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All Forums >> [Bottle Forums] >> New to the Collection >> Neat Sad Story

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Neat Sad Story - 6/25/2008 1:10:00 AM    Penn Digger   Posts: 176 Joined: 5/12/2008 From: N Penn Status: offline I am not a collector of milks normally.  Joe The Crow and I dug shards of a very rare local milk several years ago.  It was a local pint bottle...Clover Leaf Dairy..Bradford...(PA) with a three leaf clover on it....embossed.  Mentioned it over the years to several long term die hard bottle and milk collectors and inquired at the local historical society.  Supposedly it was only in existence for a year or so around 1915-16. A few bottle diggers from the 1960's said OHHH...rarer than a hen's tooth..The local milk bottle guru doesn't even have one.  I wanted this milk just because it was so rare and nobody had one except a very humble local 60's digger (Ernie Hurd). Over the last couple of years Ernie's son-in-law would call up and order food to go from our restaurant for Ernie, who was by then homebound.  I inquired dozens of times about the bottle with absolutely no reception from him.  I did not know Ernie as I only met him once for a brief moment years ago.  He was an old time digger who dug all the early dumps from here to Buffalo in the 60's and 70's, rumored to have "thousands" of bottles. Last Friday morning Ernie was taken to the local hospital by ambulance.  He died Saturday night. On Monday, I was helping with the lunch rush at the restaurant and received a phone call from Ernie's son-in-law.  I told him I was sorry to read of Ernie's passing in the paper that morning.  He asked how long I would be there and said he would be right down to talk to me about something. He walked through the door 10 minutes later, sat at the counter, and handed me the infamous Clover Leaf Dairy bottle.  He explained that between the trip to hospital and his passing the next night, Ernie made a list of things he wanted.  One of them was to give me the bottle I had inquired about so many times.  I offered to buy him lunch.  He said NO, Ernie wanted you to have it and walked out. Thank you Ernie and God Bless You.  Rest In Peace. PD < Message edited by Penn Digger -- 6/26/2008 7:28:40 AM > Post #: 1

RE: Neat Sad Story - 6/25/2008 1:34:31 AM    popster Posts: 23 Joined: 6/9/2008 Status: offline Very nice story-Thanks for sharing it. R.I.P. Ernie Hurd (in reply to Penn Digger) Post #: 2

RE: Neat Sad Story - 6/25/2008 2:12:26 AM    capsoda Posts: 7703 Joined: 11/15/2005 From: Seminole,Alabama, USA Status: offline Apparently Tom, You were meant to have it. I had an elderly gentileman who came into a jewelry store where I did watch and jewelry work every 2 months to get a battery for his watch. I think he was just lonely because there was nothing wrong with the watch but he insisted it needed a battery just the same. He always talked about some old bottles he had in his barn that were for his grand children, nieces and nephews. One day on the scheduled day for his battery change his daughter came in, handed me an old paper bag and told me that a week before he had died in his sleep. After she had gotten him taken care of she got the bottles ready for the kids, each set of bottles in its own bag with the childs name on it in pencil and there was one that said, "Warren the watch battery man". When I opened the bag it had three deco sodas in it and one was a very rare Chero Cola bottle from Pensacola, Florida. It is the only Chero Cola bottle that I know of that has any real value to it and the only other one I have ever seen was purchased by a good friend for 100 bucks. I have the bag sealed in plastic and put away and I have all there bottles and when I go the story, bag and bottles will got to one of my grand children. Like I said, sometimes your just meant to have it. < Message edited by capsoda -- 6/25/2008 2:28:27 AM > _____________________________ Warren Diggin down in Dixie, USA Work is for people who don't dig bottles President, Panhandle Cruisers http://www.panhandlecruisers.org/ (in reply to popster) Post #: 3

RE: Neat Sad Story - 6/25/2008 5:39:55 AM    RICKJJ59W Posts: 3322 Joined: 3/8/2007 From: Lehigh Valley US of A Status: offline Nice story to start the day with _____________________________ My Web Page.Lots of pix. Dig story's published in Antique Bottle & Glass Collector. New story added 9/08 www.19thcenturybottlediggers.com Digs in action. http://www.flickr.com/photos/pitpirate/ (in reply to Penn Digger) Post #: 4

