Lost Hope

To many a Manhattanite the Hell Gate Brewery of George Ehret is a familiar landmark. To many more George Ehret's lager beer is a pleasant memory. Last week it was announced that the brewery would close on Aug. 1, would be sold, torn down.

It was the lingering hope of a light-wine-and-beer modification of the law which inspired George Ehret to keep his brewery open nearly Ten Years After. The same hope inspired his sons after his death in 1927. Near-beer, as such, would not have interested old George Ehret. From 1866 to 1920 he made real beer--drilled an artesian well through 700 feet of rock to get pure water for his product--sold more than 1,200,000 barrels per annum--employed 800 men--refused 40 million dollars for his business in 1912. Shocked, astounded at the advent of Prohibition, he turned to near-beer as a makeshift, continued to hope for a return to the good days. He died, 92 years old, in 1927, left in his will a clause asking his heirs to carry on his business, and, "if legally possible [to carry it on] as formerly conducted by me." Last March George Ehret Jr., died. The seven remaining heirs, headed by Louis Ehret, struggled along. Their employes had thinned to 123, their sales to 100,000 barrels per annum. At length they decided that theirs was a hopeless plight.