Vernors Ginger Ale 150th B-Day

[SODAPOPBOB]

P.S.

Just in case I'm right about some of this, I'd like to take this opportunity and be the first to acknowledge and give credit to ...


Charles L'Hommedieu

... as possibly having something to do with the creation and birth of Vernor's Ginger Ale in Detroit, Michigan.

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

What I find even more interesting is, I checked the 1868-1869 and 1869-1870 Detroit directories, and both of the them list James Vernor as still being located at 219 Woodward Avenue. It isn't until the 1871-1872 Detroit directory that James Vernor is listed at 235 Woodward Avenue. With that said, why do 99.9% of the historical accounts say Vernor's Ginger Ale was born in 1866 and first served at 235 Woodward Avenue when James Vernor didn't move to 235 Woodward Avenue until 1870 or 1871? Hmmm, something is fishy in Denmark! Err, I mean "Detroit"

1871-1872 Detroit Directory ~ Source Ancestry.com

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

Here's the 1866 Michigan annual tax record for ...

Vernor & L'Hommedieu ~ 219 Woodward Avenue ~ Apothecaries

Noun, plural apothecaries.

1. a druggist; a pharmacist.

2. a pharmacy or drugstore.

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

Question;

Need I say more?

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

Meet ...

Charles A. L'Hommedieu

Born: September 4, 1842
Died: December 30, 1890

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=11813793&ref=acom

(I'm going to see what else I can find about him)

 

[iggyworf]

Bob thanx for digging deep into one of my hometown soda's. Didn't think there would be any kind of contraversy so to speak about the beginings.
But why would he not want to give any credit to Charles A. L'Hommedieu?

 

[hemihampton]

I know where that Woodmere Cemetary is, I dig privies & bottles near it. LEON.

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

But why would he not want to give any credit to Charles A. L'Hommedieu?

Rich

I don't know the answer to that yet, but show me a typical/current Vernor's history that mentions the name Charles L'Hommedieu and I'll eat my hat!

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

P.S.

I will also eat my hat if anyone can show me documented proof of James Vernor being located at 235 Woodward Avenue in 1866. And by "documented" I don't mean a typical/current Vernor's history. I mean something from that actual year!

 

[M.C.Glass]

Why are you asking Bob why? He wasn't there either. Maybe Lahommedeu disagreed with spending time and resources on soft drinks. That could be why the partners split. Or it could have been over politics. Or a disagreement over sharing the rent. It takes brass cohones to refute first hand accounts after a period of a hundred+ years.
Ya have to separate the opinion from the public records,
also, city directories sent out cards for people to fill out and that's where the info came from. If they get lost or mutilated in the mail or misplaced, I doubt they lift out the previous years listing or update the address on time.
I do enjoy the discussion.