. Photographer unknown. Courtesy of Steve Fesenmaier. Photo not part of original story.
Steve Fesenmaier is the semi-official historian of the brewery and distant but sympathetic family member from New Ulm, Minnesota, "the most German town in America" OFFICIALLY!
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