Back to the "Legendary Locals" Dump

[RIBottleguy]

For those who want some history on this dump, here are two earlier posts:
https://www.antique-bottles.net/forum/m-410640/mpage-1/key-/tm.htm#410640
https://www.antique-bottles.net/forum/m-414472/mpage-1/key-/tm.htm#414474

This dump is one of those "private property" ones that one has to exercise stealth at. Previously it had become too risky to go back, so my friend and I let it cool off. We decided to chance it again, and it was just as we left it, begging to be dug. We've found some great bottles in it. Nothing worth a ton, but great locals, a Rush's Bitters, some Warner's Safe Cures, teal S & P peppersauces, and a pontil to name a few. A lot of the local bottles from Wakefield and Narragansett Pier (and Wickford sometimes) were unlisted sizes, very rare, or completely unlisted. Our two hour dig paid off very well. Right away I pulled out a Chamberlain's Pain Balm, which is common but fun to find. A little scraping uncovered the bottom of a soda bottle. I was hoping it would be a nice John F. Perry (from Narragansett Pier), but it was even better. I stared at in disbelief for a second. A Wakefield Mineral Water Co. from Wakefield, RI. It was one of 2 (now 3) known. The rarest crown top soda from RI, and the two known examples were in a larger size! This was the bottle that was always in the back of my mind while I dug this dump. I had found pieces of one last summer.

Well, needless to say that really motivated me. I tore into the dump, and noticed a square med. hanging from the roof. Wiping it off I was ecstatic to discover it was a very rare Narragansett Pier medicine. Watson's Pharmacy Opposite Casino. The Casino is now known as The Towers, an iconic building that some of you might be familiar with. I have two other Watson's bottles, one extremely rare and the other unique. This one is currently unique as my friend confirmed it is an unlisted size. I kept digging, and underneath a plain soda there was an amber bottle that caught my attention. A little more digging confirmed the bottle's shape, and I was able to positively id it as a Warner's Safe Cure. It came out damage free, and with very bold embossing. In fact, it's probably the most boldly embossed bottle in my collection. The WA in Warner's almost looks erased, which makes me wonder if it was a dirty mold.

I found a few other decent bottles, a Johann Hoff, a BIM milk (this bottle to be washed and returned), and a Raven Shoe Polish. My friend's best find was an attractive M. Lenahan Family Wine Store Providence, RI. It was also unlisted.

Looks worse than it is. Oddly the back is shiny! Also has 3 dots on the base.

WA very faint.

The killer local

And lastly, the holy grail of local sodas.

 

[JOETHECROW]

Very nice finds,...looks like a great dump to me. Would you happen to have a pic of the Raven polish bottle? Sounds interesting.

 

[RIBottleguy]

Hey Joe, it looks like this pretty much. Raven Gloss Shoe Dressing NY. Mine is more aqua. Pretty common from what I gather.

 

[Plumbata]

Fantastic finds Taylor, those scores are indeed legendary as far as most dumps go. Thanks for sharing, and please post more pictures when you get a chance. Also, I hope you can get in there and dig for 8-10 hours each day for a while and really show us the full range of rarities to be had at that location.

Congrats on your continued exploitation of the dump, I pray to the bottle gods that they will bestow upon you and your digging partners many more rarities and unlisted bottles. I can say from personal experience that it isn't an everyday occasion that one finds a dump loaded with so many undocumented finds. Private property or not, I'd be there until the wee hours of the morning with my headlamp, mining out those glassy gems until the seams ran entirely dry. Perhaps an intact pontiled flask or three are still waiting to be rediscovered.

Best of luck man.

 

[towhead]

Awesome! -Julie

 

[RedGinger]

That Warner's is cool. I like bottles with odd embossing, missing or misspelled words, or letters. Maybe you could get permission so you can have an easier time digging?

 

[RedGinger]

BTW, I have a book and a magazine with articles on some of the oldest homes in RI. Let me know if you would like some info and I can take a picture and maybe copy some of that info for you. The latest issue of Early American Life Magazine has an ancient house in RI featured.

 

[epackage]

I'd like to know what you mean by "private property dump" before I comment, I have a tendency to open mouth and insert foot before knowing all the details....Jim

 

[RIBottleguy]

Thanks for the comments everyone.
Lauren, thanks for the offer. I have done a good amount of research on old houses in RI, but can't say I've heard of the magazine article. It would be nice to see an article on one of the 1670-80s stone ender houses in RI.

Jim, private property in this case would include asking for permission to no avail, dismissing private property signs (put up after they discovered digging on the property), and digging with a high risk of getting caught. If it was somewhere out in the boonies, I'm sure we'd be fine, but this spot isn't. Normally I would just move on, but the site is unique and so rewarding. I plan on buying it if it ever goes up for sale and bringing in the works...excavators and all. But, that could be in 30 years.

 

[RedGinger]

Is this someone's house? I guess it's not our business, but I wouldn't like someone being on my property without permission. The Nov 2011 issue of that magazine was the one. You can order back issues. I'll see what else I can find.