Vernors Ginger Ale 150th B-Day

[M.C.Glass]

It seems normal to me, that if a fella comes out of the army in early 1866 or so, and discovers that his ginger ale has mellowed in the barrel for four years and tastes great;
You are going to have trouble getting your business going until you can create additional batches of GA and let them age for four years.
So, by 1870, you are able to deliver the proper aged stuff and create a sensation.

Bob, stay safe out there.

 

[hemihampton]

Yes, in 1870 it would of been his next batch that aged 4 years. LEON.

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

Rich, Andy, and MCglass

Thanks for the words of concern. They finally got the fire under control by creating a backfire about a mile ahead of the main fire, which created a sort of neutral zone that impeded the main fire's progress to the north. Because the winds dictate a fires direction, they only do backfires as a last-ditch effort, which in this case worked. The closest the fire got to where I live was about two miles. Myself and numerous others stayed put during the evacuation to help keep an eye on things, but were ready to evacuate if necessary. There were so many fire crews and emergency personal in the area during the three day evacuation that it was like a war zone. Fortunately everything worked out for the best and we are now getting back to normal. It will take at least a week or more for the utility company's to replace the dozens of poles that burned. As of yesterday they were already on the job setting new poles, many of which had to be transported by helicopters such as this one I captured a picture of in flight ...



Here's a helicopter dropping water on one of numerous "hot spots." It will take CAL FIRE several days to fully extinguish all of the hot spots like this ...




(I will be back shortly with more Vernor's stuff)

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

Back to Vernor's Ginger Ale ...

I'm still liking the 1919 account best because it was compiled while James Vernor was still alive and some of it is in his own words. James Vernor was born in 1843 and was 76 years old in 1919 when the article was written. He died in 1927, which was eight years after the article was written.

Especially notice the title itself ...

A Druggist Side-line that Eventually Became a Big Business

For me, the key word in the title is "Eventually" This leads me to believe that James Vernor's ginger ale wasn't served on day one but came later, possibly as late as 1868.

Notice on page one of the 1919 article where James Vernor says in his own words ...

"Our gross receipts in this particular department [ginger ale] jumped from $800 in 1868 to $10,000 in 1870."

For me, Vernor's own words suggest at least three possibilities ...

1. That he did not venture out and start his own drug store until 1868. It appears that prior to 1868 he was partnered with Charles L'Hommedieu for two years and located at 219 Woodward Avenue.

2. That he didn't relocate to 235 Woodward Avenue until 1868 or 1869.

3. That even if there is some truth to the 1866 date, where James Vernor said "$800 in 1868" indicates to me that he could not have aged his ginger ale for four years. 1866 to 1868 is only two years!

Here's the link again to the 1919 publication ...

https://books.google.com/books?id=I...#v=onepage&q=Vernor's Ginger Ale 1866&f=false

(More later)

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

Because I don't want to keep going in circles, I guess I'll just have to rest my case with this listing from a ...

1867-1868 Detroit, Michigan Directory



Which shows the (druggist) partnership of James Vernor and Charles L'Hommedieu located at 219 Woodward Avenue and not 235 Woodward Avenue.

Note: I consider directories as some of the most accurate and reliable resources for setting historical records straight!

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

Here's the way I currently see things, and will stand corrected if proven otherwise ...

1865 = James Vernor returns to Detroit, Michigan after the Civil War ends in the spring of 1865.

1866 = James Vernor is officially registered as the first druggist in the state of Michigan.

1867 = James Vernor partners with Charles L'Hommedieu and they open a drug store at 219 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, Michigan.

1868 = James Vernor and Charles L'Hommedieu officially dissolve their partnership. James Vernor relocates to 235 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, Michigan.

1868 = James Vernor develops and serves ginger ale for the first time at 235 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, Michigan.

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

Vernor's Ginger Ale 1866?



I have reason to believe that date is incorrect!

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

Aged Four Years?

I have reason to believe the first batch (1868) wasn't aged at all!

 

[SODAPOPBOB]

Next question ...

When was Vernor's Ginger Ale first bottled?

1. First extract bottle date?

2. First carbonated bottle date?

 

[hemihampton]

My Retro 6 pack. On the side they tell the 1866 Story. If this date was proven wrong, it may be to hard to change/rewrite History. LEON.