Plumbata
Well-Known Member
Finally, after over 6 years of dedicated hunting and digging, I obtained my "dream" local stenciled mini-jug. In total, I've only dug 1 standard-sized stenciled jug (not including the common Western Stoneware jugs and the like) and 3 stenciled mini-jugs; 1 from Cairo, IL with a busted handle, 1 without a town indicated and hard to research ("H. R. Smith's Private Stock") which I accidentally knocked off a ledge and broke clean in half [
], and now have finally found not only a splendid Peoria, IL Mini-Jug, but the one single item listed in the local books which impressed itself in my memory years back because of the awesome slogan displayed. This is no joke or exaggeration; I had read through the bottle books looking at the interesting things recorded, and was captivated by this of all the dozens of Peoria mini-jugs. The last item of the dig, which spilled out of the roof of a little tunnel I was digging in pursuit of a juicy mid/late 1910s layer after 8PM yesterday, was the jug, which rolled down a little mound of ash tailings and stopped with the rear facing me. Instantaneously I went into "high-alert" mode and greedily snatched up the piece; turning it around to see if it was marked. I about soiled myself when I saw what it was, and when my composure was restored I immediately called my father to share the news. My haul may not be equivalent to 300 pontiled Philly sodas, but Peoria stuff is what I love and collect, so I was totally over the moon. I'd say that it qualifies as the "Arkenjug" which I jokingly referenced in the first dig post detailing this spot back in January, shortly after watching "The Hobbit". Of the 2 dozen+ stoneware items found in this dump, the mini-jug blows all the others out of the water in terms of aggregated value and rarity.
The book listing:
I would have been very pleased with myself without finding the jug, as i pulled other nice normal jugs, hutches, and druggist bottles. 3 druggists were new ones for the collection, and are quite attractive too. I also found a cool miniature souvenir spoon from the 1892 Columbian Exposition/ World Fair in Chicago.
Now for the pictures!
Dig/In Situ pics:
It might not look like a big pit, but it really is. I invested plenty of time and energy into opening-up and clearing out the trench/hole, and plan to strip-mine to the left now that I have enough space to work with a respectable degree of efficiency.
1/2 gallon Western Stoneware jug, in great shape:
1 gallon generic jug also in great shape (the amber cylinder bottle below is a BIM Lysol):
A narrow cylinder Singer hutch. I had heard that they were rare/scarce, but they are the most common hutches in this dump for some reason. In the same layers, ABM Singer crowns are found which reinforces my assumption that these hutches were the last ones ordered, and that they were used contemporaneously with the crowns, possibly to cater to the preferences of certain retailers. The base sticking out on the right is that of a broken ABM singer crown.
And then there is the gem of the dig... It rolled down this pile, as explained earlier, so this is a staged photo.
Oh Yeah... []
The Haul:
"Compliments of G. W. Luke Dealer In Good Things To Eat 1800 N. Jefferson St. Peoria, ILL" This fellow was a grocer, and his son worked as a clerk at their store. This thing is practically perfect, except for a couple tiny fleabites in the glaze, which doesn't really count with stoneware anyway [8D]:
Note the streaking of the blue pigment across the base from the "ILL"
8 ounce "The Bell Drug Store" with 2 earlier "Jas. S. Bell" druggists and a 1/2 ounce example of the same style I dug 4 years ago, which unfortunately went through the wash and had the lip destroyed.
1892/1492 framing Chris Columbus' bust, then "World's Fair City" and the "Administration Building" in the bowl. Purdy darn good shape for a copper alloy piece of flatware.
It seems that the Bottle Gods smile upon those who invest the time, sweat, blood and energy needed to move, sort, and glean the goodies from soil, ash, and human resources. Happy hunting and digging people! []
], and now have finally found not only a splendid Peoria, IL Mini-Jug, but the one single item listed in the local books which impressed itself in my memory years back because of the awesome slogan displayed. This is no joke or exaggeration; I had read through the bottle books looking at the interesting things recorded, and was captivated by this of all the dozens of Peoria mini-jugs. The last item of the dig, which spilled out of the roof of a little tunnel I was digging in pursuit of a juicy mid/late 1910s layer after 8PM yesterday, was the jug, which rolled down a little mound of ash tailings and stopped with the rear facing me. Instantaneously I went into "high-alert" mode and greedily snatched up the piece; turning it around to see if it was marked. I about soiled myself when I saw what it was, and when my composure was restored I immediately called my father to share the news. My haul may not be equivalent to 300 pontiled Philly sodas, but Peoria stuff is what I love and collect, so I was totally over the moon. I'd say that it qualifies as the "Arkenjug" which I jokingly referenced in the first dig post detailing this spot back in January, shortly after watching "The Hobbit". Of the 2 dozen+ stoneware items found in this dump, the mini-jug blows all the others out of the water in terms of aggregated value and rarity.The book listing:
I would have been very pleased with myself without finding the jug, as i pulled other nice normal jugs, hutches, and druggist bottles. 3 druggists were new ones for the collection, and are quite attractive too. I also found a cool miniature souvenir spoon from the 1892 Columbian Exposition/ World Fair in Chicago.
Now for the pictures!
Dig/In Situ pics:
It might not look like a big pit, but it really is. I invested plenty of time and energy into opening-up and clearing out the trench/hole, and plan to strip-mine to the left now that I have enough space to work with a respectable degree of efficiency.
1/2 gallon Western Stoneware jug, in great shape:
1 gallon generic jug also in great shape (the amber cylinder bottle below is a BIM Lysol):
A narrow cylinder Singer hutch. I had heard that they were rare/scarce, but they are the most common hutches in this dump for some reason. In the same layers, ABM Singer crowns are found which reinforces my assumption that these hutches were the last ones ordered, and that they were used contemporaneously with the crowns, possibly to cater to the preferences of certain retailers. The base sticking out on the right is that of a broken ABM singer crown.
And then there is the gem of the dig... It rolled down this pile, as explained earlier, so this is a staged photo.
Oh Yeah... [
]
The Haul:
"Compliments of G. W. Luke Dealer In Good Things To Eat 1800 N. Jefferson St. Peoria, ILL" This fellow was a grocer, and his son worked as a clerk at their store. This thing is practically perfect, except for a couple tiny fleabites in the glaze, which doesn't really count with stoneware anyway [8D]:
Note the streaking of the blue pigment across the base from the "ILL"
8 ounce "The Bell Drug Store" with 2 earlier "Jas. S. Bell" druggists and a 1/2 ounce example of the same style I dug 4 years ago, which unfortunately went through the wash and had the lip destroyed.
1892/1492 framing Chris Columbus' bust, then "World's Fair City" and the "Administration Building" in the bowl. Purdy darn good shape for a copper alloy piece of flatware.
It seems that the Bottle Gods smile upon those who invest the time, sweat, blood and energy needed to move, sort, and glean the goodies from soil, ash, and human resources. Happy hunting and digging people! [
]
