Vernors Ginger Ale 150th B-Day

[SODAPOPBOB]

Okay, here goes, I hope I get everything in the proper sequence ...

James Vernor Drug Store - 235 Woodward Avenue Detroit, Michigan - Described as dating circa 1870



Vernor's Pharmacy - 235 Woodward Avenue Detroit, Michigan

Although this next picture was not dated, it appears to be during the time when James Vernor was selling out and preparing to move to 33 Woodward Avenue, which was about 15 blocks away near the riverfront.

Notice the banner says ...

Clearance Sale
Being About To Retire From The Retail
Business I Offer My Stock At Less Than Cost
To Close It Out Quickly - James S Vernor

Notice the "Vernor's Ginger Ale" sign on the side of the building.

Also notice ...

1. The Goldberg Brothers Department Store
2. The Number 229 on the Goldberg Store

Note: Of all the pictures I've posted, this is my personal favorite. Its extremely rare and almost ghostly in appearance.

Unless proven otherwise, I am giving it a circa date of ...

1896



(To be continued shortly with more detailed timeline information)

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

Now let's backup a few years to see when the Goldberg Brothers Store first opened / and closed ...

Detroit Free Press - April 2, 1892

Note: Please save & zoom to read the entire article that contains lots of information and mentions multiple floors and multiple departments. The store officially opened on April 1, 1892





And officially closed on ...

Detroit Free Press - May 5, 1912

... when they relocated to Gratiot & Library Avenues




(To be continued)

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

Now lets return to 1896 ...

Note: Even though there are numerous ads like the examples that follow, for simplicity sake I'm just posting the earliest and the latest I could find. Even though these two ads are brief, they clearly indicate that it took some time for James Vernor to close out the old store in preparation for moving to his new location at 33 Woodward Avenue.

Earliest ...

Detroit Free Press - April 5, 1896



Latest ...

Detroit Free Press - September 23, 1896



(Next up will be the company that moved into the 235 Woodward Avenue building after James Vernor moved out)

 

[iggyworf]

That is an excellent pic you found Bob! Of the 1896 building.

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

The company that moved into 235 Woodward Avenue after James Vernor moved out in 1896 was ...

Eckert & Angell - Confectionary & Candy

But first, let me establish that Eckert had a different partner and a different location prior 1896. Which was ...

Eckert & Hadeler's Sugar Bowl - 180 Woodward Avenue

Detroit Free Press - October 31, 1894 -
(This is the earliest I can find regarding Eckert being involved with any type of business)



Detroit Free Press - December 17, 1894

Note: The "Sugar Bowl" was the name of their store.





(To be continued with Eckert & Angell - 235 Woodward Avenue)

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

Enter ...

Eckert & Angell

(I don't know what became of Ekert's former parner, Mr. Hadeler - he just disappears)

Detroit Free Press - November 15, 1896

(Which was about two months after Vernor moved out - and the earliest I can find for when Eckert & Angell moved in)




Detroit Free Press - November 23, 1896

Notice "Sugar Bowl Confectionery"









(More to follow)

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

An then, sometime between about 1905 and 1907, Mr. Eckert disappears and Mr. Angell goes it alone ...

Notice its "Angell's Candy Store" now and no longer the "Sugar Bowl"

Detroit Free Press - May 15, 1907



Note: Because the 235 Woodward Avenue building had four floors, its almost impossible to keep track of all the different businesses that came and went over the years. There were many, many of them!


I don't know the date for this 5-cent store token, but I'm going to keep my eyes peeled for one. As far as I know they are one of the few collectible items that has the 235 Woodward Avenue address on it. I believe they are extremely rare.

Front ...



Back ...



(Almost done)

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

I still have a little more searching to do, but as it stands now this is the latest reference I can find for 235 Woodward Avenue. I might have to do some deep digging to find a later date, but its possible the building was torn down at this time and/or had one of those address changes we read about earlier. I will be sure and post a later reference if/when I find one.

Detroit Free Press - February 20, 1920

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

In the meantime ...

Happy 4th of July :flag:

Sodapopbob

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

P.S.

235 Woodward Avenue ~ Southwest corner of Woodward and Clifford

Early ...



Later ...



Current ...