Scarbro
Fayette County
Charles D. Gentry/Gentry Bros.
1920—1922; 1915—1919
Gentry Bros. first appear as a grocery store in the 1902 Dun & Bradstreet, very soon after the town is established itself. This business remains as the year continues, selling ice, meat, and other things, though Charles D. Gentry starts his own outfit in 1908, then apparently gives it up by the following year (Mercantile Agency, 1908; Mercantile Agency, 1909). It’s not until 1915 that the company begins selling soft drinks on paper (Mercantile Agency, 1915), continuing until 1919, then C.D. Gentry again starts his own bottling works in 1920. This business continues until 1922, whereafter it disappears from Dun & Bradstreet.
Nehi Bottling Co.
1925—1930s
The only mention—at all—I can locate about the Nehi Bottling Company in Scarbro is that its owner in 1930 was E.R. Cline (Beverage Journal, 1930). E.R. Cline was also the owner of Scarbro Bottling Company just five years prior, in 1925 (Expositions Co. of America, 1925), so it would not be a stretch to say this is the same, rebranded bottling company. Scarbro Bottling Co. does not appear in any Dun & Bradstreet issues leading up to 1925, so I presume it began that year proper.
Spencer Bottling Co.
1904—1914
Spencer Bottling Company, of Scarbro, incorporated in 1904 with a capital of $5,000 (“Industrial News”, 1904). By 1916, a Spencer Bottling Co. appears on a list of corporations delinquent on their taxes (“Corporations Delinquent”, 1916). I presume this to be this company, as Spencer, West Virginia did not have a bottling works during this period. Then again, I may be wrong, as there are no bottles contemporary in mold to this year. Dun & Bradstreet has them listed for the final time in 1914.
A hutchinson style example w/ a rectangle slug plate. Hutchbook ID: WV0174.
A hutchinson style example w/ a circular slug plate. Hutchbook ID: WV0175.
References
The Beverage Journal. (1930). The Beverage Blue Book and Catalog. H.S. Rich & Co.
Corporations delinquent for taxes. (1916, December 24). Bluefield Daily Telegraph, 7.
Expositions Company of America. (1925). Bottlers and Beverage Manufacturers.
Industrial news of West Virginia. (1904, February 18). Bluefield Daily Telegraph, 5.