Santa Clarita Valley History In Pictures

Saloon Postcard from John F. Powell
Newhall, California

[POWELL HISTORY]

[BACK][FRONT][MAGAZINE AD]

Postcard handwritten from John F. Powell, ordering a shipment of Pilsener beer from the Maier and Zobelein Brewery in Los Angeles. Preprinted penny postcard dated and postmarked June 20, 1893 at Newhall, California.

Addressee (front of card): Maier & Zobelein's Brewery, P.O. Box 316, Station C., Los Angeles, California.

Message on reverse:

Newhall, June 20th 1893

Send by Freight

    To J.F. Powell,

Newhall

5 Barrels Pilsener (30) Dozen Bottled " [Lager.]


John F. Powell was Justice of the Peace for the Soledad Township (most of the Santa Clarita Valley and outskirts) from 1875 to about 1889 and 1900 to Jan. 1, 1923. Presumbly John may have also helped his brother Mike Powell run the Palace Saloon on Railroad Avenue in Newhall. Most likely John was ordering Pilsener beer from the Maier & Zobelein Brewery in Los Angeles to be sold and drank at the Palace Saloon.
[CLICK HERE] for more details on the life of John Powell.

Information from the Zobelein Family website: [zobelein.com]

George Zobelein, the immigrant son of a German brew master, would purchase the Los Angeles Brewing Company and within two decades turn it into a local institution and the country's fifth-largest beer producer.

Upon arrival in the United States , he worked for a time at various jobs in San Francisco . After settling in Southern California , he operated general merchandise stores in Inyo County and Los Angeles before obtaining work as bookkeeper in a local brewery. He later became partner in the Maier & Zobelein Brewery and finally purchased the Los Angeles Brewing Company.

Upon returning to Los Angeles [in 1876], he obtained his first employment in the New York Brewery owned and operated by Philip Lauth at Main and Third. He was employed as bookkeeper and manager for five years, until Lauth's brother-in-law assumed these duties. George regretted leaving but later found a position with the Philadelphia Brewery on Aliso Street , then owned by D. Mahlstedt, and which later became the Maier Brewing Co.

George became a partner of T. Mahlstedt in the fall of 1881, purchasing a half interest for $18,000. Mahlstedt sold his half in the business to Joe Maier in 1882. Later they formed a corporation under the name of Maier & Zobelein Brewery. In 1907 George sold his interests to Maier.

Three days later he bought the controlling stock in the Los Angeles Brewing Company from P. Max Kienrich and took possession of it on June 15, 1907 , assuming the office of President and General Manager.

MAIER & ZOBELEIN ERA 1882 - 1907

Little is known of this period, since George Zobelein ends his diary entries on October 1, 1882 , when he and Joseph Maier became partners in the Philadelphia Brewery (est. 1874). Zobelein had purchased half interest from Mahlsted in 1881. In 1882 Maier bought the other half and in 1883 they incorporated as Maier & Zobelein. Maier served as president until 1904. Zobelein was then elected to the office which he held until 1907 when he sold his interest in the company. The Maier Brewery continued producing beer and became famous for its Brew 102 which came out after World War II.


AL1893b: 9600 dpi jpeg from 300 dpi jpg of original postcard.
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