HISTORY OF THE SITE
Theodore and Louise Hamm, a young German
immigrant couple, found a home in Saint Paul,
Minnesota in 1856. In 1864, entrepreneur
Andrew F. Keller, the owner of a small brewery
called the Excelsior Brewery needed money for
expansion. Theodore lent the money with the
brewery as collateral. When Keller defaulted on the
loan, Theodore Hamm was the owner of a brewery.
The size of the work force grew, as did the total
number of barrels brewed.
In 1865 there were 5 employees that brewed 500
barrels a year, which grew to 75 employees brewing
40,000 barrels a year in 1885. In 1894 the brewery
expanded to include a bottling works, followed
by artificial refrigeration in 1895. In 1894 an open
house was held and free samples of beer were
handed out, beginning the long tradition of brewery
tours. The brewery was incorporated in 1896, giving
Theodore the title of president and William the
titles of vice-president and secretary. The line to
succession of the brewery was thus established, as
the brewery remained in domain of the Hamm’s
family for 100 years.
REVITALIZING A COMMUNITY ASSET
When the brewery closed its Saint Paul plant,
community members began working to determine
the best use of this historic 30 acre complex. It is
in the center of one of Saint Paul’s most historic
neighborhoods, five minutes from downtown.
The brewery is at the head of Swede Hollow Park,
in the commercial heart of East Side Saint Paul.
The Hamm’s site offers unique opportunities for
business and technology development, education,
arts and entertainment. The older buildings
with their high ceilings, natural lighting, and
neighborhood surroundings make the brewery
an ideal location to be renovated into studios,
performance spaces, galleries, class rooms, and
other art and educational space.
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