Joachim Jungwirth Brass Rail Woodcarving

In 1976, Grosse Pointe restaurateur Clarence Kavan bought the former Knapp's bar and restaurant in downtown Rochester, had the existing building razed completely, and built a completely new structure atop the old foundation. In December 1976, the front of the new Kavan's Colony East restaurant was decorated with two large figures sculpted of oak, leaning on a table over the doorway that was the main entrance to the eatery. The larger-than-life wood carving was familiar to Detroiters, as it had graced the front of the Brass Rail lounge opposite Grand Circus Park for many years. After the demise of the Brass Rail, the carving lay in storage until Clarence Kavan acquired it for his new restaurant in Rochester.

The carving is the design of Joseph Freedman, who, with partners Louis Freedman and William Boesky, operated Detroit's Brass Rail bar locations. The Brass Rail location on West Adams near Grand Circus Park was the second bar of the name opened by the partners (the first being on Michigan Avenue), and work was begun under the supervision of architect Theodore "Ted" Rogvoy in 1941. Freedman applied for a design patent for his woodcarving-framed storefront in November 1941. The work was executed by the firm of noted Detroit sculptor Joachim Jungwirth, whose company of architectural modelers and wood carvers was very prominent in Detroit. Jungwirth was a talented Austrian wood carver and was the father of sculptor Leonard D. Jungwirth, who created the famous "Sparty" statue at Michigan State University. The Brass Rail sculpture was installed under the direction of Detroit architect Rogvoy, whose name is carved in the boot of the left figure in the sculpture. The initials "BR," for Brass Rail, can be seen on the beer stein held by the left figure. The figures stand ten feet high and weigh more than 400 pounds each.

The Brass Rail lounge at 20 West Adams in Detroit opened on New Year's Eve, 1941, and celebrated a grand opening in March 1942 after installation of food service equipment was completed. It closed in the late 1960s.

Kavan's Colony East opened its doors to Rochester patrons in February 1977, and lasted until about 1980, when the restaurant's name was briefly changed to Main Street bar and grille. The Kruse and Muer organization bought took over the location in 1989. Although the restaurant has gone through ownership and name changes, the Jungwirth figures have been retained on the storefront and have made it an iconic landmark in Rochester's downtown since they were installed in late 1976.

United States Patent Office. Design For a Store Front. Joseph Freedman, Detroit, Mich. Application November 19, 1941, Design No. 133,208, patented July 28, 1942. [accessed 25 Jul 2020: https://pdfpiw.uspto.gov/.piw?Docid=D0133208&idkey=NONE&homeurl=http%3A%252F%252Fpatft.uspto.gov%252Fnetahtml%252FPTO%252Fpatimg.htm ]

"New Brass Rail Celebrates Opening," Detroit Free Press, March 12, 1942, p.19.

"Main Street Magnificents," Rochester Eccentric, December 20, 1976, p.3A.

"Kavan's Colony East Sets Opening Sunday," Rochester Clarion, February 10, 1977, p.1.

"Joachim Jungwirth," in Burton, Clarence Monroe, 1853-1932, et al. History of Wayne County And the City of Detroit, Michigan. Chicago: S.J. Clarke, 1930, v.5, pp.183-184.