Correspondence from Walt Reisch to his parents George and Mary Reisch 1931-1935. In these letters to his parents, Walt wrote about all aspects of his life including the family farm, financial difficulties, his hopes for the repeal of Prohibition, and for getting the brewery started again.
Franz Sales Reisch (1808-1875), founder of the Reisch Brewing Co., moved to Springfield in 1833. The Reisch Brewing Co. operated (with a few interruptions) from 1849 to 1966 on Springfield’s north end.
He had sons Frank (1842-1896), Joseph (1850-1918), and George (1846-1936).
After the death of his brother Frank in 1896, George Reisch Sr. and his sons took over the family business. Carl Reisch was president, George Reisch Jr. was vice president, Walter Reisch was secretary, and Joseph Reisch was treasurer.
During prohibition in the United States starting in 1918, the Reisch family turned to producing flavored sodas and malted syrups from the old brewery facilities, sold grain from the family farm, and grew mushrooms in the cellars.
Walt Reisch moved to Richland, Nebraska to manage the family ranch and lumber business. He writes on letterhead “George and Mary Reisch Co. Dealers in Grain, Coal, Wire, Salt, Lumber, and All Building Materials Richland Nebraska”