A password gained community members entry into the Our Town Foundation’s Speakeasy Murder Mystery event, as the new 1787 Brewing Company in Hamburg was transported to the Roaring 1920s.
The sold-out event on May 5 encouraged attendees to dress in their best glad rags of the 1920s for a chance to win a door prize. Many women arrived in beaded Flapper dresses and feathered headbands while men wore suits and hats typical of the era. One gentleman wore a 1920s baseball uniform.
In addition to sampling beer brewed at the 1787 Brewing Company, there were appetizers, Speakeasy games, photo opportunities and the murder mystery, “Someone bumped off a partner at the speakeasy in town… find out who before the coppers get involved. One or more of the guests are guilty!”
“This is a great chance for everyone to see what the new brew pub looks like and get to be out with everybody in Hamburg and find out who the murderer is,” said Hamburg Mayor George Holmes. “Steve MacBeth did a great job with this place. It looks very nice… This is the start of new phase for Hamburg.”
Holmes said the OTF event selling out is a perfect indication of how popular OTF events are and a good indication of what the enthusiasm level is for the new micro-brewery scheduled to open to public the weekend of May 17.
“We’re going to look back at this as another stepping stone onto a path of prosperity and future growth in the town,” said Holmes.
OTF Executive Director Deena Kershner said the Speakeasy Murder Mystery was sold out weeks before the event.
“Everybody was excited to see the new brewery in town. Just glad to have a place in town that we can have functions like this,” said Kerschner, thanking MacBeth and the staff for allowing the OTF to host the event at the micro-brewery. “It’s a great place; this is just what Hamburg needed.”
Kerschner explained that the OTF talked about hosting a Speakeasy Murder Mystery a year ago when thinking of fundraisers for Hamburg Strand. The OTF hosted a Speakeasy Murder Mystery Bingo but the event did not go over so well so Kershner suggested hosting it at the 1787 Brewing Company.
“The response for dressing up was awesome,” said Kerschner who was among the many to wear a beaded dress, beaded necklace and a feathered headband. “I was worried that I’d be the only one that dressed up so when I saw people coming down the street all dressed up, I thought this is really neat, that everybody participating embraced the idea… It all just worked out really well. I’m just glad everybody’s having a good time.”
Rick Delussey of Hamburg, who wore suspenders, a bow tie and a hat typical of 1920s attire, said the event is awesome.
“It’s something different. I’ve never been to one before,” said Delussey, adding that he likes having a brewery in town and knowing the people who built it. “It’s like a new man cave to come hang out with friends in town and you can walk home.”
Business partners Steve Macbeth and Jim Gerner oversaw the transformation of Hamburg’s former Five and Ten into the 1787 Brewing Company. A soft opening to the public is scheduled for the weekend of May 17. The OTF Speakeasy Murder Mystery event was the first time the public could see the transformation and taste the micro-brewery’s beer.
“I think it’s the start of a great thing for the Downtown and for us entrepreneurs going into this industry which is a fun industry and a new industry that not everybody is embarking on,” said Macbeth.
Regarding the OTF event selling out, he believes it sets a precedent for what people in this area are looking for and the popularity of micro-breweries. He hopes to host similar events in the future.
