tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1282140921851003304.post8834710262598961687..comments2023-10-19T08:07:01.709-04:00Comments on drinkdrank: Albany Ale: Disappointment Is My Only FriendCraighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14129472719929268755noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1282140921851003304.post-41132153428222865952013-07-03T19:03:42.583-04:002013-07-03T19:03:42.583-04:00I don't know if it covered exactly the same gr...I don't know if it covered exactly the same ground. if you look at the footprint of the two buildings on the Sanborn Insurance maps, you see in the 1892 and 1908 maps, the building stretched between Broadway and the river—extending over what was Quay Street. In the later editions 34' and 51' maps you see that the building ends 40 feet shorter, allowing Quay Street to pass between the building and the river.Craighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00374706510870731159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1282140921851003304.post-84116468237285329792013-07-03T18:33:38.015-04:002013-07-03T18:33:38.015-04:00There's really not a lot out there on the fire...There's really not a lot out there on the fire - just a few references-- maybe because the brewery wasn't in operstion and it didn't have the prominent position it once had. I would guess that if the fire had hsppened 50 years earlier that it would have been bigger news and left more on the way of news.<br /><br />What this might mean is that the foundation (or part of it) might be original, and maybe the basement/cellars (or part of them).<br />Gerry Lorentznoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1282140921851003304.post-10371412359088165492013-07-03T16:54:49.629-04:002013-07-03T16:54:49.629-04:00I looked high and low for evidence of fire! I thou...I looked high and low for evidence of fire! I thought I remembered hearing that the brewery had burned, but I couldn't find a record of it! Craighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00374706510870731159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1282140921851003304.post-84812994792750072572013-07-03T15:11:13.915-04:002013-07-03T15:11:13.915-04:00Craig, perhaps I can provide you with a little pad...Craig, perhaps I can provide you with a little padding to absorb the blow. After reading your post I did a little digging and discovered that the original Taylor Brewery building was completely destroyed by fire in May 1914. Apparently 10,000 people watched it burn (it's surprising that such a big spectacle left such little evidence). It even sent sparks to start some fires over in Rensselaer. Seven fire companies fought the fire and there was $250,000 loss for the building and a number of businesses using the building (although apparently no chickens were lost!). So far, not much consolation, I know.<br /><br />Apparently the building was rebuilt post 1916 and it's noted that it "will be six stories high and cover the same ground as the old building." The interesting thing is that it's also noted that the building "will be furnished with the latest improved machinery and have a capacity of 100 barrels per day." (from the Albany Evening Journal, Aug. 18, 1916. It might be 400 bbls -- the number isn't entirely clear). The owner of the building, J. P. Kernachen, was one of the directors of the brewery when it went out of business (he was also part of the New York Life Insurance and Trust Company that held the mortgage) and it seems that, perhaps, he was looking to start up again. So, in some sense it is the old Taylor brewery -- if not THE old Taylor brewery. As I said, just a little padding.<br />Gerry Lorentznoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1282140921851003304.post-36497655399775995432013-07-03T09:21:45.254-04:002013-07-03T09:21:45.254-04:00I was surprised and disappointed when I read this....I was surprised and disappointed when I read this. I work in Rensselaer and drive past that building everyday. I always thought that I should share it's history with several other home brewers with whom I work.<br /><br />Well, as you might guess, on Monday afternoon as we wrapped up a meeting I filled them in great detail about the U-Haul Buildings special place in the history of brewing. <br /><br />Ugh, I feel your pain. Of course, I'll leave it to them to discover the truth lol<br /><br />DaveDave McGannhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05168155240197367020noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1282140921851003304.post-68859948026398086052013-07-02T09:42:05.193-04:002013-07-02T09:42:05.193-04:00Oh sure... whatever that might mean. Whose jewels?...Oh sure... whatever that might mean. Whose jewels?<br /><br />But here is an analogy. A brewing complex in Kingston re-purposed now for at least the third time in its history from 1840 to the present: http://www.tettcentre.org/about-us/history I've also crawled around a 1816 warehouse that once stored 160 barrels of Albany Ale (or was that warehouse's neighbour) which is still in use and, until 4 years ago at least, was built on foundations from the 1790s. Saving as much as possible is a major rule in construction. Saw a 1970s building with a 1930s one inside (surprise) and then (surprise) an 1870s one still in a bit of that.Alanhttp://agoodbeerblog.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1282140921851003304.post-59793501408534926452013-07-02T08:40:14.169-04:002013-07-02T08:40:14.169-04:00Maybe—and I hope you're right. For now though,...Maybe—and I hope you're right. For now though, I think we should just concentrate on the guy getting hit in the nuts. Craighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00374706510870731159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1282140921851003304.post-22251580225798862922013-07-02T07:57:10.826-04:002013-07-02T07:57:10.826-04:00Thank the Lord I didn't do what you did. To qu...Thank the Lord I didn't do what you did. To quote me: "We think it is the building to the left in this 1850-60s advertisement." That's a ways from "is" in my book. Plus, I think you have to appreciate what is rarely or never done. What I have learned in my job and all out demolitions is that no one strips out a building down to bedrock including the foundations. You may want to go pace the thing out. I notice that the present building is seven stories like in that Hill painting. It is oriented in the same relationship to the river (which makes sense for a new building too), it is of a similar scale as the Taylor building and, most importantly, it is sited next to the Beaverkill drain in the same way. We know that this was an issue with the new building as the guy we met said the basement flooded. Why build new in the wet spot? So, it may be (note the subjunctive case again) that while there was a new building it could well be a rebuild. Could.Alanhttp://agoodbeerblog.comnoreply@blogger.com