Brockhaus Couple Had Long Tenure At 200 Cedar Street On Cameron Hill

Brewery operator John Henry Brockhaus and his wife, Matilda Mardorf Brockhaus, settled at 200 Cedar St. after moving to Chattanooga from Cincinnati. Matilda was a native of Cincinnati, born there August 1, 1866.

The location was ideal and it was just a few blocks from the Chattanooga Brewing Company, which Brockhaus operated with Charles Reif until Prohibition shut it down.

J.H. Brockhaus was the son of another J.H. Brockhaus in Cincinnati. He came to Chattanooga along with Reif, another Cameron Hill resident, in 1890. Afterward, Brockhaus was involved in the People’s Building and Loan as well as the Welch Ade bottling company.

He was a lover of music and was an active member of the Chattanooga Maennerchor. He was also in the Turnverein along with others from the local German community. He was a charter member of the Elks Lodge, which eventually built a large headquarters on East Seventh Street at Walnut.

The couple had a daughter, Elsie, and sons, Harry E. and Albert C. A brother, Louis Brockhaus, and a sister, Annie, had stayed behind in Cincinnati.

When John H. Brockhaus died in July of 1936 at age 70 the funeral was held at the residence as was the custom of the day. Presiding was Rev. Charles W. Sheerin of the nearby St. Paul’s Episcopal Church.

Matilda Mardorf Brockhaus was still at 200 Cedar when she died in April of 1949. Again the funeral was at the residence.