The Ale-8 Bottling Company is one of the Bluegrass Region’s most historic businesses. The company traces it’s roots back to a man named George Lee Wainscott, a native of Owenton, Kentucky. Wainscott began bottling drinks in 1902, creating unique flavors such as Roxa-Kola. In search of a name for his new formula of soft drink, he sponsored one of America’s first “slogan contests” at the Clark...
Business
The Ashland Dairy was established during 1933, by Clyde E. Buckley (President) and John H. Kloecker (Secretary/Treasurer). The company operated from 123 Rose Street, which was also the headquarters of the Dixie Ice Cream Company (which see).
Around 1940, John H. and Carl F. Kloecker purchased Buckley’s interest and continued operations under the Ashland tradename. In 1940, Carl F. Kloecker was listed as...
During 1931/32, B & M Dairy Products operated from 376½ East 3rd Street. In addition, the company also operated as BG Laboratories and Parron's Pasteurized Dairy Products.[i]
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In 1938, Carlton Ball started Ball & Company to manufacturer ice cream products at 895 East High Street. Ball died in January 1940 and was succeed by William B. Gess as manager.[i] During the 1940s, the company supplied homogenized, pasteurized, chocolate and butter milk, with whipping and coffee creams. ...
In the 1940s, a group of Baptist leaders set about to fulfill their dream of building a Baptist hospital in Lexington. The idea seemed far-fetched, but ideas born of divine inspiration often are.
Over the next decade the project took shape on a...
In 1912, James Ben Ali Haggin formed the Ben Ali Theater Company[1] to build a new opera house or theater on East Main Street, opposite the Phoenix Hotel. The theater was named the Ben Ali Theater, after Haggin’s son. The property was owned by Haggin and the Berryman Realty Company. Haggin was the primary...
In 1884, Benckart Grovery distributed Blue Licks Mineral Water in Central Kentucky.
Advertisement, 1884
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The Bleich Bottling Company produced a soft drink shortly after the turn of the century.
Bleich, crown top, circa 1905
The Blue Grass Bottling Company succeeded the Bleich Bottling Company around 1906 and was operated by Catherine McLaughin, Proprietor. Their bottling plant was located at 515 West Main Street....
The history and development of the Bluegrass Airport parallels and mirrors the evolution of air travel in dozens of cities throughout the United States. Discovery of aviation and second- hand accounts of thrilling exploits by early aviators captured the...
In 1931, the Bluegrass Pastureland Dairy operated from 244 Jefferson Street (the former French Bauer location).[i]
Ad - 1931
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In 1965, the Borden Company constructed a large modern dairy at 1307 Versailles Road, at Dairy Lane. Borden, Inc. was the largest U. S. producer of dairy products. The company was headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. During 1970, the company acquired the dairy of Ball & Company, and operated locally as the Borden-Ball Dairy. By 1975, the company had returned to the Borden tradename. During the 1980s, the...
The Coca Cola Bottling Works of Lexington was incorporated in May 1904 by Charles Mitchell of Winchester. The company’s charter allowed it “to install and operate a bottling plant for the purpose of bottling Coca Cola and other carbonated waters.” The initial capital was five thousand dollars.[i] By July 1904,...
The Crystal Bottling Company, of Lexington, was established in 1906 by Fred H., George S. and Harry F. Drake. Their office and plant were located at 135 East Winslow Street. The company was a franchise bottler, primarily bottling Hire’s Root Beer. By 1908, George S. Drake was the proprietor and promoted “All Kinds of Soft Drinks.”...
The Dewabout was built in Lexington, Kentucky, in 1899 by Thomas Branthwaite Dewhurst. It was the first automobile built and driven on the streets of Lexington. The design was basically a buggy, with a motor and running gear. The vehicle weighed three hundred fifty pounds, with a two cylinder, four horsepower, air-cooled gasoline engine. It was steered by a tiller, ran on pneumatic bicycle tires and seated...
