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Findlay Bottle Club Newsletter

FEBRUARY 2015

Some belated sad news:

Chuck Dittmar passed on October 9, 2014.

On behalf of the Findlay Club, our deepest condolences to the Dittmar family. Chuck will be missed by his insulator and bottle hobby.friends.
_______________________________

Naughty History of Valentine's Meat Juice in the Little Amber Bottle - Happy St. Valentine's Day, Antique Bottle Collectors

You don't need teeth to enjoy Valentine's Meat Juice!

Read all about this bottle online here.

Here are the most recent articles from our website. There are lots of photos -- Enjoy!

Featuring Findlay: Art Glass Tiles Lunch Lecture Feb. 5 2015 at Hancock Museum

Featuring Findlay: Art Glass Tiles

Local historian Rob Tong is giving a lecture on the history of the companies that made these beautiful Cathedral window type colored glass tiles.

"Art & Window Glass of Northwest Ohio"

Where: The Hancock Historical Museum in Findlay, Ohio [Google Map]

Address: 422 West Sandusky Street, Findlay, OH 45840

Phone:(419) 423-4433

When: Feb. 5, 2015 at 12:00 noon

Rob writes: "At the Brown Bag Lecture, I will be giving a very interesting program on many of the local area glass factories that created colored and cathedral style art glass during the gas booms days. This is a side of the glass industry that few have ever studied. I hope you all can make it."

Website: http://www.hancockhistoricalmuseum.org/brown-bag-lectures/

Bag lunches are available for purchase. Includes sandwich, chips, cookie and a drink. Guests who wish to purchase a lunch should arrive between 11:30-11:45am. Lectures will begin at noon.

Will Punxsutawney Phil Punk Us Again? Groundhog Day Vintage Bottles

Every February 2nd we wonder, will Punxsutawney Phil see his shadow? Will we have yet more winter? Something tells me we will have many more weeks of cold, no matter what the famous Groundhog does or does not see!

See more about Groundhog Day lore, and more vintage Punxsutawney Phil collectibles on my 'Tique Talk blog - link.

There aren't too many vintage bottle related Groundhog Day goodies. There are some great items from the city of Punxsutawney. See a few more items on our website here.

FEATURE ARTICLE

The Good's Dairy: History Timeline of the Pickerington Creamery ~ Ohio

A History Timeline of the Pickerington Creamery

by Joe Clevenger

In 1900 a small group of local farmers organized and started a local creamery called Pickerington Elgin Butter Co. and continued as a co-op for about 10 years.

Between 1910 and 1912, the co-op was brought by Creighton and Homer Pearce and renamed the Pearce Brothers Creamery.

In 1913 Arthur J. Good came to Pickerington, Ohio as a butter maker for the creamery.
Six months later Creighton Pearce retired from the business and sold his half of the business to Mr. Good.
At that time the creamery became known as The Pearce and Good Creamery.
In 1913 the plant churned 113,000 pounds of butter.
A few years later Homer Pearce wanted to retire and so Mr. Good became the sole owner of the creamery.
At that time the creamery became known as thePickerington Creamery.

In 1921 the creamery burned to the ground.

Six months later in 1922 a new plant was built.
By the mid 1920s the creamery bought the West Jefferson Creamery of Columbus, West Jefferson and Zanesville.

West Jefferson Creamery milk bottle. [On ebay here]

During the late 1920s several more smaller companies were bought out by the Pickerington Creamery.

With the coming of better roads and trucks, the old horse drawn equipment was replaced with a modern fleet of trucks.
Three modern 1,200 pound churns were added and theMayflower brand name was copyrighted.
At that time the product line was expanded to include eggs, poultry, dried buttermilk, cheese, and non-fat dry milk.
During 1935 an American cheese plant was put into operation in Bremen, Ohio. The cheese plant cost $15,000 to build.
With the use of closed body trucks to pick up the milk and cream from the farmers, it was no longer feasible to pick up and handle poultry and this operation was eliminated in 1938.
Then in April of 1942 a new milk drying plant was put into operation, near the creamery, in Pickerington. The milk drying plant handled 150,000 pounds of milk each day. This plant cost $50,000 to build.
During 1949 the butter churns were replaced with new modern stainless steel churns.

