The words “Centennial Root Beer” along with the year “1876” embossed on the subject bottle make it clear that it was meant to commemorate our nation’s 100th birthday. In fact, it’s at least possible that the bottle’s contents may have even been enjoyed during New York’s Fourth of July celebrations that year. So with that in mind, I thought it appropriate to start this post with a recounting of those celebrations as they appeared in the July 5, 1876 edition of the “New York Tribune.”
THE CITY’S REJOICING
THE GREAT HOLIDAY KEPT WITH SPIRIT.
PATRIOTIC AND POLITICAL SPEACHES BEFORE VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONS – MERRYMAKING IN PARKS AND GROVES – ILLIUMINATIONS AND FIREWORKS AT NIGHT – FEATURES OF THE HOLIDAY OBSERVANCES IN NEIGHBORING TOWNS
The Centennial celebration begun in this city on Monday was continued throughout the night. The services at Union Square did not conclude until 2 o’clock Tuesday morning, and the vast crowd of nearly 40,000 persons which concentrated there on the previous evening did not disperse before the early dawn yesterday. The cars and cabs were loaded down with human freight as late as 1 o’clock, and the ferries on the North and East Rivers were crowded at 2 in the morning as they usually are each afternoon at 6 o’clock. The later railway trains to the suburban cities carried immense numbers up to 1 o’clock yesterday morning.
The demonstrations of enjoyment and patriotism were renewed with apparently new energy at daybreak on Tuesday, Independence Day proper. They were of a different character, however, from the display of Monday, consisting chiefly of noisy demonstrations out of doors and music and oratory within. At sunrise the forts in the bay, the battery at the Navy-Yard, and the men-of-war in the harbor joined in a national salute, during which the American flag was hoisted at the Battery. Trinity chimes were rung shortly afterward. There were a few social celebrations at the up-town parks, and a sham battle was fought at Lion Park, but there was no public celebration in the nature of a procession. At the Academy of Music, Tammany Hall, Irving Hall, and other minor political halls, programs of music and oratory interested large numbers; while at various churches, and at Association Hall, semi-religious, semi-patriotic services were held. The principal civic celebration was at the Academy of Music, where the Rev. Dr. Richard S. Storrs delivered the oration, and William Cullen Bryant’s Centennial ode was sung. The meetings at Tammany Hall and Irving Hall were very poorly attended, and degenerated into mere political gatherings of unimportant persons, whose speeches were not worth repeating.
The display of fireworks in the evening was the principal attraction, and drew great crowds to the central points especially to the City Hall Park. The extent and brilliancy of the exhibitions of fireworks made by private persons in this and neighboring cities were much greater than in former years…
The name L & Co., embossed on the bottle, was short for Litchfield & Co., a business founded by a Connecticut native named Henry C. Litchfield who manufactured and bottled root beer and mineral water in Brooklyn from 1864 to 1878. That being said, Litchfield is remembered more as an educator and New York City school principal than as a bottler. In fact, his April 11, 1900 obituary found in the “New York Tribune,” stressed his 25 year career as the principal of Manhattan’s Public School No. 79 without any mention of his bottling career.
Henry C. Litchfield who was principal of Public School No. 79, Manhattan, for more than twenty-five years, died on Monday night at his home, No. 62 South Portland Ave., Brooklyn. His connection with New York City schools covered a much longer period than his service as principal of No. 79. He has been identified with a large number of the educational societies and with the organizations and associations among the members of his profession. Notwithstanding his success in the school methods followed at the time when he fitted himself for his profession, he had always been keenly appreciative of the value of new methods, and his large school has been one of the most progressive in the city. In character and temperament he was admirably suited to his profession, as is evidenced by the loyalty, affection and esteem of the hundreds of boys who came under his influence, and of the teachers who served under him…
Back in the late 1860’s, it appears that Litchfield was managing his Brooklyn bottling business when he began teaching school in Manhattan. As early as 1864/1865 Brooklyn directories listed Lichhfield & Co. as a “root beer manufacturer with a business address of 31 Charles Street in Brooklyn. Later, sometime around 1871, the business moved to 7 Charles Street, the address embossed on the subject bottle. (Located near the Williamsburg, Brooklyn waterfront, Charles Street was later renamed Kent Avenue.)
At the same time, New York city directories in 1866 and 1867 listed Litchfield’s occupation as a teacher. According to a story in the May 18, 1895 edition of the “New York Tribune,” by the early 1870’s he had advanced to vice-principal of Grammar School No. 19 before becoming the principal of Grammar School No. 13 (later renamed No.79) in 1874.
Around the time Litchfield became principal it appears he began taking a step back from the root beer business. Sometime around 1874 or 1875, the Brooklyn directories indicate Litchfield took on a partner named Henry S. Ford and by 1877/1878 the Litchfield & Co. listing included three principals; Litchfield and Ford, along with John Kerr. Two years later Litchfield, along with Ford, had terminated their involvement in the root beer business, with the company listing in 1879/1880 only naming Kerr at the 7 Charles Street address.
A year later, Kerr moved the business to 71 N. Oxford Street in Brooklyn. His bottling notice exhibiting that address, was published in the February 7, 1880 edition of the “Brooklyn Daily Eagle.” The notice suggested that at that point Kerr was still using bottles embossed with the “L & Co.” trademark.
The business was short-lived under Kerr’s management, and as far as I can tell never did produce any bottles embossed with the Kerr name. On March 18, 1881, a “Brooklyn Daily Eagle” classified advertisement announced that the business, which at the time included 8 wagons, 4 horses, bottling machines, bottles and boxes was for up sale, apparently by the building owner.
It’s not clear if anyone bought the business but a month later an April 14th “Brooklyn Daily Eagle” classified advertisement announced that the entire property on North Oxford Street was vacant and up for sale, certainly signaling the end of the business.
Ultumately, Henry C. Litchfield would go on to serve as the principal of Public School No. 79 for over 25 years, from 1874 up until his death in 1900.
According to a story in the March 25, 1886 edition of the “New York Tribune.”
No. 79 is one of the oldest schools in the city. It was reorganized in 1832 by the Public School Society in North St., now Houston St., near Norfolk Street. In 1853 it went under the control of the Board of Education. Two years ago when it had become overcrowded, the Board purchased several lots in First St., next to a primary school and on these the present building was erected. It is 80 x 100 feet, of brick, five stories high and has cost $76,000.
The school moved to its new location on First Street on March 24, 1886. This late 19th century rendering of the school appeared in the “New York Tribune,” on May 18, 1895.
At the time of his death Litchfield was one of only three educators to have served as the school’s principal over it’s entire 68 year history. They were Anson Willis (1832 – 1835), Leonard Hazeltine 1835 – 1874) and Henry C. Litchfield (1874 – 1900).
The school building that opened in 1886 remains to this day and now serves primarily as an apartment building.
More informaation on the building itself can be found on the following web site.
http://daytoninmanhattan.blogspot.com/2015/10/grammar-school-no-79-nos-36-42-east-1st.html
The subject bottle is blown in a mold and exhibits an applied blob finish. It’s 10-inches tall, three-inches in diameter and contains about 27 ounces. The address of “7 Charles St., Brooklyn” is embossed on the back, but the embossing is so light it wouldn’t photograph, so you’ll have to take my word for it.
Unlike most of the bottles presented on this site, this one was not found in the Long Island bays, but in a different kind of bay…e-bay. That being said with America’s Semiquincentennial coming up I thought it certainly deserved some attention.
Happy 250th America!!!!