RUSH BOTTLING WORKS

Milton H. Rush was the first person who brought Coca-Cola into Bristol by negotiating with a "Knoxville concern (Roddy Manufacturing) to ship bottled Coca-Cola to Bristol, which he distributed in the territory on a small scale".(3) He would later sell the franchise to a Colonel Howard from Rockwood, TN, who would bring it to Dixie Bottling Works. In 1907 the first advertising for Rush Bottling Works appears in the Bristol Herald Courier. The ads claim that he is bottling a Cola (no brand noted), a Ginger Ale, Lemon Soda, Sarsaparilla, and "all kinds of soft drinks." Rush is also distributing Pabst Blue Ribbon beer at the same time, and it is from this that I have found a partial clue to where his bottling location was, Washington Street. Not exactly sure where on Washington; however, in the 1923 Bristol City directory there is a Warehouse listed under the name Rush Bottling Works at 33 Washington Ave.(1) This building is vacant according to the Dec. 1907 Sanborn map so the mystery continues. According to Charlie Barnette's site, Milton H. Rush mysteriously disappears leaving his money in a bank account which is accidentally found later by his widow. (2)

Two bottles from Rush Bottling Works of Bristol, VA

Rush Bottling Works advertising from 1907's cola war

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