Rathskellers
A Rathskeller is a German term for a bar below street level. The term originally was applied to restaurants that were located in the basement of city hall.
Kleman Rathskeller
Pittsburg, PA
c.1900-1910 W/ Striker
John P. Kleman was born in Pennsylvania in 1862. The 1900 census lists him as a "saloon owner." He owned and operated Kleman's Rathskeller in Pittburgh, during the early 1900s. He and his sister Anna C. Kleman lived on Frankstown Avenue in Ward 19, Allegheny County, Pittsburg, PA. The 1910 census lists John as being self employed and by 1920, he had become a hotel keeper.
Marlborough Rathskeller
New York, NY
c.1900-1910 W/ Striker
The Marlborough Rathskeller, which operated inside the Marlborough Hotel, was located on Broadway at 36 & 37 Streets at Herald Square in New York City. The impressive six-story Victorian brick hotel opened in 1888. In 1908, the famous magician, Harry Houdini, and several other famous magicians of the time, are known to have performed at the hotel during the Fourth Annual Dinner of the Society of American Magicians. The hotel and its Rathskeller closed soon after Prohibition was enacted in 1920.
Rathskeller Cafe
Moorehead, MN
c.1900-1910 W/ Striker
German emigrant and former Fargo brewer, Thomas Erdel, opened a saloon named the Rathskeller Over the Rhine in Moorehead, Minnesota during the early 1900s, which catered to an "elite clientele." It offered European beers and old style German lunches. The saloon and cafe was located at 1st Street and 2nd Avenue North, and extended over the Red River. It has been noted that the saloon contained an escape tunnel for customers to use when necessary.
