Three Rivers Glass Factory — Historical Marker Research and History (vision-OCR transcription)

Source: 90 TIFF page scans in elib-2017-three-rivers-glass-marker-research/tiffs/ (same physical binder as the 2026-07-24 PDF ingest; per-page WikiJS markdown transcriptions live beside the TIFFs in that directory) Ingested: 2026-07-25 OCR: qwen/qwen3-vl-235b-a22b-instruct (OpenRouter) via codexis process-scans

Research and History as put together by Thelma Pugh Lindholm for the Historical Marker dedicated May 26, 1973. Grace Armantrout Museum, George West, TX. April 2017.

This transcription supersedes the ABBYY/pdftotext extraction in 2026-07-24-three-rivers-glass-factory-historical-marker-research.md, which contained heavy character-misread artifacts on the period newspaper clippings. Page numbers below are scan order (1–90); each heading names the source TIFF so any passage can be checked against the image.

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THREE ★ RIVERS TEXAS GLASS CO. 1922-1937

Research and History as put together by Thelma Pugh Lindholm for the Historical Marker dedicated May 26, 1973.

Grace Armantrout Museum George West, TX April 2017

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Three Rivers News, Thursday, March 8, 1973

Three Rivers Glass Factory marker scheduled for erection at early date

Three Rivers. — An official Texas Historical Marker for the former Three Rivers Glass Factory will be erected soon, it was announced on Tuesday by Mrs. William Hinnant to the Live Oak County Historical Survey Committee in their regular monthly meeting in the courthouse.

The marker will be placed alongside of Farm Road 72, four blocks west of the traffic light in downtown Three Rivers. Dedication plans will be announced in the near future, the chairman said. Members of the local committee living in Three Rivers are serving on the program committee.

Made of cast aluminum with Swedish steel effect, the marker measures 18 by 28 inches and is sponsored by the local county committee and purchased with county funds.

The highway department assists in these projects by making turn-out places so that persons may stop to read the inscription and perhaps to take pictures.

Inscription on the marker is “Site of Three Rivers Glass Factory, opened 1922 by company headed by Charles R. Tips (born 1892), The founder of town of Three Rivers. Powered by local natural gas, plant used quartzose sand mined in area to make glass bottles for milk and other beverages and jars for food and cosmetics, attaining annual gross sales of a million dollars, sold in 1937 to Ball Glass Company, it was closed in 1938, but had shown Texas’ potential in the industry.

In later years, factory site became location of a warehouse. Glass with Three Rivers cipher is highly prized by collectors.”

The committee is anxious to have all persons who ever worked in the factory to attend as special guests. It is also hoped some collectors will set up their collections of Three Rivers Glass for the public to see. Those who would do this should contact Bill Tullis or Mrs. A. E. Adlof in Three Rivers soon.

The marking of local historic sites and landmarks is part of the Texas State Historical Survey Committee’s program of preservation activities.

The name and location of the Three Rivers Glass Factory marker will appear in the next edition of the Guide to Official Texas Historical Markers in order to stimulate tourist travel in this area, to arouse interest in historical tours and to acquaint the people of this locale with their unique heritage.

In other business of the meeting, plans were made for an exhibit at the Live Oak County Fair for March 22-24. Theme will be History Not Recorded is Lost. Present were Mr. and Mrs. Hinnant, Mrs. Thelma Lindholm, Mrs. Lee Mahoney, Judge Bill Kendall, Miss Josephine Canfield, Mr. and Mrs. Adlof, Mrs. W. H. Rosebrock, Miss Iris Dunn, Mrs. R. B. Whitten and Mrs. Jim Harrod.

Bottle, glass show set at Three Rivers

THREE RIVERS (Sp) — The program to dedicate a historical marker for the former Three Rivers glass factory Saturday will be preceded by a showing of bottles and other glass items manufactured there from 1922 to 1937.

Collectors will have exhibits in the city hall from 10-11 a.m.

At 11 a.m., the crowd will go four blocks west to the site of the marker erected by the highway department and purchased by the county.

Mrs. William Hinnant, chairman of Live Oak County Historical Survey Committee, will be in charge of the program. Mayor Joe D. Bright will give the welcome and County Judge Bill Kendall, the invocation.

The Live Oak County American Legion will present the colors and lead in the pledge immediately before the dedication by Col. Charles R. Tips of Dallas, who founded the glass factory nine years after he started the town.

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Thank You, To Each Person who helped in gathering the information on the, “THREE RIVERS GLASS FACTORY”.

I have more pages and space for any other information or pictures you may acquire.

Thank you again.

Thelma Pugh Lindholm

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LIVE OAK COUNTY HISTORICAL SURVEY COMMITTEE LIVE OAK COUNTY GEORGE WEST, TEXAS 78022

MRS. WILLIAM HINNANT, CHAIRMAN STAR ROUTE NO. 1, BOX 68 SANDIA, TEXAS 78383

May 3, 1973

GREETINGS!

There will be an unveiling ceremony for a marker on the site of the former Three Rivers Glass factory on Saturday, May 26. You and your friends and family are cordially invited to attend.

The program will start with registration at 10 a. m. in the city hall in the public square at the traffic light. There will be exhibits of the glass containers made by the factory. If you ever worked in this factory, will you- please- state this at the register.

At 11 a. m., weather permitting, the unveiling and dedication will be at the site of the marker, four blocks west of the traffic light. Charles R. Tips is to give the keynote speech.

Sincerely yours, [Signature] Program chairman Three Rivers, Texas 78071

Lunch at 12:15 o’clock at Farmers Market

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LIVE OAK COUNTY HISTORICAL SURVEY COMMITTEE MARKER PROGRAM for the former THREE RIVERS GLASS FACTORY

Saturday, May 26, 1973

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REGISTRATION…10 a. m…City Hall, Three Rivers Mrs. Thelma Lindholm, historian…Presiding All former employees of the factory, PLEASE,say so!

EXHIBITS & SALES of containers made by the factory Owners are responsible for any damages or losses.

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CEREMONIES…11 a. m. Factory site, Hwy. 72, west Mrs. William Hinnant, Chairman of Live Oak C H S C WELCOME TO THREE RIVERS…Hon. Mayor J. D. Bright INVOCATION..Hon. Live Oak County Judge Bill Kendall PRESENTATION OF FLAG AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE led by Live Oak American Legion Commander, Carl Matthijetz MARKER DEDICATORY…Col. ( ret.) Charles R. Tips President of the factory and founder of Three Rivers UNVEILING by all former employees with Mrs. Hinnant

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The Live Oak County Historical Survey Committee is in charge of placing historical markers furnished by the county and erected by the highway department in coop- eration with Texas State Historical Survey Committee. This is the seventeenth marker in Live Oak County. The next is to be in Whitsett. Watch for the date. You are invited to see and help preserve all of the State markers and directional signs. THANK YOU !!!!!

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Joe Allen Coquat Lisa Yendrey Mr. & Mrs. J.R. Samm - Three Rivers, R-1 Mr. & Mrs. W.H. Kershock Mrs. Lonzia M. Stewart Gene & Mary Beville, Tex F. F. Ealy Beville, Tex Carl S. Bickett Beville, Tex Mrs. D. C. Commer Three Rivers Lynda Gooley Beville, Tex Cheryl Vestal Coyle Ledge West Coyle & Vestal ” Mr. & Mrs. Bill Kendall ” ” Carl Mathijet Three Rivers, Tex Carrie Lee & Rocky Reagan Mrs. Nora Oneal McFarland Dr. Carolyn McAllen M.D. Three Rivers Martha Hill Goodman Beville, Tex Waynie Hyunant Lailina Ledge West, Tex Mr. & Mrs. J. H. Jones Three Rivers Tommy, Mrs. - Three Rivers Florence Hill Mathis ” Jack Montgomery Three Rivers, Tex Mrs. Brodie Boyd ” Mrs. & Mrs. Frank Hanks - Alice, Tex Kiagan R. Mathis - Three Rivers, Tex Ben Knight - Three Rivers, Tex Pat Yendrey - Three Rivers, Tex J. A. Yendrey Three Rivers Michelle Reff *Candelaria Pina & Three Rivers Barnace Dept. Mrs. Ethel (R.B.) Whitten - Three Rivers H.E. Jones George West, Tex Tom Coquat Cotulla, Tex

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Lee Wiebush + Elisabeth Engineer 1924 Box 1399 (WIFE) Uvalde, Tex 78801 DAVID J JONES MOULD MAKER 1928 1107 E. BOWIE, BEEVILLE, TEXAS

LUCAS DIAZ ST MELTING BOX- 208 - FURNACE DEPT MAN THREE E J. Stewart Carton Dept Box 360 and Weighing Three Rivers, Tex JOE A. COGAR Box 422 THREE RIVERS TEXAS

Jill Johnson 6611 Southpoint #104 San Antonio, Texas 78229 Shirley J. Mcmillan 6611 Southpoint #104 San Antonio, Texas 78229

Hazel R. Gattis Box 21 George West, Tex 78022

Eloise Ferguson Box 488 George West, Tex

Carol Langreaves Box 7 George West, Tex Pearl Stewart Packed milk-bottles 1934 D.C. Conner Porter. Three Rivers, Tex.