In 1918, George S. Bell established a retail dairy, from the remnants of the Elmendorf Dairy, at 113 Church Street. Around 1923, he relocated to 125-29 Church Street. He advertised his “Milk Depot – Milk, Cream and Butter.” In 1927, his operation was incorporated into the Dixie-Bell Dairy.[i]
In 1927,...
The Dixie Ice Cream Company was established in 1920 by John Kloecker, owner of the Lexington Brewing Company (to replace the lost business from Prohibition). The company’s plant and retails store was located at 123 Rose Street, adjacent to the brewery. The firm produced ice cream and ices, the daily capacity to produce up to 1,600 gallons with twenty-five employees. The firm used the refrigeration plant of the...
The Double Cola Bottling Company was established in Lexington during 1939 by Mark K. Wilson (President), F. A. Watson (Vice President) and John B. Shannon (Secretary/Treasurer). The company was a franchise bottler of Double Cola,[1] with its bottling facilities located at 363 East Main Street....
The Dr. Pepper Bottling Company in Lexington was established in 1937 and located at 148 Rose Street. The company also sold other soft drinks, such as Sun Tang [1] and Spizz.
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Dunn Beverage Company produced Dunn Quality Sparkling Beverage in the 1940s. They had plants in both Lexington and Danville.
Dunn Quality Sparkling Beverage, crown top, circa 1940s
In 1936, Edward F. Prichard was hired to manage the local distribution for the Bruckmann Company. Mr. Prichard, known as "Boss Ed," was a well-known Democratic political leader and friend of President Roosevelt. He had previously been a thoroughbred breeder.[i]
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Early brewers in Lexington were organized as a proprietorship or partnership, with only two to three workers. Their production was limited (usually no greater than 500 barrels) by their size and summer weather conditions (brewing ceased due to the heat). All ingredients were obtained from local farmers and processed by the brewer.
These early brewers produced ales, porters and common table beers in the...
In 1911, the Elmendorf Coal & Feed Company was established as a wholesale and retail feed operations. The company was capitalized at $25,000, divided into 250 shares at $100 par value. The stock was purchased by Berryman (130 shares) Haggin (111 shares), Brownell Berryman (3 shares), James A. Todd (3 shares) and John B. Payne (3 shares)....
During 1905, James Ben Ali Haggin, of Elmendorf Farm, began expanding his dairy cattle herd, to replace the thoroughbreds that were being sold. In 1908, he purchased the Alexander farm, opposite the farm entrance, on Paris Pike just north of Elkhorn Creek (about 6 miles from Lexington) and built a large dairy complex on the farm.
Eventually, Haggin, in collaboration with the University of Kentucky,...
In 1927, the John G. Epping Bottling Works of Louisville acquired the NuGrape Bottling Company of Lexington, bottlers of NuGrape and Orange Crush.[1] Their plant was located at 210 Clark Street, with Hilary Bell the General Manager. The company’s brands expanded over the next decade to included Kentucky...
On April 1, 1929, the French Bauer Dairy was established in Lexington, as a subsidiary of the French Brothers - Bauer Company of Cincinnati. L. R. Zink was the local manager. The company acquired the old dairy at 244 Jefferson Street from the Dixie Bell Dairy. This location served as a distribution point for the company Cincinnati plant.
The French Bauer Company planned to build a large plant on the...
The Grand Pop Bottling Company was affiliated with the Pepsi Cola Bottling Company and located at 1333 Versailles Road. This company produced the I C brand and operated from 1942 and 1965.[i]
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In October 1889, Graves, Cox & Company opened as a gentlemen’s hat and haberdashery shop at 42 East Main Street, on the southeastern corner of Main and Upper Streets. The firm assumed the operations and location of Ross & Todd. The firm was established by George K. Graves[1] and Leonard G. Cox...
At the end of the 19th century, smoking a cigar was a symbol of wealth. During this period, Vice President Thomas Marshal declared to the Senate - "What this country really needs is a good five-cent cigar".
During this period, one of the more popular premium brands was the Henry Clay Cigar. Named for the famous statesman, Henry Clay Cigars were originally manufactured by Julian Alvarez in Havana. Dating...