With the use of this new equipment the brand name was changed to Mayflower Gold-n-Flow.
Pickerington Creamery was the first in Ohio and the third in the United States to install this continuous flow type of butter making equipment.
In 1957 the creamery purchased the Warsaw Cheese Company, of Warsaw, Ohio. The creamery used this location as a milk receiving plant.

Then in 1958 the Chief Dairy, of Upper Sandusky was purchased from the Isaly Milk Company. Isaly's had used the plant to produce butter and cheese. The Pickerington Creamery used this location for milk receiving and cheese production.
In 1959 the Pet Milk plant at Fremont, Ohio was purchased to be used for a milk receiving plant. After a while this plant was closed and the milk was sent to the Chief plant in Upper Sandusky.
By the early 1960s the Pickerington Creamery's producing and marketing area covered half of Ohio and parts of West Virginia, Kentucky, Indiana and Pennslyania.

Arthur J. Good died in 1960. His namesake son took over until his death in 2008 (see AJ Good Jr.'s obituary here).
The Pickerington plant was closed in November of 1972.
At that time all Pickerington Creamery butter production was moved to the Upper Sandusky plant.
By September of 1973 the Pickerington plant was sold toDMI (Dry Milk Institute) of Louisville, Kentucky. [AJ Good Jr. became a director of the American Dry Milk Institute.]
The Upper Sandusky plant was closed, in 1978, bringing an end to the Pickerington Creamery Company.
DMI continued to use the Pickerington plant to produce powder milk and whey until the plant was closed in 1989.

Arthur J. Good [Photo source]

Hunter's Run Farm, later owned by A.J. Good, and renamed Mayflower Farms. [Photo source]

Artist Pam Montgomery's rendering of Mayflower Farms Barn. [Available here]

Excerpt of AJ Good Jr.'s obituary. [Source]

Some Pickerington Creamery collectibles:

[Photo source]

PICKERINGTON TIMES-SUN

To operate this business, the Pickerington Creamery needed lots of water, so around 1925 the company constructed its own elevated water storage tank.

The steel water tower held 85,000 gallons and stood approximately 100 feet above the surrounding area on four built-up structural steel columns. This 1973 photo shows the water tower adjacent to the creamery's cheese and egg barn on West Borland Street.

This same water tower helped provide water to Pickerington residents prior to the city's construction of a 500,000-gallon elevated water storage tank in 1981. With the new city-owned tank in place, the creamery water tower discontinued operations shortly thereafter.

During the past several years, efforts were made to partner with the city and refurbish the water tower for use as an Olde Pickerington Village landmark. But because of the cost and safety issues, the tower was dismantled Sept. 9, 2013.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Bonus: Here's an article about Portland, Oregon's Mayflower Dairy brand.

Featuring Findlay Ohio
Brunswick Billiard Parlor ~ Vintage Chet Whipple Trade Token

"Featuring Findlay" looks at a trade token that reads:
CHET WHIPPLE / FINDLAY OHIO / GOOD FOR 5c IN MERCHANDISE

The token doesn't say what the business is, but research finds that Chester 'Chet' Whippleowned the BRUNSWICK BILLIARDS PARLOR, on Main St. in Findlay, with "Recreation for Gentlemen".

Ads with Chet Whipple's name run from 1922 until 1931. Whipple sold out in 1931.[Source]

"MAKING IMPROVEMENTS Ralph Esterly and L. H. Scothorn Buy Brunswlck Billiard Parlor -- Extensive Improvements are being made at the Brunswick Billiard Parlor in the Ewlng building and will be opened for business in about ten days. Ralph Esterly, of Davis street, and L. H. Scothorn, of Elm street, have purchased the recreation parlor and taken a long time lease on the rooms. The entire interior Is being redecorated, some new equipment Is being added and an entire new stock selected. The barbershop will be in operation in the near future in addition to a shining parlor, reading room and card room. It is planned by the owners to receive ticker reports on all baseball games. Reports of all sports will be received throughout the year. The business vas formerly owned and operated by Chester Whipple."