Jane & May Bevill (Collects) Box 204 3 Rivers Shipping Dept O.M. Wilson Employee- Mrs. O. M. Wilson. Three Rivers, Tex Clare Stadman Weldon, Tex Employee- Parcha Murray Three Rivers Tex - operator Lavette Wilson Murray Three Rivers, Texas (Carton Dept) 1933.

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Bryan Style Shipping Clerk Three Rivers, Tex. 78071

Mrs. C.O. Hutchins (wife employee) George West, Box 431

Bill Meeker Box 43 Pecos

Bryan W. Gill Bottle Over-Sea Bottling Co., Bryan

Mrs. Alex Gendry Lee Adom

Wayne Stewart - Bottle tester and warehouse Three Rivers, Texas

John Matthijs. Packing Dept. @ warehouse Three Rivers, Texas. Rt. 1. Box 115-B.

Mrs. D.D. Stewart - made boxes + packed glass 1934 - 1936

Gene Nichols - Filled Bottled Beverages Coca Cola 1932 - 1973 -

Charles Herring - Packer Three Rivers, Texas

Lonnie D.L. Stewart - Packer Foreman Three Rivers, Texas

W.A. Barrow - Floor Maintenance Engineer Three Rivers, Tex

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Margaret Spice

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Display of two teachers in San Antonio School. Hazel Ratliff is to contact them for letter.

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Hazel Gattis started her collection of Three Rivers bottles in September 1969. At the time of the ceremony Mrs. Gattis had 268 Three Rivers bottles. She is shown here with her collection which was on display at the open house.

Space for Hazel’s Letter.

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Eloise Ferguson, George West, displays her collection of Three Rivers Bottles

Eloise Ferguson, George West, displays her collection of Three Rivers Bottles at the open house just prior to the unveiling ceremony. Mrs. Ferguson has been collecting Three Rivers bottles for about three years and at the time of the photo had 175 Three Rivers bottles.

Space for Ferguson’s Letter

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Joe Cozzi Space

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Truman Gill, owner of Gill’s Coca-Cola Bottling Co., Beeville, Texas addresses the gathering. Mr. Gill at one time operated a bottling plant at Three Rivers and purchased bottles from the Glass Factory.

Mrs. Stanley Stewart, a former employee in the Packing Department of the Glass Factory is introduced. Mrs. Willie Hinnant stands by and seated is Mrs. Bill Kendall, wife of Live Oak County Judge Bill Kendall.

Alex Yendrey, one of the early machinists for the Three Rivers Glass Factory is introduced at the unveiling ceremony. His son George assisted him.

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Viola Adlof reads a speech written by Col. Charles R. Tips who could not be present at the ceremonies due to an auto acc- ident on his way from Dallas to Three Rivers. Col. Tips founded the City of Three Rivers and the Three Rivers Glass Company.

Golden Triangle Land Co. MORE THAN 50 YEARS SUCCESSFUL EXPERIENCE IN NEW COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

COLONEL C. R. TIPS, PRESIDENT 1312 SOUTH ERVAY DALLAS, TEXAS 75215 TELEPHONE AC/214 742-9003

THE THREE RIVERS GLASS COMPANY FACTORY.

By Colonel Charles R. Tips

The people of Live Oak County and the Texas Historical Commission (The new name of the Texas State Historical Survey Committee) are rendering an im- portant service to the State of Texas by putting this Historical Marker on the site of the Three Rivers Glass Company Factory. That Factory was the first in Texas to make bottles and other glass containers. It was responsible for the development of the glass industry in Texas, including the large Owens Illinois Glass Factory in Waco and the others in operation today. It proved these out of state factories could not compete effectively with a good Texas factory. It was one of those who started the slogan, “What Texas Makes- Makes Texas” and initiated a Statewide campaign with the three State Chambers of Commerce to industrialize Texas.

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I am personally very proud of what the Texas State Historical Survey Committee with its County Committee and the Texas Historical Foundation have done to preserve the history of our State. When Governor Allan Shivers with the ap- proval of the Legislature established the Committees and the Foundation I had just finished my second term as President General of the Sons of the Republic of Texas. Governor Shivers appointed me as one of the first eighteen members of the Survey Committee and the Foundation and I served as the first Vice- President and the second President of both organizations. I have helped in placing many Historical Markers over the State and am particularly happy, because of my personal knowledge, to speak today about this Marker.

The History of the Three Rivers Glass Company shows what can be done to build, not just a business enterprise, but also a City and a State.

The idea of a Glass Factory in Three Rivers came about because of the successful drilling of some gas wells, shortly after the end of the First World War, in the vicinity of Three Rivers, one between Three Rivers and Oakville, one on some land I owned north of town and another just across the Frio River, and some others between Three Rivers and Tilden.

I had founded the town in 1913, when the Railroad was built through Live Oak County, and lived in Three Rivers with my wife and first child until war with Germany was declared in 1917 and I volunteered for service in the Army. When the war was over, in 1919 I helped organize the Dallas Joint Stock Land Bank making farm and ranch loans all over Texas, with my headquarters in San Antonio. However, my greatest interest was still in Three Rivers. By 1922 gas was available in the vicinity of Three Rivers but was not being used. I found that Sand was being shipped from north of Three Rivers to Monterrey, Mexico to be used in making glass bottles for the breweries there. I put an advertisement in a National Glass Container magazine telling the advantages Three Rivers had for manufacturing glass. A man named Warrick in Ohio answered the ad. After some correspondence he came to Texas to see me. He told me that his factory in Ohio had burned down and he had lost most of his money, but that if I could raise $50,000.00 he could build the factory and start making bottles. I put in the cash I could spare, and got some friends of mine, Mr. James Capp owner of a large Furniture Store in San Antonio, Harry H. Rogers of San Antonio and Tulsa, Arthur Morton, Pat Swearingen, my attorney and some others to put in the balance. The Three Rivers Glass Company Factory was built.

It turned out that the factory products were hand blown. Some skilled glass blowers and a few mould makers were brought down from the north and a few local men were employed. All of the bottles produced and sold in the first couple of years were hand blown. More money was needed from time to time and I had to provide or raise the money.

Before long it became apparent to me that we could not make a success without using first class machinery to make the bottles. I found that all of the glass containers machinery was controlled by one organization, the Hartford Empire Company. They refused to sell any of the machinery to us. I heard that the glass factory in Monterrey, Mexico had made their own machinery. I went to Monterrey. The Owners of the Glass Factory were very courteous and cordial. They introduced me to a Mr. Trembley who had made their machinery. Mr. Trembley agreed to come to Three Rivers with me. He built a machine for us and it worked perfectly. When the Hartford Empire Company found out about this, they agreed to sell us the rest of the equipment we needed. We bought it from them. It worked perfectly. We were in business, making as good bottles, jars, etc. as any of the other companies.

