Michter's in Schaefferstown, PA. New photos and info.

[ethangsmith]

You can confirm that it's still listed on the National Parks Service web site.

We just wanted to hear it from the government itself. We were unsure if the site was correct and up to date. This way too we have names of people we spoke to in case we run into more people that say it was de-listed. I'd love to know why people are so sure it was.

[ethangsmith]

Just bought Vol. 9 from you via PayPal. I know you've done a lot of awesome research on this and I'd love to read it.

[cowdery]

I'm kicking myself for it but I can't seem to find Dick Stoll's number, though Lebanon sounds right. Give them a call. He and his wife are very nice folks.

As for the hearsay, you have to be skeptical, ask questions, ask for sources, and be prepared to piss some people off, because folks can grow very attached to their myths.

[ethangsmith]

I'll have to do that. I was told by the owner of the Michter's site that Mr. Stoll was one of a handful of people that knew the exact recipe for the whiskey.

[ethangsmith]

Did work there for 3 hours today and will be doing much more tomorrow and the next few days. I was able to finish the trimming of the shrubs in from of the jug house and still house. I started stacking the broken block from the pump house out front. I also unclogged a storm drain out front the still house so road debris will no longer accumulate out front on the paved area. I had to re-dig about 5 feet of trench and unclog the metal grate. I also did some other brush cutting along the creek and around the pump house. Tomorrow will most likely start warehouse cleanup and other repair work as I will be working with the owner of the site and he will have his front end loader and other gas powered tools available. I can't say much now, because I don't know all the details, but Michter's will not be reduced to rubble anytime soon. My wife has also been busy making phone calls and sending out emails and has gotten some VERY positive responses now from different agencies and societies.

A quick side note: If anyone on here was a member of the Michter's Collector's Society back in the day and has ANY information on it, please let me know. I know there were newsletters and also special release decanters for the members. The owner of the site also wants more information on it. We found out the one lady that lives near the distillery was a tour hostess/worker in the jug house and the owner and I are going to try and arrange an interview with her as well. Again, if ANYONE has ANY Michter's information or literature, even photos, I would love to hear about them or get copies of them!

[ethangsmith]

Cleanup has started on the collapsed Bonded warehouse C. We started stacking block and cutting up collapsed roofing and barrel racks. Also, I cleaned 2-4" of road grime and gravel off the walk along the side of the Jug House that faces Michter's Rd. If anyone else would like to help out with the cleanup efforts, even for just a day, please let me know. We have much work to do!

As I was checking out the one other warehouse, I came across this:

[ethangsmith]

Here are some pictures of the cleaned up front side:

[ethangsmith]

I was at the distillery again yesterday and delivered some of our (my wife and my) research to the owner and other interested parties that were present. If the right people were to get their hands on the place and make some initial investments, there are good amounts of money available in the form of tax credits and grants. The owner has been doing work on the property again as the weather and his health permit- mostly removing garbage and securing the place. Once the weather warms up a little, we plan on doing much more work on the distillery. I have also stepped up my research on the distillery. I will be traveling to Delaware later this month to go through the business records of the late Louis Forman. I also plan on contacting Mr. Stoll after the holiday season. I am trying to find contact information on Yvonne Bomberger Fowler to get information from her. Her websites were recently discontinued and I can't get in contact with her. If anyone has any contact information from her, please let me know! Also, if anyone else on here has Michter's or Pennco documents they would like to share with me, send me a message!

[ethangsmith]

Today my wife and I went to Wilmington, DE to the Hagley Museum to look at the Louis Forman collection they have. I found lots of great Michter's info there about the plant, sales, advertising, product development, and the distillery. Included in the documents were business plans, business projections, and lists of bulk customers and competing distilleries. I scanned many of the images and papers (I accidentally cut off a few and can't read the bottoms). And to answer one burning question once and for all: Michter's was only a brand, created by Mr. Forman from 1950-1974. During that period, Mr. Forman was buying his whiskey for his brand from Pennco, operator and owner of the distillery. In 1975, Pennco folded and Mr. Forman and a group of local businessmen bought the distillery at sheriff sale. From 1975 until 1979, Michter's Distillery, Inc. was operating the distillery and bottling their product. In 1979, Michter's Distillery, Inc. was sold to Ted Veru.