RE: Neat Sad Story - 6/25/2008 10:31:09 AM    glass man Posts: 1278 Joined: 1/30/2008 From: GEORGIA Status: offline COOL! THE clover leaf milk will always be more than just another rare bottle. _____________________________ LOVE is in the water LOVE is in the air Show me where to go Tell me will love be there Teach me how to speak Teach me how to share Teach me where to go WILL LOVE BE THERE? OH,HEAVEN LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE DOWN! "COLLECTIVE SOUL" (in reply to RICKJJ59W) Post #: 5

RE: Neat Sad Story - 6/25/2008 4:22:38 PM    sweetrelease   Posts: 587 Joined: 7/20/2006 From: hammonton ,nj Status: offline nice story! there is an old man who lives across the way from me. one day he saw me out front "washing" some of my dug bottles.he walks over to me and asked what i was doing and i told him. he never said much and just walked away two days later he knocks on my door and handed me a box,inside were about a dozen bottles. he told me" remember when you cut my grass two years ago when i was in the hospital"? "well ,thank you these are yours". there were some nice local stuff,but the thought that it took from him to give me them was what mattered to me. anyway nice story and hold on to that milk bottle ,matt < Message edited by sweetrelease -- 6/25/2008 4:24:05 PM > (in reply to glass man) Post #: 6

RE: Neat Sad Story - 6/25/2008 11:35:17 PM    JOETHECROW   Posts: 372 Joined: 9/3/2005 From: Northwestern Pa. Status: offline Here's the pics Tom... Attachment (1) _____________________________ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6LqX2v3lvY (in reply to sweetrelease) Post #: 7

RE: Neat Sad Story - 6/25/2008 11:37:58 PM    JOETHECROW   Posts: 372 Joined: 9/3/2005 From: Northwestern Pa. Status: offline Another... Attachment (1) _____________________________ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6LqX2v3lvY (in reply to JOETHECROW) Post #: 8

RE: Neat Sad Story - 6/26/2008 7:31:02 AM    Penn Digger   Posts: 176 Joined: 5/12/2008 From: N Penn Status: offline Thanks again Joe.  You're a good friend.  Don't forget to bring the bottles back..LOL (in reply to JOETHECROW) Post #: 9

RE: Neat Sad Story - 6/26/2008 8:33:31 AM    lobeycat Posts: 3593 Joined: 9/8/2003 From: RED SOX Nation Status: offline I've been given a few bottles over the years. In all the cases I can remember something was always wanted in return. Whether they wanted a bottle in exchange or some work done around their home, it was always something. Until recently that is.....A few weeks ago (been working on the house 12-14 hours a day the last month or so, so time's a little messed up) I was contacted by a member of this very forum about a bottle I saw here and admired. I barely remembered commenting on it but this gentleman who shall remain nameless ~Bob~ remembered my comment when he found another and asked me if I'd like to have it. I thanked him and said sure and a few days later a package arrived. When I popped the box open there was the bottle, a figural turtle and two others! An anchor strap side and a southern med. Along with these a little note. I was touched and floored by his ~Bob's~ generosity. I thanked him privately ~Bob~ but this seemed like a good post to do it again. Never too old to be amazed by the good side of human nature..... _____________________________ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dc86_Weoye0 ya never come back (in reply to Penn Digger) Post #: 10