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I am personally very proud of what the Texas State Historical Survey Committee with its County Committee and the Texas Historical Foundation have done to preserve the history of our State. When Governor Allan Shivers with the ap- proval of the Legislature established the Committees and the Foundation I had just finished my second term as President General of the Sons of the Republic of Texas. Governor Shivers appointed me as one of the first eighteen members of the Survey Committee and the Foundation and I served as the first Vice- President and the second President of both organizations. I have helped in placing many Historical Markers over the State and am particularly happy, because of my personal knowledge, to speak today about this Marker.

The History of the Three Rivers Glass Company shows what can be done to build, not just a business enterprise, but also a City and a State.

The idea of a Glass Factory in Three Rivers came about because of the successful drilling of some gas wells, shortly after the end of the First World War, in the vicinity of Three Rivers, one between Three Rivers and Oakville, one on some land I owned north of town and another just across the Frio River, and some others between Three Rivers and Tilden.

I had founded the town in 1913, when the Railroad was built through Live Oak County, and lived in Three Rivers with my wife and first child until war with Germany was declared in 1917 and I volunteered for service in the Army. When the war was over, in 1919 I helped organize the Dallas Joint Stock Land Bank making farm and ranch loans all over Texas, with my headquarters in San Antonio. However, my greatest interest was still in Three Rivers. By 1922 gas was available in the vicinity of Three Rivers but was not being used. I found that Sand was being shipped from north of Three Rivers to Monterrey, Mexico to be used in making glass bottles for the breweries there. I put an advertisement in a National Glass Container magazine telling the advantages Three Rivers had for manufacturing glass. A man named Warrick in Ohio answered the ad. After some correspondence he came to Texas to see me. He told me that his factory in Ohio had burned down and he had lost most of his money, but that if I could raise $50,000.00 he could build the factory and start making bottles. I put in the cash I could spare, and got some friends of mine, Mr. James Capp owner of a large Furniture Store in San Antonio, Harry H. Rogers of San Antonio and Tulsa, Arthur Morton, Pat Swearingen, my attorney and some others to put in the balance. The Three Rivers Glass Company Factory was built.

It turned out that the factory products were hand blown. Some skilled glass blowers and a few mould makers were brought down from the north and a few local men were employed. All of the bottles produced and sold in the first couple of years were hand blown. More money was needed from time to time and I had to provide or raise the money.

Before long it became apparent to me that we could not make a success without using first class machinery to make the bottles. I found that all of the glass containers machinery was controlled by one organization, the Hartford Empire Company. They refused to sell any of the machinery to us. I heard that the glass factory in Monterrey, Mexico had made their own machinery. I went to Monterrey. The Owners of the Glass Factory were very courteous and cordial. They introduced me to a Mr. Trembley who had made their machinery. Mr. Trembley agreed to come to Three Rivers with me. He built a machine for us and it worked perfectly. When the Hartford Empire Company found out about this, they agreed to sell us the rest of the equipment we needed. We bought it from them. It worked perfectly. We were in business, making as good bottles, jars, etc. as any of the other companies.

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the nearby gas wells to the factory and I got Central Power and Light Company to put in Electric Power lines to serve the factory and the rest of the town. I gave the water works system, which I had built, to the city.

In the early days of the factory Henderson Coquat was teaching school near Corpus Christi. In the vacation season he came up to visit his father who had a large farm east of Oakville. He came over to see me, and I persuaded him to quit teaching school and go to work with me. He took over the operation of the gas company and other things. A few years later he got the financing to start oil drilling and he made a lot of money in the oil business. He continued to live in Three Rivers, and helped with the Glass Factory when it was needed.

Originally all of our shipments of supplies and of our products were made by freight, loading the supplies on the freight cars at the railroad siding next to the plant. The other factories from out of the State also shipped their products by rail. That often resulted in delays. I decided to try shipping by truck. Enough roads had been paved to make it possible to get in and out even in bad weather. Eventually nearly all of our bottles and jars were shipped by truck. That gave us a great advantage over out of state factories. We would load trucks in the late afternoon. They would drive all night if necessary to Houston or Dallas and other Texas cities and often also to New Orleans or Oklahoma City and other out of state cities. They would help the customers to unload and check on the stock of bottles they had, go to the office to get a check for what had been delivered and also bring back the order for another load. On a trip to the North, where I frequently attended conventions of prospective customers, I was fortunate to meet Mr. Ellerman and persuaded him to come to Three Rivers with his lovely family. He had charge of the office and did our purchasing and collecting, and did a great job with the help of a small staff.

I employed Mr. Glover as Sales Manager, and later on Mr. Askew, who turned out to be a super salesman. A large part of our business was in Dallas or could be reached from there advantageously, so I made Dallas our sales headquarters with our office on an upper floor of what was then called the Allen Building at the corner of Ervay and Commerce Streets.

In the early part of 1928 I decided it was important for me to move back to Three Rivers from San Antonio. Mr. Harry H. Rogers had joined me in purchasing Mirray Hill, north of the original townsite and we had employed Harland Bartholomew, great city Planner of St. Louis and Washington, D. C. to make a new city plan for Three Rivers. So we built a new two story home on the top of Murray Hill overlooking the City, and my wife and four children moved in with me. My wife joined enthusiastically in the life of the City as she had in 1915 when we first married, and my children enjoyed attending the splendid Three Rivers School, and making many new friends.

By 1928 the gas had played out in some of the wells where we were getting our supply. Fortunately W. L. Moody III of Galveston whom I knew and a Mr. Seagraves had gotten a franchise to supply gas for the city of Houston. They had laid pipe lines from wells near Laredo and other points south of Three Rivers to Houston. I got them to extend a line up to where we could tie onto it. Our supply of gas for the factory was assured.

We were having a continuing battle with the big out of state companies. They would cut their prices on items we had the moulds to make and not on other products. We needed money to purchase new equipment and to make more moulds. As President of the Company I called a meeting of the Directors and other Stock- holders. We voted to increase the stock by $100,000.00. I went to Houston to see Mr. W. L. Moody III, who was reported to be worth over ten million dollars, not including his interest in the American National Life Insurance Company which his father controlled. I told him the situation about the Three Rivers Glass Company. He asked me how much stock I wanted him to take. I told him all of the $100,000.00 worth which would make him and me have the controlling interest in the company. He agreed. I thought all of our money problems were solved.

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I had been elected as a Vice-President of the South Texas Chamber of Commerce. A meeting was called to convene in Austin of the East, West and South Texas Chambers of Commerce at which I represented the South Texas Chamber. It was decided to establish a new organization representing the three Chambers of Commerce to conduct a statewide campaign to make Texas an Industrial State. Mr. John Carpenter of Dallas, President of Texas Power & Light Company was elected as President of the new organization. I was elected as a Vice-President and as Chairman of the Statewide campaign. We started a big campaign with the slogan, “What Texas Makes, Makes Texas.” This program helped a great deal in the battle the Three Rivers Glass Company was having with our out of State competers. To be loyal Texans most users of bottles and jars gave us their business on items we could supply.

In 1929 the Wall Street Stock Market crashed. The great depression was on. It got worse year by year. Money was scarce. Banks all over the nation were closed. The bank at George West was closed. Mr. Buckaloo Senior, President of the Bank at Three Rivers knew I was a friend of John Garner, who was Vice-President of the United States and he called on me for help. I had just gotten home on a long automobile drive from North Texas. I stayed up all night and early the next morning got the Vice-President on the phone with his help we saved the Three Rivers Bank.

For a while the payroll checks of the Glass Company constituted a good part of the available currency in Three Rivers. We had a warehouse full of bottles. The warehouse was bonded, and the checks were made payable when the bottles were sold. The merchants accepted the checks instead of cash, and the wholesalers accepted them from the merchants. The Three Rivers Glass Company paid the wholesalers when the bottles were sold and the cash was brought back by our truck drivers.

