Jay County Fair 100th Anniversary

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Text on Button JAY COUNTY FAIR AUG. 6-12 1872-1972 100th ANNIVERSARY
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Black text on a yellow background

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The Jay County Fair was first held in Portland, Indiana in October 1872 and celebrated its 100th anniversary in August of 1972. The fair continues to be held today and features concerts, demolition derbies, exhibitions, and hog wrestling. 

Catalog ID EV0488

Garden City Brewery Employee Benefit Association

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Text on Button GARDEN CITY BR'Y EMP. BEN. ASS'N
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Red text over an illustration of a barrel on a white background

Curl Text ADCRAFT MFG. CO. CHICAGO
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At one time, Chicago had 166 breweries. The Garden City Brewery existed at 21st Place and South Albany Avenue between 1902 and 1925. National Prohibition which started in 1920 and ended in 1933, was hard on breweries as many were forced to close with the loss of business. The Garden City Brewery reopened in 1933 before finally closing in 1951.

Benefit associations are employee non-profit insurance companies. Members pay dues and might receive retirement pensions, health insurance, or help with funeral expenses. Before public or employer-offered insurance, benefit associations helped people organize and negotiate for health and life cost and expenses.

Sources

Garden City Brewing Co. - IL 93a | Old Breweries Information | Breweriana Values. Oldbreweries.com. (2020). Retrieved from http://www.oldbreweries.com/breweries-by-state/illinois/chicago-il-166-….

Catalog ID CL0469

Tivoli Export Beer

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Text on Button F.A. POTH & SONS, TIVOLI EXPORT BEER. PUREST & FINEST BEER.
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Illustration of a yellow bottle with white labels and black text on a white background

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Made by The Whitehead & Hoag Co. Newark, N. J. U.S.A. Pat April 14, 1896, July 21, 1896

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F.A. Poth Brewing Company was a brewery in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Established in 1865 by German immigrant Frederick A. Poth, the company did not get a real start until 1887 when Poth was able to purchase land on which to build a brewery. After Poth's death in 1905, his sons sons inherited and continued to run the business, then renamed F.A. Poth and Sons. Like many breweries in early 20th century America, it was forced to close in 1920 when new laws declared the production and sale of alcohol illegal. During the years of operation, the brewery produced several beers and lagers, including the Tivoli Export pale beer.

See more photos of pre- and post-prohibition beer buttons on the Busy Beaver blog.

Sources

The Library Company of Philadelphia. (2017). F.A. Poth Brewing Company, Philadelphia. [graphic]. Retrieved from https://digital.librarycompany.org/islandora/object/digitool%3A66344

Ujifusa, S. (2014, January 3). Frederick A. Poth: Red bricks and gold beer (Part 1), [weblog]. Retrieved from https://www.phillyhistory.org/blog/index.php/2014/01/frederick-a-poth-o…

Catalog ID BE0145

P.B. Oh Be Jolly Bulldog

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Text on Button P. B. OH BE JOLLY
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Illustration of a white dog with brown ears and a big collar on a dark background with white text and dark text over the bottom edge.

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VAN NOSTRAND'S ALE BUNKER HILL P.B. BREWERIES EST'D 1821 PAT. APRIL 14 1896 JULY 21 1896 WHITEHEAD AND HOAG CO. NEWARK N.J.

Curl Text THE WHITEHEAD & HOAG CO., NEWARK, N.J.
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"Oh Be Jolly" was the slogan of the A. G. Van Nostrand Bunker Hill Breweries. The brewery was founded as Bunker Hill Breweries in Charlestown, Massachusetts in 1821 and was renamed to A. G. Van Nostrand Bunker Hill Breweries in1877 when William Tredwell Van Nostrand purchased it. Due to prohibition laws, the brewery closed in 1918, and although they did briefly reopen in 1933, they closed permanently in 1934. Promotional advertisements commonly featured the slogan and the "P.B. Ale" brand, and promotional buttons often featured a bull dog wearing a collar bearing the initials "P.B". 

See more photos of pre- and post-prohibition beer buttons on the Busy Beaver blog.

