Dr. Pepper Bottling Company of Bluefield, VA

DR. PEPPER BOTTLING COMPANY
The "Doctor Pepper Bottling Company of Bluefield" was incorporated on July 23, 1937 with A. J. Higgins as President, T. H. Morris as Vice President, both of Johnson City, Tenn., C. Emmett Conner, of Bluefield, as Secretary & Treasurer. The first location was at 708 Virginia Avenue in Bluefield, VA, by 1944 they appear to have moved to 104-106 Collage Ave with Emmett Conner still manager.(1) The company is still at this location by 1946, and apparently L. H. Kiser is owner of the company in 1947.(1) The company's original charter is dissolved by order of the State Corporation Commission on April 1, 1948 apparently L. H. Kiser bought out the company by 1947 and would have to draw up a new charter that I haven't come across yet. By 1954 the company has moved to its final location of 1302 Virginia Ave. The company was bought by J. G. Conner the president of the Bluefield Coca-Cola Bottling Company, and the brand would be bottled at their operation in Bluefield, WV.
Dr. Pepper at 708 Virginia Ave est. 1937-1940. It was just on the otherside of the creek on what is now a small park
Dr. Pepper Bottling company ad from August 25, 1939 with the address at 708 Virginia Ave.
Dr. Pepper at 1128 Virginia Ave est. 1940-1941, as it stands today.
Dr. Pepper Bottling company ad from September 13, 1940 they have moved to 1128 Virginia Ave, but have moved back to 708 Virginia Ave by August 15, 1941.
Dr. Pepper at 104-106 Collage Ave est. 1944-1954. I would estimate that we would be looking straight at it if it was still standing, unfortunately it is now a parking lot.
Dr. Pepper Bottling company ad from October 16, 1942 which says that the company is at 106 College Avenue.
Dr. Pepper at 1302 Virginia Ave est. 1954-1968. The lot it stood on is now a gas station. All archetectural evidence that Dr. Pepper was here is long since gone, lost to history.

From the collection of Frank Anderson, photo by Joseph Lee 12oz Five Points Beverages bottle dated 1939. Yet another Johnson City connection is this Five Points bottle, a brand which Dr. Pepper of Johnson City also bottled at the same time. More and more I feel there is a connection between these two bottlers.
A Dr. Pepper ad from September 19, 1938

6 1/2oz Dr. Pepper "Good for life" debossed bottle dated 1941.
The bottom of the bottle.

6 1/2oz Dr. Pepper "Good for life" debossed bottle made by the Chattanooga Glass Company unfortunately it has no date.
The bottom of the bottle.

7oz Circle A Beverages bottle dated 1947

6 1/2oz Dr. Pepper "Good for life" debossed bottle in the same green glass as the later debossed bottles, from all evidence I've seen this was a 1951 variation only.
The bottom of the bottle.

6oz Dr. Pepper debossed bottle dated 1953.
The bottom of the bottle.

9oz Circle A Sparkling Beverages bottle dated 1957

6oz Dr. Pepper debossed bottle dated 1958.
The bottom of the bottle.

9oz Circle A Sparkling Beverages bottle dated 1963
According to this receipt not only was the company bottling Dr. Pepper, Dr. Pepper Dietetic, Circle A, but also Lotta Cola and Tom Collins Jr.
While this Lotta Cola isn't from Bluefield, VA it is an example of this brand's bottle from the correct period.
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Biblography: (1) Polk's Bluefield City Directory 1938-1977

DR. PEPPER BOTTLING COMPANY

Dr. Pepper at 708 Virginia Ave est. 1937-1940. It was just on the otherside of the creek on what is now a small park

Dr. Pepper Bottling company ad from August 25, 1939 with the address at 708 Virginia Ave.

Dr. Pepper at 1128 Virginia Ave est. 1940-1941, as it stands today.

Dr. Pepper Bottling company ad from September 13, 1940 they have moved to 1128 Virginia Ave, but have moved back to 708 Virginia Ave by August 15, 1941.

Dr. Pepper at 104-106 Collage Ave est. 1944-1954. I would estimate that we would be looking straight at it if it was still standing, unfortunately it is now a parking lot.

Dr. Pepper Bottling company ad from October 16, 1942 which says that the company is at 106 College Avenue.

Dr. Pepper at 1302 Virginia Ave est. 1954-1968. The lot it stood on is now a gas station. All archetectural evidence that Dr. Pepper was here is long since gone, lost to history.

12oz Five Points Beverages bottle dated 1939. Yet another Johnson City connection is this Five Points bottle, a brand which Dr. Pepper of Johnson City also bottled at the same time. More and more I feel there is a connection between these two bottlers.

A Dr. Pepper ad from September 19, 1938

6 1/2oz Dr. Pepper "Good for life" debossed bottle dated 1941.

The bottom of the bottle.

6 1/2oz Dr. Pepper "Good for life" debossed bottle made by the Chattanooga Glass Company unfortunately it has no date.

The bottom of the bottle.

7oz Circle A Beverages bottle dated 1947

6 1/2oz Dr. Pepper "Good for life" debossed bottle in the same green glass as the later debossed bottles, from all evidence I've seen this was a 1951 variation only.

The bottom of the bottle.

6oz Dr. Pepper debossed bottle dated 1953.

The bottom of the bottle.

9oz Circle A Sparkling Beverages bottle dated 1957

6oz Dr. Pepper debossed bottle dated 1958.

The bottom of the bottle.

9oz Circle A Sparkling Beverages bottle dated 1963

According to this receipt not only was the company bottling Dr. Pepper, Dr. Pepper Dietetic, Circle A, but also Lotta Cola and Tom Collins Jr.

While this Lotta Cola isn't from Bluefield, VA it is an example of this brand's bottle from the correct period.

This page is only part of a much larger site. To see the rest then just click TAZEWELL-ORANGE.COM