Many people who were millionaires went broke. This included Mr. Moody, who was my associate in the ownership of the Three Rivers Glass Company. I mortgaged all of the land I owned, including my home to get money to save the Glass Company. President Roosevelt was doing everything he could to save the country. He appointed Jessie Jones of Houston to head the Reconstruction Finance Corporation which made loans guaranteed by the government. I went to Washington and got an appointment to see Mr. Jones to try to get a loan to save the Three Rivers Glass Company. He called his staff in and said to them: “You know I would not do anything for a friend of mine from Texas that I would not do for anyone in the United States. All I will say is that if you make the loan to Mr. Tips, we would not have a better moral loan.” Then he said to me: “If you can convince these men that you can repay the money we will make the loan.” The staff made two requirements. First, an engineering firm approved by them must visit the factory and report to them. The engineers from Pennsylvania went to Three Rivers with me, surveyed the factory, and made a completely favorable report. Second they required that the loan company in Tulsa, Oklahoma which had a mortgage on the factory must let the Reconstruction Finance Corporation have a first lien on the plant. I felt sure the Tulsa firm would agree to this. I returned to Three Rivers feeling that the Three Rivers Glass Factory was saved from the depression. The Tulsa firm had an Attorney named William Church representing them. I went to San Antonio to see Church. He said that he could not do any thing by telephone or mail, but that if we would give him $500.00 to pay for his time and the cost of his trip, he was sure he could get them to agree. We gave him the five hundred dollars and he went to Tulsa. However, instead of getting the agreement for us, he got Ball Brothers Glass Company whom he had been dealing with to buy the notes from the bank and foreclose against us. I had mortgaged all of my land, my home and everything I had to save the Glass Factory and lost it all.

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Golden Triangle Land Co. MORE THAN 50 YEARS SUCCESSFUL EXPERIENCE IN NEW COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

COLONEL C. R. TIPS, PRESIDENT 1312 SOUTH ERVAY DALLAS, TEXAS 75215 TELEPHONE AC/214 742-9003

May 18, 1973.

Mrs. Thelma Lindholm Box 572 George West, Texas 78022

Dear Mrs. Lindholm:

As requested by you, I made an accurate account of the Three Rivers Glass Company, which I will use in my talk when the Marker at the factory site is presented by the Live Oak County Committee.

I am sure that you have gotten information from our Texas State Historical Survey Committee that our name has been changed to “Texas Historical Commission.” As I was the first Vice-President and the second President of the Committee and also of the Historical Foundation, I have a great personal interest in this splendid work that the two State organizations are doing.

I have given information in the letter which I am forwarding to you, showing the things that led to the establishment of the factory, the manner in which the factory was built and improved, the battle for survival that we had in the great depression, the battle that we had against the big glass companies from out of the state. The success we had to start with, getting financing from the Reconstruction Finance Corporation. The success we had in keeping the factory at full speed, the unscrupulous things the big out of State factories did in putting us out of business and their planned closing down of the plant the year after they took it over from us and their indictment by the Federal Courts and their conviction for what they had done to put the Three Rivers Glass Company out of business.

The history of the Three Rivers Glass Company shows what can be done to make Three Rivers and Live Oak County a great industrial center. Three Rivers can be made a great City if the opportunity is handled properly.

I lost every thing I had when the Glass Factory was closed down and I left Three Rivers without knowing where I would get the money for the next meal. Shortly after I left Three Rivers I was called back to active duty in the Army, where I served five years in the 2nd World War.

Fortunately, I had complete confidence in the ability to succeed as I had done in the founding of the City of Three Rivers in 1913. I have developed a large area in Dallas and am working on the area that I call the Texas Golden Triangle, which includes Three Rivers. I have every confidence that Three Rivers and all of Live Oak County can grow fabulously.

Sincerely yours,

Charles R. Tips

CRT:gs

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David Jones, Mrs. Pearl Stewart, Mrs. Opal Wilson(head only) Lonnie Stewart Carl Stegman, Mrs. Ester Hutchins, Bryan Boyd, Lee Wiebusch, Candelario Fana, Roger Hill.

George Yendrey, David Jones, Mrs. Pearl Stewart, Mrs. Opal Wilson, Alex Yendrey, Lonnie Stewart, Mrs. Ester Hutchins, Wabon Stewart, Charlie Herring, Lee Wiebush, Mrs. Willie Hinnant, Lucas Diaz, Roger Hill, Bryan Boyd, Carl Matthijetz.

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L to R. Mrs. O.M.Wilson, Mrs. Pearl Stewart, George Yendrey, Alex Yendrey, Wabon Stewart, Lee Wiebush, Bryon Boyd, Lucas Diaz, Roger Hill, John Matthejetz. Back Row R.A.Jones, Lonnie Stewart, Ester Hutchins, Charles Herring.

David Jones, Mrs. Ester Hutchins, Carl Steadman, Clarence Voges, Alex Yendrey, D. C. Conner, Jr., Mrs. Stanley Stewart, Lucas Diaz.

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CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS WEDNESDAY, MAY 30, 1973

Three Rivers glass show, unveiling draws big crowd

THREE RIVERS (Sp)—The recent show of glass manufactured by the former Three Rivers Glass Co., in the factory here from 1922 to 1937 by 14 collectors drew a large crowd.

The program to unveil and dedicate a historical marker sponsored by the Live Oak County Historical Survey Committee was marred by the absence of Col. Ret. Charles R. Tips, keynote speaker, who with his wife, Hazel, was in a car wreck at Waco en route to Three Rivers from Dallas.

Mrs. William Hinnant, chairman of the historiced society, was in charge of the program. Mayor Joe D. Bright gave the official welcome; Judge Bill Kendall the invocation; American Legion Commander Carl Matthijetz, the Pledge.

The unveiling was by Lee Wiebush of Uvalde, former engineer for the factory; David Jones, mold maker, now of Beeville; Lucas Diaz Sr., furnace department-Three Rivers; also Alex Yendrey, S. J. Stewart, Mrs. Stewart, Mrs. Pearl Stewart, Lonnie M. Stewart, W. A. Barrow, floor maintenance; Charles Herring, packer, John Matthijetz, warehouseman, Wabon Stewart, bottle tester, all of Three Rivers;

And, C. E. Voges, shipping department; Paschal Murray, operator, Mrs. Laurette Nelson Murray, cartons; Bryan Boyd, shipping clerk; all of Three Rivers; Carl Steadman, bookkeeper, of McAllen.

The exhibitors included Miss Jill Johnson and Miss Shirley McMillan, both teachers in San Antonio schools, who have a catalogued display of hundreds of glass items. They are writing a book on this factory.

Other exhibitors were Mrs. Hazel Gattis, Mrs. Elosie Ferguson, Mrs. Carol Hargreaves, all of George West; Reagan Matking of Simmons, Joe A. Coquat of Freer, Three Rivers Junior High Folklore Class, James L. Coquat of Cotulla, Vickery and May of Beeville, Frank Funke family of Alice, Mrs. O. M. Wilson and Mrs. A. N. Qualls of Three Rivers.

The Swedish steel marker reads “Site of Three Rivers Glass Factory opened 1922 by company headed by Charles R. Tips (Born 1892), the founder of the town of Three Rivers.

“Powered by local natural gas. Plant-used quartzose sand mined in area to make glass bottles for milk and other beverages and jars for food and cosmetics, attaining annual gross sales of a million dollars. Sold in 1937 to Ball Glass Company. It was closed in 1938, but has shown Texas’ potential in the industry.

“In later years, factory site became location of a warehouse. Glass with Three Rivers cipher is highly prized by collectors.”

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Bill Tullis, Mrs. Gunn, Eva Tullis, Henry Jones, Joe A. Coquet, Mrs Opal Wilson, Mrs. Pearl Stewart, David Jones, Lonnie Stewart, Carl Steadman, Alex Yendrey, Ester Hutchins, D.C. Conner, Jr. Wabon Stewart, Lee Wiebusch, Charles Herring, Mrs. Willie Hinnant, Mrs. Stanley Stewart, Lucas Diez, Bryan Boyd, Roger Hill, Mr. Lackey.

David Jones, Carl Steadman, Lee Wiebusch, Mrs. Opal Wilson.

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Stewart Photography & Printing Box 368 . Phone 786-2593 Three Rivers, Texas 78071

July 5, 1973

Mrs. Thelma Lindholm, Member Live Oak County Historical Society George West, Texas 78022

Dear Mrs. Lindholm:

I want to express my appreciation for your letting me make all the pictures for the Historical Society’s book on the Three Rivers Glass Factory.

