Antique Bottles of Lewistown, PA

Proprietary-embossed Lewistown pharmacy or druggist medicine bottles generally date in the 1870-1910 era. Druggists had these bottles custom-made by bottle manufacturers such as Whitall-Tatum Co. of New Jersey and the Saltsburg Bottle Works of Saltsburg, PA. They were produced in small quantities compared to unembossed (plain) bottles, which were much less expensive. As they were not returnable for refilling like beer and soda bottles were, most were simply discarded when empty. All embossed druggist bottles from Lewistown are rare, with some being unique.

9-28-09 update: Over the fall and winter, I will be updating the druggist section with (badly needed) improved pictures. I have also added some new historical information about the pharmacists that I have found in my ongoing research.  ~Jim

 Shown below is a bottle embossed DR. A.J. ATKINSON/ DRUGGIST/ LEWISTOWN, PA. Dr. Andrew J. Atkinson (1821-1904) was a physician, surgeon and druggist in Newton Hamilton and Lewistown for many years. He was an 1843 graduate of the University of Pennsylvania medical department. Dr. Atkinson also served as a field surgeon for the Union army during the Civil War. All of his known bottles are oval-shaped. Some have a monogram of the doctor's initials "AJA", and a unique earlier example exists with an embossed mortar and pestle. All known examples are from Lewistown, and date from the 1870s to the 1890s.

"AJA" monogrammed bottle of Dr. A.J. Atkinson.

 A grouping of Dr. Atkinson's bottles. Left to right- One-ounce plain, two-ounce monogrammed, three-ounce monogrammed and a unique, early mortar and pestle example in the two-ounce size.

Martin's Pharmacy was located at 146 East Market Street. Dr. Robert Martin (1826-1878) and his sons Andrew (1849-1894) and Samuel Martin (1853-1894) were the proprietors. The pharmacy's operations were continued by John Palmer Rothermel, with Mrs. Lavinia Martin (Andrew's widow) as the owner after the Martin brothers both died in 1894. The attractive Martin's bottles with script writing date in the 1880s and1890s.

This proprietary-embossed citrate of magnesia bottle from Martin's Pharmacy is the only one of its kind that is currently known to exist. Most pharmacies used plain or "generic" bottles for this inexpensive concoction, which was a remedy for sour stomach and digestive ailments.

This 1870s pharmacy bottle is embossed DR. R. MARTIN & SON/ PHARMACISTS/ LEWISTOWN, PA. These are likely the earliest variant of Martin's bottles. Larger sizes are embossed with a monogram of "RM&S" for Robert Martin and Son. Only three examples of these bottles are known.

Early half-ounce bottle of Dr. Robert Martin and Son.

Joseph McFadden was listed as a grocer, stationer, bookseller and druggist at 3 East Market Street in 1877. He was still in business in 1893, but is not listed in 1900. His bottles come in oval and square shapes. I know of four examples of each type to exist. Both varieties carry the exact same embossing of JOS. McFADDEN/ PHARMACIST/ LEWISTOWN, Pa. Most of the known examples of these bottles were found at the site of Mr. McFadden's former home in Lewistown.

Unique, large McFadden square in the six-ounce size. When it was discovered, this bottle contained a small amount of its original contents- Camphorated oil.

Charles M. Ritz (1805-1902) established a drug store at 22 East Market Street in 1827. In 1842, he replaced his existing log structure with a modern brick building, which still stands today. Ritz's Drug Store continued operating until the 1950s. While later, painted-label Ritz's bottles can easily be found, such is not the case for the earlier, embossed examples. The example below dates from the early 1900s.

This rare bottle is embossed MUSSER'S/ PHARMACY/ LEWISTOWN. Only one intact and one broken example have been found. Frank Milburn Musser was an 1896 graduate of the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, and was listed as a registered pharmacist in Lewistown in1900. One of his early mentors was Andrew Martin.

T.E. Mayes was probably located somewhere near the Five Points in Lewistown, although the exact location of his establishment is not known. There are three known types of Mayes bottles, and all of the types are rare, with the "TEM" monogram example being unique.These bottles are attributed to Thomas E. Mayes, who was listed as a registered pharmacist in Lewistown in 1892.

Mayes At Lewistown

 Square example with "seal" embossing. The steeply-arched "Lewistown" and decorative embossing make this a favorite bottle.

 Monogrammed "TEM" example. While sadly cracked and stained, this is currently the only known example of this type of Mayes bottle.

Jacob A. Muthersbough established a drug store at 28 East Market Street around 1885, which remained in business into the 1930s. A Lewistown native and an 1874 graduate of the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, he had worked for Philadelphia drug maker Hance Brothers and White from about 1874-1885. His proprietary-embossed bottles date in the late 1880s and the 1890s. Three varieties are known, including one that reads J.A. MUTHERSBOUGH/ APOTHECARY/ LEWISTOWN, PA with an ornate letter "M" inside of a fan, and a beautiful type with a leaf scroll design. The fan and leaf scroll types are both unique examples.

 Standard J.A. Muthersbough oval druggist.

 J.A. Muthersbough druggist with fancy "leaf scroll" design. Unique, and a favorite.

J. A. Muthersbough Apothecary, Lewistown, PA. This bottle is special in that no other Lewistown bottles of any kind are known to have the word "apothecary" on them. It is also a unique example.

Edwin S. "Doc" Eby was a well-known figure in Lewistown in the early 1900s. He kept a drug store at 51 West Market Street. He also manufactured and sold medicines as the proprietor of the Eby Medicine Company. Known as a cordial and jolly fellow, he was also the official "town greeter" of Lewistown. This embossed medicine dose cup was a complimentary item that Mr. Eby distributed to his customers. There are a few of these around, but they are very hard to find.