According to records from the Indiana State Board of Health and U.S. census listings, Charles Kuhs was born in Germany on May 16, 1848. He immigrated to the United States in 1852 and later married Minnie Kaster (1852–1927) in 1873. The 1880 U.S. Census lists his occupation as a saloon keeper, while the 1900 U.S. Census records him working as a bridgetender and notes that he and Minnie had three children. He became a naturalized citizen on December 20, 1921. He died on July 22, 1933, and is buried in Greenwood Cemetery in Michigan City. His occupation on his death certificate is listed as bridgetender. For additional details, see the directories tab.
The earliest record we can trace for Charles Kuhs’s business in Michigan City appears in the Indiana State Gazetteer & Business Directories (1880–1883), where he is listed as operating a saloon. It is unclear whether he may have been in business during the 1870s, since no Michigan City directories from that decade are known to exist, making that period a bit of a mystery for research. Even newspapers from that era are scarce. The earliest Sanborn Fire Insurance Map for Michigan City dates to 1884. We do, however, have an 1899 Sanborn map showing his Phoenix Summer Garden and Sample Room, of which he was the proprietor. Unfortunately, no photographs are known to exist.
See the directories tab for more details.
The bottle shown below is the only example currently known. It bears the glassmaker’s mark “F G Mfg Co.” on the base, which is now confirmed to represent the Farrall Glass Manufacturing Company of Michigan City, Indiana. At present, only three Indiana bottles are known to carry this same marking: a quart Ph. Zorn beer bottle of Michigan City, Indiana; a Jones & Primley Co. Iron & Wahoo Tonic bottle of Elkhart, Indiana; and this example.
The Farrall Glass Manufacturing Company operated for only a brief period, from about 1885 to 1886, which closely aligns with the estimated production dates of all three bottles.
1) Charles Kuhs, of Michigan City, insisted on marrying the daughter of his step-mother by a previous marriage, Miss Martha Dolz, and because she would not listen to his proposal, he threatened to kill her and then commit suicide. The girl’s mother favored the union, and this so preyed upon Miss Dolz, coupled with the threats made by Kuhs, that she became delirious through fright, and at last accounts was still in a critical condition. The police arrested Kuhs, but because the girl was not able to appear against him he was released.
The Indianapolis News, June 7, 1893.
1880–83 — Kuhs Charles, saloon. (Indiana State Gazetteer & Business Directories)
There are no known Michigan City directories between 1863–1884.
1884–86 — Kuhs Charles, prop Phoenix Summer Garden and Sample Room, s e cor Michigan and Market, res same.
1890 — Kuhs Charles, saloon and bottling works, res s e cor Michigan and Market.
1893–94 — Kuhs Charles, saloon, 427 Franklin, h 502 E. Michigan.
1897–1902 — Kuhs Chas (Minnie), bridge tender, h 502 E. Michigan. (listed under Bottling Works in 1899)
1905 — Kuhs Charles (Minnie), lab, h 208 Oak.
1909–13 — Kuhs Chas. (Minnie), bridge tender, h 208 Oak.
1916–28 — Kuhs Chas. (Minnie), bridgetender, 6th-st bridge, r 208 Oak.
1931–32 — Kuhs Chas., r 208 Oak.
Sanborn Fire Insurance Map (1889).
Note the Phoenix Garden at the corner of E. Market (now E. 5th Street) and 2606 Michigan Street. This site is an empty lot as of 2026, located in front of Blocksom & Co. The address numbers later changed, and today the location would be 504 Michigan Blvd.
The Phoenix Garden does not appear on the 1899 Sanborn map, so it is unclear whether it burned down or was razed.
