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Post by Ricky_Berkey on Jun 11, 2005 7:48:16 GMT -5
Just curious about the Coke building on Washington Street...did they ever have the bottling machinery visible in the front windows? Where I grew up (Goshen, IN) there was a very similar Coke building and I always remember being fascinated by the bottles moving thru the bottling works. We would often have to stop in front of it while waiting for the trains to pass.
I really miss pop bottles, especially that sound they made when they clinked together.
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Post by David Sechrest on Jun 11, 2005 10:31:11 GMT -5
Ricky--I don't remember the bottling operations being located in that front window, but that's not saying it wasn't there.
If you want to revisit those memories of buying cokes in 12 ounce glass bottles, you're in luck. Pay a visit to any mexican grocery store, and you can buy coke, pepsi, and sometimes 7 up in 12 ounce glass bottles.
Being an absolute nut about stuff like this, before Columbus had a mexican grocery, I'd make a point to stop at one during any visit to Indy or Chicago to buy them. It's great having an outlet for them so local today!
I know the Mexican Grocery on State Street in East Columbus sells them. They're located where the old liquor store used to be, across the street from what used to be Coffman Drugs (I think it's some kind of smoke outlet today).
By the way, if you tell them you want to buy a case, they usually give a discount on the price.
The pause...that refreshes...
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nancs
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Post by nancs on Jun 11, 2005 14:34:04 GMT -5
I hesitated earlier to respond to this, but maybe with what I have to say, it might jar someone else's memory. For some reason, I picture those glass windows with a greenish tinge to them------might that indeed be coming from the bottles that were greenish in color and the bottling operation being what was there? And remember when there was a city and state name on the bottom of the bottles, as to origin of the bottle? What do others remember?? Nanc
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JamesK
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Post by JamesK on Jun 12, 2005 19:57:07 GMT -5
THE BOTTLING OPERATION DID RUN THOUGH THE FRONT WINDOW AREA. I'M NOT SURE WHETHER IS WAS ACTUAL FILING PROCESS OR IF IT WAS JUST CONVEYOR BELTS MOVING THE BOTTLES FROM ONE LOCATION TO ANOTHER. I DON'T KNOW WHEN THEY CEASED OPERATION IN THAT LOCATION OF THE PLANT. THAT LOCATION NOW APPEARS TO BE A MUSEUM OF OLD ANTIQUE COKE MACHINES. I REMEMBER EVERY TIME WE WOULD GET A COKE, WE WOULD CHECK THE BOTTLING LOCATION ON THE BOTTOM OF THE BOTTLE. IT WAS A BIG DEAL TO FIND ONE FROM ANOTHER STATE.
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Post by EC on Jun 12, 2005 22:06:53 GMT -5
My recollections about the Coca-Cola Plant.
Coca-Cola Plant - I can remember the bottles running past the front windows. My mind also says that I saw some employees standing along that line as if they were inspecting the processes. It runs in my mind that the present day front was added several years ago.
That expansion was when the line was removed from the Washington Street view. Perhaps someone knows a member of the Schumaker family and can get a date and confirm my recollections.
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Post by David Sechrest on Jun 16, 2005 0:06:37 GMT -5
Although this really doesn't apply to the Coke plant, per se, these memories just triggered one of mine. Back when I worked at Standard Grocery on Washington Street, there was a Coke driver/delivery guy that brought pop into the store every Saturday morning. For the life of me, I can't remember his name, but I'll never forget him, and maybe some of you out there will know who I'm talking about. He definitely had a distinct "calling card," as he always had a parrott on his shoulder! Somehow, it was chained to him, I guess so he wouldn't fly away (or fall off!). I can't ever recall a Saturday when he'd come wheeling his cases of coke into the store, parrot on his shoulder, and bird crap all down his back. Needless to say, he was quite a character!
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Post by LouiseMaple on Aug 3, 2005 13:53:42 GMT -5
This is way after most of you have written in about the coke bottles-- My family had a "Mom and Pop" store over in Jennings Co. The local "game" was when several would come in together for a Coke the one that had the bottle with the farthest distance from Hayden would have to buy for everyone. La Porte IN had a Coke bottling plant many years ago. We have one of their bottles. It is not shaped at all like the traditional shaoe!
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nancs
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Post by nancs on Aug 8, 2005 8:32:46 GMT -5
Hi Louise, and out here, we did the same thing. My folks store was always the 'gathering place' after school to visit with friends. We called the 'game,' "Going the Distance" and yes, the one the fartherest away had to pay. And we kept a tally of the outcome, and that card still is in the store, stuck up as a reminder of times long past. Will have to look at it to see how I did. ;D Nanc
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Post by David Sechrest on Aug 8, 2005 13:43:12 GMT -5
Ok, so if any of you know this...
Exactly WHY did Coke stamp the place of operations on the bottom? Was it a security measure, so if something wrong was found with the coke inside, they could trace it back to its origins?
Or, was it a way to get bottles back to the plant to use again?