No other info on Mr. Whipple, and no more info or ads for the Brunswick Billiard Parlor. Perhaps the new owners changed the name.

The 2015 January Muncie Fruit Jar Get Together was so much fun!
Room hopping was lively, with over 50 rooms booked, which means at least 100 collectors roaming the halls, making deals, telling stories, and having a BALL!

Jeff Klingler had such a great time, he felt inspired to write a poem about it.
Without further ado, but with apologies to Clement Clarke Moore, here is his Ode to Muncie:

twas the day after muncie, i drove all alone

jars in the back seat, i headed toward home

i reflected on all of the fun that we had

but now it was over, it was kinda sad.

the party, the people, like nothing at all

we all came to muncie, the place made by BALL

it started on thursday, temps around minus four

the truck was so cold as i opened the door.

i let it warm up, 'bout 30 minutes i'd say

the glass and the temps won't mix well today

the drive was not long, around 100 miles

the closer i got, i just was all big smiles

the excitement was rising, the level was high

once at the hotel, all i said was OH MY!

there was wheeler and munson, jon black was there too

and so many others were part of the crew

the doors were all open, as i wandered the halls

there were great jars all over, and all colors of BALLs

there were ambers and green ones, and even BALL BLUE

great jars to be had, some for me and for you

i found a few keepers, as i roamed up and down

the halls of the hotel, there was never a frown

spurgeon showed up with his personal stash

jars direct from his shelf, for piles of cash

the rooms got so crowded, no chance to be lazy

cause the frenzy was hot, my eyesight got hazy

the closures, the colors, and sizes galore

i got kinda dizzy, almost fell on the floor

more rooms would be opened, more jars got put out

the selection was awesome, that's what it's about

by friday the booty was piling high

and the guys from montana were making me cry

they scored those 2 jars just minutes before

i got in the room... they beat me once more

but it's all in great fun, we love all this glass

the place is sure hoppin, we're having a gas

in room 126 we party till two

the drinks they were flowing, 1 for me 2 for you

rich leece had some extra, i'm sure he would say

but did he remember the very next day?

and then it happened, as quick as a flash

joe m did a fumble, that ended with ... CRASH!

a pretty deep green jar, a beauty for sure

that CFJ is gone now, there would be no cure

we all can tell stories, like this one told here

seeing piles of glass, we cry in our beer.

i've done it myself, as i ran down the hall

got way too excited, and broke a GREAT ball..... [Read that story here.]

saturday morning the facebookers came

and joined in the fun, started playing the game

buying and trading, and seeing it all

there's nothing but action in these hallowed halls

we all sure are crazy, chasing the jar

we come from all over, from near and from far.

and then comes the meeting and great jars are shown

eyes pop from our heads, with all minds getting blown

eli's pint profile, those immersers and more

wild colors and tom sproat's big crash on the floor

chuck erb does some magic, that trick's never old

i show them a jar that's colored like gold

later that nite the action winds down

don kelly and i go out on the town

some beers and a burger and plenty to say

talk about jars that we saw there each day

pretty awesome, incredible, spectacular too!

the fun NEVER STOPS in this town of BALL BLUE.

that evening i sit with eli and rich,

joe c and mike mosier stop by for a bit

we talk about jars well into the nite

the jario is missing this wonderful sight

see jar friends we have here are always so great

we stay up and visit until it is late

sunday comes early, it's off to the show

it's all almost over, so downtown i go

i say my goodbyes to those smiling faces

all good friends of mine from all different places

i leave muncie town, but have one more stop

i drive down to brucie's and once more to shop

he saved me a jar, a beautiful BALL

an olive green 4 liner, the darkest of all.

it matches 4 others with mold number 5

it adds to my line up, and that is no jive.

sister jars, the same mold, all exactly alike

except for their colors, a wonderful sight.

we talk jars for hours, surrounded by THEM

the darkest of darkies, and all of them gems

black bart like no other, and go withs there too

it's BALL JARS forever, including BALL BLUE.

and then i head home, to beat out the storm

that ice on the windshield is starting to form.

it's slicker than snot, the truck starts to wiggle

but with good jars aboard i just start to giggle.

i really am happy with booty galore

but it's good friends i have that make spirits soar

i pull in the drive it's a wonderful sight

HAPPY JARRING TO ALL AND TO ALL A GOOD NITE

[Originally posted here.]