Since practically all my family, wife, mother and brothers, and of course myself, worked there at one time or another I especially enjoyed the un-veiling ceremonies and exhibits.

Yours very truly, S. J. Stewart

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CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1971

By JOE COUDERT Caller-Times Staff Writer GEORGE WEST — The Live Oak County Commission- ers’ Court, meeting Monday,

—Approved a request for $66 by Mrs. Thelma Lindholm of George West for two sets of photographs of old calenders of the Three Rivers Glass Co. for the historical files of the county library in George West and library branch in Three Rivers.

Mrs. Lindholm stated to the Commissioners; “The pictures will be the same eleven pictures shown in this Report, but will be 8in. by 10in. in size. The wording, THREE RIVERS GLASS Co. Three Rivers, Texas will be cut from each picture and one will be shown on another page. The Book will contain twenty (20) pages, each page will be Plastic covered Pictures of Collector’s items..bottles, jars, and other con- tainers made in the Three Rivers Glass Factory will be included. Mrs. Lindholm stated the $66.00 would pay for the 2 sets of eleven pictures from the Calendar…that she would be responsible for all other cost, Collector’s pictures, the Books, organizing, and completing the Books.

Joe Jowell Commissioner Precinct #1

Tom Brown Commissioner Precinct #3

Bill Kendall County Judge

Dwight H. Kappen Commissioner Precinct #2

Paul W. Miller Commissioner Precinct #4

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HERE’S WHERE GLASS STARTS ON A THREE AND A HALF DAY TRIP

The raw material from which glass is made is largely silica sand, soda, ash and lime. Exact proportions are first weighed and dumped into the hopper shown at lower left. Thorough mixing is vital. The raw materials are elevated and thrown into the cylinder-mixer which revolves at high speed. From here it is fed into the furnace, where the sand and chemicals are literally melted and fused into the molten mass from which bottles are moulded. The furnace capacity is 125 tons. It requires 3½ days from raw material to finished bottle. Forty-five tons of molten glass are taken daily from the furnace.

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MILK BOTTLE MOULD—SHOWING INTERIOR OF TWO SIDES

Here is what a glass-bottle mould looks like. Above you see the two parts, each in appearance like a cross section of a hollow cylinder, sawed vertically in two. The lettering or trade-mark design, desired to appear in relief in the finished bottle, is die-cut into the sides of the interior of the mould. Thus when molten glass is deposited in the mould, followed by a blast of compressed air, the glass is forced outward against the inside walls of the mould into every crevice. The mould then opens and out pops a perfectly shaped bottle as shown in the foreground.

MILK BOTTLE MOULD - SHOWING INTERIOR OF TWO SIDES

Here is what a glass-bottle mould looks like. Above you see the two parts, each in appearance like a cross section of a hollow cylinder, sawed vertically in two. The lettering or trade-mark designed to appear in relief in the finished bottle, is die-cut into the interior of the mould. Thus when molten glass is deposited in the mould, against the walls of the mould into every crevice. The mould then opens and out pops a perfect shaped bottle as shown in the foreground.

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SHAPE AND DESIGN OF EVERY BOTTLE MUST FIRST BE FASHIONED IN STEEL

Mould-making for various sizes and designs of bottles is a fine and skillful art. Moulds must be as exact as die-cutting tools. Many of the shapes are intricate. All of them have curves and angles requiring engineering science of utmost exactitude. Thousands of special trade-mark moulds are in our customer “files”. Six experts are kept constantly busy designing and making new ones. The famous sculptor, Gutson Borglum, has designed bottles for Three Rivers Glass Company.

SHAPE AND DESIGN OF EVERY BOTTLE MUST FIRST BE FASHIONED IN STEEL

Mould-making for various sizes and designs of bottles is a fine and skillful art. Moulds must be as exact as die-cutting tools. Many of the shapes are intricate. All of them have curves and angles requiring engineering science of utmost exactitude. Thousands of special trade-mark moulds are in our customer “files”. Six experts are kept constantly busy designing and making new ones. The famous sculptor, Gutson Borglum, has designed bottles for Three Rivers Glass Company. Carl Stendebach, when the Glass Factory closed he moved to Palestine, Texas, continued working in a Glass Factory there. Resides in Palestine today, 1973.

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MILK BOTTLES IN MASS PRODUCTION—HERE’S HOW

In this picture you see the giant milk-bottle machine. The circular table-like base of the machine revolves; stopping momentarily at each mould until an exact quantity of molten glass can be deposited. The metal pipes carry into each mould compressed air which blows the glass automatically against the interior sides of the moulds. As each mould into which a bottle has been blown reaches the point exactly at the right of the man, the mould opens and the bottle is automatically transferred onto the carrier, passing onto the lehr to be annealed or tempered.

MILK BOTTLES IN MASS PRODUCTION —HERE’S HOW

In this picture you see the giant milk-bottle machine. The circular table like of the machine revolves; stopping momentarily at each mould until an exact quantity of molten glass can be deposited. The metal pipes carry into each mould compressed air which blows the glass automatically against the interior sides of the moulds. As each mould into which a bottle has been blown reaches the point exactly at the right of the man, the mould opens and the bottle is automatically transferred onto the carrier, passing onto the lehr to be annealed or tempered.

O. M. Wilson…Dec’d. Mrs. Wilson lives in Three Rivers.

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MACHINERY THAT SUPPLIES WHAT MEN’S LUNGS ONCE DID Compressed air is vital to the shaping of the bottles or other glassware inside the moulds. It forces the molten glass firmly against the interior of the mould and into the crevices of the die-cut letters, or other designs. The pressure must be constant in-precise degree. These big compressors provide this air pressure which is stored in a tank, automatically maintaining the proper pressure at the gauges above the moulds.

MACHINERY THAT SUPPLIES WHAT MAN’S LUNGS ONCE DID Compressed air is vital to the shaping of the bottles or other glassware inside the moulds. It forces the molten glass against the interior of the mould and into the crevices of the die-cut letters or other designs. The pressure must be constant in-precise degree. These big compressors provide this air pressure which is stored in a tank, automatically maintaining the proper pressure at the gauge above the moulds.

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AUTOMATIC MACHINERY HANDLES ‘EM WHILE THEY’RE HOT

Twenty seconds after a job of molten glass is dropped into the molding machine, a bottle or jar emerges; perfect in shape but far from finished. It must be annealed, which in reality means tempered. This is done on an endless wire belt in a heated, metal oven known as a lehr. But glassware is too hot for human hands, so from molding machine to lehr it is transported, as this picture illustrates, on an automatic carrier. Note at extreme left end the automatic arm and clasp of the Hartford-Empire stacker that grasps each piece and lifts it into the lehr.

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ANNEALING MEANS TEMPERING—IT TAKES TWO HOURS IN THE LEHR

Here you see glassware emerging from its two hour journey through the lehrs, or tempering process. Glass is more sensitive than steel. It must be tempered to an exact degree. This means gradual cooling from its first semi-liquid or molten state into the finished, hard, clear, resilient quality of the Three Rivers product. As they reach the fore end of this conveyor they are ready for packing. Expert packers inspect each one as they come off. Bottles having any defects are immediately discarded.

ANNEALING MEANS TEMPERING -IT TAKES TWO HOURS IN THE LEHR

Here you see glass were emerging from its two hour journey through the lehrs, or tempering process. Glass is more sensitive than steel. It must be tempered to an exact degree. This means gradual cooling from its first semi-liquid or molten state into the finished, hard, clear, resilient quality of the Three Rivers product. As they reach the fore end of this conveyor they are ready for packing. Expert packers inspect each one as they come off. Bottles having any defects are immediately discarded.

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BOTTLES PASSING OUR LABORATORY’S GRUELLING TESTS

Here continuous tests of various kinds are carried on hourly, samples being taken from the lehrs. At left is depicted the temperature shock test. A crate of bottles is immersed into scalding water 146 degrees. There is the finish test in which a wedge-like device applies intense expansion pressure inside the necks of the bottles. The pressure test for tensile strength proves our bottles will stand over 600 pounds pressure as compared with the maximum requirement of 90 lbs. on a capping machine. Many other test are made including the polariscope for detecting strain by means of prismatic reaction to certain lights. These tests daily prove the superior quality of THREE RIVERS STAR BOTTLES.

