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Property Record

COUNTY HIGHWAY H

Historic Name:
Saxonia House Beer Storage Cave (Farmington Brewery)
Other Name:
Saxonia House Beer Storage Cave
Reference Number:
114617

Property Location

Location (Address) COUNTY HIGHWAY H
County Washington
City/Village
Township Farmington
Unincorporated community
Town 12
Range 20
Direction E
Section 24
Quarter Section
Quarter Quarter Section

Property Features

Year Built 1860
Additions
Survey Date 1999
Historic Use Domestic - outbuilding
Architectural Style NA (unknown or not a building)
Structural System Masonry Arch
Wall Material Fieldstone
Architect
Other Buildings On Site
Demolished No
Demolished Date
Additional Comments The Saxonia House operated a brewery (the Farmington Brewery) that was built in 1860. The extant two-chambered brewery cave was constructed in 1860. The cave sits at the southwest corner of the property, several hundred meters from the house and near where the original brewery stood. The cave was hand-excavated and was built with a fieldstone front entry wall and an arched brick interior ceiling. The entire structure was covered with earth as a temperature control measure. Local sources say that the interior floor was covered with flagstone, most of which have been removed.

Ernst Klessig was the builder. In 1855, Ernst Leberecht Klessig, built the Saxonia House, and five years later in 1860, "Farmington Brewery beer cave". The Brewery ran for 21 years until 1881. Beer production on a good year was 600 barrels. Ernst Klessig was the Brewer for 4 years until his death, in 1864 at age 37. The 2nd Brewer, Ernst Jaehnig ran the Brewery from 1864 until he died in 1879. The Farmington Brewery closed in 1881.
Bibliographic References

National And State Register Of Historic Places Listings

National/State Register Listing Name Saxonia House
National Register Listing Date Feb 22, 2006
State Register Listing Date Sep 23, 2005
Contributing Yes
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Attribution

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Biographical Book Exc...
Jaehnig, Ernst (Mrs.)

Jaehnig, Ernst (Mrs.)

View Name Index
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