Wednesday, October 8, 2014

Where Did They Go? - A Cemetery Mystery

A follower asked about the former cemetery between Dayton and York Streets, near Central Avenue that could be seen in my previous blog post.

1869 Titus Map - Source
I did some digging and it was originally listed as the United Protestant Evangelical German St. Peter's Church Cemetery. It is mentioned in newspaper articles in 1849-1850. during the cholera epidemic. On the list below, it is marked as German Protestant (St. Peter's) Western Row. Central Avenue was originally called Western Row, since it was the western edge of town.
The Cincinnati Enquirer (1849-1852); Jul 19, 1850; pg. 2
ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The Cincinnati Enquirer (1841 - 1922)

Cincinnati, R.C. Phillips C. E., 1869 - Source
Around the same time as the epidemic, because so many of the cemeteries were getting full, the Vine Street Hill Cemetery opened. It was originally called the German Evangelical Protestant Cemetery and then the Carthage Road Cemetery. Carthage Road was the name of this portion of present-day Vine Street, before its annexation to Cincinnati. The cemetery gained its current name around 1920.

The Cincinnati Enquirer (1849-1852); Oct. 12, 1871; pg. 5
ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The Cincinnati Enquirer (1841 - 1922)
In 1871, the remains buried in the West End cemetery were removed and reinterred at the Vine Street Hill Cemetery. This land was then sold John Windisch and John Hauck, of the Hauck and Windisch Brewery (also known as the Dayton Street Brewery) for expansion of their operations.
The Cincinnati Enquirer (1849-1852); Feb. 27, 1873; pg. 7
ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The Cincinnati Enquirer (1841 - 1922)
In 1879, John Hauck bought out John Windisch, and in 1881 the brewery became the John Hauck Brewing Company.
1891 Sanborn Insurance Map - Source
Click to Enlarge
1904 Sanborn Insurance Map - Source
Click to Enlarge
When prohibition came in 1919, the brewery stayed open by producing near beer, soda and ice. It also began renting space to the Red Top Brewing Company.
1904-1930 Sanborn Insurance Map - Source
Click to Enlarge
In 1933, with the repeal of prohibition, Red Top Brewery continues its lease at the plant. By 1945, Red Top Brewing Company expands to a second plant and becomes one of the largest in Ohio.
Source

1950 Sanborn Insurance Map - Source
Click to Enlarge
With increasing demand for national brands, Red Top Brewery closed in the late 1950's. While many of the brewery buildings have been demolished, the original two story barn and wagon shed, built on the cemetery grounds, still stands today. Another brewery building fronting Central Avenue also remains.
2014 CAGIS Map
2014 Google Earth
Google Streetview, July 2014
The former brewing property is presently owned by The Kaiser Pickle Company, in business since 1920. The German history comes full circle. At least pickles go with beer, right?

Brewery history gathered from Cincinnati Brewing History.

6 comments:

  1. Just found your blog and enjoyed your article. As someone who grew up in Cinti and has long family history there, I will be a follower from this point forward. Thanks for the info!

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  2. Fascinating. Appreciate the investigations. I see Vine Street Hill everyday driving up 75N. Need to get off the highway and go visit. My dad's family used to take picnics in the beautiful cemetery while visiting the ancestors.

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  3. This is such a valuable piece of information for solving an old family burial mystery. I have a relative who was buried in the United Protestant Evangelical German St. Peter's Church Cemetery, according to the family Bible. She died right around the time the land was sold, and I've been trying to find her grave. Do you have any idea what section/ lot in the current Vine St. Hill Cemetery houses the graves that were reinterred there from the old St. Peter's church cemetery?

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    Replies
    1. Have you tried contacting the cemetery?
      https://www.vinestreethillcemetery.net/

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