Located on Hauxhurst Avenue, on a tall cliff overlooking the Lincoln Tunnel Approach and Helix is a German-style castle that dominates the landscape. Completed in 1904 at the cost of $75,000, the mansion has 17 rooms, ornate woodwork, marble, stained glass, and several fireplaces. It was once the home of Wilhelm Joseph Peter, a German immigrant turned successful beer baron. Now long deceased, Peter was an avid painter, once having an artist studio located within the home. He continued this hobby up until a few weeks before his death. When the 1930s rolled around, the homes along Boulevard East were acquired by the Port Authority to make way for the construction of the Midtown-Hudson Tunnel. Somehow, the Peter Mansion remained and was given over to the town. It was opened in 1942 as the Weehawken Public Library. Wilhelm Joseph Peter, also known as William Peter, was born March 16, 1832 in Archen, Germany during the German revolutions of 1848–49. The revolutions were a series of protests and rebellions in the states of the German Confederation, which included the Austrian Empire. He had no choice but to escape for fear of persecution, as he was the son of one of the leaders in the revolution. Starting in boyhood, he had always hoped to be a brewer and this made his parents more than unhappy, but he continued on with his dreams. Eight years after immigrating to the United states, he rented a place for $44 a year, with the option to buy and started a little brewery in West New York, with a kettle capacity of three barrels a day. His business thrived for many years. When his time was up he decided against buying there, and settled on the cheaper properties in Union Hill and was closer to the the summer shows and other entertainment that was taken in by the people of New York. Not too far from the library on Peters Street is what remains of his business, the The William Peter Brewing Corporation. It is now home to a storage facility. Peters Street was once called Weehawken Street. Across from the storage facility was a structure I had the pleasure of photographing a few times the past two years. Sadly, on a recent return trip the structure pictured above had been demolished and was no longer there. The brewery operation was shut down by Prohibition in 1920. In 1933, the brewery was issued a U-Permit No. NJ-U-329 allowing the resumption of brewing operations. Trade Names for the brewery at Peter Street between Hudson & Park Aves, Union City, NJ: William Peter, Palisade Brewery (Hudson Avenue & Weehawken Street) 1859-1889 William Peter Brewing Co. 1889-1920 The William Peter Brewing Corp. (Readdressed to 651/653 Hudson Avenue) 1933-1940 The William Peter Brewing Corp. (Readdressed to 3315/3317 Hudson Avenue) 1940-1949 George Ehret Brewery, Inc. (Readdressed to Peter Street between Hudson & Park Aves) 1949-1950 :http://www.eberhardschneider.com/ In June of 1918, William Peter passed away and now lies in rest at the Flower Hill Cemetery in North Bergen. At the time, it was the largest funeral in New Jersey history and every famous brewer attended. Laura Gonzalez Further Reading
http://www.panynj.gov/bridges-tunnels/lincoln-tunnel-history.html http://www.weehawken-nj.us/library.html Flower Hill Cemetery Early Breweries of New Jersey By Harry B. Weiss and Grace M. Weiss Drinking In America: A History By Mark Edward Lender, James Kirby Martin
17 Comments
Toni Pappas
10/1/2017 06:55:47 pm
I am William Peter's great granddaughter. When was the structure demolished? Why? I am very sad to hear this news.
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Andrew
8/2/2018 05:22:08 pm
Hello my name is Andrew, in my grandmother's possessions (she has passed on ) I have a picture of the building from way long ago . Not exactly sure when but I'm trying to trace why she had this photo and if there is any relation on my half to this former company . If u would like to reach out to me my email is [email protected]
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Kelly
2/11/2019 12:07:45 pm
Hi Toni. I live nearby and it appears the structure was demolished to make way for a new apartment building.
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Toni Pappas
10/1/2017 06:58:20 pm
Is the historic marker for William Peter still standing at the top of Peter Street?
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Kelly
2/11/2019 12:09:09 pm
Yes - just saw it there today. :)
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Virginia
10/10/2017 05:21:37 pm
This is my great great grandfather and would love to know more about him
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Toni Pappas
12/21/2019 06:13:54 pm
I would love to communicate with you. I am William Peter's great granddaughter.
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Toni Pappas
6/21/2020 01:30:15 pm
How are you related? I'd love to communicate with you.
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Laura
2/9/2018 06:23:57 pm
@Toni Pappas I was saddened as well when I had returned to shoot the building again. It must had happened shortly before I posted this story in either June or July of 2016. Such a loss for the history of the area. Have you been to the area recently?
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Toni Pappas
9/30/2018 12:53:47 pm
I have not visited the area since the historic marker was erected. I hope to be in the area in December.
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laura
2/9/2018 06:30:19 pm
Sorry for the late reply . I had thought the response had gone through but noticed it did not . I believe the structure was demolished shortly before I posted the story which would have been either June or July of 2016, such a loss to the history of the area.
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Hubert Schriever
12/17/2018 05:10:53 am
William Peter was my Grand Grand granduncle. i live in Germany at the town where he was born. I would like to hear something about the Family today.
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Toni Pappas
12/21/2019 06:12:20 pm
I am William Peter's great granddaughter. What town do you live in? I grew up next to the Wm Peter Brewery in Union City, NJ. The Brewery building still stands.
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Hubert Schriever
5/4/2020 06:20:48 am
I live in Achern (Germany) where William Peter was Born. Is anybody else from his Family still alive other than you? My english is not very good, my daughter is writing for me. But I would really like to learn About your Family, since we have Family in comon!
Hubert Schriever
5/4/2020 02:21:54 am
ich lebe in Achern in BRD. das ist die Stadt, in der William Peter geboren wurde. hier lebte auch seine Familie und seine Nachkommen noch heute.
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Toni Pappas
6/21/2020 01:28:39 pm
I would love to visit Achern. I believe I am the only direct descendant alive, however there may be others. Do you have information about William Peter?
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ABOUT THE AUTHORLaura Gonzalez is a photographer, blogger and historian currently residing in Newark, New Jersey. Archives
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