Tumwater Brew House - An Original Landmark

 What do these structures have in common?

You'll probably note the brick facade and the verdigris copper pyramid hip type roof. People from the greater Olympia area will quickly recognize that these structures all resemble the Old Brew House.

These buildings are all located in the small city of Tumwater, and if you drive around Tumwater and pay attention, you'll discover many more buildings with the same style. They all pay homage to the original historic Tumwater landmark: The Old Brew House.

                                                                         The Brew Houses is a five-story Italianate building, constructed from Chehalis brick and Tenino sandstone. The Old Brewhouse is the oldest industrial property in the South Puget Sound region. It was the home of the famous Olympia Brewing Company and is listed on the National Historic Register.

Since the Olympia Brewing Company closed its doors, the property has gone through several owners and is currently owned by Well B Ng LLC, All American Bottled Water Corporation.

The structure is in a sad state of disrepair and is unsafe for occupation.

I became enchanted with the building on my first visit to Olympia years before I moved here. It reminded me of the many dilapidated castles and villas one can find in Italy. Situated on the shores of where the Deschutes River flows into Capitol Lake, the iconic Brew House is visible to thousands of drivers on Interstate 5 every day.

The Brew House is a significant landmark and is on the list of "Washington State's Ten Most Endangered Historic Properties". 

I can visualize a dozen uses for a structure of this iconic stature. Its close proximity to the freeway, to the cities of Olympia and Tumwater, as well as its position on the lake abutting Tumwater Falls Park, could make this a top destination point for tourists and locals alike. It could be used as a convention center, a spa retreat, as hotel, an apartment building, or a mixed shopping and dining venue.

In the mean time the building is being infiltrated by curious explorers who are attracted by abandoned buildings and post their adventures on this site:

http://www.uer.ca/forum_showthread.asp?fid=3&threadid=43474

The cities of Tumwater and Olympia have a great opportunity and a special duty to preserve this historic gem. In return the restored Brew House would enrich the region with a unique attraction and an economic opportunity. With no preservation program and no plans for its future, the old building will decay and eventually disappear. The only thing left to remind us of its existence would be the buildings that echo its design.

Learn more about the Brew House here:

http://www.trpc.org/programs/historic+preservation/historic+properties/oldbrewhouse.htm

http://brewerygems.com/olympia.htm

http://www.oldbrewhouse.org/

Sandy Nelson
Olympia Realtor®, associate Broker, GRI, ASP, Built Green
360-789-7505
www.SandyNelsonRealEstate.com