Chris Leonard
@historianchris.bsky.social
City Historian of Schenectady, Executive Director of the National Bottle Museum in Ballston Spa, NY, Cancer Survivor. Interested in history, food and drink, archaeology, baseball history, cats, and bottle collecting.
Pinned
Chris Leonard
@historianchris.bsky.social
· Nov 18
Are you an antique bottle collector or bottle enthusiast? Do you blow glass or make glass art? Do you collect or make glassware? Drop your Bluesky handle here. I'm going to put together a list so we can communicate and support each other.
Bottle of the Day! Lovely blue prescription bottle from Abigail M. Littlefield's Pharmacy in Troy, NY. Ms. Littlefield (1868-1922) was one of the first women to receive a pharmacist's license in 1898 after graduating Albany College of Pharmacy. Whitall-Tatum produced the bottle in the early 20th c.
February 3, 2025 at 12:45 PM
Bottle of the Day! Lovely blue prescription bottle from Abigail M. Littlefield's Pharmacy in Troy, NY. Ms. Littlefield (1868-1922) was one of the first women to receive a pharmacist's license in 1898 after graduating Albany College of Pharmacy. Whitall-Tatum produced the bottle in the early 20th c.
Bottle of the Day! Well, Shot Glass of the Day. Early 20th century shot glass from the Columbia Distilling Co. Stay classy, Albany.
Actually, Beaver rye was popular in Albany and harkens back to the city's settlement by the Dutch as Fort Orange; the headquarters of their beaver fur trade empire.
Actually, Beaver rye was popular in Albany and harkens back to the city's settlement by the Dutch as Fort Orange; the headquarters of their beaver fur trade empire.
January 12, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Bottle of the Day! Well, Shot Glass of the Day. Early 20th century shot glass from the Columbia Distilling Co. Stay classy, Albany.
Actually, Beaver rye was popular in Albany and harkens back to the city's settlement by the Dutch as Fort Orange; the headquarters of their beaver fur trade empire.
Actually, Beaver rye was popular in Albany and harkens back to the city's settlement by the Dutch as Fort Orange; the headquarters of their beaver fur trade empire.
Forgot I gave this interview to WAMC radio when President Carter went into hospice last year. www.wamc.org/news/2024-12...
Late President Jimmy Carter spent most of 1953 in Capital Region, returned during campaign
As the nation pauses to remember President Jimmy Carter, the loss of the longest-living president is being felt in the Schenectady area, where Carter spent some pivotal months long before embarking on...
www.wamc.org
December 30, 2024 at 8:07 PM
Forgot I gave this interview to WAMC radio when President Carter went into hospice last year. www.wamc.org/news/2024-12...
My latest article in the Daily Gazette of Schenectady @dgazette.bsky.social on an arson spree in the city from 1883-1886. www.dailygazette.com/life_and_art...
‘Firebugs’ left path of destruction in 1883-1886 Schenectady arson spree – New Tales of Old Dorp
Beginning in 1883, Schenectady was terrorized by something completely different. From May 1, 1883, to February 7, 1886, buildings, homes, barns and businesses throughout the city were lost to fire.
www.dailygazette.com
December 23, 2024 at 12:43 PM
My latest article in the Daily Gazette of Schenectady @dgazette.bsky.social on an arson spree in the city from 1883-1886. www.dailygazette.com/life_and_art...
Bottle of the Day! Two bottles from when the milkman delivered to your door. In both examples, the cream separating top is stylized into a baby's face. It's a fun, mostly post-war embellishment, but not hard to find.
December 21, 2024 at 5:29 PM
Bottle of the Day! Two bottles from when the milkman delivered to your door. In both examples, the cream separating top is stylized into a baby's face. It's a fun, mostly post-war embellishment, but not hard to find.
Bottle of the Day! This apothecary bottle is from my personal collection. 1940s vintage. You would bring in, buy, or "rent" a bottle from the pharmacy and purchase a personal share. I can't find anything on the Podoloff brand. One of these years, I'm going to write a book on Schenectady pharmacies.
December 17, 2024 at 2:51 PM
Bottle of the Day! This apothecary bottle is from my personal collection. 1940s vintage. You would bring in, buy, or "rent" a bottle from the pharmacy and purchase a personal share. I can't find anything on the Podoloff brand. One of these years, I'm going to write a book on Schenectady pharmacies.
Bottle of the Day! Soviet-era Pepsi bottle, circa 1981. Although we are the National Bottle Museum, we have interesting bottles and glass art from around the world. I like to think Soviet Premier Leonid Brezhnev enjoyed a nip of Nench-Kojia, glaring angrily at the bottle through his bushy eyebrows.
December 16, 2024 at 1:49 PM
Bottle of the Day! Soviet-era Pepsi bottle, circa 1981. Although we are the National Bottle Museum, we have interesting bottles and glass art from around the world. I like to think Soviet Premier Leonid Brezhnev enjoyed a nip of Nench-Kojia, glaring angrily at the bottle through his bushy eyebrows.
Bottle of the Day! Stunning red seltzer dispenser from La Piedad in Buenos Ayres, circa 1903. Definitely blowing in mold, although the automatic bottle machine was coming into use.
December 12, 2024 at 3:32 PM
Bottle of the Day! Stunning red seltzer dispenser from La Piedad in Buenos Ayres, circa 1903. Definitely blowing in mold, although the automatic bottle machine was coming into use.
Bottle of the Day! Before combustion engines, you could pick up bottles of gasoline from you local apothecary for cleaning grease and other oily stains. This bottle dates to the 1880s.
