Charles J. Loetz. At 612 and 614 Indiana Avenue is the local emporium of Pabst’s celebrated Milwaukee beer, the distribution of which in LaPorte and vicinity is handled exclusively by Charles Loetz. Mr. Loetz was born at Zandorff, Mecklenburg, Germany, Nov. 17, 1853, but has no personal recollection of the place of his nativity, having been brought to LaPorte by his parents within two years thereafter.
His entire life since then, about half a century, has been spent in the city of his present home. He attended the German Lutheran school until he was fourteen years of age and was then employed in various useful pursuits until the grocery house of Charles Loetz & Brother was established in 1877. In this venture his sterling character as a business man was demonstrated and when, nine years later, he changed his business and alter assumed his present agency his reputation was fixed and success assured.
He handles both bottled and draught beer in all the brands produced by the Pabst mammoth brewery, including the select, Blue Ribbon, Export and Red, White and Blue, in bottles, and the Bohemian on draught. Mr. Loetz is an Eagle and a Knight of Pythias. He resides at his place of business. – LaPorte Today: Historical, Descriptive, Biographical, Illustrated. (1904).
He married Alvina Maerz on March 9, 1876. Loetz died on January 12, 1906, at the age of 52. He is buried in Pine Lake Cemetery in La Porte.
1) Charles Loetz, a well known business man of LaPorte, died last week after one week’s sickness with the grippe. He was the resident manager of the Pabst Brewing company at LaPorte. He was about 53 years old and was a member of the Knights of Pythias and the order of Eagles. He leaves a family. Walkerton Independent, January 26, 1906.
1893-94 – Loetz Charles, Headquarters for Schlitz’s Beer, Liquors, Wines and Cigars, 616 Indiana Ave., home is the same.
1893-1894 & 1899 – Loetz Chas (Mary), sample room and billiard hall, 612-614 Indiana Ave, home is the same.
1902 – Loetz Charles (Mary), sample room and billiard hall, also bottler of Pabst Beer, 612-614 Indiana Ave., home is the same
1904 – Loetz Charles (Mary), sample room and billiard hall, also bottler of Pabst Beer, 612-614 Indiana Ave., home is the same, telephone #352.
Bottle Type: Quart, tooled blob top.
Embossing: CHAS. LOETZ / LA PORTE / IND.
Glass Maker: SB&G Co (embossed on base), Streator Bottle & Glass Co., Streator, Illinois.
Other Marks: THIS BOTTLE NOT TO BE SOLD (embossed on back), “2” (embossed on heel).
Notes: Has a bail-wire lightning stopper.
Photo Credit: Indiana Bottle Collectors
Bottle Type: Pint, tooled blob top.
Embossing: CHAS LOETZ / LA PORTE, IND.
Glass Maker: ROOT (embossed on base), Root Glass Company, Terre Haute, Indiana.
Other Marks: THIS BOTTLE NOT TO BE SOLD (embossed on back), “9” (embossed on heel).
Notes: Has a bail-wire lightning stopper.
Photo Credit: Indiana Bottle Collectors
Bottle Type: Pint, tooled blob top.
Embossing: CHAS. LOETZ / LA PORTE / IND.
Glass Maker: SB&G Co (embossed on base), Streator Bottle & Glass Co., Streator, Illinois.
Other Marks: THIS BOTTLE NOT TO BE SOLD (embossed on back), “2” (embossed on heel).
Notes: Has a bail-wire lightning stopper.
Photo Credit: Indiana Bottle Collectors
Bottle Type: Pint, tooled blob top.
Embossing: CHAS. LOETZ / LA PORTE, / IND.
Glass Maker: WF&S MIL (embossed on base in an arch), William Franzen & Son, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. According to research published by the Society for Historical Archaeology, William Franzen & Son began operations in 1898.
Other Marks: THIS BOTTLE IS NEVER SOLD (embossed on back near heel).
Notes:
Photo Credit: Indiana Bottle Collectors
Bottle Type: Quart, blob top.
Embossing: CHAS. LOETZ / LA PORTE, / IND.
Glass Maker: WF&S MIL (embossed on base in an arch), William Franzen & Son, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Other Marks: THIS BOTTLE IS NEVER SOLD (embossed on back near heel).
Notes: Has a bail-wire lightning stopper.
Photo Credit: Indiana Bottle Collectors
612–614 Indiana Avenue is the two-story building on the far left where Loetz had his sample room. It later became the Ulm & Bates Saloon.
The building is no longer there. The old fire station shown in this photo is still there as of 2025.
This photo was taken on June 23, 1978 and is part of the Michigan City Historical Society collection.