RE: Neat Sad Story - 6/26/2008 7:01:40 PM    Penn Digger   Posts: 176 Joined: 5/12/2008 From: N Penn Status: offline At our restauant, I have a row of nice antique bottles of varying color in the front window.  It has been good advertising, like a flashing light to bring in old bottles.  When we first opened nearly two years ago, a man gave us a box of local embossed meds (a few of which I did not have already).  Numerous local and far away blobs and hutch sodas have been donated mostly one at a time by customers.  A nice early Dr. Wistars too.  A lot of plain, clear machine made junk has come in too, but I act like I appreciate it too and give people some pointers on seams, embossing and color.  Two weeks ago two seperate blobs were dropped off when I was not there and another fairly rare local painted milk.  Last week, the Clover Leaf bottle, but that was different as a I mentioned above.  I've had some nice keepers brought in, but I have also turned around and given a few doubles away. Of all these people coming in, only one asked for money.  When I told him what I thought it was worth, he left with it. There was a guy in a van a year or so ago who saw me downtown near a place Joe The Crow and I have dug many times.  He called me over and said "you collect bottles don't you?"  He ended up giving me an early whiskey and Albany Glass Works flask.  I gave the whiskey to Joe. People have been generous in giving me antique bottles, including Joe.  I am very grateful to have met so many giving people in a world that sometimes seems filled with takers.    P D < Message edited by Penn Digger -- 6/27/2008 10:06:49 AM > (in reply to lobeycat) Post #: 11

RE: Neat Sad Story - 6/26/2008 10:30:08 PM    texasdigger Posts: 244 Joined: 1/6/2006 From: Roanoke Texas Status: offline There are some really nice stories in this thread guys.  Thanks for sharing.  It is nice to see that people are still capable of selfless generosity.  In my bottle digging and collceting career  I have yet to experience any of this.  All of the people I have run into have had a castoria or prices extracts, and thought I was going to pay them big bucks for them.  When I explained value, age, rarity and color they had already tuned me out.  It seems like as soon as someone thinks something old has value that is all they want to hear.  When I ask for permission to dig somewhere value is something I never mention.  As soon as they realise some bottles are truly valuble they decide "we are going to dig that stuff up".  I am always polite, and willing to share bottles with em.  But some nuts can be very hard to crack. Great stories guys!  Have an awesome friday.  Man am I glad the weekend is alomost here.  It has been one hot hot work week down here in Tejas. Brad (in reply to Penn Digger) Post #: 12

RE: Neat Sad Story - 6/26/2008 10:42:14 PM    capsoda Posts: 7703 Joined: 11/15/2005 From: Seminole,Alabama, USA Status: offline I have recieved many bottles free from forum members who sent them for various reasons. To many to name and don't know if they would want to be named. You can be assured that I remember exactly who sent what and when I am showing my bottles of to folks I always tell them which friend sent what. Some times they notice them befor I can tell them anything about them. Most of my bottles are grouped, local sodas, local meds, ACLs, Whiskeys ect.... and the mixed up group is called my "bottle friends collection". There are some great folks on this forum!!! _____________________________ Warren Diggin down in Dixie, USA Work is for people who don't dig bottles President, Panhandle Cruisers http://www.panhandlecruisers.org/ (in reply to texasdigger) Post #: 13

RE: Neat Sad Story - 6/27/2008 10:14:46 PM    deer4x4 Posts: 356 Joined: 1/2/2008 From: san jose ca. Status: offline who you talken bout this was a nice post and strange things do happen the most i have found out is how diffrent people of the bottle world are my sense has been i dont want to take it to the grave and who better but a person that appreciates the meaning of a gift and bottle also it by far feels great to make some people smile in life even after life is gone there is always the memories of it you all have a good day  hey lobeycat here's a pic for ya i was gettin robbed bob Attachment (1) < Message edited by deer4x4 -- 6/27/2008 10:16:01 PM > (in reply to lobeycat) Post #: 14

RE: Neat Sad Story - 6/27/2008 10:45:57 PM    lobeycat Posts: 3593 Joined: 9/8/2003 From: RED SOX Nation Status: offline BobDude I wrestled one of those once. Least I think it was a bear. Might have been a bouncer with a heavy coat in a bar up in Maine. It was pretty dark in there. Very cool pic Bobcat! That hat looks great on you _____________________________ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dc86_Weoye0 ya never come back (in reply to deer4x4) Post #: 15

RE: Neat Sad Story - 6/27/2008 11:51:50 PM    NorCalBottleHunter Posts: 130 Joined: 5/22/2008 From: Rio Vista,ca Status: offline wow.......  that was a great story (in reply to Penn Digger) Post #: 16

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