Use Restrictions

Permission to publish material from Virginia Brewing Company Letter must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.

Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research.

Preferred Citation

Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: Virginia Brewing Company Letter, Ms2013-075, Special Collections, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.

Acquisition Information

The Virginia Brewing Company Letter was acquired by Special Collections before 2006.

Processing Information

The processing, arrangement, and description of the Virginia Brewing Company Letter was completed in September 2013.

Biographical/Historical Note

The Virginia Brewing Company was founded in 1889, and they hired Louis A. Scholz, who was 25 at the time and a German born and trained brewer, to be the president of the company. The company expanded by building breweries across Virginia and North Carolina. Roanoke began to hold local option elections in order pass prohibition in the city. Prohibition was passed in Virginia in 1916, and the Virginia Brewing Company was closed.

Scope and Content

The Virginia Brewing Company letter was written on September 27, 1909 by Louis A. Scholz, President of the company, and Henry Scholz, Secretary and Treasurer of the company. The letter asks that in the election held on September 30, 1909 that the city not vote in favor of prohibition, citing a potential loss of jobs.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• Cocktail History Collection
• Cocktails -- History
• History of Food and Drink
• Local/Regional History and Appalachian South
• Prohibition -- United States -- History
• Roanoke (Va.)