Frederick Lauer and the first public statue in Reading

Born in 1810 in Gleisweiler, Germany, Frederick Lauer moved to Reading, Pennsylvania in 1823. He learned the art of brewing from his father and opened a brewery in the city, where he employed many German immigrants. During his time as a brewmaster, Lauer became involved in politics and philanthropy. He served in several charity organizations and was instrumental in getting Reading reclassified from a borough to a city. In the national brewing industry, he helped form the United States Brewers' Association and served as its first president.

After his death in 1883, the Brewers' Association sought to commemorate him with a statue in Reading's City Park. With the city council's approval, the group funded the creation of a life-size bronze statue designed by G. Francis Stephens. This monument would be the first public statue in both the park and the city as a whole. While there was some opposition from the temperance movement, the city generally supported the monument based on Lauer's philanthropy and public service.

According to the Historical Society of Berks County, "Frederick Lauer was represented in the first monument erected in Reading because he embodied the ideals of a large part of his community". The statue stands as a testament to a man who felt his social mission as a brewer was tied to the cause of national temperance and personal liberty. The monument was dedicated in 1885 with a city-wide parade, and it continues to be maintained by the Historical Society of Berks County today.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons