Anchor Bottling Works
1890s
Anchor Bottling Works appears in the 1891 Huntington Directory (Potts & Cammack, 1891). At this point, they were located at 947 2nd Avenue with B.B. Harding as the proprietor.
Anchor Bottling Works, Huntington hutchinson-style soda bottle. Dark, deep teal colored glass, short and squatty. Embossed with four lines of text.
Anchor Bottling Works, Huntington hutchinson-style soda bottle. Aqua blue glass, embossed w/ three lines of text.
O.D. Boster Ice Cream Co.
1910—1913
From 1910 to 1913, O.D. Boster is listed as a confectioner in Dun & Bradstreet periodicals (Mercantile Agency, Sep. 1910, Sep. 1913).
O.D. Boster Ice Cream Co., Huntington soda bottle. Colorless glass, ABM, embossed in circle slug plate.
O.D. Boster Ice Cream Co., Huntington soda bottle. Colorless glass, ABM, embossed in circle slug plate, ribbed body.
Celery-Cola Bottling Co.
Information needed.
Celery-Cola Bottling Co., Huntington soda bottle. Colorless glass, ABM, embossed in circle slug plate.
Celery-Cola Bottling Co., Dope, Huntington soda bottle. Ribbed, colorless glass, ABM.
Columbia Baking & Bottling Co.
1909—1920
The Columbia Baking & Bottling Company chartered in 1909 with the included incorporators: M.N. Kellenberger, B.R. Watters, L.C. Tucker, M.E. Henry, George W. Lippincott (“The Columbia,” 1909). They also appear in the 1913 Huntington city directory with officers William W. Whitehead, president; E.H. Fuller, vice-president; and B.R. Watters, secretary-treasurer (R.L. Polk & Co., 1913). They were located at the southeast corner of 15th St. and 7th Ave. They continue appearing at the same spot until 1920, when they are no longer listed.
Columbia Baking & Bottling Co., Huntington soda bottle. Colorless glass, BIMAL, embossed in circle slug plate.
Columbia Baking & Bottling Co., Huntington soda bottle. Aqua green glass, BIMAL, embossed in circle slug plate.
Columbia Baking & Bottling Co., Huntington soda bottle. Amber glass, BIMAL, embossed in circle slug plate.
Dr. Pepper Bottling Co.
1937—1942; 1944—1981
Dr. Pepper Bottling Co., Circle A, Huntington soda bottle. Blue and white ACL painted label, "A" embossed in a circle around the shoulder. Front.
Reverse.
Eagle Bottling Works
1900—1903
Eagle Bottling Works first appears in the September 1900 Dun & Bradstreet (Mercantile Agency, 1900). In 1902, the company was located at 914 4th Avenue, operated by B[ernard] Pratte & Co. (R.L. Polk & Co., 1902). It last appears in the September 1903 issue (Mercantile Agency, 1903). Despite its relatively short span, there are an abundance of both beer and soda bottles from this company. After this, it seems Pratte went on to operate a liquor business at the Florentine Hotel (R.L. Polk & Co., 1905).
What I find odd is that there are crown top soda bottles from his company, as this is quite early for them to have been used. Not impossible, but mostly unheard of within West Virginia.
Eagle Bottling Works, B. Pratte, Huntington hutchinson-style soda bottle.
Eagle Bottling Works, B. Pratte, Huntington soda bottle. Amber glass, BIMAL, oval slug plate.
Eagle Bottling Works, B. Pratte, Huntington pint-sized soda or beer bottle. Aqua green glass, BIMAL, oval slug plate.
Frostie Bottling Company of Huntington
1949—1959
Frostie Bottling Co. was founded in Huntington in 1949 at 1924 3rd Avenue (“Frostie Root Beer,” 2021; WV Sec. State, n.d.). By the early 1950s, it moved to 1638 7th Avenue. The West Virginia Secretary of State records show this company closed in 1959.
An earlier Frostie with only yellow ACL. Front.
An earlier Frostie with only yellow ACL. Back.
A later Frostie with red and white ACL. Front.
A later Frostie with red and white ACL. Back.
A Frostie similar to the above, but with red neck lettering. Front.
A Frostie similar to the above, but with red neck lettering. Back.
Grapette Bottling Co.
1949—1953
The West Virginia Secretary of State records show this company was incorporated from 1949 to 1953 (WV Sec. State, n.d.).
Grapette Bottling Co., Lemonette, Huntington soda bottle. Red ACL painted label. Front.