Attached you will find IBM Patents. It is part of the IBM Collection at LexHistory
In 1952, W. V. Sauders, Henry D. Gentry and Hugh Gentry built the Jersey Height Dairy Farm at 330 North Upper Street. Sauders was a long time dairy farmer, with a herd of Jersey cattle. Henry and Hugh Gentry became the dairy’s general manager and production manager, respectively. The dairy offered retail service six day per week, with wholesale service in groceries, restaurants and drug stores offered on...
In March 1918, Kelly Dairy Farms Co. was incorporated by Dudley R. Kelly and his sons, O. R. Kelly and Charles W. Kelly.
In 1931, Dudley R. Kelly started the Kelly (D R) Dairy Company at 511 West Maxwell. In 1935, the dairy was incorporated as Kelly...
In the fall of 1897, J. Henry Zitt of Chicago traveled to Lexington to investigate the possibility of establishing a brewery.[i] Mr. Zitt was attracted to the area by its economic prosperity and population growth. In November, Mr. Zitt moved to Lexington with his family and purchased an imposing residence on...
On July 15, 1994, the present Lexington Brewing Company was chartered as Kentucky's first limited liability company, under recently passed legislation. William M. Ambrose and Michael J. Hart were appointed the firm's President and Secretary/Treasurer, respectively. Mr. Ambrose had retired in 1993 from First Security National Bank and Mr. Hart was the owner of General Tool and Supply.
The company was...
In 1928, the Lexington Dairy was established at 716 National Avenue. The firm was owned by Idadore J. Abraham (President), Edward Abraham (Vice President) and Philip Wilson (Secretary/Treasurer). During the 1930s, Adolph A. Abraham was also a Vice President. The Abraham family continued to operate the company until 1960, when the dairy was sold to the Broughton Farm Dairy. Broughton appointed James S....
The development of the motor boat parallels that of the motor car at the beginning of the Twentieth Century with both utilizing the internal combustion engine for propulsion. After the turn of the Century, several prominent Lexingtonians designed, built and raced experimental motor boats in the reservoirs of the Lexington Water Company on Richmond Road.
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These four models were produced in Lexington:
Model A 1909/10 Five Passenger Touring *
Model B 1909/10 Four Passengers Touring (Short Coupled)
Model C 1909/10 Two Passenger Roadster **
Model D 1910 Four Passenger Touring
* seven passenger, with optional folding tonneau seats...
The fledgling automotive industry by 1908 consisted of a number of firms manufacturing steam, electric and gasoline powered vehicles. The motor car was slowly emerging from a status symbol of the wealthy to a vehicle for the masses. The average automobile at this time cost $1,300 or equivalent to the price of a high-end car today.
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The Lexington Syrup & Beverage Company was the successor around 1919 to the Sinalco Bottling Company. The company continued to use the old bottling plant at 424 Christie Avenue. The company’s telephone number was 1922. The company was owned by William A. Beheler.[i]
In 1919, the company was...
In 1923, William B. Loughridge, proprietor of the Locust Height Farm, established the Ashland Dairy, at the corner of Tates Creek Pike and Euclid Avenue. The plant was a wholesale producer of milk. In 1925, he changed the name to Loughridge Dairy and used the tradename Pastureland Dairy Products.[i]
In...
In 1960, the Meadow Gold Dairy was established at 577 East 3rd Street, with Gordon Jackson as manager. The company was a division of Beatrice Food Company. In 1965, the company relocated to 516 West 4th Street. The company operated until around 1972.[i]
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For nearly 200 years, Milward Funeral Directors has helped Central Kentucky Families and friends to honor, celebrate, and memorialize each unique life with respect and dignity.
Milward Funeral Directors embodies the attributes of six generations of the...
During the Second World War, S. Phil Mohney, Jr. started the Mohney Dairy at 250 North Upper Street. In 1960, Mohney became a partner in the Dixie Bell Dairy.[i]
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The My-Cola Company was established on March 16, 1911, as a franchise bottler of My-Cola. The company’s charter allowed the “making, manufacturing, distributing, selling, handling and dealing in My-Cola pop, liquid carbonic gas and any coca drink, or any cola drink.” The company was capitalized at $2,900 – 290 shares at $10 per share. The shareholders were C. T. Walling (270 shares), J. H. Burke (10 shares), W...
