Evening star., 1962-04-08
md the Walls Come Tumb|ing Down
By T. W. TIRANA
Star Staff Writer


destruction and it seems that is going to stop
them
The law knows what's going on there's no sense ex
pecng any help there And by the time the people find out
the deed will be done.
The gang part of the MayerPoI Co. of Postown Pa
has been working audacously by daylight wrecking the
Christian Heurich brewery Washington Landmark since
1894
The brewery consists of complex of red brick buildings
with towers and tures and fancy grill work on two
acres Twentysxth and streets NV is standing in
the way approaches to the Theodore Roosevelt Bridge
The brick and stone crashing to the ground and the
terng glass and slate have caused enough arouse the
ghost Of old Mr. Heurich He built brewery lovingy-it
is said he knew the number Of bricks contained he
built to last The walls reproOed and three feet
thick
Mr. Heurich emigrated here from Saxon Meinngen Ger
many where his father operated tavern during the Civil
War; He had little than will to work. but he saved
$1,000 and in 1871, when Washington of 100000
he founded his first brewery He had hard time at first
making five barrels of beer knowing whether
he would be business the next His Senate Old Georee
town beer caught though After prohibition which
never understood 100000 barrels year rolling
the brewery
Mr. Heurch died at the age of lO2 prominent citizen
and beer drnker until his days The people of Wash
ngon gradually turned to other beers and five years ago.
Christian Heurch L closed the plant The Stage pro-
duced plays there for whe then the District bought the
property for $2Ol7.OO to make way for the bridge
The wrecking business is ercely competitive The NO
nongahea Co Of Pittsburgh oubid five Washington wreckers
by asking $4,000 to do the job and then
MayerPoock The bids ranged high $060OOO "They
kind OF shook us up remarked Daniel Goodman
Of Washingtons Ace Wrecking Co.
The city gave Monongahela until May to level the
brewery with $500 penalty for each day needed beyond
deadne Delays could hinder construction the bridge
February 20 eleven from MayerPollock showed up at
the brewery ready and eager to start wrecking
The wreckers profess they get tearing
buildings job psychiarist would recommend for instant
relief of most any kind of Illustration
You'd have to be end to enjoy something like that
wouldn't your? said Freddy Matthew'S 90 quiet unassum
ing man who swings ton half steel ball from l30oo
crane Its too bad the building has come down. but you
wouldn't want to stand in the way progress would your"
Dewey Scheet g. Of the welders who burn off steel
grders at dzzying heights, direct don't make
any difference what kind of building is It's got to come
down."
There an art to wrecking especially with balls
Mr Matthew'S who has been doing this of thing for Is
years could hit dime than 100 up on wall and
take down huge chunks Of brick at the same time
He paid between $45 and $75 an hour depending on
where he is working
MI Matthews insisted that there are Illustrations in
recnng as In any work You can have good day or bad
day. ne said 1T depends lot your supervisor You can't
see all the time and have to have who knows
what he's doing"
Supervisor Marvin Miller, S2 indicates hand signals
where to move the boom and ball for the most effective