Beer, a Mayor, and the star-Spangled Banner.

What does the Star Spangled Banner, a brewery and a Mayor of Baltimore have in common? According to an article in the Baltimore Sun titled, “The Beer’s gone, but you can soak up some history”, by Charles V. Flowers, all three are connected in a property space on East Lombard street and the Jones Falls.

In 1783, Thomas Peters was the founder of a brewery in this location. That same year, he married Rebecca Johnson. Her father, Dr. Edward Johnson, joined his son-in-law and named the company Peters, Johnson, and Company.

When Dr. Johnson died, his son Edward Johnson Jr. took over his father’s business share and renamed the company, Edward Johnson and Company. This is the same person who became Mayor of Baltimore for three terms.(picture provided by Michael Ramos)

The brewery burned down in 1812. Edward Johnson rebuilt it and was for sale in 1813. George Brown bought the brewery. According to Flowers article, Mary Pickersgill, who lived in what is now known as the Flag house, sewed together the Star-Spangled Banner on the floor of one of the malt houses because none of her rooms was large enough.1


In 1818, Brown sold the brewery to Elie Clagett, who passed the business to his son William when he passed in 1848. During financial troubles, William got financial assistance form Commodore John D. Daniels. The company changed its name once again to Clagett and Daniels Brewery. The brewery closed in 1879 in part of the change of the customers drinking taste has changed from the English style of Beer to the lighter, German-style Lager.1

In the early 20th century, a casket manufacturer company opened its door to business at this building. Later on in the 1950's and 1960's, the eastern part of the brewery was turned into a parking lot to accommodate the business district and the public housing they have developed around the site around this time. Between 1990-2005, a restaurant which brewed DeGroen's German-style beer before closing in 2005.3

In mid June of 1983,"The Great American Brewery Dig" began as apart of the Fallswalk, which linked several historic structures along the Jones Falls in what was once called Jonestown. Mayor Schaefer said in the opening of the dig,"...young diggers are going to learn something about the city. They may even find a former mayor embalmed in beer". ( picture provided my Michael Ramos)

"Brewers Park" was erected and dedicated at the old site of the brewery in remembrance of the many breweries that once were in business along the Jone Falls. In July 2009, Fairfield Inn & Suite Marriott Hotel, a a 154-room hotel, which will front on President Street, opened on the site of the old Baltimore Brewery. 3

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(courtesy of google earth)

1. "The Beer’s gone, but you can soak up some history".Charles V. Flowers,
The Baltimore Sun. June 16, 1983.

2. "Fairfield Inn replacing DeGroen's brewery". Lorraine Mirabella, The Baltimore
Sun.November 9, 2007.

3. Brewers Park memorial. President and Lombard Street.