The Mysterious Keystone Coffee Jar ~ Vintage Product Bottle or Early Thermos?

Keystone Coffee Jar -- Read online here.

Rare Early 1800's Historical Flasks Antique Bottles

SHOW'n'TELL SESSION - Historical Flasks

[Originally posted in 2009, but well worth repeating.]

A few dealers at our bottle show got together and did a special showing (showing off!) of some special bottles.

Article and pix by Todd Knisely

Pattern Molded Club Bottles

The pattern molded club bottles show here were actually used as table bottles or table decanters. They are similar to the famous "Zanesville Swirl" bottles seen in many auction catalogs and bottle shows around the country.

The difference is a "club" shaped bottle has noticeably straighter sides which eliminates the bulbous form seen in the "swirls or globs".

Although this type of bottle was popular in America from the 18th century, the ones pictured here are all from 1797-1830's period.

They are from various glasshouses ranging from the three New Geneva glasshouses (the first being started by Albert Gallatin) in Pennsylvania near West Virginia, O'Hara & Craig in the Pittsburgh District, and branching westward into the Monongahela and Ohio Valley regions following the Ohio River all the way over to Moscow, Cincinnati, and Kentucky.

Read the rest online.

Findlay Bottle Club Membership Drive ~ Sing Along Now: Dues Be Due - Be Doo...

SING ALONG NOW:

DUES BE DUE-BE-DUE...

FINDLAY BOTTLE CLUB MEMBERSHIP DUES ARE DUE

Please consider showing your support of the Findlay Bottle Club and Show by joining.

Annual dues are just $12.

Just hit the Paypal Pay Now button on our website to use your credit card. Thank You!

You may pay by check by snail-mail: Findlay Antique Bottle Club / PO Box 1329 / Findlay, Ohio 45839

Meetings are held on the 2nd Sunday of each month, at the Findlay University, @ 7pm. Go to the "Meetings and Membership Info" page for directions and map.

We would love to see you at our meetings. Visitors always welcome.

Website

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DUES-BE-DUE-BE-DUE...

WE APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT

Please join the Findlay Bottle Club.
We are a non-profit organization.

Annual dues are $12.
A 5-year membership is just $50

Dues may be paid online by credit card via Paypal. You do not need to have a Paypal account.

Just click one of the PAYPAL buttons below.
If the buttons don't work in the newsletter, please access them from our website.
Thank You!

1 Year Membership for $12.00

5 Year Membership for $50

FINBOTCLUB CONTACT INFO

'FEATURING FINDLAY' Articles:

Member of the FOHBC

FOHBC Show Calendar

LET'S GO TO A BOTTLE SHOW!

Other Club's Shows:

Columbus Bottle Show

SUNDAY -- Feb. 8, 2015 -- 9am - 2pm -- $3

Doubletree Inn, 175 Hutchinson Ave., Columbus OH

Top of the Beltway / I-270 and Rt. 23 (map)

Rojer Moodyrtmoody@juno.com

Clark Widemanclarkwideman@aol.com

Wilmington Ohio Bottle Show

Sunday -- March 22, 2015 -- 9am - 3pm -- $4

The Roberts Centre, Wilmington OH

123 Gano Rd, Wilmington, OH 45177

At I-71 and Rt. 68 (map)

Joe Hardinjkcollectables@gmail.com

Jamie Houdeshelljhbottle@hotmail.com

~~~

We're Happy To Help!

The Findlay Bottle Club does not publish a show calendar. We are happy to help promote any nearby bottle collecting hobby events, club shows, auctions, etc. Just email your info to finbotclub@gmail.com

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cut this newsletter short,
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