Published May 11, 2012

An Ode to Charles Jacobson, Washington Financier & Brewer

Discover the story of Charles Jacobson, a Washington financier and brewer who owned the Arlington Bottling Company in 1906. Learn more about his life and his accomplishments in this blog post from Ghosts of DC.

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Arnold's India Pale Ale advertisement in the Washington Times - December 16th, 1906 — Arnold’s India Pale Ale advertisement in the Washington Times – December 16th, 1906

Who doesn’t like a good IPA these days? I found this simple ad for Arnold’s India Pale Ale in the Washington Times. Back in 1906, Charles Jacobsen was the owner of Arlington Bottling Company, located at 27th and K St. NW (right where Whitehurst Freeway now dumps out).

Charles was a first generation American, with parents would had arrived from Germany. In the 1900 U.S. Census, he was living at 1004 26th St. NW with his wife, four children and servant.

Charles and Lena Jacobson in the 1900 U.S. Census

Mr. Jacobson was originally from Baltimore, born in 1860, having married his wife Lena in 1892 when he was 32 and she was 21. He was quite an accomplished business man and major financial player in Washington as evidenced by his obituary in the Washington Post upon his death at the advanced age of 93 years old. The article was published on July 4th, 1953.

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Charles Jacobson, Washington financier who started his career as a seaman aboard one of his father’s coastwise trading vessels, died Wednesday at his home, 3101 Albermarle st. nw. He was 93.

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Coming to Washington in 1878, he worked for his uncle, Christian Heurich, at the Heurich Brewery, of which he was a director when he died.

Mr. Jacobson founded the Arlington Bottling Company in 1884. He also was former president of the Frazee Potomac Laundry Company, and founder in 1930 of the Sterling Laundry.

His divers [sic] business interests also included cars and baseball. In 1901, he was one of the first Ford dealers in the District. He also was former vice president and director of the Washington Senators. At one time he owned the Sterling Hotel, formerly located at 13th st. and Pennsylvania ave., nw. He sold the Hotel to Henry Ford.

Nephew of Christian Heurich, The Brewmaster’s Castle guy! You have to visit that place by the way. One of the best hidden history spots in D.C. Say hello to Kim while you’re there.