Hess Cooperage 1904 - 1966, Madison, Wisconsin
| Frank J. Hess Cooperage story by Gary Hess of Madison Wisconsin | ||
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Chain sawing trunk |
Rail siding |
Sawmill quarter sawed oak |
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Mill saw |
Loading quarter sawed oak barrel heads |
Missouri white oak staves in steam room |
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Stave bender |
Shop |
Frank Hess Sr. on Coopers Lathe |
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Barrel truss hoop driver |
Crozing lathe tool |
All 4 Hess sons with the last white oak barrel made in 1966 |
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Photos on this page are by courtesy of Gary Hess Family collection and the State of Wisconsin Historical Society |
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Frank Hess Sr. worked until he was 84. He became a cooper in Pilsen at the Pilsner Urquel Brewery. Grandson Gary Hess lives in Madison, Wisconsin, and is the family historian.
In 1904, Henry Fauerbach persuaded Frank to relocate his operation to Madison Wisconsin. Hess Cooperage was the longest and last running oak beer barrel cooperage in the US |
| Frank J. Hess | ||
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Gary Hess with pony keg (1/8th barrel) Peter Fauerbach with 1/4 barrel made by Hess |
1910 Fauerbach beer wagon with 37 barrels from Frank J. Hess Cooperage, Madison, Wisconsin | 1930's Fauerbach beer delivery truck from Ideal Truck Body --still operating in Madison |