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GIVING ‘EM THAT SUPERIOR FIRE FINISH

You’ve heard bottle salesmen speak of fire-finished bottles. Well here’s exactly how it is done and the picture shows why it is done BETTER at the Three Rivers plant. On the conveyor from moulds to lehrs the bottles, still red hot from the moulds but firm in shape, are brought to a short stop directly under each blue-flame gas blast. These flames melt the sharp edge inside the finish ring of the bottles so that one may drink pleasantly and safely directly from the bottle. NOTE that there are FIVE of these jets, burning natural gas, giving our bottles a really superior fire-finish and extra strength.

GIVING ‘EM THAT SUPERIOR FIRE FINISH

You’ve heard bottle salesmen speak of fire-finished bottles. Well here’s exactly how it is done and the picture shows why it is done BETTER AT THE Three Rivers plant. On the conveyor from moulds to lehrs the bottles, still red hot from the moulds but firm in shape, are brought to a short stop directly under each blue-flame gas blast. These flames melt the sharp edge inside the finish ring of the bottles so that one may drink pleasantly and safely directly from the bottle. NOTE: that there are FIVE of these jets, burning natural gas, giving our bottles a really fire-finish and strength.

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BEVERAGE BOTTLE AND PACKERS-WARE MACHINE

Twenty-five thousand (25,000) beverage bottles are the product of this gigantic Lynch machine and Hartford-Empire feeder every 24 hours. The feeder above at right of top of ladder feeds the molten glass into the moulds of the machine, which revolve continuously and operate automatically. In our factory, we have not one, BUT THREE of these huge-capacity machines, which operate continuously for 24 hours each day. Accuracy and precision are here combined with mass-production to make low cost possible and consistent with finest quality.

BEVERAGE BOTTLES AND PACKERS-WARE MACHINE

Twenty-five thousand (25,000) beverage bottles are the product of this gigantic Lynch machine and Hartford-Empire feeder every 24 hours. The feeder above at right top of ladder feeds the molten glass into molds of the machine, which revolves continuously and operate automatically. In our factory, we have not one, BUT THREE of these huge-capacity machines, which operate continuously for 24 hours each day. Accuracy and precision are here combined with mass-production to make low cost possible and consistent with finest quality.

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A PURE-FOOD SHOW IN THREE RIVERS GLASS A complete and interesting pure-food show could be staged with only the products packed or bottled in Three Rivers special trade-marked containers. Here is a very representative display, though not by any means representing ALL the manufacturers for whom we make trade-marked glassware. No shape, size or character of glass container is too intricate for us to produce. And the quality is always there to measure up to the quality of your goods.

A PURE-FOOD SHOW IN THE THREE RIVERS GLASS A complete and interesting pure-food show could be staged with only the products packed or bottled in Three Rivers special trade-marked containers. Here is a very representative display, though not by any means representing ALL the manufacturers for whom we make trade-marked glassware. No shape, size or character of glass container is too intricate for us to produce, and the quality is always there to measure up to the quality of your goods.

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GLASS FACTORY of THREE RIVERS, LIVE OAK COUNTY TEXAS

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THREE RIVERS GLASS FACTORY THREE RIVERS, LIVE OAK COUNTY, TEXAS

This Report is presented, Requesting a” HISTORICAL MARKER” be erected at the sit of the former GLASS FACTORY.

This paper presents some of the facts and incidents of the THREE RIVERS GLASS FACTORY located in Three Rivers, Live Oak County, Texas.

The Report is presented under the following five parts: Part I The Three Rivers Glass Factory in operation. Part II Continuation under Ball Glass Company. Part III Closing of the Factory and Area purchased by Boyd and Schulz, Three Rivers, Texas. Part IV The use of the Area today, 1971. Part V Collector’s interest in Items made by the THREE RIVERS GLASS FACTORY.

1

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CITY OF THREE RIVERS

SCALE: 1” = 200’ DRAWN DECEMBER, 1956

LIVE OAK CO.

THOMPSON ENGINEERING COMPANY SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS

STATE OF TEXAS PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER A. L. THOMPSON 7590

FARM HWY 63 FRIO AVENIDA CITY LIMITS LOCATION OF GLASS FACTORY RAILROAD AVE SAURO BOYD & SCHULT ACREAGE ALEXANDER MUNICIPAL BUILDING THORNTON CHURCH DIBRELL GRAHAM LE ROY HARBORTH TULLOS HAON KING ST DEMENT ST MOLLIE THORACE GALLAHER AVE U S HWY 281 LOUISE ST FRANCIS ST MAURINE ST CITY LIMITS

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The Three Rivers Glass Company was organized in 1922, to build and operate a glass container factory. This was the pioneer glass container factory in Texas, manufacturing milk bottles, beverage bottles and general food and cosmetic containers.

Colonel Charles R. Tips was President of the Company and General Manager of the factory which was built up to a volume of one million dollars a year, Serving all of Texas and adjoining states. Because of its successful operations other competing Glass Container Factories were built in Texas. The factory was sold to a northern concern in 1937 and dismantled shortly afterwards.

THE Ambassador HOTEL C. R. TIPS, President

1312 SOUTH ERVAY DALLAS, TEXAS 75215

Please give this to Mrs. Olivia Lindholm after you make a copy for Mrs. Kinman

PM 22 JUL 1971

ALWAYS USE ZIP CODE

Mrs. Arthur E. Adlof P.O. Box 340 Three Rivers, Texas 78071

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Alice Echo-News, Sun., Aug. 1, 1971 Page 13 GROSSED A MILLION A YEAR Three Rivers Had Early Glass Factory By FAYE BARTULA Staff Writer

THREE RIVERS—During the twenties there was a glass factory here that grossed more than $1 million a year. When it was established it was the first glass factory in the United States. The sheds that housed the workers, and machinery and a large railroad loading dock, which comprised the factory, have long since been dismantled and a tin building used for grain storage occupies the land now. The site of the old factory, which was called the Three Rivers Glass Factory, is near the center of the town on the west side of the railroad tracks that run through Three Rivers. Workers at the factory turned out milk bottles, beverage bottles and food and cosmetic containers. The first president of the company, which was owned by a group of stockholders, was Col. Charles R. Tips. Col. Tips was the founder of the city of Three Rivers. He left Three Rivers when the factory was still in operation and went to Dallas. The Colonel, now retired, still lives in Dallas. The glass factory was very successful, but it’s downfall was its success. The company suffered from competition from northern glass companies. One of the competing companies bought out the factory in 1937. At the time of purchase, it was presumed that the factory would be remodeled, but instead it was dismantled. It is believed that some of the original lumber was used in the construction of the building now occupying the site. The present building was used by a cementing company for a while and most recently for grain storage.

FACTORY SITE—This land located in the town of Three Rivers was once the site of a successful glass factory. A building used for grain storage now occupies the land the factory once occupied. It is believed that some of the lumber in the present building came from the original factory.

“Two should have read,” when it was established it was the first glass factory in Live Oak County. The last part of this Article will clear the last paragraph of the above article. Thelma Lindholm

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Golden Triangle Land Co. MORE THAN 50 YEARS SUCCESSFUL EXPERIENCE IN NEW COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

COLONEL C. R. TIPS, PRESIDENT 1312 SOUTH ERVAY DALLAS, TEXAS 75215 TELEPHONE AC/214 742-9003

October 11, 1971.

Mrs. Thelma Pugh Lindholm P.O. Box 572 George West, Texas 78022

Dear Mrs. Lindholm:

Thank you for your letter of October 2. I want to congratulate you on the work you are doing for the Historical Survey Committee. As you may know I was on the original committee, appointed by Governor Allan Shivers and served as the First Vice-President of both the Historical Survey Committee and the Historical Foundation, and later served as President of both organizations. I am now an Honorary Director of the Foundation, on account of having served as President of both organizations for the period of 1959 - 1961.

