Millinocket Bottling Company

Bottled soda water, mineral water and non-intoxicating beverages were produced by the Millinocket Bottling Company, one of the early businesses in town. Located on the corner of Aroostook Avenue and Central Street, its proprietor was Mr. Fred A. Boynton. A 1924 article in the Old Town Enterprise says the business has been there for about 13 years and that Mr. Boynton “has had many years of experience in the bottling business with the result that he is placing on the market soft drinks of such desirable quality that their popularity was an assured fact from the moment they were manufactured.” The article continues stating “the ginger ale which is made here has the reputation not only locally and in the surrounding towns” and was considered as “being one of the superior products of its kind produced in the state of Maine.”

The Millinocket Bottling Company was said to have produced “from five to six hundred cases per week during the busy season and all bottles are washed, sterilized and bottled by electricity, the most scrupulous care being taken that every sanitary law is complied with, that no foreign substances may mar the excellence of the product.” Boynton had three men working for him in 1924. Deliveries were made in Millinocket and the surrounding towns by the company’s own trucks.

Hikel’s, a local business, purchased soda from the Millinocket Bottling Company. This information was found in a small ledger from the Hikel’s store. It appears Hikel’s made purchases from the local company every 3 or 4 days.

The museum has four large map books by the Sanborn Map Company (1912-1927). Though they mostly show downtown streets with fire protection and water availability, there are some business locations shown. One map in the 1916 book

identifies a building as “bottling works” with a structure next to it as “bl sm.” That is possibly Martin George’s blacksmith shop. A 1927 map shows a brick structure divided into two parts with “bottling works” on the Aroostook Avenue side and “auto service” on Central Street side.

Several years ago, a Boynton family member shared that “Fred (her grandfather) began the business in his home.” Later, he moved to the corner of Aroostook Avenue and Central Street. Millinocket Bottling Company was in business until sometime in the 1950’s.

            The museum has several different Millinocket Bottling Company bottles. They vary from a green tinted glass bottle to clear glass bottles and swirled glass bottles. One has the label “whistle” etched into the glass. Another says “Mt. Katahdin” beverage. None tell what flavor soda the bottle contained. Also at the museum is a wooden crate stamped Millinocket Bottling Company. The crate has space for 24 bottles.

That corner has seen several different businesses through the years and looks much different today than in earlier aerial photos of that area.