Saloon Photos

Danger! Gunpowder and alcohol don't mix well!

A Milwaukee saloon gathering.

A group seeking to stay warm in the snows around New Ulm, Minnesota.

That fellow up front appears to be a bit underage!

Not a frown among them. Three in the group appear to be holding enameled cups bearing the image of the Kaiser.

The bottles all carry Grain Belt (Minneapolis Brewing Company) labels. The fellow at left, drinking through his ear, clearly lacks "sound" judgement.

The stenciled jug at right is from Wm. Steinmeyer, a Milwaukee liquor dealer.

Lots of bottles and advertising in this one!

Looks like the Fourth of July. Note the "free lunch" on the bar at right.

Taking the chill off with a nip of something bracing. Notice the Lash's Bitters sign at upper left.

The dog on the bar is in charge of filling growlers.

Who is going to clean out those spittoons?

Notice that the glasses on the table are etched. The photographer's mark says Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. Could they be drinking Leinekugel's?

Another Wisconsin drinking scene.

Two views of a Minneapolis bar. The factory scene in the photo at right is a depiction of the Gluek brewery.

Note the glass label decanters on the bar. The great old sign behind the bar is from a Milwaukee liquor dealer.

Note the enamel-labeled bar bottle. It seems to read "Greenbriar." Do you suppose that fellow at right was "in his cups" and unable to stand steady?

Judging from the labels and signs, this one was in St. Paul.

A Ma and Pa operation.

JThey are drinking Hamm's Beer, a St. Paul, Minnesota, product.

Enjoying a Grain Belt (Minneapolis Brewing Company).

Ferdinand Meyer suggested that these two were toasting their new haircuts.

Is he smoking that pipe through his ear? Yet another Wisconsin drinking scene.

Not only bottles of booze on those shelves at right, but jugs as well!

Not as early as the other photos, but a fun photo of what appears to be a post WWII St. Paul or Minneapolis bar.

The sign on the mirror seems to read "Grain Belt."

Tom Ireton's place on Jackson Street, St. Paul.

Another view of what appears to be a different location of Tom Ireton's saloon in St. Paul. Humbolt Rye was a product of P.J. Bowlin, a St. Paul Liquor dealer who also marketed Digestine Bitters.

Strange as it may seem, we have the three decanters just to the right of the lady behind the bar in our collection: Minnesota Club, Old Blue Ribbon, and Pickwick Rye. Those last two brands were sold by George Benz of Appetine bitters fame. Labeled bottles of several other St. Paul brands can be identified here as well. One paper label reads, "Snelling Rye," a product of the Sandell Brothers of St. Paul.

Imagine what the health department would say today about the bar rags and spittoons. Drink up!

Interior view of a fancier saloon than most.