Reverse.
Grapette Bottling Co., Lemonette, Huntington soda bottle. Black ACL painted label. Front.
Reverse.
Great American Hop-Ale Bottling Co.
1914—1917
An American Carbonator and American Bottler article from 1915 notes that C.H. Davis, the owner of this company, began bottling in a new plant at the corner of Eighth Street and Second Avenue in December of 1914. The 1916 city directory of Huntington lists the exact address as 203-205 8th Street (R.L. Polk & Co., 1916). C.H. Davis served as manager and Harvey T. Lovett as administrator (R.L. Polk & Co., 1917).
Great American Hop Ale Bottling Works, Huntington soda bottle. Aqua green glass, ABM, tall.
Huntington Bottling Co.
1940—1942
Huntington Bottling Co. first appears in the 1940 Huntington city directory, listed at 1421 Jefferson Avenue West with Roy E. Rose as manager (R.L. Polk & Co., 1940). It appears in the 1941 city directory with the same details. By the 1943 edition, it is gone, suggesting that it closed in 1942. They certainly had a licensing agreement with Barq’s root beer, but no other bottles have been found to expand upon their bottled beverages list.
Huntington Bottling Co., Barq's, Huntington soda bottle. ABM, deco, colorless glass.
Huntington Bottling Works
1901—1907
Huntington Bottling Works appears as early as 1901 in Dun & Bradstreet (Mercantile Agency, Jul. 1901). As of at least the following year, it was located at 713 2nd Avenue with proprietors Nichols and Louden (R.L. Polk & Co., 1902). Their initials appear on a monogram in the first bottle below. Huntington Bottling Works then incorporated in 1903 with a capital stock of $10,000 (“A Charter,” 1903). It changed hands after incorporation, with J.B. Stevenson as president, F.M. Turner as secretary, Homer Ball as treasurer, and O.T. Huff as manager (R.L. Polk & Co., 1905).
Though there is a hutchinson-style soda with “L.A. Wolcott” embossed as the proprietor with the same company name, this was likely not this company. There are no records of him being involved within this company, as he is listed as a separate bottler. L.A. Wolcott was the owner of a Huntington Bottling Works in the late 1890s until some point before 1901, then incorporating the L.A. Wolcott Company in 1903. He remained a bottler during this time, but in a seemingly separate operation. Another article, however, says that an individual with the name H. Wolcott was a representative for the Huntington Bottling Works in 1904, so perhaps there was still a connection between the two companies.
Huntington Bottling Works, N&L, Huntington hutchinson-style soda bottle. N&L monogram stands for Nichols and Louden.
Huntington Bottling Works, Huntington hutchinson-style soda bottle. "HBW" monogram.
Huntington Bottling Works, Huntington hutchinson-style soda bottle. Tombstone slug plate.
Huntington Bottling Works, Huntington crown top soda bottle. BIMAL, flint glass, oval slug plate w/ embossed "HBW" monogram.
Huntington Coca-Cola Bottling Works
1910—1984
As early as 1905, the L.A. Wolcott Co. was noted to be “Bottlers of soda water, Coca-Cola, seltzer water, etc.” (R.L. Polk & Co., 1905). At this point, Wolcott still served as president and general manager, with J.I. Harvey as secretary and treasurer. They were located at 713 2nd Avenue. Two years later, in 1907, Wolcott took up responsibilities of treasurer also, with Harvey replaced by Cecil Hanley as secretary (R.L. Polk & Co., 1907).
The Huntington Coca-Cola Bottling Works formed from the L.A. Wolcott Company in 1910 (WV Sec. State, n.d.). In 1913, the officers were J. Broh, president, Harry L. Broh, vice-president and secretary, and S.R. Bishop, treasurer. By 1915, they were located at 411 3rd Avenue with D.H. Leasure as manager (Beverage Journal, 1930; Department of Commerce, 1929).
An interesting letterhead from 1930 lists Bluefield, Logan, Northfork, Welch, and Williamson as sub-plants of the Huntington Coca-Cola Bottling Company. This is interesting because the listed plants were Keystone Bottling Company subsidiaries, not Huntington Coca-Cola Bottling Company; there is zero other evidence to the latter owning the former. I am unsure as to why this letterhead would list those plants as being sub-plants, but perhaps it will always remain a mystery.
This company ended in 1984 when it merged with the Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Charleston (WV Sec. State, n.d.).