November 30, 2024 at 5:35 PM
Bottle of the Day! Before combustion engines, you could pick up bottles of gasoline from you local apothecary for cleaning grease and other oily stains. This bottle dates to the 1880s.
Bottle of the day! Working from home, so this bottle is from my personal collection. Walker's Pharmacy was located in Schenectady's Lorraine Block during the first 30+ years of the 20th c. Herbert Walker, the Walker in question, built the house in which I live.
November 26, 2024 at 3:15 PM
Bottle of the day! Working from home, so this bottle is from my personal collection. Walker's Pharmacy was located in Schenectady's Lorraine Block during the first 30+ years of the 20th c. Herbert Walker, the Walker in question, built the house in which I live.
Just a part of the collection at the National Bottle Museum in Ballston Spa, NY.
November 24, 2024 at 4:17 PM
Just a part of the collection at the National Bottle Museum in Ballston Spa, NY.
Bottle(s) of the Day! Poison! Not to be taken orally!
November 23, 2024 at 8:09 PM
Bottle(s) of the Day! Poison! Not to be taken orally!
Bottle of the Day! When in doubt, turn to "Mysterious Pain Cure: A Scotch Remedy." Good for everything from Diphtheria to Burns to Toothaches. 70 % Alcohol with Laudanum. Yup, that would do it. Patent medicine at its finest.
November 22, 2024 at 8:00 PM
Bottle of the Day! When in doubt, turn to "Mysterious Pain Cure: A Scotch Remedy." Good for everything from Diphtheria to Burns to Toothaches. 70 % Alcohol with Laudanum. Yup, that would do it. Patent medicine at its finest.
Bottle of the day! Mott's Cider Vinegar bottle from the early 1940s. This would have been my go-to vinegar, as I couldn't resist an Art Deco bottle shaped like a building. Mott's formed in 1842, so the notation of "A Century of Progress" helps with dating.
November 21, 2024 at 4:26 PM
Bottle of the day! Mott's Cider Vinegar bottle from the early 1940s. This would have been my go-to vinegar, as I couldn't resist an Art Deco bottle shaped like a building. Mott's formed in 1842, so the notation of "A Century of Progress" helps with dating.
Bottle of the Day! This is a pesky one. I can find no info about Ridge Beverages, or Ridge Bottling Co., Inc., in Ridge, NY. There is a Coca-Cola bottling plant there now. I estimate the bottle is from the 1960s. Small mystery to solve.
November 20, 2024 at 7:44 PM
Bottle of the Day! This is a pesky one. I can find no info about Ridge Beverages, or Ridge Bottling Co., Inc., in Ridge, NY. There is a Coca-Cola bottling plant there now. I estimate the bottle is from the 1960s. Small mystery to solve.
Reposted by Chris Leonard
A bracelet clasp with a Medusa on an emerald cameo. Gold is treated with diamond and enamel. 18th century. Made in England.
November 17, 2024 at 10:38 PM
A bracelet clasp with a Medusa on an emerald cameo. Gold is treated with diamond and enamel. 18th century. Made in England.
Are you an antique bottle collector or bottle enthusiast? Do you blow glass or make glass art? Do you collect or make glassware? Drop your Bluesky handle here. I'm going to put together a list so we can communicate and support each other.
November 18, 2024 at 6:32 PM
Are you an antique bottle collector or bottle enthusiast? Do you blow glass or make glass art? Do you collect or make glassware? Drop your Bluesky handle here. I'm going to put together a list so we can communicate and support each other.
It's one of those cancer survivors days. Most recent blood draw showed a slightly lowered white blood cell count. Three weeks later I'm in for a redraw. Hundreds of things could lead to a low WBC count, yet...
November 18, 2024 at 1:33 PM
It's one of those cancer survivors days. Most recent blood draw showed a slightly lowered white blood cell count. Three weeks later I'm in for a redraw. Hundreds of things could lead to a low WBC count, yet...
No bottles today. Instead, I'm working on a lecture on the history of Scottish Americans in Schenectady for the local St. Andrew's Society.
November 17, 2024 at 4:09 PM
No bottles today. Instead, I'm working on a lecture on the history of Scottish Americans in Schenectady for the local St. Andrew's Society.
More fun accessioning bottles at the National Bottle Museum. This one is really cool: Ball and Claw Bitters. Unfortunately, it's a 1970s reproduction from the Wheaton company. Still I'd love to pull that out at a party to make an old-fashioned or a negroni. Of course, it was for "medicinal" bitters.
November 16, 2024 at 11:08 PM
More fun accessioning bottles at the National Bottle Museum. This one is really cool: Ball and Claw Bitters. Unfortunately, it's a 1970s reproduction from the Wheaton company. Still I'd love to pull that out at a party to make an old-fashioned or a negroni. Of course, it was for "medicinal" bitters.
At the National Bottle Museum. Today I'm acquisitioning bottles found in our collection. This little beauty, which needs a bit of cleaning, held Mrs. Winslow's soothing syrup; guaranteed "likely to sooth any human or animal."
With morphine sulfate as the main ingredient, I'm sure this was true.
With morphine sulfate as the main ingredient, I'm sure this was true.
November 15, 2024 at 10:04 PM
At the National Bottle Museum. Today I'm acquisitioning bottles found in our collection. This little beauty, which needs a bit of cleaning, held Mrs. Winslow's soothing syrup; guaranteed "likely to sooth any human or animal."
With morphine sulfate as the main ingredient, I'm sure this was true.
With morphine sulfate as the main ingredient, I'm sure this was true.
I was told there would be free drinks?!
November 15, 2024 at 9:45 PM
I was told there would be free drinks?!