iggyworf
Well-Known Member
Leon, very cool! Strangely I have never heard of this one. Have to keep my eyes open for this one.
In Search of ...
Proof-positive verification that James Vernor had a Soda Fountain at 235 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, Michigan.
Please note it is not my intention to create controversy or upset any apple carts, but I feel it would be an injustice to any discussion about the history of Vernor's Ginger Ale not to question certain aspects of those histories that in some cases don't appear to be based on facts. Which, to my surprise, is exactly what I discovered when attempting to find verification about James Vernor having a soda fountain at his first location on the southwest corner of Woodward and Clifford. Even though about 99.9% of the accounts about Vernor's mention a soda fountain, some of which that even say his first glass of ginger ale was served over the counter of that soda fountain, I just can't for the life of me find an account from that actual time period between 1866 and 1880 that supports those claims. My investigation into this involved no less than ten hours of searching through ...
1. U.S. Census records
2. Detroit Business Directories
3. Newspaper Archives
4. Periodical Publications
5. Etc.
... and in none of sources could I find proof-positive verification that James Vernor had a soda fountain at 235 Woodward Avenue. So if anyone should ever find a verifiable reference for the supposed soda fountain in an account that was published anytime between 1866 and 1880, please share it with us and I will do the same.
Note: I do not consider accounts from the early 1900s, such as a popular one from 1919, as verifiable. Some of those accounts were written 50+ years after the fact and do not necessarily support something that was supposed to have occurred between 1866 and 1880.
Lastly: I would like to emphasize I'm not saying that James Vernor did not have a soda fountain at 235 Woodward, I'm just saying that I cannot find bona fide proof of it!
Respectfully,
Sodapopbob
I agree, No Ginger Ale as good as Vernor's. LEON.
OK, so it turns out James Vernor DID have a soda fountain in his store before 1880 - in 1868.
View attachment 173617
Mr. Vernor was a prominent man, his reputation as a perfectionist definitely manifested itself in his pharmacy and his business dealings and the respect and honesty with which he comported himself. By all accounts, he was an old-school, old-world, stand-up guy.
No one, can compare him to the low standards of personal and professional integrity displayed regularly today.
If he says he sold ginger ale more or less continuously since 1866, you have to come up with proof that he did not. And you can't overlook evidence that contradicts your objective. It's irresponsible, to just scan your computer and refute publicly, and in the record, of the word of an honest man. Doubt if you will, but join me, in wishing
Vernor's Ginger Ale
a HAPPY 150th BIRTHDAY!! :fireworks: :boom:
PM me for where to send the ACL book.