Last week, I told you about a Marietta Brewery Company 5-gallon wooden beer keg selling for $228.50 at auction,
The anonymous seller was only described as being from Southeastern Ohio. He had owned the wooden keg for more than 25 years , and descibed the wooden keg as being made out of solid white oak, with plenty of worm holes, and patina wooden staves 1 1/4 inch thick, with steel hoops, rivets, and made by a Marietta Blacksmith in the 1800s.
In researching the history of the Marietta Brewery Company, originally known as The Union Brewery, I found that the company was established in Marietta in 1866 and closed in 1924. The main building that once housed the brewery was at 613 Second St. It was razed in the 1940s, to make room for a service station, that was also later torn down. Today a medical office building sits on the site,
In searching county records I found the company had several different owners.
In 1868, the plant was sold to Martin Seamon for $2,500.
It was again sold seven months later for the sum of $5,600 to George Kestel. Kestel continued producing lager beer up until the company was sold again at auction in 1876, to brothers Fidel and William Rapp for $6.000.
Brothers Charles and Martin owned the business until 1890, when brewing operations ceased. The brewery stood vacant up until 1898 when operation resumed before it closed for good in 1924.
Price news
* Huntington, W.Wa, half pint milk bottle Seven Hills Dairy, $285.
* Postcard, largest elm tree in the U.S., Marietta, $15
* 160 photos and postcards of Lowell and Marieta, purchased in a shoe box at a yard sale in lowell, $69.
* 81 pieces of Fenton glass from late 1960s to 2006, $860.
* Postcard (1906) Mound Cemetery, Fischer Studio Marietta, $10.50.
Larry Koon is the author of several price guide books on antiques and collectibles. His column appears every Monday on Life. Send letters to Treasure in the Attic, c/o The Marietta Times, 700 Channel Lane, Marietta 45750; or e-mail him at koonantiques@yahoo.com. When writing, send a complete description of the item and a a photograph.
