Ketchup in the Walls

[EnvoyToTheMolePeople]

Unfortunately this was not my find, but rather my parents'. They decided to take down the stucco on the walls at home and the whole time I was telling them to let me know if they found anything in the walls. Well sure enough, they did. It's a bottle of ketchup (or catsup, if you prefer) with some residue still inside. It looks to me like the bottle is probably early 1900s, but the company on the label goes back to the 1830s. The newspaper article that mentions the company is from 1919, which is the most recent reference to Theo F. Johnson & Co that I can find. Why anyone would put a bottle of ketchup in the wall is beyond me. It could be related to Prohibition, somehow. I can't find any other examples of a similar bottle online, but it seems like the company that made these was a smaller one (about 30 employees according to one source). I may see if the Newark historical society or some other museum has any interest in it.

 

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[Peyton Manning]

Fun find

 

[mindcrime1988]

Neat find.

 

[jewelerguy]

that's pretty cool

 

[villagenut]

That's cool, i never find them with labels.....but then again I have never found one in a wall. that will look nice on the shelf

 

[river roamer]

Cool find

 

[E-Trac-Ohio]

Very cool !

 

[Ia.FurTrade]

That's a good lookin' bottle ! Nice find !!

Iowa Dale

 

[NorILdigcollector]

Wow. That label has great color for being in the wall. I would say that bottle is probably around 1890s to maybe 1910s. It looks like a very early screw top. This website has some interesting information on different bottle closure types and finishes. https://sha.org/bottle/finishstyles2.htm

 

[Digger RJ]

Unfortunately this was not my find, but rather my parents'. They decided to take down the stucco on the walls at home and the whole time I was telling them to let me know if they found anything in the walls. Well sure enough, they did. It's a bottle of ketchup (or catsup, if you prefer) with some residue still inside. It looks to me like the bottle is probably early 1900s, but the company on the label goes back to the 1830s. The newspaper article that mentions the company is from 1919, which is the most recent reference to Theo F. Johnson & Co that I can find. Why anyone would put a bottle of ketchup in the wall is beyond me. It could be related to Prohibition, somehow. I can't find any other examples of a similar bottle online, but it seems like the company that made these was a smaller one (about 30 employees according to one source). I may see if the Newark historical society or some other museum has any interest in it.

Very Cool!! Congrats!!