I will try to get down to your County Committee meeting, Tuesday, October 26. Please let me know where the meeting will be held. There may be something I can tell the Committee about the early days of the State Organization that would be interesting.

I am afraid I do not have much beyond what I gave to Mrs. Adlof that I can tell you about the Three Rivers Glass Factory. I will be glad to answer any questions. I will look for any pictures that I might have and bring them with me.

If Mrs. Ellerman is in Three Rivers at this time, she might have some detailed information that would be helpful. I got her husband, Mr. R. A. Ellerman to come down from Ohio where he had worked for a Glass Factory and he was one of my right hand men and very capable during most of the time we were in operation.

I was President of the organization and had a great deal to do with all details as long as we had the plant in operation.

I realized that Three Rivers could not grow very much without Industry that would employ a good many people. I made a trip to New England to try to get a cotton manufacturing plant and found that was not practical. Then I put an advertisement in a glass journal stating that we had natural gas available at Three Rivers and that sand was being shipped from north of the town to the glass factory in Monterrey, Mexico. A Mr. Warrick answered the advertisement and came down to Three Rivers from Ohio. He told me that his factory had burned down and he had only $ 5,000.00, but that he could put in the factory and get it to operating if I would raise $50,000.00. I put in part of the money and got some people I knew in San Antonio to put in the rest of the money and the factory was built as a hand operated plant. He brought some skilled workmen and bottle blowers down from Ohio, it turned out he needed more money and I kept raising more money for him. We finally decided that we could not make a success as a hand operated plant. We applied to the Hartford Empire Company of Hartford, Conn., for the right to use their equipment. They had a complete monopoly on glass container machinery and refused to give us a license.

I went down to Monterrey and got a Mr. Tremblay, who had installed glass container machinery that was working very well in the Monterrey Factory, to come to Three Rivers and put in the equipment for us and act as Superintendent at the factory. After we

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Mrs. Lindholm Page 2.

had this operating the Hartford Empire Co., gave us a license to use some of their machinery. I got 2 men who were multimillionaires to back us. One was Mr. Harry H. Rogers of San Antonio, the other was Mr. W. L. Moody, 111 of Galveston, who at that time owned United Gas Company and was supplying the gas we used. I put in a sales office in Dallas and started delivering by truck and business flourished. At that time I was a Vice-President and Director of the South Texas Chamber of Commerce and represented them when Progressive Texans, Inc., was organized by the three regional Chamber of Commerce to undertake a five year plan for Texas Industrial development. I was a Vice-President and Director of this statewide organization and was general campaign chairman for the entire state for this organization, which was dedicated to the task of bringing about the Industrial development of Texas. Our slogan was: “What Texas Makes, Makes Texas”. This organiza- tion was the forerunner of the present Texas State Industrial Commission, which is doing a great job in bringing Industry to Texas.

Everything went along splendidly until the great depression started in the early 1930’s. The big glass companies found they could not compete successfully with us in Texas or in other areas where we were doing business and did everything they could to put us out of business. The Hartford Empire Company joined them. My partners lost most of their money in the depression and could not help us. I went to Washington and got the Reconstruction Finance Corporation to approve a loan for a $100,000.00 for us. The loan was conditioned on getting the holders of the first mortgage note to give their loan first priority. The glass trust found out about this and through a crooked attorney, Ball Brothers purchased these first mortgage notes and would not agree to the loan. They went into the Federal Court because the people that were working to put us out of business were from outside of the State. The Federal Court allowed them to foreclose on the first mortgage note and take over the factory.

An Assistant Attorney General of the United States came to see me and told me they had found enough evidence of what Owens-Illinois Glass Co., Hartford Empire Co., and Ball Brothers had done to convict them of violating the anti-trust laws. They were tried in Toledo, Ohio and found guilty. This they appealed to the U S Supreme Court and the Supreme Court upheld their conviction. This broke up the glass trust.

When Ball Brothers took over the Three Rivers Glass Factory, I had personally gotten enough contracts with purchases of Glass Containers to run at full capacity at a profitable basis for the coming year. Ball Brothers operated the factory for one year to fill these contracts and then closed the factory down. There only purpose in taking over the factory had been to eliminate the competition from Three Rivers Glass Company.

As a direct result of the operation of the Three Rivers Glass Company, Owens-Illinois Glass Company built a big factory in Waco another National Company built a plant in Palestine, which was mostly operated by skilled workmen they got from the Three Rivers factory when it was closed down and other glass container factories have been built in the state. So you see that the Three Rivers factory helped a great deal in bringing about Industrial development in Texas.

Sincerely, Charles R. Tips Charles R. Tips. Formerly President of Three Rivers Glass Company.

CRT:gs

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Golden Triangle Land Co.

MORE THAN 50 YEARS SUCCESSFUL EXPERIENCE IN NEW COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

COLONEL C. R. TIPS, PRESIDENT 1312 SOUTH ERVAY DALLAS, TEXAS 75215 TELEPHONE AC/214 742-9003

DALLAS FT. WORTH CORSICANA WACO AUSTIN SAN ANTONIO SEGUN HOUSTON HUNTSVILLE GALVESTON THREE RIVERS CORPUS CHRISTI LAREDO

INTERCOASTAL CANAL Gulf of Mexico TEXAS GOLDEN TRIANGLE

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The REPORT that was sent to Austin requesting the HISTORICAL MARKER for the former GLASS FACTORY of Three Rivers Texas included eleven picteres that were reproduced by Stanley Stewart from a 1931 Calander owned by Mrs. Pearl Stewart. The Calendar began with February,1931 and closed January, 1932.

Each picture is an suthentic picture of the Factory Equip- ment… Verified by several of the Factory’s Employees.

Only eleven pictures are shown in the Report. One of the pictures was an ” over-lap” of two of the included pictures.

The eleven pictures are shown in the SECTION; THREE RIVERS GLASS FACTORY PICTURES, previous pages.

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STATE OF TEXAS, COUNTY OF LIVE OAK. | For and in consideration of the sum of Six Thousand ($6000.00) Dollars to me in hand paid, and to be paid, as hereinafter set out, I, A. F. Tremblay, of Live Oak County, Texas, have bargained, sold and delivered, and do hereby bargain, sell and deliver unto the Three Rivers Glass Company, a corporation whose principal place of business is at Three Rivers in Live Oak County, Texas. I certain bottle blowing machine manufactured under and described in Patent No. 1648792, issued by the United States Patent Office in the name of A. F. Tremblay. Said machine has been inspected by Charles R. Lips, representing the purchaser, and approved by him. Said machine is now located at the plant of the Alamo Iron Works in Bexar County, Texas, and will there be received by the purchaser. The purchase price of said machine is payable by the said Three Rivers Glass Company as follows: One Thousand ($1000.00) Dollars upon said machine’s being installed in the plant

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of the Three Rivers Glass Company at Three Rivers, Texas, which shall be not later than April 1, 1928. The balance shall be payable in six equal monthly installments, beginning May 1, 1928, and payable on the first of each month thereafter until the full amount is paid, and the deferred payments shall bear interest at the rate of 6% per annum, payable as the installments accrue. At the time of the delivery of this instrument note or notes shall be executed evidencing the obligation to make the payments as hereinabove specified. It is understood and agreed that the title to said machine shall remain in the said A.F. Tremblay until the full consideration herein set out is paid. To have and to hold the above described personal property unto the said Three Rivers Glass Company, its successors and assigns forever, subject only to the payment of the purchase price, as hereinabove set out. And the said A. F. Tremblay, for himself, his heirs and assigns, warrants not only the title to said machine but warrants that same will operate with as high a degree of efficiency as the other bottle blowing machines which the said Three Rivers Glass Company now has in use at its plant. Witness my hand this the 15th day of March, 1928. A. F. Tremblay. Witnesses: R. A. Ellerman, M. E. Herring.

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The foregoing bill of sale is accepted as such, and it is also recognized that same constitutes a chattel mortgage on the machine described therein to better secure the payment of the purchase price.

THREE RIVERS GLASS COMPANY, By Chas. R. Tips, Secretary, Treasurer and General Manager.

