The Crystal Spring Brewery was operated by the Guenther Bros., Fritz C. Guenther and John J. Guenther, who purchased the business from John W. Russert in 1896. The brewery was located on the corner of Lake & Tyler Street.
According to information from the La Porte County Historical Society, the Guenther brothers had prior brewing experience in Sacramento, California, and Massillon, Ohio. They expanded the brewery’s operations and, by 1905, had opened a sample room at 609 West Main Street. The brewery became known for producing brands such as Excelsior, Home Brew, and Indiana Gold.
Bottlers such as Bliesmer and Kipphut were bottlers of Guenther Bros.
In 1911, Fritz sold his share of the business to Herman Zerweck, a brewer from Württemberg, Germany, and the brewery was renamed Guenther & Zerweck.
John Jacob Guenther
According to U.S. Census and burial records, John Jacob Günther was born on October 29, 1864, in Haiterbach, Germany. He was the son of Johann Jacob Günther (1832–1876) and Heinricke Christiana Rapp (1840–1867). He married Sophie Keller in 1893, and they had one child, Ralph Carl Guenther (1904–1992). John Guenther died on June 3, 1930, and is buried in Pine Lake Cemetery in La Porte.
Fritz C. Guenther
According to U.S. Census and burial records, Carl Friedrich “Fritz” Günther was born on November 1, 1858, in Haiterbach, Germany, the same birthplace as his brother John. The 1900 U.S. Census states that he immigrated in 1885. He married Lucinde Doris Christine in 1889, and they had five children. The 1900 census also lists him as a brewery proprietor. He died on May 15, 1938, in Seattle, Washington, and is buried with his parents in Gechingen, Germany.
1897-98 & 1899 – Guenther Bros (J J and F C), proprietors of Crystal Spring Brewery, corner of Lake and Tyler.
– Fritz C. Guenther (Lucinda), home at 1504 Main.
– John J. Guenther (Sophia), home at 1212 Washington.
1902 & 1904 – Guenther Bros., Crystal Spring Brewery, J.J. Guenther and C.F. Guenther, proprietors., corner of Tyler and Lake.
– Guenther, Fritz C. (Lucinda), home at 1212 Washington.
– Guenther, John J. (Sophia), home at 1306 Main.
1910 – Guenther Bros (J J and F C) brewery at Tyler and Lake, phone 125.
– F C (Lucinda), residence at 1101 Michigan Ave, phone 150.
– J J (Sophia), residence at 1306 Main, phone 782.
1911 – Fritz sold his share of the business, and John J. Guenther and Herman Zerweck formed a partnership called Guenther & Zerweck.
Bottle Type: Quart, tooled blob. Baltimore loop seal top.
Embossing: GUENTHER BROS. / LA PORTE / IND.
Glass Maker: SB&G CO (embossed on base), Streator Bottle & Glass Co., Streator, Illinois.
Other Marks: Large “2” on base, “96” on heel.
Notes: Export beer bottle style.
Photo Credit: Indiana Bottle Collectors
Bottle Type: Pint, tooled crown top.
Embossing: GUENTHER BROS. / LA PORTE / IND.
Glass Maker: RG&B CO (on base), Root Glass Company, Terre Haute, IN.
Other Marks: 11 (on base).
Notes: Export beer bottle style. Similar to bottle #3, but with a different glass maker.
Photo Credit: Indiana Bottle Collectors
Home Brand Canned Foods plant / La Porte Machine & Tool Co., located at 1211 Lake Street in La Porte, 1920s. The site was formerly the Guenther & Zerweck Brewery, and before that Guenther Bros. Note the La Porte Machine & Tool Co. sign; the company was incorporated in 1920. Slide from the Michigan City Public Library / La Porte County CETA Special Projects program.. The building was razed in 1932.
