By Donald R. Serfass

dserfass@tnonline.com

According to the books "100 Years of Brewing, 1803-1903" and "American Breweries II," Tamaqua was the site of several early breweries.

The first such establishment was Conrad Ifland's Brewery at Rowe Street near Swatara. It operated shortly after the Civil War.

Then Henry Kalb ran a brewery from 1874-1877. It was located at the corner of Lafayette and Swatara streets in a building that more recently served as Martha's Place Restaurant. In 1877, it was sold to Joseph A. Haefner, who ran it as Bavarian Brewery until 1884, when it was acquired by George Sinzer, who operated from 1884 until 1886.

In addition, a brewery owned by Joseph Adam of Broad Street ran from1860-1891 and Redig Brewery from the late 1800s to 1911.