Any idea as to what was in it?

[SODAPOPBOB]

This advertisement is dated 1897 and from the Michigan State Gazetteer And Business Directory

At that time there appeared to be a connection with the Muskegon Brewing Company

Note: I had to save the ad in two parts, but all the information is there.

I especially liked this particular ad because ...

1. It gives some idea as to the various beverages they bottled.

2. It shows a bottle similar to the one in question with the mug base even though the overall style and closure are different.

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

For Comparison ...

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

On second thought, maybe they are the same bottle, or very close to it. ???

 

[Robby Raccoon]

I have never heard of Birch Beer. But, thank you for your research!
Oddly, though, Muskegon Brewing Company is up there, then says Muskegon Bottling Works. But... so far as I know, Muskegon Brewery was a separate business, and I think failed in the 1940s--it's to be reopened by a former teacher's son! I have a shard of a Muskegon Brewery bottle with an error where they didn't put a space and added what seems some sort of punctuation above it as if that'd help. I have a pre-prohibition Muskegon Brewery bottle in my main display. And I have three shards hidden because I like (in the loft of the shed) otherwise mom would make them be thrown away. The shard says "DrugsOr" and has a dot above that. I kept it for that reason. Shame it's busted. The other one--intact one-- is a favorite as I have found about thirty bases and side pieces of Muskegon Brewery bottles, but only one totally intact. I find it amazing, though, that many of my bottle have survived down in the lake so well. Be them 50 or 100 years old.
Not the same bottle, but a similar shape! That sure looks like a ten-paneled base. But the shoulder in mine is more rounded than the photoed one.

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

[align=center] [/align][align=center]MUSKEGON BOTTLING WORKS. 1884[/align] The Muskegon Bottling Works is one of the pioneer enterprises of the city, having been established in 1867 under the name of “The City Bottling Works” which name it retained till last summer when new buildings were erected at the corner of Barclay street and Michigan avenue, new machinery put in and everything put in first class order for manufacturing. The size of the new building is 40x80 feet and two stories high. The capacity of the works is now sufficient for turning out daily two hundred and fifty cases of pop, two hundred and fifty cases of ale, and bottled beer, cider etc. in proportion. The firm does an extensive business and makes shipments on a large scale. The works are under the management of Mr. Wm. NINNEMAN, Jr. who is also one of the proprietors.

I'm not certain what the connection might have been between Muskegon Bottling and Muskegon Brewing, but there definitely appears to be a connection with the last name NINNEMAN. From ... The Weekly Wisconsin ~ Milwaukee, Wisconsin ~ December 18, 1897

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

As near as I can determine from this article, the Muskegon Bottling Works became the property of the Muskegon Brewing Company in 1889 ...

http://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/micounty/5423913.0001.001/93?rgn=full+text;view=image;q1=S.+C.+Chumard

http://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/micounty?didno=5423913.0001.001;rgn=full+text;size=25;sort=occur;start=1;subview=detail;type=simple;view=reslist;q1=S.+C.+Chumard

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

I searched the name S.C. Chumard and found this Cider bottle. Cider is mentioned in most of the references and seems to have been a major product for both companies throughout the years.

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

If you go to this link and change the Page Size to 300% [ Located on the top task bar ] you will notice on the two-story building on the right that it says Muskegon Bottling Works http://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/micounty/5423913.0001.001/93?rgn=full+text;view=image;q1=S.+C.+Chumard

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

P.S. I'm pretty sure the article [Book] I posted links to was published in 1892

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

Yep, December of 1892 Title Page ...