The Nail Creek Breweries,
Utica, New York
Family tradition states that "the father of Joseph Goodliff built a log house on the corner of Varick and Edward Streets in Utica." Subsequent research has shown that Joseph Goodliff and his son Joseph B. Goodliff occupied the lot on the north west corner of Varick and Edward Streets where they operated a brewery and malt house near Nail Creek. Today, Nail Creek is gone and the site is dominated by the massive complex of the F. X. Matt Brewing Co. which occupies most of the block.
Additional research, summarized here, was conducted in an attempt to determine the relationship between the Goodliff malt house and the brewery which exists today. Based on information found so far, it appears that the Goodliff operation was separate from the Bright-Bierbauer-Matt operation which occupied the adjacent lot to the north on Edward Street.
Portion of a map from Beers Oneida County Atlas of 1874 showing "Bier Bauer's Brewery" on Edward Street behind "Goodliff's Mill" at the corner of Edward and Varick Streets.
Portion of a Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from 1884 showing Charles Bierbauer's West Utica Brewery on Edwards Street next to "J. B. Goodliff Malt Ho. Old. Vacant." This was three years after the death of Joseph B. Goodliff."
Portion of a Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from 1888 showing the same area. Charles Bierbauer's brewery is now The West End Brewing Co. and only a small section of Goodliff's malt house remains.
1789
Uriah Alverson arrived in Utica in either 1788 or 1789 but had visited the place two
years previously. He leased a farm in West Utica from General Philip Schuyler, a part of great lot number
98 in Cosby’s Manor. By trade, he was a journeyman carpenter but was also a farmer, brewer, grocer and a
painter. The “brewery lot” sold by Jeremiah Van Rensselaer to Joseph Goodliff in 1818 was formerly a part
of his farm. (Bagg, Memorial History of Utica, 1892, p. 23.)
1801
“Passing on to the year 1801 we find evidence of the residence of the following persons:
Aylmer Johnson, brewer; Martin Dakin, clerk; James Ure, brewer; Bela Hubbard, tanner.” (Bagg, Memorial History
of Utica, 1892, p. 64. Later on p. 86, “Ure’s brewery on Nail Creek” is mentioned in 1805.)
1805
“There was Ure’s brewery on Nail Creek opposite Smith and there was the new one of Inman
just opened on the corner of Broadway.” (Bagg, Memorial History of Utica, 1892, p. 86, from a list of
manufacturers in Utica in 1805.) Smith was the nail factory on the east bank of Nail Creek. Inman is usually
credited with being the first brewer in Utica but this seems to indicate that the brewery on Nail Creek
preceded him.
1810
Joseph Goodliff first appears in Oneida County in the 1810 federal census. Presumably he
arrived after the 1800 census and possibly between 1808 and 1809 based on the birth dates of his children.
Other evidence indicates 1805 as the date of his arrival.
1814
Joseph Goodliff appears on an 1814 census of landowners in Whitestown. No deed mentioning
Joseph Goodliff has been found prior to 1818, however, leasehold tenure was still in effect in some areas in
Oneida County and it is possible that he was leasing property prior to 1818. (See French’s Gazetteer, note 1,
page 471)
1817
On June 1, 1817, Jeremiah Van Rensselaer purchases property from Philip Schuyler, including
village lot number eight, apparently the same lot later sold to Joseph Goodliff.
1818
On September 30, 1818, Joseph Goodliff of Whitestown purchases the lot “commonly known by
the name of the Brewery lot” from Jeremiah Van Rensselaer of Utica for the sum of $1500. This lot was 150 feet
wide and 144 and a half feet deep and was located on the northwest corner of Varick and Edward Streets. The
price indicates that Goodliff probably was buying more than just an unimproved lot. (Oneida County deeds
31:306)
1820
Joseph Goodliff appears as a head of family on the 1820 federal census of Utica with two
foreigners not naturalized and one person engaged in manufactures.
1823
“A brewer and malster, named Joseph Goodliffe, conducted a brewery, in company with his son,
on Varick street near Nail Creek. And there in March 1823, he, too, was burned out, saving only a small insurance
on his stock. The building was reerected and the son has continued the making of malt until a recent date. In
the end he added also the sale of hygean pills.” (Bagg, Pioneers of Utica, 1877)
1828
Edward Bright and Joseph Goodliff are both listed as “maltsters and brewers” with residences
on Varick Street. “Edward Bright’s Brewery, for beer, porter, & Burton ale, is prepared to manufacture 1500
barrels annually. Joseph Goodliff’s Brewery, for beer, is of similar extent.” (1828 Utica City Directory)
1829
Bright and both Goodliffs are “maltsters and brewers” on Varick west of Hamilton. Edward Street
apparently did not exist yet. (1829 Utica City Directory)
1830
Joseph Goodliff of Oneida County “now residing in New Castle, Delaware” sells “the Brewery
lot” to his son Joseph B. Goodliff of Utica for $1500 on October 2, 1830.
