Beer in the United States
On January 16, 1919, the Eighteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution was enacted into law, creating the Prohibition era, wherein the production, sale and transportation of alcoholic beverages was made illegal. All legal American brewing came to a halt when prohibition was imposed, though the earlier temperance movement had already reduced the number of breweries significantly. Only a few breweries, mainly the largest, were able to stay in business by manufacturing near beer, malt syrup, or other non-alcohol grain products, in addition to soft drinks such as colas and root beers. Production and shipping of alcohol was largely confined to illegal operations that could deliver compact distilled beverages—smuggled rum and domestic moonshine—more efficiently and reliably than bulkier products such as beer.
Washington Brewery Company
Like many others, the Washington Brewery Company died with the Volstead Act of 1919 which established Prohibition in the United States. The lot was purchased on May 10, 1924 by Charles E. Myers through the Munsey Trust Company. Rumors were that Mr. Myers was going to set up an Apiary. The brewery was demolished in September 1924 to be replaced by a public school. Today, the Stuart-Hobson Middle School, located at 410 E Street NE, stands on the grounds previously occupied by the Washington Brewery Company.