J.B. Douglass/Douglass & Lilly

1901—1913

John B. Douglass, in his earliest records, was the proprietor of the Palace Saloon in Hinton (Palace Saloon, 1901, 1904). The advertisement cited also notes that they make a “specialty of bottled goods.” This saloon was located at the corner of Third Avenue and Summers Street. The 1904-1905 West Virginia State Gazetteer and Business Directory listed J.B. Douglass as an agent for West Virginia Brewing Co., of Huntington (R.L. Polk & Co., 1905). This is corroborated by the bottle below bearing their monogram.

At some point before 1912, J.B. Douglass went into a partnership with L.C. Lilly (“Local Notes,” 1912; “Circuit Court,” 1914). The following year, on February 25th, 1913, John B. Douglass passed away of “Brights disease,” now known as nephritis. L.C. Lilly did not continue the business after his death. Instead, J.A. Watkins and Harry Walters—the proprietors of Union Liquor Co.—purchased his saloon and ran it until prohibition came into effect in June of that year (“Local Personals,” 1913).

Finally, Lilly sued the executors of Douglass’ estate, as Lilly’s brother was indicted in the Raleigh County criminal court for soliciting liquor orders for the company without a license to do so (“Circuit Court,” 1914). Lilly alleged that he and Douglass had agreed to both pay for the defense costs of his brother, and so Lilly sued the estate to be compensated for half the legal fees. He evidently did not win this case.