In 1852, John S. Bielfeldt, purchased the property from Hubbard and constructed this building in 1876, as his residence and brewery. John came from Germany, where generations perfected the fine art of brewing beer.

He knew he would need pure, clean water, and the limestone base in the nearby creek would produce just that. The artesian well still bubbles over within the caverns of this building (See picture below).

The water was pumped to a wooden holding tank which, to this day, is still visible above the roof of our deck. Around the turn of the century, Bielfeldt handed over the brewery to his loyal employee, Sean Patrick Mc Clear, and his wife, Margaret Mary. The McCleary's ran the brewery successfully for nearly two decades.

Near the beginning of the prohibition era, the McCleary's were visited by a Chicago businessman named Alphonse Capone.

Capone offered to become partners with the McCleary's and Sean flatly refused.

Days later a mysterious fire took place at the brewery, and Sean disappeared. The ruins of this fire are captured in a photograph on the south wall of our upstairs dinning room, and downstairs bar. Look closely and try to pick out Capone's henchmen.

Margaret McCleary was in no position to deny Capone a partnership and he would soon take over. The building was perfect for Al's intentions.

The surrounding communities of Harvey, Chicago Heights, and Calumet City all had a need for alcohol, and Capone now had it.

Years later, in the early 50's while renovations were taking place ten bodies were exhumed. Rumor has it that the bones of Sean Patrick McCleary were among the remains. As for the whereabouts of the Widow McCleary...nobody knows.

Who knows? Maybe during future renovations we'll find her. Or, maybe she's here, right now, watching you enjoy that burger.

Upon J.S. Bielfent's death in 1899, the brewery was turned over to his sons. In 1918, Carl Ebner, Sr., became the president and manager. He added a mondernly equipped bottling department to the general establishment. A fire in August of 1919 included a loss of approximatlely,$10,000, including a quantity of grain in the malt bin. It originated from a pitch kettle igniting while some caulking operation were going on. Two men, Ebner and Mandelkow, who were workign in the pitch house when the fire state were badly burned.

Prohibition 1920-1933

The Biefeldt family sold the brewery at the onset of prohibition, most likely to Carl Ebner, who is listed in the 1920 Illinois Census as a manufacturer of soda pop. Some beer making continued in the 1920's despite prohibition. Revenue agents cam in and smashed the vats.

Thornton Brewing Co.1933-1936

With the repeal of Prohibition, the brewery swing into full gear, but by October 1936 filed for bakruptcy, listing debts of $20,000. An auction of the property was held in December of 1936, the the two leading bidders being Jacob silver and Dominick Federick. Offers wen as high as $8,100, plus the amount necessary to pay the creditors. Jos Saltis, on-time beer runner of prohibithon days warned Frederick that if he persited in his bidding there wouldn't be any brewery left. Frederick withdrew his bid. A bar mirror depictin the Thorton design hangs at the Chicago Historical Society.

Illinois Brewing Co. 1937-1940

After the auction in 1936, Bankruptcy Court Referee Wallace Streeter had Joe Saltis cited for contempt and the brewery porperty went to Freerick. The Fredericks has a long history of involvemtn wither the brewing industry, either a s brewers or distributers, especiall with the South Side and Ambrosia Brewing Companis in Chicago.

A 1940 telephone book as dor Illinois Brewing Co. advertised Queensville, OldFashion Lager & Muenchener Bohimian Style as "brewed with spring water, Steinies-Quarts- 1'2 Gals.- BBLS. 1.2-1/4-1/8." In mid 1940, the brewery contracted with Crown Cork and Seal to producte J spout cans of Pilsner and Fredrick's beer.

Fredericks's Brewing Co. 1940-1948

In 1940, they changed the name of the brewery in Thornton to Frederic's Brewing Company and manufactured Four Crown Special. The beer was shipped by railroad car to army camps throught the U.S.. Boys from Thornton were alway surprised to get beer from home. The empty bottles would be shipped back to be refilled. Beer was still brewed using water from a natrual spring up intil 1945, when an artesian well was dug. Over $400,000 was spent to modernize the one-time log cabin. In the late 1940's , the breery employed approximately 65 men.

McAvoy Brweing Co. 1948-1950

The McAvoy Brwery was originally located on Brewers Row in Chicago, but it din not survive Prohibition. The Frederick Brothers acquired the name in 1948. McAvoy had a 100,000 barrel capcity.

The Fredericks were apparently poor businessment. The brewery filed for bankrupcy in 1943 but remanied in operation until 1949 when the Fredericks went bankrupt form race track gambling debts.

The brewery was sold to an immigrant from Lithuania, Ildenfonsas Sadauskas, who was sponsored by Thornton families after the war. It was in a shambles with caved-in roofs. The first stock certificate for 200 shares wa issued in Nov. 8, 1951. Sadauskas produced a dark, European beer called White Bear from a Lithuanian recipe. Althought is didn't catch on in the area, Sadauskas advertised in Lithuanian newspapers and White Bear was sold throught America. He Had a 100,000 barrell capacity, and made his woun barrels in a smell cooper shop.

In 1951, government agents allegedy found skeletons i the walls, rumored to be of men who owed money to Al Capone. Sadauskas clams he was run out of the beer-kmaking business by the "crime synidate" Wen he refused to pay "protection," and that they dumped about 140,000 gallons of beer into Thorn Creek. The artesian well was sold to the Village in 1957. At that point Sadauskas and partner Anthony Stakankas brought in small industrial companing. It was called Thornton Industrial Copmplex.