He also served his one year of military service, which was mandatory for all young men in Germany. During this service, Richard was instructed to draw competitive plans for military activities. His creative plans won him a first-place award.3 Early in 1883, Kletting followed his brother, Oscar, to the United States and they both traveled westward, settling in Utah in 1883. The day after he arrived in Salt Lake City, Richard was hired by architect John Haven Burton, and together they provided architectural designs for two of the territory’s largest projects — the Insane Asylum in Provo and the University of Deseret in the Capitol City. A gifted prodigy of boundless ambition, Kletting soon created his own firm, started a night school and reorganized the Territorial Library. All these activities brought Kletting into contact with future clients. He began designing everything from commercial buildings to residential homes to ecclesiastical buildings. One of those clients was fellow German, Albert Fisher, a master brewer for the Salt Lake Brewing Company. Fisher was intent on creating his own brewing company, and with Courtesy Utah Historical Society Photo from Nan Weber the backing of Aaron Keyser, he did just that. By 1884, Fisher had bought 15 acres of land bordering the Jordan River on 200 South in the western part of Salt Lake City. Kletting began by designing structures for the brewery itself. He continued with additions and alterations as Albert expanded the operation. By 1912, Kletting created a six-room brick office. It housed a lobby, bookkeeping room, two offices, an employee’s lobby, a restroom and a vault. It featured large windows, Kletting’s signature skylight, maple flooring, and metal and oak fixtures. The Fisher office building was designed in the then-modern Prairie Style. The brewery closed during state and national Prohibition but reopened after the repeal in 1934. The brewery’s glory days were between 1934 and 1955. In 1955, Fisher Brewery began a corporate relationship with Lucky Lager of California and, in 1957, was officially sold. Lucky Lager began to expand the brewery and by the fall of 1960, the Fisher name was removed. Lucky Lager became the General Brewing Company in 1963 and closed the Salt Lake City brewery in 1967. Fisher trusted Kletting’s design and construction prowess when, in 1893, he employed Kletting to design a mansion for his family on the brewery land. Albert and Alma Fisher raised their children in this home. In 1901, Kletting designed a carriage house to accompany the mansion. It was later converted to accommodate cars. Although Albert Fisher died in 1917, Alma continued to manage her family and a vigorous real estate business from home. Several family members took over the brewery business, led by the oldest son, Frank. 17
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