The Nehi Bottling Company was established as a franchise bottler in Lexington around 1930. The company’s plant was located at 638 East Third Street. Robert D. and Robert F. Head were the owners. Their products included Chero Cola[1] and Royal Crown Ginger Ale. In 1935, the company introduced Royal Crown...
The NuGrape Bottling Company was established around 1925 as a “Manufacturer of Quality Sodas, NuGrape and Orange Crush.”[i] In 1927, the brand was acquired by the John G. Epping Bottling Company.
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In 1923, John C. Parren established Parren’s Pasteurized Dairy Products at 431 East High Street. The company also had two other retail locations at 283 South Broadway (B. M. Newcomb, Manager) and 205 Woodland Avenue (K. B. Hutchings, manager). In 1925, the company operated only the East High Street location. Around 1929, the company closed....
The Pepsi Cola Bottling Company was founded in 1939 and located at 326 Georgetown Street.
Pepsi-Cola, crown top, circa 1940s
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In recent years, this writer has been uncomfortable seeing our community firmly divided over the ownership of the water company. Having long‑time friends with serious differences is worrisome, and I've learned to avoid the issue just as I learned long ago to eschew debating religion. So I found both amusement and solace when I recently reread a local monograph, Rainfall Harvest, and found today's split is child's...
In 1939, William U. Turner formed the Rosemont Dairy at 298 Rosemont Garden. The company operated for several years.[i]
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In 1916, Sanitary Milk Products, Inc. established a retail dairy, under Edward Williamson (manager). The company dairy plant was at 169 East High Street. The company operated until 1919.[i]
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In 1962, the Ewing Von Allmen Dairy was acquired by the Sealtest Company, which continued operations in Lexington until around 1970.[i]
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Sher-A-Coca Company of American was established around 1914 in Lexington to franchise bottlers of Sher-A-Coca cola brand. The company was headquartered on Merino Street, at the northeast corner of Vine Street. Garrett D. Wilson was President, Garrett Watts was...
The Sinalco Sanitary Bottling Company was established in Lexington around 1912 as an earlier bottler of Chero-Cola. Their bottling plant and warehouse was located at 424 Christie Avenue. The officers were J. M. Martin (President), William C. Rose (Vice President/Treasurer) and Jennie Dowd (Secretary). Around 1916 the company’s name was changed to Sinalco Bottling Company, with William C. Rose, Proprietor. He...
Initially titled The Kentucke Gazette, The Kentucky Gazette was first printed on August 11th, 1787 in Lexington by John and Fielding Bradford. The Gazette has held the distinction of the first newspaper published west of the Allegheny Mountains since it’s creation. Until 1795, The Kentucky Gazette was the only newspaper printed within 500 miles of Lexington. John Bradford held the state contract as...
Two brothers with the determination and strong work ethics embarked on an amazing journey decades ago. Donald W....
In 1937, the Von Allmen Dairy of Louisville, purchased the old Peterson Brother’s dairy plant at 444 West 4th Street. The company sold Cream Crest milk products and Sealtest ice cream. Charles R. Dye was the manager of the Lexington operations for the dairy.[i]
During the Second World War, the company...
The Whistle Bottling Company operated during 1923 and was located at 200 South Broadway. The officers were D. C. Burgin (President), E. T. Good (Vice President), E. M Hawkins (Secretary/Treasurer) and Manfred B. Burgin (General Manager). The company was a franchise bottler for the Orange Whistle brand.[1]...
In 1906, the White Haven Dairy was founded by B. Pryon White and his son, James H. White. The farm wholesaled bulk milk to retail dairies in Lexington. The business closed in 1965.[i]
During September 1957, the dairy filed suit to stop enforcement of the city ordinance prohibiting the sale of raw milk (...
