The Dunkirk Historical Society and Academy Heights Neighborhood Association are on the lookout for Everything Dotterweich and Koch’s! Please call the Dunkirk Historical Museum (716-765-3458) or Kaie Smith (716-526-1155).

Why are they doing this? They are celebrating the contributions of this enterprising 19th century family and fulfilling our grant award from the Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation (NCCF) for Neighborhood Pride. They are indeed proud of our heritage and strive to preserve and enhance this historic district, its beautiful buildings and the lives that filled them. If the name is not familiar, here is the Dotterweich story.

In 1851 young immigrant and skilled brew master, George Dotterweich, from Steindorf, Germany, arrived in Dunkirk on one of the first trains across New York state. He determined that Chadwick Bay (Dunkirk’s name at that time) might be a very good place to start his business. He purchased land near Crooked Brook and by the corner of Dove and Sixth Street built his city brewery. His home still stands on Dove Street as well as several other handsome homes belonging to his brother Andrew who joined him, and later Andrew’s children. The quality of these homes attests to the success of the Dotterweich family and their continued value to this historic neighborhood.

The Dotterweich brothers were not only successful businessmen, but they became civic leaders and contributed immensely to the development of the city. They were founding members of Hose Co. 1. They contributed the lion’s share of finances for Sacred Heart Church and “St George’s “Catholic school. Dotterweich Pond was a popular ice skating destination in the winter. Frances Dotterweich designed Willowbrook Park Cemetery and Edward Dotterweich invented the School Sound System still used in schools around the world.

It is for these accomplishments and contributions that the Academy Heights Neighborhood Association and the Dunkirk Historical Society teamed up to win the NCCF Neighborhood Pride grant to celebrate Everything Dotterweich.

Fifth generation Andrew Dotterweich will be visiting Dunkirk on Thursday, May 24 and Friday, May 25, 2018 to be honored by Mayor Willie Rosas, an official of the Catholic church, James Hurtgen, President of the Dunkirk Historical Society, and a representative from the Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation. A historic marker commemorating the major influence of the Dotterweich family in the 19th century and beyond will be dedicated and erected near the site of the former brewery at Dove and Sixth Streets.

Although prohibition brought about the end of the brewery, the buildings became the home of Bedford Food Products and then Kraft Foods. These were the forerunners of Dunkirk’s food and beverage industries like Cliffstar and Cott, which are so essential to our local economy today.

The “Everything Dotterweich” Memorabilia Exhibit will be free and open to the public at the SUNY Incubator from May 21 to June 22. A reception is planned for the evening of May 24 when Andrew Dotterweich will be on hand to enjoy the recognition of his family. Local breweries have been invited to take part in the event and there will be beer samplings available at the reception.

So please, check out your attic and scan thru your photos to see if you have something to add to the display. The SUNY Incubator is a secure site and your items will be carefully registered as borrowed items. There will be a memory book available to capture stories to be treasured. If you wish to sponsor a neighborhood fire hydrant painted to represent a 19th century master brewer, contact Skeeter Tower 366-3738.