News

SIU’s brewery beginnings being celebrated

SIU’s brewery beginnings being celebrated

Memorial Medical Center with the former Reisch Brewery. Photo: Contributed/SIU School of Medicine


Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – Southern Illinois University School of Medicine wouldn’t be where it is today without the help of a local brewery. It is hosting an event to celebrate that fact on September 10 called, “Beer, Brats, & Beginnings”. Michael Moseley, the Director of Pearson Museum at SIU School of Medicine was a guest on The WTAX Morning Newswatch to discuss the upcoming event.

What’s the history behind this?

There was this thing called the Cambler Report in 1968. It’ actually called Education in the Health Fields of Illinois. It just sort of outlined the need for downstate medical school because there were no medical schools outside of Chicago at that time. 
And there was this shortage of doctors and for the doctors who were down here, there was no way for them to continuing education or anything like that. So, the state legislature said SIU Carbondale should set up a medical school”

Anything we can expect at this event?

“We are mostly going to focus on the history of the school when they come into the museum. Like I said, the brewery was opened in 1849 and closed in 1966 and they sold the Land Memorial. But, uh, Sangamon County is full of fans of the old brewery, and I want to point out, the Reichs had a tradition of supporting the Springfield community. So they, supported St. John’s, and the Springfield Art Association.”

Recent Headlines

2 days ago in Entertainment, Music

MusiCares to honor U2 as 2027 Persons of the Year at a star-studded Grammy-weekend gala

MusiCares will honor Irish band U2 as its Persons of the Year at a February gala kicking off Grammy Awards weekend. Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen Jr. will be celebrated at a Feb. 5 dinner and tribute concert at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.

2 days ago in Entertainment

Snoop Dogg brings the VMAs back to Los Angeles as host for Sept. 27 show

The MTV Video Music Awards are returning to the West Coast this month and they've got a very West Coast host — Snoop Dogg.

2 days ago in National, Trending

US marks 25 years since the Sept. 11 attacks

Americans are commemorating the 25th anniversary of 9/11, remembering the shock, the dead and the sweeping consequences of the al-Qaida attacks on symbols of U.S. might and prosperity.

3 days ago in Lifestyle, Trending

Girl Scouts’ first cookies for dogs will go on sale in January

Man's best friend is getting some love from the Girl Scouts. Girl Scouts of the USA said Tuesday its first cookies for dogs will go on sale in January.