Frank J. Hess and Sons Cooperage / Frank J. Hess, Cooper
1904 - 1966 / 1870 - 1958
Side A
The Frank J. Hess and Sons Cooperage became Wisconsin's largest independent family-owned cooperage, manufacturing quarter-sawn white oak beer, wine, and whiskey barrels. The two factory buildings located near the railroad tracks were behind the family home, which stood at 1952 Atwood Avenue. At its peak, the Hess Cooperage could manufacture 40 barrels a day. When it closed in 1966, it was the last factory in America that manufactured white oak beer kegs.
Side B
Frank J. Hess, born in southern Bohemia, entered an apprenticeship at the Pilsen Brewery at age 14 to become a cooper (barrel maker). In 1889 Frank immigrated to America. First employed as a cooper in Chicago, he later set up his own shop in Prairie du Chien manufacturing white oak beer kegs for local breweries. In 1904 Henry Fauerbach persuaded Frank to start an independent cooperage business in Madison to supply beer kegs for Fauerbach, Hausmann, Breckheimer and other breweries.
Marker is on Atwood Avenue, on the right when traveling west.
Courtesy hmdb.org
