Old brewhouse symbolic of fading Tumwater history

The 111-year-old brick brewhouse that was used in Tumwater’s early brewing days went out of production ages ago, and its future has been nebulous for years.

But Tumwater city administrator John Doan says it is time to fix up the iconic brick tower. He said he and the city brewery project manager, Heidi Behrends Cerniwey, see the same thing whenever they visit the site.

“Every time there is a greater pile of brick remnants at the base of it,’’ Doan said recently. “It sounds like I’m being overly dramatic, but this is our last run at it.’’

Whether an offer by developer George Heidgerken to donate the crumbling tower structure to the city helps that restoration effort remains to be seen.

Heidgerken would retain other warehouse space for other projects.

Costs to preserve the structure could run $5.6 million, by some accounts. How the city would get funds to do that remains a question, though historic preservation grants could be part of the equation.

A city hearing is planned April 5 to explore city options, Doan said. Those interested in Tumwater’s past, and future, should attend and offer suggestions.

This story was originally published March 24, 2016 at 5:01 PM with the headline "Old brewhouse symbolic of fading Tumwater history."