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Molson Brewery (Edmonton)

Coordinates: 53°32′50″N 113°31′47″W / 53.54722°N 113.52972°W / 53.54722; -113.52972
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Molson Brewery
The former Molson brewery in 2008.
Map
General information
Architectural styleGothic Revival
LocationEdmonton, Alberta
CountryCanada
Completed1913
Design and construction
Architect(s)Bernard Barthel

The Molson Brewery in Edmonton was a commercial brewery that served the province of Alberta, Canada, from 1913 until 2007 when it was closed.

History

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The building was built in 1913 by local hotelier, politician and businessman William Henry Sheppard, a former mayor of Strathcona, after he had purchased land in Groat Estates to expand his brewery company. Chicago architect Bernard Barthel was hired to design the building, who had built a reputation for designing breweries modelled on the castles of his German homeland. The building cost $250,000 to construct.[1]

The brewery was sold to Fritz Sick of Lethbridge in 1927, and acquired by Molson in 1958.[2]

In 1961, the company built a decorative building meant to resemble a fur trade fort in front of the brewery. Named Molson House, it was used as a hospitality lounge to entertain customers.[1] In April 2008, Molson-Coors, the owner of the site, offered to give the building away to any organization that would pay to move it off the property.[3] The building was dismantled and moved in 2011 after it was bought by an anonymous Edmonton family.[4]

Molson closed the brewery in August 2007 due to an ongoing worker's strike, the shift in consumer preferences from bottled to canned beer and the company's loss of a contract to brew the Foster's Group brand. As a result of the closure, 136 people were laid off.[5]

Edmonton Brewery District

The site was redeveloped as the Edmonton Brewery District, integrating the former brewery with residential, retail and commercial space.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Herzog, Lawrence (March 18, 2010). "The Molson Brewery". Real Estate Weekly. The Canadian Press. Archived from the original on March 8, 2011. Retrieved October 22, 2010.
  2. ^ Simons, Paula (August 2, 2007). "Castle beer built should be saved from wrecking ball". Edmonton Journal. Canada.com. Retrieved May 4, 2014.
  3. ^ "Free to a good home: Molson House". CBC News. April 9, 2008. Archived from the original on October 26, 2012. Retrieved October 22, 2010.
  4. ^ Mah, Bill (November 19, 2010). "Edmonton's Molson House finds new home". Edmonton Journal. Archived from the original on November 20, 2010. Retrieved May 4, 2014.
  5. ^ The Canadian Press (July 31, 2007). "Molson Canada to close Edmonton brewery". CBC News. Archived from the original on December 5, 2008. Retrieved October 22, 2010.

53°32′50″N 113°31′47″W / 53.54722°N 113.52972°W / 53.54722; -113.52972