Or both?
nanc--it would have been quite ironic if you ever got a bottle of pop, checked the bottom, and it was from Columbus!
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Post by Bill Pumphrey sr on Nov 24, 2005 18:14:48 GMT -5
During the end of WW11, I worked part time after school and on week ends both in the coke plant and at 15 ,I drove coke trucks to and from Atterbury.German PW's would collect m/t 's all over the Army post for us to return to the plant in Columbus.The line of bottles you saw in the front window was running from the washer to the turntable that filled bottles. An inspector sat with his back to the window inspecting each bottle as it went by a huge magnifying glass. I often did that very job and it was so boring I would nearly fall asleep. Hard to tell how many bottles got by an inspector with something inside that did not get washed out, but as far as I know, we never got sued. The hardest part working there was loading and unloading those trucks. I often helped repainting the wooden coke cases on a special machine. Also learned a little about refrigeration working with coke machines We never ever had a machine broken into on the base. I also gathered up numerous german coins brought back and discaded by GI's getting discharged Bill Pumphrey sr.
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jimbo700
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Post by jimbo700 on Nov 28, 2005 1:15:49 GMT -5
Before they added on to the Coke plant, they had a large picture window and you could see the employees through the window as the bottles went by. My sister (Lu Anne Burgan) worked there in the late 50's and I remember watching her through the window wearing a hair net and apron, watching bottles go by. They had the bottler stamped on the bottom of all Coke bottles. Not that it mattered because I frequently saw bottles from other bottlers (especially Indianapolis) stamped on the bottom.
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LuAnne Burgan Steinker
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Post by LuAnne Burgan Steinker on Jan 1, 2006 1:47:48 GMT -5
I think that I rememer you. Bill, I worked at that window as a bottle inspector for the summer of 1957, just after I graduated from HS. I was trying to save money for college. I did sit in the green tinted window, and watch a conveyor belt that ran from a washer to the left through a process. It was interesting, and a couple of girls that also worked there had spent time as carneys (carnival workers), and they told me many stories. One of my life lessons was learned there. I made a mistake one day and pulled hundreds of bottles from the line. The only thing wrong with them was that they were steamy, and they cleared up very fast, but the damage was done. The line had to clear out, and it put us hours behind. The boss chewed me out, and told me that I was only a mediocre inspector, and I might be let go. I had thought that I was almost too good to work there, and that they should have respected me more. After that warning, I sharpened my skills, determined to show them, and at the end of the summer, my boss came to me, and gave me one of the most wonderful commendations. He said, "At the first of the summer, you were only mediocre, but now, you are a first rate bottle inspector." I wore that victory with pride, and as I later taught, I would recount that experience to young people.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 31, 2009 15:16:12 GMT -5
A 1923 Schumaker soft drink bottle, on the bottom is 6 1/2 FL. OZ, Columbus,Ind. On the side of the bottle is, BOTTLE PAT'D NOV. 6, 1923. The company listed as the City Bottling Works was located at 534 Jackson St. in 1915 - 1916. The company latter moved to 816 Jackson St. in 1923 and was known as the Coca -Cola Bottling Works. The company relocated to 1334 Washington St. in 1942 -1943.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 31, 2009 15:21:24 GMT -5
A Schumaker add from the 1915 - 1916 City Directory
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Post by Ricky_Berkey on Oct 31, 2009 15:34:54 GMT -5
It's nice to note that the local Coke bottling company is still owned and operated by the Schumaker family. A 1923 Schumaker soft drink bottle, on the bottom is 6 1/2 FL. OZ, Columbus,Ind. On the side of the bottle is, BOTTLE PAT'D NOV. 6, 1923. The company listed as the City Bottling Works was located at 534 Jackson St. in 1915 - 1916. The company latter moved to 816 Jackson St. in 1923 and was known as the Coca -Cola Bottling Works. The company relocated to 1334 Washington St. in 1942 -1943.
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RER
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"Democracy & Freedom"
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Post by RER on Oct 31, 2009 15:58:45 GMT -5
Albert E. Schumaker Schumaker Ice Cream & Soft DrinksColumbus, Indiana Mr. Schumaker of the Bottling Works of Columbus, Indiana, was born at Columbus, April 6, 1891, and was the son of John and Magdalena (Seiler) Schumaker. John Schumaker was born at Baden, Province of Baden, Germany. Father John and family seemed to have taken up residents in Columbus Indiana during the year of 1880. The family became a leading merchant of Columbus, in ice cream and soft drink products. As Ricky stated the Schumaker family still maintains the Coke-Cola plant of Columbus. Mr. Hutch Schumaker I believe is the present family member that oversees the business. Mr. Hutch Schumaker led the "Save The Crump Theater" during 2002. Most recent he has served as the President of the Columbus Capital Foundation and was involved in the restoration of "The Greeks" Zaharakos on Washington Street. Go here to read about the family biography:listsearches.rootsweb.com/th/read/INDIANA/2002-10/1034728394
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