A BIMAL, tall Huntington Coke in a clear/amethyst color.
An ABM, short Huntington Coke in an aqua green color. About the height of the amber Cokes.
An ABM, aqua green, taller Huntington Coke w/ capacity on its rear heel.
A BIMAL, honey amber Huntington Coke.
An ABM amber Huntington Coke.
An ABM, amber Huntington Coke. "COLORED WITH CARAMEL" on heel.
A "soda water" style Coca-Cola bottle from Huntington.
An aqua blue 1915 Huntington hobbleskirt Coke. Front.
An aqua blue 1915 Huntington hobbleskirt Coke. Base.
Huntington Coca-Cola Bottling Works, Pat's Pop, Huntington soda bottle. Blue and white ACL painted label. Front.
Reverse.
Huntington Coca-Cola Bottling Works, Pat's Pop, Huntington soda bottle. Red and white ACL painted label. Front.
Reverse.
K. & V. Bottling Co.
1937—1945
According to West Virginia Secretary of State records, the K. & V. Beverage Company existed as an incorporated entity from 1937 to 1945. The first appearance of the company in city directories, however, is 1941, wherein George W. VanZandt Jr. was president and Irving Karr was the secretary-treasurer (R.L. Polk & Co., 1941). Hence, the initials of their last names make up the name of the company. Only paper-labeled bottles are known from this company.
K. & V. Bottling Co., Whistle, Huntington crown top soda bottle. Paper label for Whistle.
K. & V. Bottling Co., Apex, Huntington crown top soda bottle. Paper label for Apex lemon sour soda.
Maclow Ale & Manufacturing Co.
1917—1922
The Maclow A. & M. Co. incorporated in 1917, with incorporators including F.M. McCotter, U.H. Burgess, F.A. Rauch, as well as others (“West Virginia,” 1917). A brief newspaper snippet from 1922 states that they surrendered their charter that year (“Charters Issued,” 1922).
Maclow A. & M. Co., Huntington crown top soda bottle. Colorless, ABM.
Nesbitt Bottling Co.
Information needed.
Nesbitt Bottling Co., Huntington crown top soda bottle. Deco, layered mold, black ACL painted label. Front.
Reverse.
Nu-Grape Bottling Co.
Information needed.
Nu-Grape Bottling Co., Huntington crown top soda bottle. Nu-Grape deco waisted mold. Front.
Reverse.
Base.
Ohio Valley Bottling Works
1916—1950
Ohio Valley Bottling Works began appearing in Dun & Bradstreet in 1916 (Mercantile Agency, Sep. 1916). It is mentioned in the 1925 Bottlers and Beverage Manufacturers Universal Encyclopedia, which pinned their location as 2202 8th Avenue with J.A. Via as the proprietor (though, the bottles already say so). The company incorporated from 1946 to 1950, with incorporators including Charles M. Pace and Alice L. Pace (WV Sec. State, n.d.). I am presuming this is also when it closed.
Ohio Valley Bottling Works, J.A. Via proprietor, Huntington crown top soda bottle. Aqua green glass, ABM, tall, oval slug plate.
Ohio Valley Bottling Works, J.A. Via proprietor, Huntington crown top soda bottle. Colorless glass, paneled deco mold. Front.
Reverse.
Ohio Valley Bottling Works, J.A. Via proprietor, Huntington crown top soda bottle. Colorless glass, ABM, paneled mold. Left.
Center.
Right.
O-So Good Bottling Co.
Information needed.
O-So-Good Bottling Co., Huntington crown top soda bottle. Red and white ACL painted label. Front.
Reverse.
Pepsi-Cola Bottling Co.
1909; 1917—1921; 1949—1954; 1967—1982
The history of Pepsi-Cola in Huntington is piecemeal, with different companies opening and closing at vastly different times.
The first appearance of the Pepsi-Cola Bottling Company in Huntington that I can locate occurs in a 1909 city directory (R.L. Polk & Co., 1909). It does not provide the name(s) of the proprietor(s), but it does note that this company was located at 927 2nd Avenue. Oddly enough, it does not appear in any contemporary Dun & Bradstreet books, and also does not reappear in city directories until 1917 (R.L. Polk & Co., 1917), leading me to believe that there were two different companies at separate times operating in Huntington. This suggests the existence of a blown-in-mold crown top bottle, which has yet to be located.
