The Sterling Bottling Works operated in Greenport Long Island from 1897 up through 1920. During this time the company exhibited two different spellings of the word Sterling on their embossed bottles. Some like the subject bottle spelled it “Sterling” while others, like the one pictured below spelled it “Stirling.”
Recognizing that both versions were embossed on bottles of similar age, type and design it appears that both were generally accepted at the time.
The company’s initial proprietor was a man named David C. Petty who was born in Good Ground (Hampton Bays) Long Island in the mid-1850’s. The son of a bayman, according to census records, Petty was still living in Good Ground (Hampton Bays) with the occupation “fisherman.” in 1880. Not long after he would find himself in Greenport, Long Island where he managed several different business enterprises up until his death in 1914. This likeness of him accompanied his December 22, 1914 obituary found in the “Brooklyn Daily Eagle.”
Another obituary, this one in a local newspaper called the “Suffolk Weekly Times,” described Petty like this:
The deceased was a familiar figure in the business life of this village. He was a large man, with a heart of the same size. He was a cheerful giver and during the long winter months made many firesides happy with the necessities of life.
As far as I can tell, Petty’s presence in Greenport got its start when he acquired the Greenport grocery business of Clark H. Raynor. A story in the May 4, 1878 edition of the “Suffolk Weekly Times” announced that Raynor had started his business at around that time.
Mr. Clark H. Raynor opened his new store on Front St., near First, on May 1st, with an extensive assortment of Fancy Groceries. In connection with the grocery business, he will keep an Ice Cream Saloon and lunch room in the rooms adjoining the store.
Five years later an October 6, 1883 item published in the “Suffolk Weekly Times” reported that Petty had purchased the Raynor business and the following Spring another “Suffolk Weekly Times” item, this one in their April 26, 1884 edition, announced that he was opening for business at that time.
David C. Petty having purchased of Mrs. C. H. Raynor the Bakery, Ice Cream Saloon and Restaurant, No. 30 Front St., Greenport, will take possession on May 1st, and will open it to the public with a new stock of Confectionery, Fruit, Cigars, etc. Fresh Bread, Pies, Cakes, etc., every day. Ice Cream, in its season, by the plate, quart or gallon.
A Sanborn Insurance map, dated December, 1890, located what is almost certainly the saloon, bakery and restaurant on the northwest corner of Front and First Streets.
In 1887 a series of D. C. Petty advertisements published in the “Long Island Traveler” made it clear that by then Petty had added “Mineral Waters of All Kinds” to his menu. At this point, whether he was simply selling them or manufacturing and bottling them as well is not clear.
By the mid-1890’s Petty, apparently no longer involved in the Front Street operation, took over the Greenport mineral water business of John Lellmann. The announcement appeared in the April 16, 1897 edition of the “Long Island Traveler.”
The Greenport Bottling Works which for years was carried on by John Lellman is now being put in order and will be run by D. C. Petty
More on Lellmann and his bottling works prior Petty’s involvement can be found in another post on this site. John Lellmann.
An 1897 Sanborn map located Lellmann’s mineral water busines at the south end of the block bounded by Main, Centre, First and South Streets (lower right-hand quadrant).
This close-up shows it was set back from Main Street with access to the street via an alley.
As early as 1898 New York State’s Factory Inspection Report was referring to Petty’s mineral water business as the Sterling Bottling Works. That year, the company employed 4 male employees all working a 60 hour week.
Around the same time it was announced that the Brooklyn brewer, William Ulmer, who apparently owned much if not all of that block, was planning to build an ice plant there. The January 19, 1899 edition of the “Brooklyn Times Union” made the announcement.
AN ARTIFICIAL ICE PLANT
Greenport – It has now been positively decided that an artificial ice plant will be constructed at this village by William Ulmer. It is to be erected in the rear of Mr. Ulmer’s property situated on Main Street and known as the Greenport Bottling Works. The buildings on this piece of property have been torn down to make room for the new plant. Bids have been asked for and work will commence as soon as the contract is awarded.
The ice plant, with Petty serving as manager, opened in the Spring of 1900, with the initial advertisement appearing in the June 30, 1900 edition of the “Suffolk Daily Times.”
A 1902 Sanborn map located the ice plant directly adjacent to Petty’s bottling works.
By then Petty was also managing the “Ye Tavern,” which was likely located within the same block. It could possibly be the saloon shown on the above map that fronts on Main Street and is located adjacent to the alley access to the bottling works.
So as the dust settled, with Ulmer’s ice plant, the mineral water bottling operation and tavern all under Petty’s management its not much of a stretch to conclude that at some point he began bottling Ulmer’s product. This had likely occurred by 1909 when that year’s Sanborn map, shown below, now included a building labeled “Beer Storage” in the bottling works/ice house footprint.
This conclusion is further supported by this photo of a D. C. Petty delivery wagon that both advertised and apparently delivered Ulmer’s Cabinet Beer. The photo is part of the Hartley Collection of the Southhold Historical Society.
Petty continued to manage all three businesses until he passed away in December 1914 after which they were acquired by John J. Burns. The ownership change was reported in the March 27, 1915 edition of the “Suffolk Weekly Times.”
John J. Burns has bought the entire business interests of the late David C. Petty in “Ye Tavern,” the Hygeia Ice Works and the Hygeia Bottling Works and has taken possession of the big business. Mr. Burns has a force of men at work this week making important changes and improvements including better accommodations in the horse stables, new machinery in the bottling works and enlargement of the office with an outside entrance. Mr. Burns’ friends wish him every success in the enterprise.
The 1917 Sanborn map confirmed the ownership change, listing the bottling works under the Burns name.
Burns ran the operation for several years before ultimately putting the ice plant and bottling works up for sale in December, 1918. This item announcing the sale appeared in the December 20th edition of the “Suffolk Weekly Times.”
John J. Burns has decided to dispose of the Hygeia Ice Works and the Stirling Bottling Works and offers the business for sale. It is one of the substantial business properties of the place and should meet with a ready buyer.
The following January classified advertisements began appearing in the “Suffolk Weekly Times.”
It took took a year or so but the ice plant and bottling works were ultimately sold to F. E. Barth, another long time Greenport businessman and bottler. The announcement appeared in the April 23, 1920 edition of the “Suffolk Weekly Times.”
F. E. Barth has purchased the Hygeia Ice Plant, which hereafter will be known as the Greenport Ice Co. Many modern improvements are being made in the plant and patrons will be given the best ice service ever had in Greenport. The mineral water department is also being enlarged and many improvements made that will meet any demand in this branch of the business. The plant will be under the management of Frank L. Barth.
Operating as the Mineral Water Department of the Greenport Ice Company they continued to manufacture and bottle mineral water for a time as evidenced by this bottle that was recently offered for sale on the Internet. Its embossed:
GREEENPORT HYGEIA ICE CO.
DISTILLED WATER USED
409 MAIN ST.
GREENPOINT L.I.
Its not clear when exactly the company ceased the manufacture of mineral water however, as late as the 1950’s, the company was still in the beverage business serving as a local distributor for both Hamms and Schmidt’s Beer. This Hamm’s Beer ad appeared in the May 4, 1950 edition of “The (Riverhead) County Review.”
The subject bottle is a Hutchinson-style bottle that includes D. C. Petty’s name in its embossing. This dates it between 1897 and 1914 when Petty was associated with the business.