News

Brewery restoration work begins

The 1st step toward a national museum is to strengthen the building's walls

by CRAIG REBER

POTOSI, Wis. - A large crane stood Friday morning at the Potosi Brewery site silently overseeing the grinding and whirring of construction activity.

Work is under way to restore the historic brewery. The first step is to strengthen the structure's walls and install a roof. A recent $250,000 commitment from the American Breweriana Association to the Potosi Brewery Foundation is helping make the effort possible.

Foundation member Frank Fiorenza, wearing a hard hat, surveyed the action.

Jeremy Moore, of Dubuque's Epic Construction, chips away old mortar while working on the Potosi Brewery Friday in Potosi, Wis. TH Photo by Ben Plank

"To tell you the truth, I was very emotional," he said. "When I came down here, after five years of the brewery foundation working on this, I almost got a lump in my throat when I saw all this construction equipment working. It is going to happen. It just kind of solidifies what we've been working for."

In early August, Len Chylack, national president of the association, signed a contract with the brewery foundation. When the multi-million dollar project is completed, the restored brewery will house a national museum devoted to brewery memorabilia.

Dubuque-based Epic Construction is the project's general contractor.

"It's been exciting for us because we're from the area," said Epic's Chad Walsh, who runs the business with Brad Bierman. "Hopefully you'll start to see the end a little bit. A couple of years ago it was somewhat doubtful, I guess you'd say, that anything would happen. But really, in the last six months a lot of things have come along."

An infusion of money would help accelerate the completion. Foundation officials are awaiting word about a $500,000 federal grant - part of the Federal Highway Administration's National Scenic Byways program.

"It would be very good," said foundation secretary Steve Freese, noting the federal grant would pay for 25 percent of the project's Phase 1 $1.9 million price tag. "Time will tell."

Phase 1 plans call for new windows, doors and a roof, and shoring up walls. Phase 2 includes the interior construction.

In the meantime, Fiorenza is convinced there will be a new roof sheltering the structure by the end of winter.

So are others. While Fiorenza observed a worker operate a skid loader, Charlie Bull tapped him on the shoulder and smiled.

"Congratulations, it's been a long road," said Bull, a Platteville photographer who teaches in the Potosi school system.

"This is going to happen," Fiorenza replied. "If it hadn't been for the support that the people in Potosi and the surrounding areas have given us, we would not be where we are today."

According to Freese, the restored brewery and museum could pump $3 million to $4 million annually in the local economy and create 50 jobs.

"Pretty incredible," he said. "It will almost be like when the brewery was brewing beer."