Various New Jersey directories listed Frederick Hemke’s occupation as bottler or mineral waters from 1903 to 1918. The business address was always 114 Hudson Street. Helmke was also listed as an officer in the Hudson County Bottlers Protective Association in 1907.
In addition, in 1907 Frederick Helmke was listed as an incorporator (along with Henry Schoffer and Henry L Schmidt) of the Hudson County Bottler’s Collecting and Distributing Co., Jersey City, NJ. Several of the directories in the teen’s listed him as a Vice President in this Company located at 155 Beacon Avenue, Jersey City. This company was also listed in the NJ State Board of Assessor’s Annual Report for 1913, 1915 and 1916.
The September 1914 Congressional Record of the Senate under the heading “Petitions” stated that:
Fred Helmke along with the National Mineral Water Co., and the United Bottling Co. of Union, all from the State of New Jersey, petitioned against a proposed tax on soft drinks to the Committee on Ways and Means.
Today, a newer building is located at the Hudson Street location and houses an early learning center.
The bottle I found is a tooled crown (8oz) embossed with the 114 Hudson Street address. It fits with the 1903 to 1918 time frame.