The bottle shown below does not have a city name embossed on it, but examples have been dug in the South Bend area.
The earliest reference we have been able to trace is from an article published in the St. Joseph Valley Register, May 4, 1881, p. 5:
“The advertisement of Messrs. Raymond & Hedges, proprietors of the North Star Bottling Works, appears in this issue. This firm is making a specialty of bottling pure Milwaukee beer for family use.”
Two advertisements are shown below.
The business appears to have had a very short life. The last mention we could find in South Bend newspapers is an advertisement from July 1882. They are not listed in the 1883 or 1885 South Bend city directories.
A later newspaper notice states: “S. H. Raymond, of Grand Rapids, formerly proprietor of the North Star bottling works, of this city, was in the city to-day.” — The South Bend Tribune, September 23, 1884, p. 4.
If you have anything else you can find, please share it with us.
1) St. Joseph Valley Register, May 4, 1881, p. 5
The advertisement of Messrs. Raymond & Hedges, proprietors of the North Star Bottling works, appears in this issue. This firm is making a specialty of bottling pure Milwaukee beer for family use.
2) The South Bend Tribune, September 1, 1881, p. 2
S. H. Raymond, of the North Star bottling works, has an invention in connection with buggy tops which he thinks will make him a fortune.
3) St. Joseph Valley Register, April 12, 1882, p. 5
Notice. On and after this date we will sell strictly pure Milwaukee lager, to private families at 50 cents per dozen pints delivered. Leave orders at North Star bottling works.
4) The South Bend Tribune, September 23, 1884, p. 4
S. H. Raymond, of Grand Rapids, formerly proprietor of the North Star bottling works, of this city, was in the city to-day.
South Bend City Directories
1882 — Raymond, H.S., North Star Bottling Works, corner of Pearl av. and Washington, residence at 147 Main St.
1883 — No listing.
