MOVE AFOOT TO REVIVE BERNIE BREWER CHALET

By Michael Horne

On Friday, September 21^st, 2007, Lakefront Brewery owner Russ Klisch told tour members at the brewery that a petition had been circulating, unbeknownst to him, to return Bernie Brewer’s Chalet and Mug to the Milwaukee Brewers organization so it could be put in use at Miller Park.

The petition was circulated on the internet by Todd Achtner, a Brewers fan, on his website truebrew.com. Klisch said he first heard about the petition when a reporter from the New York Times called about it. A story appeared in the Sunday, September 23^rd, 2007 edition of the paper.

In it, we learn that the plastic slide now in place at Miller Park lacks the character of the chalet, which Klisch bought for the astounding sum of $18,000 in October, 2000. (The astounding part is that Klisch shelled out $18,000 for a frivolity.) Bernie’s slide, which he would descend upon the occasion of a team home run, has been placed in storage, since Klisch’s insurance advisors thought a brewery was not the place for folks to hurtle themselves into an abyss. This writer was one of the first to descend the inclined plane upon its installation at the brewery, 1872 N. Commerce St., and he can attest that it was a thrill ride nonpareil.

Klisch told Times reporter Vincent M. Malozzi he would consider lending the memorabilia to the team if they would like it back.

“These artifacts tie the old place to the new place, and would be a lot more fun than that wimpy thing they’ve got going on with Bernie’s Dugout.”

If you would like to see the chalet return to the Brewers, you can sign the petition here.