In 1917, they were located at 606 3rd Avenue with the officers of the company being D.F. Walker, president, R.H. Williamson (of other soda companies in Huntington), vice-president, and V. Snell Young, secretary-treasurer. They were also the Tri-Pure Water Company of Huntington. An individual named J.A. Long became the new manager in 1920 (“West Virginia,” 1920), though I cannot find who the previous manager was. This second iteration of the company seems to last appear in 1921 (Mercantile Agency, Sep. 1921).
Another Pepsi-Cola Bottling Company opened in 1949, with Chando T. Mackney as the manager (R.L. Polk & Co., 1949). The directory lists them at the western corner of Virginia Ave. and 16th St., which would now place them at 1601 Virginia Avenue. They organized a year later, filing with the West Virginia Secretary of State with a notable incorporator of Nick Savas, who also ran the Pepsi-Cola Bottling Company and Logan Beverage Company businesses in Logan (Lim, n.d.). This lasted until their dissolution in 1954.
A final Pepsi-Cola plant chartered in 1967 with different incorporators (WV Sec. State, n.d.). This operation dissolved in 1982, merging into the Pepsi-Cola Metropolitan Bottling Company, Inc.
Pepsi-Cola Bottling Co., Huntington crown top soda bottle. Aqua blue glass, ABM, block letter. Front.
Reverse.
Pepsi-Cola Bottling Co., Huntington crown top soda bottle. Aqua green glass, ABM, block letter. Front.
Reverse.
Pepsi-Cola Bottling Co., Huntington crown top soda bottle. Red and white ACL painted label. The dots on this indicate that it was a vending machine bottle--no deposit, no return. Front.
The dots on this indicate that it was a vending machine bottle--no deposit, no return. Back.
A "single-dot" Pepsi-Cola from Huntington. Front.
Reverse.
Royal Crown Bottling Co.
1941—1990
The Royal Crown Bottling Company of Huntington incorporated in 1941 (WV Sec. State, n.d.). In the 1941 city directory, it is located at 702 8th Ave. with the officers Harry S. Moore, president, E.A. Marshall, vice-president, and L.G. Brisbin, secretary-treasurer (R.L. Polk & Co., 1941). The company lasted until 1990, when it dissolved.
Royal Crown Bottling Co., Nehi, Huntington crown top soda bottle. Nehi mold, red and white ACL painted label. Front.
Reverse.
Seven-Up Bottling Co.
1947—1974
West Virginia Secretary of State records indicate this company was incorporated from 1947 to 1974, with incorporators David H. Koch, John Maretto, and more (WV Sec. State, n.d.).
Seven-Up Bottling Co., Huntington crown top soda bottle. Emerald green glass, red and white ACL painted label. Front.
Reverse.
Tri-State Bottling Co.
1907—1915
The Tri-State Bottling Company opened sometime in 1907 (Mercantile Agency, Sep. 1907). By at latest 1913, it was located at 321 West 5th Street, in West Huntington (R.L. Polk & Co., 1913). At this time, R.H. Williamson was the president and manager, with J.P. Douglass as secretary and treasurer. According to newspapers, the company was purchased by M.W. Williams in 1915, placing R.H. Williamson (who has his own bottles below) as the general manager (“West Virginia,” 1915). This must have been the last year of the company, as it disappears from Dun & Bradstreet listings the same year.
A hutchinson-style Tri-State Bottling Company from Huntington.
An aqua Tri-State Bottling Company, Huntington crown top soda bottle with a circle slug plate. Blown-in-mold.
An aqua Tri-State Bottling Company without a slug plate. Blown-in-mold.
An amber Tri-State Bottling Company.
An amber Tri-State Bottling Co. branded Rye-Ola. Front.
An amber Tri-State Bottling Co. branded Rye-Ola. Reverse.
Tri-State Bottling Works, Huntington crown top soda bottle. Amber, BIMAL, tenpin mold. Front.
Reverse.
Tri-State Bottling Works, Huntington crown top soda bottle. Aqua blue, BIMAL, tenpin mold. Front.
Reverse.
Vernor’s Ginger Ale Co.
Information needed.
Vernor's Ginger Ale Co., Huntington crown top soda bottle. Colorless glass, yellow and dark green ACL painted label. Front.
Reverse.
Western Specialty Co.
1924—1925
The Western Specialty Co. was located at 720 15th Street in 1925 (Expositions Company of America, 1925). They also appear in the 1924 Dun & Bradstreet, but not earlier, which suggests it was founded that year. They are not included in the 1926 Huntington Directory, so they likely closed in 1925.