Joseph Goodliff appears as a head of family on the 1830 federal census of Utica.
1831
Edward Bright offers to lease his brewery on Nail Creek with dwelling house and yard attached
for a term of years. States, “the Malt and Brewhouse are well constructed; apparatus proportionate for the
manufacturing of 50 barrels of beer per week, the cellar is spacious, the water excellent…no brewery in Utica,
or its vicinity, has been in operation for years besides this…” (Utica Sentinel & Gazette, August 2, 1831)
1832
Bright is a tanner on Varick west of Hamilton at Nail Creek and both Goodliffs are maltsters
on Varick west of Hamilton at Nail Creek. Bright apparently was unsuccessful in leasing his brewery and has
converted it or is in the process of converting it to a tannery. “Of the three breweries, one is giving place
to a tannery [Bright’s?]; one at present engaged only in malting, 5,000 bushels grain per annum [Goodliff’s?];
and the other is in extensive operation.” (1832 Utica City Directory)
1832
“The business of brewing beer began in the early days of the village. When the city was
incorporated in 1832, there were four breweries in operation: Edward Bright, on Varick street near Hamilton,
Joseph Goodliff's brewery at the corner of Columbia and Varick, the Gulf Brewery on Jay Street at the Basin,
and the Oneida Brewery at the corner of State and Court Streets.” (Walsh, Vignettes of Old Utica, 1982. The
location of the Goodliff brewery given here is incorrect. In some cases, the Utica City Directories place the
Goodliff brewery at “Varick above Columbia” but there is no other indication that it was at the corner of
Varick and Columbia. Edward Street apparently did not exist at this time.)
1833
On March 12, 1833, Joseph B. Goodliff of Utica quit claims one-half of the Brewery Lot to
[his mother or his sister?] Dorothy Catharine Goodliff, witnessed September 6, 1839 by Allen A. and Ann L.
Goodliff.
Bright is still a tanner at Nail Creek on Varick west of Hamilton. Both Goodliffs are maltsters at Nail Creek on Varick west of Hamilton. (1833 Utica City Directory)
1834
Bright is gone, what happened to his brewery/tannery? Both Goodliffs are maltsters at
Varick Street and Nail Creek, “malthouse in the rear.” (1834 Utica City Directory)
1835
Utica tax assessment roll for 1835, Joseph Goodliff's “house and malt house” on Varick
Street was assessed at $1,200, tax $2.76.
1839
Both Goodliffs are maltsters on Varick Street. (1839 Utica City Directory). L. W.
Devereux’s Historical Map of Utica in 1839 shows “Joseph Goodliffe Maltster” with two structures on
Varick Street just east of Nail Creek. Edward Street does not exist yet. No other industry (brewery or
tannery) is shown nearby except for the nail factory.
1840
Joseph and Joseph B. Goodliff both appear as heads of families in the 1840 federal census
of Utica, third ward. Each family includes one person engaged in manufactures and trades.
Both Goodliffs are maltsters on Varick Street. (1840 Utica City Directory)
1842
Both Goodliffs are maltsters on Varick Street. (1842 Utica City Directory)
1843
Joseph Goodliff is a maltster and Joseph B. is a brewer, both on Varick Street. (1843
Utica City Directory)
1844
Joseph Goodliff is a maltster on Varick Street and Joseph B. is a brewer on Bleeker
Street. (1844 Utica City Directory)
1845
Joseph Goodliff is a maltster and Joseph B. is a brewer, both on Varick Street.
(1845 Utica City Directory)
1846
Joseph Goodliff is a maltster and Joseph B. is a brewer, both on Varick Street. (1846
Utica City Directory)
1848
Joseph Goodliff is a maltster at 10 Varick and Joseph B. is a maltster and brewer at 9
Varick Street. (1848 Utica City Directory)
1849
Joseph Goodliff is a maltster at 14 Varick and Joseph B. is a maltster at 13 Varick Street.
(1849 Utica City Directory)
1850
The families of Joseph and Joseph B. Goodliff both appear in the 1850 federal census of
Utica. Each are owners of property valued at $4000. Occupations were not reported.
Joseph Goodliff is a maltster at 14 Varick and Joseph B. is a maltster at 13 Varick Street. (1850 Utica City Directory)
1851
Both Goodliffs are maltsters, Joseph at 76 Varick and Joseph B. at 70 Varick. (1851 Utica
City Directory)
1852
Both Goodliffs are maltsters, Joseph at 76 Varick and Joseph B. at 70 Varick. (1852 Utica
City Directory)
1853
The interest of Joseph B. Goodliff in the brewery lot is sold at sheriff’s sale to Allen A.
