Some stories take the long way around… and we’re pretty glad this one did.
Where It All Began
It all started back in 1898, when entrepreneur Abraham Kingdon opened the original Lake of the Woods Brewing Company, right here in Kenora. Small, local and full of character. Then came the prohibition, and like many other breweries at the time, the good times came to a halt, and the brewery was forced to close its doors. Then, in 1927, Stanley Drewery brought Lake of the Woods Brewing Company back to life. Still, times were changing, and big national brands were taking over, and local breweries had a tough go. Eventually, in 1954, the doors closed once again, and this time, the name faded into history. For quite a while, anyway..
A Building That Refused to Quit
Let’s put the brewery story on pause, and head just down the road. Kenora’s firehall history is a bit of a wild ride. The first station, built in 1885, burned down in 1889. They rebuilt, and that one burned down too. A third stone station went up (where the Kenora Public Library now stands)… and in 1912, it also went up in flames. So, naturally, they tried again. Fourth times a charm? That same year, a new firehall was built on Second Street, and this time, it stuck. Over a century later, that 1912 firehall is still standing strong!
Bringing It All back
Fast forward to 2009, when the City of Kenora put out an RFP looking for a new use for the historic firehall. Enter Taras Manzie and Audrey Manzie, with an idea to bring brewing back to Kenora. A few years (and a lot of work) later, that idea became reality. On June 29, 2013, Lake of the Woods Brewing Company officially opened its doors, marking Kenora’s first brewery in 59 years.
Full Circle (With a Fresh Pour)
So, here we are. A brewery with roots going back to 1898, brought back to life inside a 100+ year-old firehall that came after a long line of firehalls that, well… didn’t make it.. The modern Lake of the Woods Brewing Company is inspired by our town’s brewing heritage, the lake we all love, and the historic taproom we’re lucky enough to call home. Rooted in history, built for community, and always ready for one more round. 😉
