ROCK MINERAL SPRINGS COMPANY

On March 13, 1929 the Rock Mineral Springs Company was incorporated, with J. J. Huddleston of Algoma, WV, and Thomas B. Hoilman of Northfork, WV signing.(3) On May 3, 1930 the company signs a lease for the first floor, and all of the recent two story addition, of the Bailey Lodge #137 which was the Rock, WV Free Mason lodge at the time.(3) The lease was signed by Thomas B. Hoilman in his role as Secretary Treasurer of the company which logically makes J. J. Huddleston President.(3) They entered a contract for right of way to lay pipe to carry water to the plant on June 2, 1930, and secured the deed to the spring on January 8, 1932.(3) Beside most of these entries is written in "Examined and mailed Northfork Coca-Cola Bottling Company"(3) which backs up the claim by the Bailey's article that the Northfork Coca-Cola Bottling Company actually owned the plant.(1)

A November 20, 1932 article from the Bluefield Daily Telegraph on the success of the new corporation describes the creation of Rock Cliff Ginger Ale. "Chemists making an specialty of ginger ales were employed to work out a formula and perfect a ginger ale of the highest quality different from other brands of ginger ales. They recommended a brewed product made from pure ginger root blended with pure fruit flavors, which proved to be unquestionably the best formula that would produce a highly carbonated ginger ale wholesome and pleasing to the taste."(2) The company bottled not only Rock Cliff Ginger Ale, but also Orange Crush, Hires Root Beer, and their own line of Rock Cliff Beverages which included flavors such as Lemon, and Grape. The brand was distributed by the other bottlers in the Northfork Coca-Cola Bottling group which included Welch, WV, Bluefield, WV, Williamson WV, and Northfork WV. On May 8, 1958 the main office of the company was moved to Bluefield, WV.(3) On March 14, 1973 The Rock Mineral Springs Company merged with the Northfork Coca-Cola Bottling Company Inc. which was now a Delaware Corporation with the latter being the survivor of the merger.

7 1/2oz Rock Cliff Ginger Ale paper label bottle dated 1929

12oz deco Rock Cliff Beverages bottle dated 1930

Rock Cliff ad from October 18, 1939

6oz Orange Crush bottle dated 1932

From the Rock Mineral Springs Company of Rock, W. VA.

Rock Cliff Ginger Ale ad from September 23, 1936 note the last line stating it was being distribued by the Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Bluefield, W. VA.

12oz Rock Cliff Beverages bottle dated 1939

Hires Root Beer ad from April 23, 1938

7 1/2oz Rock Cliff Ginger Ale bottle dated 1941

Rock Cliff ad from the Bluefield Daily Telegraph December 14, 1939.

7 1/2oz Rock Cliff clear bottle dated 1942. This is an interesting bottle, it has the same basic layout as the 1929 with the company name on the bottom, while the acl shown above doesn’t have the same embossing. Maybe they hadn’t starting using acls for the Beverages line yet.

24oz Rock Cliff Ginger Ale bottle dated 1949

Two Rock Cliff Ginger Ale caps, the first was taken off of the 1929 bottle at the top of the page, and the latter has the West Virginia tax stamp on it.

6 1/2oz Embossed Rock Cliff bottle in the Coca-Cola Soda Water Style

10oz Rock Cliff Beverages bottle dated 1956

7 1/2oz Rock Cliff Ginger Ale bottle dated 1958

Rock Cliff paper label

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