Western Speciality Co., Eureka Club Ginger Ale, Huntington soda bottle. Front.
Reverse.
Weva Beverage Co.
1922—1923
The Weva Beverage Co. only appears in the 1922 and 1923 Dun & Bradstreet issues. I cannot locate anything else about this bottler.
Weva Beverage Co., Huntington soda bottle. Twisted shoulder mold. Front.
Base.
Whistle Bottling Co.
Information needed.
Whistle Bottling Co., Vess, Huntington crown top soda bottle. Orange and white ACL painted label. Front.
Reverse.
R.H. Williamson & Sons
Information needed.
R.H. Williamson & Sons, Huntington hutchinson-style soda bottle.
R.H. Williamson & Sons, Huntington crown top soda bottle. BIMAL.
The L.A. Wolcott Co.
1903—1910
Lucian A. Wolcott himself was a bottler long before the L.A. Wolcott Company opened officially, dating back into the 1890s in Central City (Lim, 2025). At some point in the late 1890s, he owned a separate business under the name Huntington Bottling Works. This is a different company from the one listed above, unless it was purchased from him; records suggesting either way have not been located.
His company officially incorporated in Huntington in 1903 with a capital stock of $5,000 (WV Sec. State, n.d.). The company was located at 713 2nd Avenue by 1905, and had J.I. Harvey as the secretary-treasurer (R.L. Polk & Co., 1905). Though the company dissolved/changed its name in 1910, it continued on as the Huntington Coca-Cola Bottling Works (WV Sec. State, n.d.). He was already bottling Coca-Cola by 1905, however (R.L. Polk & Co., 1905).
Huntington Bottling Works, L.A. Wolcott, Huntington hutchinson-style soda bottle.
An aqua green, BIMAL L.A. Wolcott.
A clear/light aqua green, ABM L.A. Wolcott.
The L.A. Wolcott Co., Huntington straight sided Coca-Cola bottle. Amber glass, BIMAL. Front.
Reverse.
References
The Beverage Journal. (1930). The beverage blue book and catalog. H.S. Rich & Co.
A charter has been granted… (1903, February 10). The Calhoun Chronicle, 1.
Charters issued. (1922, June 15). The Charleston Daily Mail, 13.
C.H. Davis (1915). American Carbonator and American Bottler, 35(1), pp. 61.
Close call for train no. two. (1899, August 9). Point Pleasant Weekly Register, 5.
The Columbia Baking & Bottling Company of Huntington (1909). American Carbonator and American Bottler, 29(5), pp. 46
Department of Commerce & Bureau of the Census. (1929). Census of manufacturers, 1929. No. 101: Beverages, West Virginia. https://catalog.archives.gov/id/50101518
Expositions Company of America. (1925). Bottlers and beverage manufacturers universal encyclopedia.
Frostie Root Beer (n.d.). Cabell County Doors to the Past. https://cabellcountydoorstothepast.com/Old%20Huntington/Frostie%20Root%20Beer.htm
Lim, A.V. (2025, February 4). Central City sodas. Artifacts of Appalachia.
R.L. Polk & Co. (1905). Huntington city directory, 1905-1906.
R.L. Polk & Co. (1913). R.L. Polk & Co.’s Huntington directory, 1913–1914.
R.L. Polk & Co. (1941). Polk’s Huntington city directory, 1941, including Ceredo and Kenova.
Potts & Cammack (1891). Huntington directory for 1891-2. Hamilton Printing Company.
West Virginia (1915). American Carbonator and American Bottler, 35(9), pp. 61.
West Virginia (1917). American Carbonator and American Bottler, 37(9), pp. 70.
West Virginia (1920). American Carbonator and American Bottler, 40(9), pp. 69.
West Virginia Secretary of State (n.d.). Business entity details: K. & V. Beverage Company. https://apps.wv.gov/SOS/BusinessEntitySearch/Details.aspx?Id=fTRYot29m4Nunq2JKMf8Zw==&Search=z%2fwmd6EBwDeo90gZzYMnWg%3d%3d&Page=0
West Virginia Secretary of State (n.d.). Business entity details: The L.A. Wolcott Company. https://apps.wv.gov/SOS/BusinessEntitySearch/Details.aspx?Id=QLGOELEzxwTs46RdmYWP6w==&Search=a0Dx4GfgQDkWgdKXwUIIxQ%3d%3d&Page=0