Ben & Isaac (Ike) Baer
188?—1914(?)
Ben Baer was likely the second liquor wholesaler and bottler in Charleston (the first being Samuel S. Strauss, lower down on this page). In the 1898-1899 Polk West Virginia Gazetteer, Ben Baer was listed as being located at 258 Kanawha Street and his brother Isaac at 28 Capitol Street, though Isaac sold meats at this time.
In 1909, Ben Baer & Bro., the brother at this point being David Baer, were wholesale liquor dealers located at 622 Kanawha Street (R.L. Polk & Co., 1909).
Dark amber Ben Baer. Monogrammed export-style pint. Baltimore-loop.
A paper label whiskey from Ike Baer. Back is embossed w/ a Paris, KY distillery.
The Capital Carbonating Co.
1901—1904
The Capital Carbonating Company also bottled beer at one time. The only known variant is this tall, aqua blue quart.
Aqua blue C.C.Co. Champagne-style neck, blob top. Quart.
Charles Capito
Coming soon.
Chas. Capito, bottler. Amber. Export neck. Baltimore-loop seal. Pint.
Charleston Brewing Co.
1906—1907
The first appearance of Charleston Brewing Co. is in the September 1905 Dun & Bradstreet. As of December 1906, an article about the brewery reveals that Charleston Brewing Company’s manager was W.F. Sharbaugh and the brewmaster, C. Graebner, was evidently a 25-years experienced brewer from Germany (“Big Enterprise,” 1906). Despite apparently having quite impressive facilities, survived just a single year.
A Charleston Brewing Company appears in 1874-1875 city directory of Charleston (J.S. Sheppard & Co., 1875), but I presume this was likely the business of S.S. Strauss, though I do not have direct evidence of that aside from his early bottle. There may be a missing bottle from this original company.
Honey amber Charleston Brewing Company crown top. BIMAL. Export-style neck. Pint.
Honey amber Charleston Brewing Co. "T-Top" closure, export-style neck. Pint.
Amber Charleston Brewing Co. "T-Top" closure, export-style neck. Pint.
Charleston Liquor Co.
1903—1909
The Charleston Liquor Co. first appears in the 1903 Dun & Bradstreet listings. Pictured is a paper label bottle for Welty’s whiskey, of Wheeling. As of 1909, the officers of the company included C. William Welty, President, and Frederick H. Hanke, Secretary and Treasurer (R.L. Polk & Co., 1909). The company was located at 810 Kanawha Street in this year. This was the final year of operation for Charleston Liquor Co., possibly due to one of the officers of the company being indicted on bribing a councilman to resign their seat (“Liquor Men”, 1910).
Welty's Pure Old Rye whiskey. Paper label. Half-pint.
James P. Clark
Coming soon.
James P. Clark ran a saloon that doubled as a wholesale liquor outlet. In 1909, the saloon was located at 24-26 Capitol Street, and the liquor store was at 26 Capitol Street (R.L. Polk & Co., 1909).
Crystal Bottling Co.
See “Crystal Bottling Company,” Charleston Sodas
Crystal Bottling Co. Light aqua green. Blob top. Champagne neck. Pint.
Greenlie & Harmon
Coming soon.
Greenlee & Harmon was a saloon run by William J. Greenlee and Wirt B. Harmon (R.L. Polk & Co., 1909). In 1909, the saloon was located at 20 Summers Street, corroborated by a bottle with a paper label reading the same.
Kanawha Brewing Co.
1907—1914
The first year that Kanawha Brewing Co. appears in Dun & Bradstreet is 1907. According to advertisements, their beers had various branding, including “Kanawha Chief” (Kanawha Brewing Co., 1907) and “Cream of Rain.” This likely would have been printed on a paper label for these bottles. Between at least 1909 to 1911, the manager of the company was J. Fred Englert (R.L. Polk & Co., 1909; “30 Retail… Licenses", 1911). In 1909, the company was located at the corner of Bullitt Street and the K. & M. Railroad.
By the September 1914 issue of Dun & Bradstreet, Kanawha Brewing Company disappears. Presumably due to prohibition being enacted in West Virginia that year.
Kanawha Brewing Co. Light amber. BIMAL. Champagne neck. Pint.
Kanawha Brewing Co. Medium amber. BIMAL. Champagne neck. Pint.
Kanawha Brewing Co. Dark amber. BIMAL. Champagne neck. Pint.
Kanawha Brewing Co. Circle slug plate. Misspelled "Charleston." BIMAL. Champagne neck. Pint.
Kanawha Distilling Co.
1904—1909
The Kanawha Distilling Co. first appears in the March 1904 issue of Dun & Bradstreet. Its last appearance is in the July 1909 issue.
J.H. Mendel
Coming soon.
Joseph H. Mendel owner the Family Liquor Store at 101 Capitol Street (R.L. Polk & Co., 1909).
I.A. Rosenheim
1900—1914
I.A. Rosenheim first appeared in the 1900 Dun & Bradstreet as a branch of Parkersburg (Mercantile Agency, 1900). Later, the I.A. Rosenheim & Bro. saloon was located at the corner of Summers and Virginia Streets in 1909 (R.L. Polk & Co., 1909). I.A. and D.F. Rosenheim were granted a liquor license to sell spirits in 1911, still at their former location (“30 Retail”, 1911). The business closed when prohibition took effect in 1914.
Samuel S. Strauss & Co.
1875—1880s
According to advertisements from the last 1860s, Samuel S. Strauss was originally a dealer of dry goods and groceries with his brother, Isaac Strauss, under the business name of Strauss & Bro. (Tompkins & Maden, 1866). The two dissolved their business in July of 1866 with Samuel continuing in business at the same property (“Notice,” 1866). At this time he was at a property on Front Street (now, Kanawha Boulevard). By 1869, he had moved to a lot in the St. Albert Hotel (S. Strauss, 1869), though I cannot determine a location for this hotel.
The first year that Samuel Strauss sold liquor was in 1875, as evidenced by his Dun & Bradstreet listing for September (Mercantile Agency, 1875).
Very early, crude blob beer. Dark amber w/ an export-style neck.
West’s Bottling Works
1899(?)—1909
Charles E. West, the bottler behind West’s Bottling Works, appears in as early as the 1899 Dun & Bradstreet (copies from 1890—1898 are unavailable to me). He last appears as a bottler in 1909 (Mercantile Agency, 1909), then as a coal dealer in 1910 (Mercantile Agency, 1910). The interesting part is his affiliation with the Blackhawk Coal Company, which is noted in each issue. In 1909, he appeared as an agent for the George Wiedemann Brewing Company (R.L. Polk & Co., 1909).
West's Bottling Works. Honey amber. Export neck. Baltimore-loop seal. Quart.
West's Bottling Works. Honey amber. Export neck. Baltimore-loop seal. Pint.
References
30 retail and four wholesale liquor licenses to sell spiritous liquors. (1911, June 29). The Advocate, 6.
Big enterprise. (1906, December 20). The Labor Argus, 2.
Kanawha Brewing Company (1907, July 11). [Advertisement for beer]. The Labor Argus, 3.
Liquour men indicted for bribing Cook. (1910, April 14). The Independent-Herald, 1.
J.S. Sheppard & Co. (1875). Sheppard’s Charleston, W.VA. City Directory 1874-5. Volume I.
S. Strauss (1869, January). [Advertisement for dry goods and clothing]. The West Virginia Journal, 4.
Notice. (1866, August 1). The West Virginia Journal, 3.
Tompkins & Maden (1866, January). [Advertisement for winter goods]. The West Virginia Journal, 4.