History: Robert W. Armour

Armour was born ca. 1826 in England. He traveled from Liverpool aboard the Harvest Queen, arriving in New York City on September 5, 1857. He worked as a shoemaker as late as 1870 before moving from Trenton to Waterville, where he began his brewing venture.

Armour brewed small and hop beers from his location on Common Street, across from Waterville’s City Hall, for approximately five years. He also sold cigars, fruit, and candies. In 1880, he quit the brewing venture to go back to shoemaking. A record from 1893 lists him as a boot repairer in Lewiston.  He passed away on November 17, 1898, in Lewiston.

Armour’s brewing venture was located across from Waterville’s city hall. Image from Caldwell & Halfpenny’s Atlas of Kennebec County, ME. 1879. Image courtesy of AncestryLibrary.com.

See the precise location of the Armour brewhouse on the Maine Beer Map.

 

Sources:

Will Anderson, The Great State of Maine Beer Book (Portland: Anderson & Sons’ Publishing Co., 1996) 32.

Lewiston City Directory, 1893

Maine Business Directory, 1876

Maine State Archives 1892-1907 

New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1957

U. S. Census, 1860, 1870, 1880