Sources

Brooks, J. (2017, July 4). Historic beer birthday: Alonzo Gilford Van Nostrand [Web log post]. Retrieved from https://brookstonbeerbulletin.com/historic-beer-birthday-alonzo-gilford…

Catalog ID BE0143

Owl-Musty Be Wise and Get Next

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Text on Button OWL-MUSTY BE WISE AND GET NEXT
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White text above and below an illustration of an owl's head on a dark background

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Owl-Musty Ale Brewed by A. G. Van Nostrand Bunker Hill Breweries Charlestown, Mass

Curl Text BALTO. BADGE & NOVELTY CO BALTO, MD
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Owl-Musty was a type of beer brewed by A. G. Van Nostrand Bunker Hill Breweries in the early 1900s. The owl mascot was trademarked in 1906 and was featured on labels, advertisements, and promotional buttons. The brewery was founded as Bunker Hill Breweries in Charlestown, Massachusetts in 1821 and was renamed A. G. Van Nostrand Bunker Hill Breweries in 1877 when William Tredwell Van Nostrand purchased it. Due to prohibition laws, the brewery closed in 1918, and although they did briefly reopen in 1933, they closed permanently in 1934.

See more photos of pre- and post-prohibition beer buttons on the Busy Beaver blog.

Sources

United States Brewers Foundation. (1906). Registered Trademarks. Proceedings of the Annual Convention, 46, p. 79

Catalog ID BE0142

Metz Brothers Brewing Company

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Text on Button METZ BROS. BREWING CO. JOHN TREBER, AGT., DEADWOOD OMAHA'S FAVORITE BEER
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Blue text around the outer edge with an illustration of a woman in a red, what and blue dress over a donkey on a white background

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Buttons made by The Whitehead & Hoag Co. Newark, N. J. U.S.A. Pat April 14, 1896, July 21, 1896

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The Metz Brothers Brewing Company was founded in 1861 in Omaha, Nebraska by Frederick and Philip Metz. They were one of the first brewers in Nebraska and became one of the "Big 4" in Omaha. Like many others breweries in the United States in the 1920s, the Metz Brothers Brewing Company was forced to close due to Prohibition, but the label was brewed until 1961 by the Walter Brewing Company in Pueblo, Colorado. In April 2018, Infusion Brewery in Omaha re-introduced the Metz brand and began serving Metz Jubilee. 

M, Brian. (2018, March 26). Omaha brewery bringing back Metz beer. WOWT, Retrieved from http://www.wowt.com/content/news/Omaha-brewery-bringing-back-Metz-beer-478000053.html.

Catalog ID BE0141

James Bond's Brew

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Text on Button I'M AN AGENT FOR JAMES BOND'S BREW 007 SPECIAL BLEND
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Red text on a white background

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In 1968, the National Brewing Company of Baltimore, Maryland released James Bond's 007 Special Blend, a blend of malt liquor and beer. The cans featured women posing in front of notable English landmarks, including Big Ben, the infamous Tower of London, and the London Bridge. The blend was not manufactured for very long, but can still be found from third party and private sellers. 

Catalog ID BE0119

I'm the Guy That Put Foam on Beer

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Text on Button I'M THE GUY THAT PUT FOAM ON BEER
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White text on a red background

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OBAK CIGARETTES FACTORY No 171 1st DIST. STATE OF CALIFORNIA THE WHITEHEAD & HOAG CO. PATENTED

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Obak Cigarettes were issued by the John Bollman Company out of San Francisco, California, in the 1860s. Obak Cigarettes is most known for beautifully painted baseball cards in the early 20th century. They also issued pinback buttons with clever “I’m the Guy” phrases in white text on red, blue, and green backgrounds. It is unknown exactly how many cigarette promotional items exist, but the number is thought to be over 350.

Sources

Obak Tobacco. (n.d.). The Cardboard Connection. Retrieved March 28, 2024 from https://www.cardboardconnection.com/collectopedia/manufacturers/obak-to…

Catalog ID BE0146

Genesee Can Crow

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Text on Button GENESEE CAN CROW
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Color illustration of a brownish gold rooster standing on green grass on a white background with black text along the top

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THE WHITEHEAD & HOAG CO. 
NEWARK N.J.
PATENTED
JULY 17 1894
APRIL 14, 1896
JULY 21, 1896

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The Genesee Brewery was founded in Rochester, New York in 1878 when Mathius Kondolf purchased and renamed the Reisky & Spies Brewery. Like many Pre-Prohibition breweries in North America, it was forced to close after the passing of the 18th Amendment in 1919. However, Genesee's legacy did not end there; when Prohibition was repealed in 1932, former brewmaster Louis A. Wehle purchased Genesee brewery and established Genesee Brewing Company. They continued to grow and thrive throughout 20th century and by 2000, their beers were available in 39 states. The brewery remains an integral part of the Rochester community and celebrated its 140th anniversary in 2018 with a year-long celebration.

Sources

The Genesee Brewery. (2018) About. Retrieved from https://www.geneseebeer.com/about/

Catalog ID BE0140