Goodliff for $375.
Joseph Goodliff is a malt dealer on Varick 2 south of Edward; Joseph B. is a maltster next door on the northwest corner of Varick and Edward. This is the first time that Edward Street is mentioned. (1853 Utica City Directory)
Joseph Goodliff dies July 19, 1853, aged 82 years, 11 months.
1854
Charles Bierbauer, W.U. Brewery, west side of South Hamilton, 3 south of Court. Joseph B.
Goodliff is a maltster, house corner of Varick and Edward. (1854 Utica City Directory).
1855
Allen A. Goodliff and wife sell the brewery lot to Ellen E. Goodliff for $300.
The 1855 New York State census lists Catharine Goodliff, agent for Morrison’s Pills living next door to Charles Bierbauer, brewer. Joseph B. Goodliff, maltster, is living nearby.
Charles Bierbauer, West Utica Brewery, south side of Edward, 1 west of Varick. Joseph B. Goodliff, maltster, house corner of Varick and Edward. (1855 Utica City Directory.)
1856
Joseph B. Goodliff, maltster, house corner Edward, 1 west of Varick. (1856 Utica City
Directory.)
1857
Joseph B. Goodliff, maltster, house 2 Edward. (1857 Utica City Directory.)
1858
Joseph B. Goodliff, maltster, house 2 Edward. (1858 Utica City Directory.)
1859
Dorothy Catharine Royce Goodliff, wife of Joseph Goodliff, dies May 26, 1859, aged 84 years.
Joseph B. Goodliff, maltster, house 2 Edward. (1859 Utica City Directory.)
1860
Joseph B. Goodliff is a maltster in the 1860 federal census of Utica.
Joseph B. Goodliff, maltster, house 2 Edward. (1860 Utica City Directory.)
1861
Joseph B. Goodliff, maltster, house 2 Edward. (1861 Utica City Directory.)
1862
Joseph B. Goodliff, maltster, house 2 Edward. (1862 Utica City Directory.)
1864
Joseph B. Goodliff, maltster, house 2 Edward. (1864 Utica City Directory.)
1865
The 1865 New York State census lists Joseph Goodliff, occupation maltster, in Utica. Charles
Bierbauer, occupation bierbrewery, is living in the next house. Katharina B. Goodliff, age 54, is living
with the Bierbauer family.
1866
Joseph B. Goodliff, maltster, house 76 Varick. (1866 Utica City Directory.)
1867
Joseph B. Goodliff, maltster, house 76 Varick. (1867 Utica City Directory.)
1868
Joseph B. Goodliff, maltster, house 60 Varick. (1868 Utica City Directory.)
1869>
Joseph B. Goodliff, maltster, house 60 Varick. (1869 Utica City Directory.)
1870
Joseph B. Goodliff, age 70 years, appears on the 1870 federal census, occupation maltster,
value of real estate $4000. Charles Bierbauer, lager beer brewer, appears nearby, value of real estate,
$13,000.
Joseph B. Goodliff, maltster, residence 60 Varick. (1870 Utica City Directory.)
1871
Joseph B. Goodliff, maltster, residence 60 Varick. (1871 Utica City Directory.)
1872
Joseph B. Goodliff, maltster, residence 100 Varick. (1872 Utica City Directory.)
1873
Joseph B. Goodliff, maltster, residence 10 Fay. (1873 Utica City Directory.)
1874
Beers 1874 Atlas of Oneida County shows “Goodliff’s Mill” located on the northwest corner
of Varick and Edward Streets on Nail Creek. “Bierbauer’s Brewery” is shown immediately behind (north of)
Goodliff’s on Edward Street.
Joseph B. Goodliff, maltster, residence 124 Varick. (1874 Utica City Directory.)
1875
Joseph B. Goodliff, maltster, residence 124 Varick. (1875 Utica City Directory.)
1878
Joseph B. Goodliff, residence 124 Varick. (1878 Utica City Directory.)
1879
Joseph B. Goodliff, residence 124 Varick. (1879 Utica City Directory.)
1880
Joseph B. Goodliff, age 80 years, appears on the 1880 federal census at 174 Varick Street,
occupation maltster. The family of Charles Bierbauer, lager brewer, was around the corner at 11 Edward
Street.
Charles Bierbauer, brewer, 11 Edward, residence same. Joseph B. Goodliff, maltster, residence 124 Varick. (1880 Utica City Directory)
1881
Joseph B. Goodliff, maltster, residence 124 Varick. (1881 Utica City Directory)