Guckenheimer Warehouse

The Guckenheimer Warehouse, or the former Guckenheimer Whiskey Warehouse, is located at 125 First Avenue in the Downtown neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The building served as the warehouse for the Guckenheimer Whiskey barrels, which were distilled in Freeport, Pennsylvania, until prohibition caused the company to shut down.

Guckenheimer Warehouse
Location of the Guckenheimer Warehouse in Pittsburgh
Location125 First Avenue (Downtown), Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
Coordinates40°26′19.97″N 80°0′16.32″W
AreaDowntown
Built/foundedcirca 1882
Governing body/ownerPaddington Associates
CPHD designatedMay 9, 1995[1]

History

The first mention of the lot on which the current building sits was in 1786 when it was sold from John Penn, the brother of William Penn, to John Wilkins.[2] The lot was sold again in 1821 and 1855 by Sheriff's sale. No buildings were noted to have been located on the lot when Asher Guckenheimer bought the property in September 1863, as the previous structure was burnt during the Great Fire of 1845.[3] Guckenheimer built the current building circa 1882 as a warehouse for his whiskey company, A. Guckenheimer & Bros.[4] The Guckenheimer Whiskey company was first established in 1857 by Asher Guckenheimer and his half-brother, Samuel Wertheimer. They originally bought their liquor from Thomas Bell, who had been making a highly regarded product since 1845 in Freeport.[5] Following Bell's death in 1865 they bought his distillery and enlarged it, but the demand outpaced production so they bought a new and much larger facility in 1866. Guckenheimer's Rye became one of the country's most famous brands, scoring a 99 out of 100 at the Columbian Exposition in Chicago, and winning top honors in 1893.[5] The building that Guckenheimer built in Pittsburgh continuously served as a warehouse for the product until the company disbanded due to prohibition.[6] After Asher Guckenheimer's death the company changed hands several times, and the new owners in 1925 attempted to continue to sell the whiskey despite the prohibition. In 1925 the corporation and 13 of its workers were indicted on charges relating to conspiring to obtain the release of a large quantity of whiskey from bond to sell and deliver it unlawfully.[7] The company was found guilty and the warehouse was sold to the Landau Brothers Contracting and Building Company. They owned the building until it was again sold to Paddington Associates in 1980 who leased the building to the Stonecipher Law Firm, who remain the current tenants of the building today.[8] The building was nominated in January 1995 to become a City Historic Site by Preservation Pittsburgh.

Architecture

The building was designed in the Richardsonian Romanesque architectural style.[3] It is one of the best surviving structures in the Market Street commercial district, and is an example of heavy timber construction in a commercial building. The high ceilings, massive wood beams, and exposed brick are all examples of the building's architectural style, and contribute to it being a rarity in Pittsburgh architecture.[9]

  • Photo of the Guckenheimer Warehouse building as it stands today
  • Old sketch of what the Guckenheimer Warehouse looked like
  • Old advertisement for Guckenheimer Rye in 1907
  • Advertisement celebrating Guckenheimer Pure Rye from 1907
  • Advertisement celebrating fifty years of Guckenheimer Whiskey from 1907

References
  1. "Local Historic Designations". Pittsburgh: Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation. Retrieved 2011-08-15.
  2. Philadelphia Deed Book, 1786.
  3. "125 First Avenue: A Historical Landmark". Stonecipher Law Firm. Retrieved 2018-07-29.
  4. “Impetus Given to Probing.” The Pittsburgh Press. October 26, 1905.
  5. “The Story of Pittsburgh and Vicinity,” The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 1908.
  6. Wondrich, David (2016-09-12). "How Pennsylvania Rye Whiskey Lost Its Way". The Daily Beast. Retrieved 2018-07-29.
  7. A. Guckenheimer & Bros. Co. et al. v United States. Circuit Court of Appeals, Third Circuit. 3 F.2d 786. February 3, 1925.
  8. “New Mon bridge won’t touch down on Chancery Way.” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. February 19, 2000.
  9. "Guckheimer Whiskey Warehouse". Preservation Pittsburgh. Retrieved 2018-07-29.
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