Cool Bottle Find & A Story

[Valley Ranger]

While waiting for some farmers to harvest corn so I can do some Civil War relic hunting, I stopped by a colonial site I've hunted for about 3 years yesterday and, while digging out a bunch of square nails from a hole, my digging tool struck glass. I thought for sure I had broken or cracked it. But it came out in perfect shape - no chips, cracks, etc. It's embossed with: "Hughes Druggist Staunton VA."

This farm is only about 2 miles from Staunton and, from the 1890's or so until the early 1900's, there was a "B.F. Hughes Druggist" on Augusta Street in Staunton. (See reference here.) This is the 2nd early 20th century item I've found at this farm that dates to that period and references Staunton (See child's bank cover plate here.)

 

[cti4sw]

Local embossing is always a pleasant find Nice bottle

 

[niffler]

Pharmacy bottles with a druggist name and place name are actually quite collectible, and sometimes very valuble, so it's a really nice find. Congratulations!

 

[stewielouie]

Thats a nice local bottle, I think that one was fairly common. But still a great find congrats!

 

[Valley Ranger]

Local embossing is always a pleasant find Nice bottle

Yep - thanks.

 

[Valley Ranger]

Thats a nice local bottle, I think that one was fairly common. But still a great find congrats!

Yes, I've seen a few others on the internet.

 

[Valley Ranger]

Pharmacy bottles with a druggist name and place name are actually quite collectible, and sometimes very valuble, so it's a really nice find. Congratulations!

It's the area I was born and grew up in (Waynesboro/Augusta/Staunton) which makes it kinda special. Thanks.

 

[VOL1266-X]

That will be a great addition to your local history collection Richard!! It looks to be in great shape. WTG, Q.

 

[WHADIFIND]

That's a VERY nice bottle! Nice save!

 

[dig kzoo]

What a great bottle! nice find there HH!

 

[jewelerguy]

cool. no telling how many lay in long forgotten privys waiting to be found

 

[Valley Ranger]

cool. no telling how many lay in long forgotten privys waiting to be found

No doubt.

 

[Valley Ranger]

What a great bottle! nice find there HH!

Thanks.

 

[Valley Ranger]

That will be a great addition to your local history collection Richard!! It looks to be in great shape. WTG, Q.

Thanks Quindy - I found it on the same farm where I found that Confederate Block A button.

 

[Valley Ranger]

That's a VERY nice bottle! Nice save!

Thanks.

 

[birdman]

Congrats and good deal on not breaking it.

 

[johnnyblaze]

Nice bottle Stony

Is it an applied lip..

Can i see the seam on the neck.

Pre 1900's im thinking 1880's-90's..

Blaze

 

[Valley Ranger]

Nice bottle Stony

Is it an applied lip..

Can i see the seam on the neck.

Pre 1900's im thinking 1880's-90's..

Blaze

Thanks JB. Here ya go - can you see enough? The seam "fades" as it comes off the shoulders of the bottle.

 

[mangum]

Very nice old bottle & the local connection makes it a really great find! Glad you didn't break it!

 

[surf]

Hello Stonewall,

That's a tooled lip. You're quite close on the dates with your estimate. Is there a WT on the base, for Whithall Tatum Glass Co.?

Mr Hughes had an earlier partnership with Mr. Robinson,

and I think a subsequent one with Mr. Bell.

I thought you might enjoy this story of a Hughes Drug show window gone wrong: Aligator no match for hungry frog, 1912.

When we bottle diggers hit glass, we keep on digging.

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