St. Paul / Gin-Gera / Coca-Cola Bottling Company

St. Paul Bottling Works is listed in the Third Annual Report of the Diary and Food Commissioner of Virginia as being inspected by that organization between March 1910 and 1911.(4) The company incorporates as the St. Paul Gin-Gera Bottling Works on July 24, 1914.(1) A. Handy is President / General Manager, E. D. Jobe as Vice President, and James M. Dickenson Secretary Treasurer.(5) Gin-Gera was a soda which was based in Norfolk, VA, and it appears that something happened with the parent company, because the Gin-Gera Bottling Company in Bluefield, WV old their plant in April 1916. Apparently the St. Paul Gin-Gera Bottling Works had the same problem, because they changed their name to the St. Paul Bottling Company on May 22, 1916.(2) Their franchise territory included Russell County, Dickenson County, and part of Wise County.(3) At the request of the parent Coca-Cola Bottling Company, the company changed their name to the St. Paul Coca-Cola Bottling Company on March 6, 1947.(5) The officers listed are Melvin C. Matthews as President, and J. F. Matthews as Secretary.(5) I have not been able to find the date that the company ceased operations; however, it isn't operating now. The Building still stands near what appears to be a park just off of the main road in St. Paul.

Courtesy of Jerry Couch
The bottling plant around 1935.

Courtesy of Jerry Couch
The plant as it appeared during the 1957 flood.
The building as it stands today. It appears that much of the 1957 plant was torn down to leave the original building still standing. The two concrete slabs on the right hand side of this building confirms this.

Very early St. Paul bottling company bottle
Part of a Gin-Gera bottle from St. Paul, VA






6oz "Pat'd Nov. 15, 1915" Coca Cola bottle
Imitation Lemon bottle cap from St. Paul, VA






6oz C. C. Soda bottle
Sales receipt from the St. Paul Coca-Cola Bottling Company from 1932






6oz "Pat'd Dec. 25, 1923" Coca Cola Bottle dated 1934






6oz Coca-Cola soda water style bottle






7oz Lonesome Pine Beverages Bottle dated 1949






6oz "Pat. D-105529" Coca Cola Bottle dated 1949
Coca-Cola bottle cap from St. Paul, VA






From the collection of Frank Anderson, photo by Joseph Lee
7oz Lonesome Pine Beverages Bottle dated 1952 the aqua glass variation produced by the Owens Illinois glass company which is why it is proudly stated that this is “A Duraglas Bottle” on the back. I was going to replace this one with the one I found recently; however, it is from a different glass maker, and small variations like these mean a lot to some local collectors.






7oz Lonesome Pine Beverages aqua glass bottle produced by the Chattanooga Glass Company which unfortunately means there is no date on the bottle.






From the collection of Frank Anderson, photo by Joseph Lee
11oz Lonesome Pine Beverages Bottle dated 1953






6oz "Trademark in Patent Office" bottle dated 1954






8 3/4 oz Lonesome Pine Beverages Bottle from St. Paul, VA dated 1954






Lonesome Pine Beverages bottles from St. Paul, VA, the 9 oz on the left is dated 1963 while the 10 oz on the right is dated 1970.
A six pack of Lonesome Pine bottles in their carton






10oz 75th anniversary bottle dated 1985

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Bibliography:

(1) "Annual Report of the Secretary of the Commonwealth to the Governor and General Assembly of Virginia" published 1915

(2) "Annual Report of the Secretary of the Commonwealth to the Governor and General Assembly of Virginia" published 1917

(3) "University of Virginia Record Extension Series: An Economic & Social Survey of Wise County" By Ralph Emerson Kennedy May 1928

(4) Third Annual Report of the Dairy and Food Commissioner of Virginia March 1, 1910 - March 1, 1911

(5) Wise County Circuit Court Records