FOLEY & SMITH Beer Bottle Eagle Harbor Michigan EX RARE

Pricing & History

Sold for
Start Free Trial or Sign In to see what it's worth.
Sold Date
Source eBay

WHAT YOU WILL WIN... COMMENTS: This particular beer bottle is a very tough find among any of the various beer bottles to be obtained from Michigan. There are 7 known types of this bottle from this merchant; being a 1 quart...Aqua color, 1 quart Amber color with 2 variations of front embossing, with one these also having embossing on the back in 3 variations of "Not To Be Sold"; as well as a 1 pint, Amber color bottle. Please use the photos to determine the quality of this bottle. The overall surface is free of dings or pits; and we have provided all angles of the bottle for your observation, and please note the exception to dings and/or pits of a very small size upon the upper most portion of the top (see photo). This bottle is 11 3/4" tall and a base diameter of 3 1/2"; and without embossing on the back side. A brief about Eagle Harbor, Michigan: The location began being populated around 1845, when the area first became known to have high quality copper deposits. Numerous mining operations were within a 10 mile area, some being: The Cliff (Clifton), Copper Falls, Eagle Harbor Mining, Lake Superior (Phoenix), St. Clair and others. Of great benefit for Eagle Harbor in its early days, was the natural safe harbor for shipping, allowing protection from storms of Lake Superior. There were very few established roads, and providing the needed supplies for the mining communities and operations found the harbor to be the easiest path to the area using supply ships coming from Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. Foley opened the general store in Eagle Harbor, Michigan in 1857. Foley and Smith operated the general merchandise store for 40 years; and it was during this period from 1890 through 1895 that they sold bottled beer in bottles embossed, "Foley & Smith, Eagle Harbor Mich.". They were not brewers, but purchased their beer from the Bosch Brewing Co. of Lake Linden. The beer was transported by horse drawn wagon in 31 gallon barrels. The basement of the general store was where the beer was transferred into their embossed bottles. Foley & Smith distributed Bosch beer after 1895, but not in their embossed bottles; and because of the few years that they did use their embossed bottle, very few are found today. The general store in Eagle Harbor is still in place; although it has not been an active business for only the past few years. A bit about the merchants: JOHN FOLEY, of Foley Bros. & Co., merchants, was born in Ireland in 1830; came to America in 1848, and direct to Lake Superior; landed at Eagle Harbor, going almost directly to Isle Royale, where he spent three years. He then returned to Eagle Harbor, and, in 1854, started in the liquor trade. He subsequently engaged in the meat market business. In 1857, he began as a dealer in general merchandise in company with his brother. Mr. M. Smith was subsequently taken in as a partner, and the business has since been continued under the above name. Mr. Foley has held various official positions. He has been Constable many years, Town Treasurer six years, and Under Sheriff two terms. MICHAEL SMITH, of the firm of Foley Bros. & Co., merchants, was born in Ireland November 17, 1834; came to America in 1854; spent six months in Massachusetts, and then came to Eagle Harbor. He spent three years as an employe of various mining companies (the Northwestern, Copper Falls, Connecticut and Quincy). In 1858, he bought an interest in the mercantile business of the Foley Bros. (See sketch of the Foley Bros.' & Co). This firm has a branch store at Red Jacket. Mr. Smith has held the office of Town Treasurer of Eagle Harbor eight years. A bit about the bottle company: The Clyde Glass Works of Clyde, New York. A personal note: I have walked many miles through the forests around the Eagle Harbor area over the years. While there may be a 100 of these bottles buried under 12" of years and years of piled humus in the forest; until a fortunate person makes that discovery, these bottles are far and very few in between to be offered for sale. This bot... read more

Items in the Price Guide are obtained exclusively from licensors and partners solely for our members’ research needs.

Flag item for content or copyright

If this item contains incorrect or inappropriate information please contact us here to flag it for review.

If you are the originator/copyright holder of this photo/item and would prefer it be excluded from our community, contact us here for removal.