Bits of History Thirsty yet?

By Terrilyn Wendling

Posted: July 29, 2009 at 5:10 a.m.

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ROGERS — The sultry hot days of summer are a perfect time to enjoy an ice cold soda pop. The history of soda pop can be traced back to the use of mineral water as a healing agent. Once scientists discovered it was released carbon dioxide that produced the bubbles it was only a matter of time before mineral water came in a bottle. In 1810 the first United States patent for mass manufacturing of imitation mineral water was applied for. This was the beginning of America's obsession with bubbly drinks.

Soda fountains in drug stores across the states offered carbonated drinks to their customers. Soon customers wanted to bring the drink home;

however, the bottles under pressure from the carbonation didn't keep their fizz for long.

In 1892 the "Crown Cork Bottle Seal" was patented and became the first successful method of keeping the bubbles in. By the 1920s "Hom-paks," six-pack carrying cartons, were invented. The popularity of soda pop exploded during the depression. By 1937 people drank an average of 67.5 bottles of it in a year. The state of Arkansas bottled almost 60 million cases of carbonated beverages in 1937. Soon, another invention, the vending machine, made it possible to drink a soda pop anywhere and anytime, causing an explosion in the popularity of the bubbly drink.

Rogers got its start in theTERRILYN WENDLINGbottling business in 1912 with the opening of the Coca-Cola Bottling plant at 105 S.

Arkansas St. By the 1930s the plant had moved to 215 W.

Poplar, added new equipment and a new owner, Walter Luffman. Coca-Cola wasn't the only beverage being bottle in Rogers. In 1937 the Cleo-Vess Bottling Company opened on South First Street. Founded and managed by Charles Hudspeth the company bottled, Bubble Up, Cleo-Cola, Grapette, C.H. Grape and other flavors. The Cleo-Vess Bottling Company claimed to be "equipped with the latest improved automatic bottling washing, soaking, rinsing and bottling machinery." The company underwent a few name changes until it went out of business in the 1950s.

Several of these beverages are unknown to the younger generations, but will bring back memories for those who remember them. Bubble Up was first manufactured in 1917 by the Sweet Valley Produce Co. in Ohio. Their slogan "A Taste of Lemon, A Taste of Lime" is very similar to 7-Ups, but Bubble Up is the original, being manufactured severalyears before 7-Up. Cleo-Cola, Vess and Whistle were manufactured by Whistle which was started in 1916 by Silvester Jones. Cleo-Cola received its name from the owner's favorite type of cigar and featured images of Cleopatra.

Grapette was created by B.T.

Fooks in Camden, Arkansas, in 1939.

What started as a business to bottle mineral water for healing purposes has grown into a multi-million dollar industry. It is estimated that in 2000, 15 billion gallons of soda was drank in the United States. Coca-Cola, Bubble Up and the others are no longer bottled in Rogers; however, one can still find the iconic names and flavors as many of the smaller companies were bought during the depression or later. In fact, Bubble Up and Grapette are owned and distributed by Monarch Beverages. An ice cold soda, pop, cola, coke or whatever you choose to call it will always taste good on a hot humid day in Rogers.

Terrilyn Wendling is the Curator of Collections at the Rogers Historical Museum and can be reached by e-mail at twendling@rogersark.org.

Community, Pages 7 on 07/29/2009

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