Barq's Root Beer

[SODAPOPBOB]

And there's this that I posted earlier ...

It involves the Barq & Hughes "cordial factory" liquidation on Larharpe Street in New Orleans. You will recall this was where Edward Barq and his family were located just prior to moving to Biloxi, Mississippi. I don't see a single thing in the article to indicate they produced soft drinks. But it does mention "3 stills"

New Orleans ~ 1896

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

There's also this 1889 "Areated Tonic Beverage" patent from earlier ...

Walter Starbird was a partner with Clara Schmidt of "Schmidt & Company"

Notice on line 30 where it says ...

" ... a half gallon each of alcohol and water ..."

I'm not sure about he "leached off" part, but it appears to me that "tonic" beverages, such as their "Orangine Tonic Beverage", did include some measure of alcohol.

1888-1889 U.S. Patent for ...

Aerated Tonic Beverage

By ...

Walter B. Starbird ~ Stockton, California


Note: The ingredients sound more like the Schmidt & Company's "Iron Water" than it does for their "Orangine." Notice it contained alcohol.

http://www.google.com/patents/US396440

View attachment 172135

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

However ...

Also notice on line 52 of the patent where it says ...

" ...may be taken by adults and children ..."

?????????????????????????????????????????

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

As crazy as this sounds, the earliest official doc-u-mentation I can find where it uses the word "Bottler" in connection with the Barq's is found in this Biloxi, Mississippi U.S. Census for the year ...


1900

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

I touched on this earlier but wanted to reemphasize it ...

Its primarily about the suicide death of Jules Barq in 1896 - but notice where I underlined ...

"manufacturer of cordials"

So here again we have a connection between the Barq's and cordials but no mention of soft drinks!

New Orleans, Louisiana - December 14, 1896

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

I may never be able to prove it with 100% confirmation, but I'm strongly leaning toward the possibility that ...

1. When the Barq's returned from France to New Orleans they engaged in the manufacturer of cordial liqueurs and not soft drinks.

2. The Barq's earliest venture involving the bottling and sale of soft drinks was when they moved to Biloxi, Mississippi in 1897-98

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

Check this out ...

Its basically a letter to the editor about some lady who was visiting New Orleans in 1894 and who had also attended the Chicago World's fair where she had tried Marie Barq's Orangine.

Notice where the lady says ...

"I have asked for it at almost every confectioner's shop in the city"

It sounds as if no one in New Orleans had heard of Orangine at the time - at least none of the soda fountains she visited where she inquired about it. And if it wasn't available at confectioner's shops in the city, then where was it available?

New Orleans Newspaper - 1894

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

This is the only reference I can find that describes the taste of Orangine that was sold at the 1893 Chicago World's Fair.

From ...

Abbeville, Louisiana - August 5, 1893 (Abbeville is about 150 miles west of New Orleans)



Notice where it says ...

1. "Carbonated"

2. "Not overdry champagne in taste"

3. Near the bottom of the article it also says "cool and sparkling"





Footnote: The Chicago World's Fair ran from May 1, 1893 to October 30, 1893

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

Question(s) of the day ...

Was Barq's Orangine, that was sold at the 1893 Chicago World's Fair ...

1. A carbonated/sparkling champagne-like drink that contained alcohol?

2. A carbonated/sparkling champagne-like drink that did not contain alcohol?

3. A carbonated orange flavored soda pop?

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

Before attempting to answer the above question(s), please consider this first. It might also answer the question that was asked by the lady who visited every soda fountain in New Orleans and wondered where Orangine could be found ...

1896 - New Orleans