The Helwig Meat Company became the largest retailer of meat in Southern Alameda County with shops in Hayward and Pleasanton, as well as Niles and Centerville, and operated nine delivery wagons. They also wholesaled meats from their large slaughterhouse at Alvarado.
The names Hellwig and Heyer are pioneers of the South County area. The Hellwig clan was based in Alvarado and the Heyers in Hayward.
Phillip Hellwig immigrated to America in 1856 from London, England where he had been a baker. The lure of gold in Northern California had captured him. He landed from a steamer in San Francisco in 1856 and proceeded to the Southern Mines around Tuolumne before coming in Alvarado in 1857 to secure employment with a cousin who ran a slaughterhouse and retail butcher business there. After working for his cousin for eight years, he purchased the butcher business and operated it successfully since 1865.
Phillip Hellwig's two sons, Frederich and George, inherited his property consisting of 70 acres of land at Alvarado and 650 of hill pasturage.
George P. Hellwig, the second son was born in Alvarado. He became secretary and treasurer of the Hellwig Meat Company. George Hellwig was a prominent community leader in Alvarado....Excerpts from History of California.
The Hellwig Brothers butcher shop was located on Union City Boulevard, in Old Alvarado and was known all over the Washington Township. This historic structure is no longer in existence.
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