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. H. Wade (5 shares) and R. J. Wade (5 shares). The next month the company changed its name to the My Cola Bottling Company.[i]
Their plant was located at 755 West Main Street. The company purchased this property on March 13, 1912. In 1912, the company was controlled by James T. Looney (a prominent Lexington Grocer). J. T. Mahoney was the firm’s Secretary and C. T. Walling the plant’s manager.
My Cola, crown top, circa 1910s
My Cola was another cola company forced out of business during the 1920s due to a combination of high sugar costs and the costs of litigation. Coca Cola had filed trademark infringement suit against them.[ii] The local company operated until 1923, during the recession following the end of World War I. The company sold its plant in September 1923.[iii]
[i] Corporate Record Book 5, page 395 – 6, Deed Book 165, page 548 and Mortgage Book 98, page 363, Fayette County Clerk’s Office.
[ii] Petretli, page 645.
[iii] Lexington City Directory for 1912/13, 1914, 1916/17, 1919 and 1923 and Deed Book 230, page 539, Fayette County Clerk’s Office.
