Businessman. He established in 1841 with his father Johann Nepomuk Schalk and brothers Adolph and Oscar the Schalk Brothers Brewery of Newark, New Jersey, the first lager beer brewery in America. The success of the brewery grew exponentially amassing a fortune for him and his family. His immigrant roots soon began to firmly settle into Newark civic life. He built the first police precinct station house and was instrumental in passing the first police-commissioner bill by which police commissioners were elected for a term of four years, only one retiring from office and one being elected each year, thus leaving three experienced members on the board. From 1862 to 1865, Schalk was a member of the city council and in 1865 was chair of the finance committee. At that time during the financial panic of the Civil War, he attained considerable prominence by advancing money to meet the current expenses of the city when the local banks refused. He was long prominent in Newark civil service serving successively as Alderman, Excise Commissioner, Police Commissioner, State Prison Inspector, Lay Judge of the Essex Court of Common Pleas (appointed 1894) and Judge of the Second Criminal Court of Newark (appointed 1897). In 1879 he and the family suffered financial difficulties and sold their brewing interests to Peter Ballantine and Sons who operated the brewery plant until March of 1972. However, Schalk Brothers Beer would return to Newark in 1912 under his son, Herman Adolph Schalk Jr. who operated Schalk Brewery until 1918 when World War I grain rationing forced the operation to close.
Businessman. He established in 1841 with his father Johann Nepomuk Schalk and brothers Adolph and Oscar the Schalk Brothers Brewery of Newark, New Jersey, the first lager beer brewery in America. The success of the brewery grew exponentially amassing a fortune for him and his family. His immigrant roots soon began to firmly settle into Newark civic life. He built the first police precinct station house and was instrumental in passing the first police-commissioner bill by which police commissioners were elected for a term of four years, only one retiring from office and one being elected each year, thus leaving three experienced members on the board. From 1862 to 1865, Schalk was a member of the city council and in 1865 was chair of the finance committee. At that time during the financial panic of the Civil War, he attained considerable prominence by advancing money to meet the current expenses of the city when the local banks refused. He was long prominent in Newark civil service serving successively as Alderman, Excise Commissioner, Police Commissioner, State Prison Inspector, Lay Judge of the Essex Court of Common Pleas (appointed 1894) and Judge of the Second Criminal Court of Newark (appointed 1897). In 1879 he and the family suffered financial difficulties and sold their brewing interests to Peter Ballantine and Sons who operated the brewery plant until March of 1972. However, Schalk Brothers Beer would return to Newark in 1912 under his son, Herman Adolph Schalk Jr. who operated Schalk Brewery until 1918 when World War I grain rationing forced the operation to close.
Bio by: K. Jacob Ruppert
Family Members
Children
Advertisement
See more Schalk memorials in:
Advertisement
