HIRES ROOT BEER ~ vs ~ VERNOR'S GINGER ALE

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SODABOB

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Here's one of the maps I referred to. Use it to help get your bearings in relation to the "Main Building"

Hires 1876 Exposition Main Building Map.jpg
 

SODABOB

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Based on my interpretation of the newspaper article, the root beer exhibit should be somewhere within the red circle(s) ...

Hires 1876 Exposition Main Building Map.jpg

Hires 1876 Exposition Illustration (2).jpg

Hires 1876 Exposition Illustration.jpg

Hires 1876 Centennial Exposition Catalog Stereo Card (3).jpg

But finding a close up to confirm it is another thing
 

SODABOB

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P.S.

My interpretation of the newspaper article use of the word "opposite​" means "next to" (on the side) and not "in front of"
 

SODABOB

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This might be as good as it gets - But where is it?

Actual aerial ...

Hires 1876 Exposition Aerial View (2).jpg

Hires 1876 Exposition Aerial View (3).jpg

Hires 1876 Exposition Aerial View.jpg
 

SODABOB

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P.S.

"Actual Aerial" ... From a Balloon
 

SODABOB

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Clue ...

"directly ​opposite the main building"
 

SODABOB

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Man-oh-man did I ever mess that up! Here I am trying to help everyone else understand the Exposition maps and I didn't understand it myself. Sorry bout that! But I got it right this time ...

The root beer stand/exhibit/building/fountain should be somewhere within the green circle ...

"directly opposite the main building"

Hires 1876 Exposition Main Building (2).jpg

Hires 1876 Main Exhibit Building.jpg

Hires 1876 Exposition Aerial View (7).jpg
 
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SODABOB

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Intermission ...

In Allan Petretti's 1996 book "Soda Pop Collectibles Price Guide" (Page 277) it shows two Hires Diaries, one from 1880 and one from 1886. He has them valued at ...

1880 = $225
1886 = $200

Both diaries appear to be similar to the one I recently purchased but have different covers. I can't say if his values were accurate in 1996, nor if they are worth more or less than that now, but feel I did okay having paid considerably less than that for mine. Just as soon as I get my scanner working again, I will post a picture from the book showing the diaries.

In the meantime, I plan to continue my search for the 1876 root beer stand on Elm Avenue in Philadelphia. Pa.


Allan Petretti 1996 Soda Pop Collectibles Price Guide.jpg
 
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SODABOB

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Speaking of Elm Avenue in Philadelphia ...

The triangular shaped building on the corner in the images I posted was called ...

The Trans Continental Hotel


... which might serve as a clue to the location of the root beer stand.

Hires 1876 Exposition Main Building Map (3).jpg

Note: There were numerous other buildings on the same block but I do not know why they are not shown on the map. The building on the left was the Pennsylvania Railroad Passenger Depot.
 

SODABOB

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For the record ...

After the 1876 Centennial Exposition closed, all but two of the fair’s buildings, as well as the surrounding temporary hotels on Elm Avenue, were torn down. Even the Main Exhibition Building (its 21.5 acres of floor space made it the largest building in the world) wasn’t spared from the wreckers. Only Memorial Hall, a massive granite edifice capped by a glass-and-cast-iron dome, remained as a visible reminder of the exposition that attracted over 10 million visitors and showcased industrial Philadelphia to the world.
 

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