Schlitz Brewery-Tied House, 1801 W. Division St. (Former)

“The Schlitz brewery-tied house at 1801 W. Division St. is representative of the brewing industry founded and managed by German immigrants, and who were prominent businessmen active in the city's affairs; and therefore reflects the importance of ethnic immigration in Chicago's history and development, in general, and specifically the contributions of the Chicago's German ethnic community, one of the city's largest ethnic groups.”

“With its stepped and scrolled gable, semi-circular lunettes, strapwork and heraldic ornament, this former Schlitz-tied house exemplifies the German Renaissance Revival style of architecture. The decorative front elevation faces north onto Division St., with a less decorated side elevation facing east onto Wood St.”

“In addition to the tied house's contribution to Chicago's historic neighborhood architecture, these buildings convey important aspects of Chicago and American history in the late-nineteenth and early-twentieth centuries, including the large influx of European immigrants, the growth of the vertically-integrated business model which sought to control all aspects of production from raw material to retail sale, and the increasing political power of anti-alcohol activists.”

“Secretary Annual Capacity, 600,000 Barrels. SCHLITZ BRAU. May 1st appears the latest and best product of the celebrated Joseph Schlitz Brewery, brewed exclusively from Canada Barley Malt and Finest Bohemian Hops.”

“The Schlitz brewery-tied house at 1801 W. Division St. is typical of other brewery-tied houses in Chicago which were most commonly located on prominent corners of commercial streets, well served by street cars or elevated trains, and in neighborhoods settled by large ethnic and working class populations; and, as such, the building conveys the early social character and leisure habits of these early residents of Chicago's neighborhoods.”

“In the years that followed, as a flood of Polish immigrants settled in this working-class neighborhood, the commercial area around Division Street and Ashland Avenue became known as the "Polish Downtown".”

“A characteristic feature of the style is the use of prominent gables, which in the case of the brewery-tied houses is rendered as a “false” extension of the parapet forming an ornamental silhouette.”

“Huck deserves special mention, in that in 1847 he introduced Chicago to German-style lager at his brewery and attached beer garden at Chicago Ave. and Rush Street. Huck was one of several immigrants with knowledge of German brewing methods who started brewing lagers in cities with large German populations, including Philadelphia, Cincinnati, and Milwaukee.”

“Tied-house buildings that reopened as taverns in 1933 were owned or leased by independent tavern keepers. Schlitz Brewery's Tied-House System in Chicago Though not the first tied-house builder in Chicago, Schlitz was the most prolific, and its architectural legacy is readily identifiable by the brewery's "belted globe" insignia which survives on many of its tied houses.”