Multnomah County OR Archives Biographies.....Blitz, A. I. 1882 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/or/orfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Ila Wakley iwakley@msn.com October 20, 2009, 4:28 pm Source: History of the Columbia River Valley From The Dalles to the Sea, Vol. III, Published 1928, Pages 26-27 Author: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company One of Portland's most energetic and successful business men is A. I. Blitz, president of the Blitz-Weinhard Company and officially identified with other important interests of this city. The Blitz-Weinhard Company had its origin in the Portland Brewing Company, which was established in 1906. In 1909 this concern was purchased by Mr. Blitz, who became its president. Since 1916 the plant has been devoted to the manufacture of cereal beverages, in which it has been very successful. In 1924 the old brewery was torn down and new buildings erected, and in 1928 this company was consolidated with the Henry Weinhard Company, under the name of the Blitz-Weinhard Company, the Henry Weinhard Company having been in continuous operation in Portland since 1862. The products of this plant consist of "Columbia Brew," "Blitz Brew," "Birch Beer" and "Creme Beer." The plant has a capacity of thirty thousand barrels a year, all of which is readily sold throughout Oregon, Washington and Idaho. It is sold in both kegs and bottles, the bottling being done at the old Weinhard plant, which is housed in a building one hundred by two hundred feet, and at this plant also a complete line of soft drinks is manufactured. The combined business is the largest of its kind in the northwest. A. I. Blitz was born in Detroit, Michigan, in 1882, and is a son of Samuel S. and Martha (Kaichen) Blitz. His father was the founder of the Detroit City Glass Works. The family moved to Denver, Colorado, in 1893, and there both parents died. A. I. Blitz received a public, high school and technical education. In 1899 he entered the employ of Studebaker Brothers, with whom he remained until 1905, becoming assistant manager of their branch at Denver. He then entered the merchandise brokerage business in Denver, where he operated successfully until 1909, when he came to Portland and bought an interest in the Portland Brewery, as outlined in the preceding paragraph. In 1916 Mr. Blitz enlarged his field of operations by entering the business of Lowengart & Company, at Broadway and Burnside streets, manufacturers and jobbers of millinery goods. This is a prosperous enterprise, employing from one hundred and twenty-five to two hundred men and women, and Mr. Blitz is vice president and manager of the business. He was also one of the organizers of the Oregon Auto Insurance Company, of which he is a director. He was president of the Multnomah Security Company, builders of the Broadway building, and was an organizer and the first president of the Film Supply Company of Oregon. In 1910 Mr. Blitz was united in marriage to Miss Enid Rothchild, who was born in San Francisco, California, but was brought by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Fred H. Rothchild, to Portland in young girlhood. Mr. and Mrs. Blitz have four children, Arnold I., Jr., William, Howard and Eleanor. The democratic party receives his support and he is a member of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, the Concordia Club, the Tualatin Country Club, and the Portland Chamber of Commerce. He has taken a deep interest in the upbuilding and development of his home city and was one of the organizers of the Northwest Portland Association, of which he is a director. He possesses keen business sagacity, his judgment in practical matters being held in high regard by his associates, and a very satisfactory measure of success has come to him in various ventures. He is genial and affable in manner, which has gained for him many friends, and throughout the city he commands the confidence of all who have had dealings with him. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/or/multnomah/bios/blitz853gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/orfiles/ File size: 4.3 Kb