Upper Peninsula Bottling Co.

05 Feb 2022, last revised 25 Jun 2026

The Upper Peninsula Bottling Co. was established as a corporation with high hopes of success, but it lasted for only two years before it was sold. Confusingly, its name either contained "Bottling Co." or "Bottling Works". Adding to the confusion, the 1893 directory listed "Upper Peninsula Bottling Works" for Sorsen & Sodergren (1) and the 1895 directory listed "Upper Peninsula Bottling Co." for Jos. James (2).

Establishing a Stock Company

The newspaper announced in Mar 1908 that a new bottling company was being organized in Calumet and it would be known as "Peninsular Bottling Company" (3) or "Peninsula Bottling Company" (12). It would "...build, own, and operate a factory to sell at wholesale and retail soft drinks and other products along that line." (3). It would sell stock to all dealers (12). The board of directors would consist of residents of Calumet and Hancock whose previous business record would be invaluable to the company (3). It would have a main office in Calumet and a branch office in Hancock or Houghton, and would distribute throughout Houghton and Keweenaw Counties (3).

Purchasing a Bottling Works

In Apr 1908, a local syndicate secured an option for a period of ten days to purchase Jos. James' pop factory (9). It was announced later in the month that the company, known as "Upper Peninsula Bottling Works", would take over Jos. James' pop factory at the end of the week (4). Articles of incorporation were sent to Lansing (4). The company was capitalized for $20,000 with 2,000 shares at $10 per share (4). Most of the stock had already been acquired by prominent Houghton Country residents (4). The elected officers were B. Barnham as president, J. J. Kaufmann as manager and secretary, and A. L. Lundahl as treasurer (4). They made plans to improve the plant and had already ordered a soaking machine, automatic labelers, an electric motor, and accessories (4). Agents were appointed in Gay, Mohawk, and South Range, with others to be named in the near future (4). It was then announced that the option on James' pop factory was exercised and the business had passed into new hands (5).

It was quite perplexing to then find an article published a week later announcing that the "Upper Peninsula Bottling Works" had purchased Louis Decker's pop factory in Laurium (6), the Twin City Bottling Works. The company secured a lease on the old Germania Hall on the corner of 5th St. and Pine St. in Calumet and Decker's plant and stock would be moved as soon as possible (6). At the meeting, they elected new officers: Edward J. Dunn as president, Paul Tommei as secretary, B. Barnham as treasurer, and J. J. Kaufmann as manager (6). Decker was secured to operate the plant, which was expected to open by Jun 01 (6).

Did the company really purchase two pop factories? It turns out, no. One day later, Joseph James announced that he did not retire and will remain in business at his old stand (7). He explained that the option on his plant was not exercised and the company acquired the Decker factory instead (7). The company sales receipt stated, "Successors to Joseph James". In light of these revelations, they probably printed the sale receipts when they thought they would acquire James' bottling works. We see that his name was marked over and now we understand why. Their newspaper ads curiously did not mention any proprietor(s). Now we understand why. They were a corporation with officers instead of proprietor(s). The ads also stated their phone number, and now it makes sense why it was the same as Decker's phone number.

Moving the Bottling Works

On 26 May 1908, the "Upper Peninsula Bottling Works" took possession of Decker's pop factory and its surplus stock (10). The company leased the old Mackenzie estate building on the corner of 5th St. and Pine St. and stocked it with up-to-date machinery (10). A few days later, the bottling works was being moved to Calumet (11).

The "Upper Peninsula Bottling Co." was listed only in the 1910 Polk directory, which specified the location as on the south side of Pine St., first unit west of 5th St. (8). They established the Calumet location shortly after the 1908 Sanborn map was issued in May; thus, the map did not label the building as a botting works.

Managing the Business

In Dec 1908, J. J. Kaufmann resigned as manager and was succeeded by Paul Tommei (15). At their second annual meeting, in Jan 1909, the secretary and treasurer reported that the company was flourishing so much so that a dividend would be dispersed in the coming fiscal year (14). New officers were elected: Ed. J. Dunn as president, J. J. Kaufmann as vice president, Paul Tommei as secretary and manager, and B. Barnham as treasurer (14,16). At the next annual meeting, in Jan 1910, directors were elected and Paul Tommei resigned as manager (17). The company had "a most successful year during 1909" and planned to increase the capacity of the factory (17).

Selling the Bottling Works

Despite efforts "to secure a large share of the soft drink trade in Houghton County" (6), the company sold its pop factory to Hill & Bietila in Jul 1910 (13,18). The company had nearly 100 shareholders and no reason was given as to why they sold the operation (18). The company certainly had to compete with well-established pop companies in the Calumet/Laurium area, including Jos. James Bottling Work, Copper City Bottling Works, and Harvey Bottling Works (8). In Houghton/Hancock, they had to compete with National Bottling Works, Sterling Spring Mineral Water Co., Wendell's Bottling Works, and Hancock City Bottling Works (8). We are now left with a few beautiful bottles from the only pop corporation in the Copper Country.

Citations

1. R. L. Polk & Co. (1893). Michigan State Gazetteer and Business Directory 1893-94. R. L. Polk & Co. Detroit, MI.
2. R. L. Polk & Co. (1895). Houghton County Directory 1895-96. R. L. Polk & Co., Publishers. Detroit, MI.
3. A new bottling company. (1908, Mar 25). The Calumet News (Calumet, MI). p. 8.
4. Factory option to be taken up. (1908, Apr 28). The Calumet News (Calumet, MI). p. 8.
5. Option taken up today. (1908, May 01). The Calumet News. (Calumet, MI). p. 8.
6. Decker plant is purchased. (1908, May 08). The Calumet News. (Calumet, MI). p. 8.
7. Still in business. (1908, May 09). The Calumet News (Calumet, MI). p. 8.
8. R. L. Polk & Co. (1910). 1910 Calumet, Houghton, Hancock and Laurium Directory. R. L. Polk & Co., Publishers. Detroit, MI.
9. Option secured on pop factory. (1908, Apr 03). The Calumet News (Calumet, MI). p. 8.
10. Takes business today. (1908, May 26). The Calumet News (Calumet, MI). p. 8.
11. Moving the plant today. (1908, May 30). The Calumet News (Calumet, MI). p. 6.
12. Bottling company formed. (1908, Mar 25). The Daily Mining Gazette (Houghton, MI). p. 7.
13. U. P. bottling works sold. (1910, Jul 08). The Calumet News (Calumet, MI). p. 5.
14. Annual meeting held. (1909, Jan 16). The Calumet News (Calumet, MI). p. 6.
15. Calumet Brevities. (1908, Dec 09). The Daily Mining Gazette (Houghton, MI). p. 12.
16. Upper Peninsula Bottling. (1909, Jan 17). The Daily Mining Gazette (Houghton, MI). p. 10.
17. U.P. Bottling Co. elections. (1910, Jan 16). The Daily Mining Gazette (Houghton, MI). p. 10.
18. Purchase bottling works. (1910, Jul 09). The Evening Copper Journal (Hancock, MI). p. 6.