Nevada Lore Series: Brewery Arts Center's history and latest Carson City ownership transfer

During Thursday’s Board of Supervisor’s Meeting, the Board voted on a measure to transfer ownership of the site of the Brewery Arts Center into the hands of the Brewery Arts Center themselves. For the past 40 years, the City has held ownership of the property at 449 King Street, and has been leasing the property to the organization.

The site of today’s Brewery Arts Center has gone through several changes in its time. The Carson Brewery was first built in 1860 by John Wagner, who created the brewery during the Comstock rush to wet the whistles of all those hoping to become the next gold-rush billionaire, and it became Nevada’s longest-operating brewery to date.

By 1864, the business became so successful that a new two-story building was constructed on the corner of Division and King, where it still stands today. They brewed “steam beer,” which consisted of a bottom-fermenting beer produced without cold temperatures that lagers require. The beer became a hit, and kegs were shipped throughout the state as well into San Fransisco.

The first floor contained the brewery and a bar, and the second floor served as the Masonic Lodge from 1865 to 1919.

In 1900, the brewery was sold to partners James Raycraft and Frank Golden who changed the name to the Carson Brewing Company. Not ten years later, a brewmaster by the name of Fritz Hagmeyer and his brother-in-law Max Stenz purchased the company and converted the operation from steam beer to lager in 1913, which became Tahoe Beer. Advertisements for Tahoe Beer can still be seen in fading paint throughout the area, up into the hills of Silver City and Virginia City.

Stenz also added a cold storage room and a new boiler, and began bottling soft drinks and mineral water from Carson Hot Springs, packaged with artificial ice.

In 1926, Stenz’s son-in-law Arnold Millard purchased the brewery and liquidated the business in 1948, effectively ending the longest-running brewery in the state and one of Nevada’s oldest businesses after 88 years of continuous brewing.

In 1948, the building was purchased by the Nevada Appeal, and it remained as their headquarters until 1975, at which point it was bought for $300,000 by a collection of artists who desired an art space for the capital city.

In 1977, the property was given over to the City, who assumed ownership of the property in order to pursue Federal Economic Development Administration Grant Funds for the remodeling and construction of an arts center.

In 2000, the Brewery Arts Center organization purchased the St. Teresa Catholic Church building across the street, which was converted into a 250-seat performance hall.

Now, the building will be returned by the City into the hands of the Brewery Arts Center, along with the section of Minnesota Street between the Center and the Performance Hall to combine the two campuses into one.

According to Supervisor Brad Bonkowski, during the last four years the city has contributed nearly $100,000 to the upkeep and maintenance of the building.

There is another $300,000 in estimated repairs that are forthcoming, said Bonkowksi, so the time to switch ownership to the Brewery Arts Center is opportune. Repairs include a new roof, external paint, and an updated elevator.

Brewery Arts Center Director Gina Lopez said at the meeting that she and the Board are committed to keeping the Brewery Arts Center an art establishment for the benefit of the public for the foreseeable future.

The Nevada Lore Series focuses on the legends of Nevada and the surrounding areas that help build our culture, from ancient Washoe stories, to Old West ghostly visions, to modern day urban legends.

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