Frederick Bauernschmidt
Frederick Bauernschmidt | |
|---|---|
| Born | Error: Invalid birth date for calculating age Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. |
| Died | March 8, 1933 (aged 69) |
| Occupation(s) | Brewer, benefactor |
| Known for | Founder of the American Brewery in Baltimore |
Frederick Bauernschmidt (January 10, 1864 – March 8, 1933) was a Maryland-based American brewer and benefactor. He established the American Brewery in Baltimore, which operated from 1900 until 1923.
Early life
Frederick was born to George Bauernschmidt and Margaret (née Wiessner), both hailing from brewing lineages in Baltimore. His education included attendance at both public and private institutions.
Brewing career
After the formal incorporation of his father’s George Bauernschmidt Brewery, Frederick assumed the role of treasurer. When the brewery was sold in 1898, he and his brother William resigned to create their own brewing enterprises. Their sibling John became part of the purchasing entity, the Maryland Brewing Company, while William later joined Frederick’s brewery.
The American Brewery commenced production by January 1900 at 1108 Hillen Street, positioning itself as a competitor to Maryland Brewing Company. William eventually departed from the American Brewery; meanwhile, John left Maryland Brewing to collaborate with Frederick. By 1910, the brewery had expanded, including a bottling facility. Annual output increased from an initial 130,000 barrels to 400,000 barrels by the onset of Prohibition. In anticipation of Prohibition and the Volstead Act, Bauernschmidt sold the brewery to the American Malt Company in 1923 after ensuring employee compensation for three years.
During the 1930s, he served as an advisor to the Free State Brewery.
Philanthropy
In the final six years of his life, Bauernschmidt contributed generously to area hospitals. In 1927, he funded a dedicated endowment for the Frederick Bauernschmidt Memorial Building at Union Memorial Hospital, motivated by Dr. J. M. T. Finney’s medical care for his family. Two years later, he established a trust distributing funds across numerous institutions including Union Memorial, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Church Home and Infirmary, Hospital for Consumptives of Maryland, Eudowood Sanitarium, Hospital for the Women of Maryland, Home for Incurables, University Hospital, Mercy Hospital, Sinai Hospital, Franklin Square Hospital, and South Baltimore General Hospital. In March 1931, another trust was donated specifically to the Home for Incurables and the Hospital for Consumptives at Eudowood. His will further allocated substantial sums to hospitals and charities such as Johns Hopkins Hospital, Church Home and Infirmary, Union Memorial Hospital, and the Hospital for Consumptives of Maryland.
Personal life
On January 30, 1895, Bauernschmidt married Agnes A. Wehr, daughter of August Wehr; they did not have children. The couple constructed a mansion in Baltimore County at 2316 Bauernschmidt Drive in 1909. Additionally, he maintained a residence located at 2450 Eutaw Place in Baltimore. Bauernschmidt passed away on March 8, 1933, at his home situated at 4405 Greenway in Baltimore and was interred at Druid Ridge Cemetery.