On this last day of July I enjoyed the novelty of paddling in a light rain...
...and for a refreshing change the temperature wasn't 90 degrees plus.
The Concord River flowing through its namesake town is at drought levels, and the receding water exposed a good-sized cluster of glass bottles near Ball's Hill. Amidst bottles of Coca-Cola, Pepsi, White Rock, Schlitz, and Pabst Blue Ribbon (dating from the 40s,50s, and 60s) were 3 much older bottles (each perhaps more than one hundred years old)...
The one on the left is an old French Bros. soda bottle made in the neighboring town of Lexington (perhaps 1913). In the middle is a square-shaped full pint bottle embossed as Oates and Shaw Family Wine Store 769 and 771 Washington St. Boston. Only listing found for Oates and Shaw Co. was in 1905. The smaller 8-ounce bottle to the right is embossed M.A. Seed Dry Plate Co. St Louis MO. M.A. Seed was named for founder Miles Ainscough Seed who was a pioneer in dry-plate photography. His company existed from 1882 to 1902. The bottle most likely contained Seed's Ready Developer. In Ron McAdow's guide The Concord, Sudbury, and Assabet Rivers, it's mentioned that naturalist William Brewster purchased Ball's Hill in 1891. This would coincide with the period of time in which Seed's developer was being manufactured.
While I checked out the bottles a fawn checked me out...
This has been quite a summer for deer encounters.
In addition to bottles an old car tire was left exposed...
...the owner had gotten his money's worth as it was bald with considerable cord showing.
The rest of the day's haul...
5 comments:
Many times on reading your blog, I think, "I hope to run into this guy some day and thank him in person for doing the good work." I paddle the Concord/Sudbury/Assabet often myself. After this post I have to add, "Thanks for the good research!"
Thanks jbxpro. Will look forward to meeting you on the river one of these days.
Love the old bottles you've picked up! Do you have to actually dig for these or are they mixed in with the other newer bottles you pick up? Diana
Hello Diana, The three older bottles were mostly covered in the mud but had just enough glass showing to reveal their presence. Then my paddle blade nudged them out of the muck. They were in same location as the newer bottles. It's rare when they surface intact and without chips, etc.
Thanks for the info! Nice finds! I use to dig for old bottles up in Maine years ago, never considered the river for finding the old ones, thinking they would be busted up as you mention. Nice finds you made! Ill have to keep an eye open for them on my future paddles!
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