The Apple Creek Brewing Company

Joseph Ramseyer built a brewery in 1860, locating in Wooster Township, just outside of Wooster city, at the intersection of Dalton Road (now Old Lincoln Way), Apple Creek Road (Sylvan Road) and Pittsburgh Avenue. This area was known as Soaptown. He named his company Apple Creek Brewing Company because of its proximity to the creek of the same name. The water from the creek was used for the production of both ale and lager.

At first the brewery produced only small quantities beer. By the mid 1870s production was over 2000 barrels per year. The building was three stories in height and had an attached ice house, which was used to store ice taken in the winter a large pond that adjoined the brewery. The dam which created the pond was called Sprucies Dam, which was a popular swimming location through the 1950s.

Over the years the brewery was owned and operated by several men. In 1870 it was purchased by Martin Rich and Jacob Roth. Roth sold his interest to Jacob Mougey in 1874. Rich sold his interest to John Graber in 1879. Graber and Mougey were brothers-in law. Mougey sold his interest to George Renner, Sr. and his son George Renner, Jr. in 1882. By 1884 Graber had bought both Renner shares and operated the plant alone until 1888, selling it to Frederick Weis. Weis bought the plant on land contract, where he agreed to make payments to Graber. In 1890 Weis defaulted on the loan and Graber assumed ownership. At this point Graber renamed to company Wooster Brewing Company. In 1895 Graber once again sold the brewery, this time to Robert Weisman, of Chicago, and F. Runge, who was a former superintendent of a brewery in Monterey, Mexico. One year later Graber bought the brewery for a third time.

By this time a well had been drilled, which provided a more adequate supply of water for the growing company. Also, the pond ice had been replaced by mechanical ice production. In 1903 a stock company was formed the company became know as the Wooster Artificial Ice and Brewing Company. The investors were all local restaurant and saloon owners. All served Wooster Lager at their establishments, which at the time came in quart bottles which sold for a nickel. Graber's son, Samuel, remained with the company and eventually became it's president.

In 1908, the Rose Law was passed, which allowed rural Wayne County townships to vote to be dry. This had a negative affect on the company's brewing profits. Luckily, the ice business was strong and allowed the company to stay afloat.

The Mougey Ice Company was formed in 1913 by Jacob Mougey. It was located at 545 Pittsburgh Avenue. Its source of ice was the brewery.

When prohibition was enacted in 1918, brewing operations ceased and Graber sold the company to Mougey Ice. The Mougey Beverage Company was formed in the mid  1920s, bottling cola in the old plant.  In 1927 the Mougey companies closed. The company's assets were sold to Andrew Smith, who continued to use the facilities to produce ice. Upon his death in 1937, the property became part of his estate and was eventually sold to the State of Ohio.

The old brewery building stood until the early 1960s. The were razed to make way for the US30 bypass.

 Today, Wayne County once again is producing fine beer. JAFB Wooster Brewery is in operation and making fresh, handcrafted and award winning brews.