Filed for record in my office on the 29th day of June, A.D. 1928 at 3 o’clock P.M. and duly recorded this the 30th day of June A.D. 1928 at 10:28 o’clock A.M.

Live Oak County Court, Live Oak County, Texas.

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VOL. 52—NO. 43 GEORGE WEST, LIVE OAK COUNTY, TEXAS, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 21, 1971 FOUR PAGES—TEN CENTS

Information Sought On Old Glass Factory

George West. — Mrs. Thelma Lindholm of George West is writing the history of the old glass factory in Three Rivers. in order to get a marker. She asks that anyone who worked at the glass factory, drove trucks or was in any way connected with the factory, and can tell her anything, or has any pictures or in any way give her any information, to please write it down and mail it to her or to Stanley Stewart in Three Rivers. Please sign your name as she would like to use your name in the writing of the history.

This information was left with Mr. Stanley Stewart:

Fugo Pfau was employed in the Shipping Department from 1930 to 1939. He is living in Three Rivers now, 1971.

Joe Pfau was Foreman of the Shipping Department from 1930 to 1938. He resides out of the county.

Henry Moser was employed in the Shipping Department from 1930 through 1938. He lives in Three Rivers, 1971.

Mrs. Nomics Moser was employed in the Carton Department from 1931 through 1932. She lives in Three Rivers, 1971.

Lloyd Stewart was Foreman of the Carton Department from 1932 through 1938.

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116 Nadine Lane Cedar Hill, Tex. 75104 Oct, 26, 1971

Dear Mrs. Lindholm,

I saw your request for information concerning the old GLASS FACT- ory in Three Rivers. Here is a little item that was in the 1932 edition of “The GEOLOGY of TEXAS” Vol.I, subtitled, “STATIGRAPHY”.

“The Carrizo sand occurs in sufficient purity in some places to make glass. The quartz fuses to produce clear, green glass suitable for the manufacture of bottles, vases, and other articles. A factory established at Three Rivers, Live Oak County, procures its sand from the Haiduk Switch on the San Antonio, Uvalde, and Gulf Railroad in the north edge of Atascosa County. It is manufacturing glass successfully on a large scale!”

Respectfully yours, John Spivey

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Stewart Photography & Printing Box 368 Phone 786-2593 Three Rivers, Texas 78071

It must have been the summer of 1931 that I applied for a job at the Three Rivers Glass Factory. After a few days Mr. Walter Finkbiener contacted me and told me I could go to work right away if I wanted to start weighing bottle, so I told him I did want the job. He took me down to a bin in the warehouse that was about 10 feet wide and Dr. Pepper bottles were stacked in it about 4 or 5 feet high. There was a set of balance scales sitting on a box and he told me to get started weighing the bottles one at a time. If I remember correctly the bottle should have weighed 14 ounces but they would accept any that was either 1/2 or 3/4 ounce over or under. There were many, many bins of these bottles.

The first day I weighed only a few hundred bottles, putting the good ones in crates and throwing the rejects in another place. After my arms got used to handling the bottles, I had cramps in them the first few days, I got to where I could weigh around 8,000 to 10,000 bottles a day. Soon they had others weighing also and I believe about three sets of scales were in use. Each weigher had a helper to keep the bottles and crates moving out of the way. It seems that we weighed for several weeks. The rejected bottles were re-melted and went back into other bottles.

I learned during the process that the automatic cut-off that controlled the amount of molten glass that fell into the moulds had been out of adjustment and had let different amounts of glass into the moulds. All the bottles being the same size on the out side, the heavy bottles did not hold enough liquid and the light bottles did not look full when they filled with so many ounces of Dr. Pepper.

I calculate that I weighed well over a half million bottles on this job. Later I went to work in the paper carton dept., unloading freight cars with the dis-assembled cartons, and placing them near the “lehrs” where the packers could get them easily after they had been assembled by other workers.

I was working there in 1932 when one of the floods from the Frio river threatened to flood the factory and helped build a levee around the factory with sand bags.

E. J. Stewart

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INFORMATION from Mr. David Jones, EMPLOYED in the THREE RIVERS GLASS FACTORY: April 1929 through September 1930. Returned to work there, 1932 through 1934.

General Manager, C.R.Tipps

Tipps’ Secretary, (Emma Lee Bryant) Mrs. Dick Epperson.

Factory Superintendent, O.M.Wilson.

Chemist, Steve Coleman.

Glass Maker and Furnace Supervisor, Albert Bowman.

Construction Engineer and Draftman, H.O.Knape.

Book Keeper, Eddie Tyre.

Pay Master, C.S.Steadman.

Secretary and Treasurer, R.A.Ellerman.

OPERATORS ----MACHINES

Jim Woodruff, Frank Schotell, Whity Knight, Victor Johns, Otto Schotell, Luke Wagner, Harry Campbell

MACHINE UPKEEP and DESIGNER

C.B.Hoops

SHIFT FOREMAN

A.N. QUALIS Sam Lungo Joe Tetskus Chester Peters

MOULD MAKERS

Ross Ayers David Jones* R.A.LaPell# Theo. Williams#

Ballentine#

The three marked (#) came to the Factory after it had been in operation for some time.

Page 54 (image00110.tiff)

TRUCK DRIVERS

Guss Diez ” Fats”Hutchens ” Hook ” Hutchens Herbert Simmons Claude Casey

Signed by:

David J Jones Beeville Machine Shop Beeville, Texas 78102

NOTE: Lee Troell’s Glass Container display, page 47 the BIG CHIEF bottle is shown and described. David Jones said he designed a BIG CHIEF, but not the one on this bottle. The one he designed was much larger and was nearer the base of the bottle.

Page 55 (image00112.tiff)

FIVE EMPLOYEES of the THREE RIVERS GLASS FACTORY

Left to right: Walter Fink Biner, Plant Superintendent. Arnetta Stewart, Packing Department. Mabel Blair, Carton Department. Chester Peters, Machinist Lucille Barron, Carton Department

Information and reproduction of picture, Stanley Stewart.

Tryon Boyd was a Shipping Clerk, he stated most of the … received 30cents an hour pay. Most of the employees worked 8 hour shifts, some worked 10 to 12 hours per day. The factory was open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Page 56 (image00114.tiff)

[Image of five people standing together, smiling. From left to right: a man in a light shirt and tie, a woman in a polka-dot dress, a woman in a light dress, a man in a cap and light shirt, and a woman in a light dress with a dark belt.]

Page 57 (image00116.tiff)

Three Rivers, Texas November 16, 1971

I worked at the Three Rivers Glass Factory from August 1936 through 1937 both as a bottle packer and in the carton assembling department.

As a packer I would pick up four bottles or jars at a time with heavy gloves to protect my hands from the hot glass. These bottles were quickly examined under a very strong light for defects. There were four or five different kind of defects that would cause the bottle to be rejected. The most common kinds were called “checks” and consisted of small imperfections in the glass, usually in the bottoms or shoulders. Others were blister like spots on the sides of the bottles. Only a few seconds were allowed to examine the bottles because if you were slow the bottles would start running off the “lehr” on to the floor.

My work in the carton department was mostly gluing the cartons shut after they were filled with bottles.

After the company was sold to Ball Glass Corp. Mr. Tips attempted to organize another Glass Factory at Houston, Texas. So much money was withheld from my pay check each week and I received 5 shares of stock in the new company which never got started. A photocopy of my stock certificate is enclosed.

John Matthijetz

Page 58 (image00118.tiff)

TIPS GLASS COMPANY Incorporated Under the Laws of Texas

This Certifies That JOHN MATTHAEUS is the owner of FIVE shares of the COMMON CAPITAL STOCK of TIPS GLASS COMPANY, of no par value, fully paid and non-assessable, transferable only on the books of the Company by the holder hereof in person or by attorney, upon surrender of this Certificate properly endorsed.

IT IS UNDERSTOOD that this certificate represents COMMON STOCK only, and that the rights, powers and liabilities of the holder of this certificate shall be such as are fixed by the Charter and By-Laws of the Corporation.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused this certificate to be signed by its duly authorized officers, and sealed with the seal of the Corporation, this the 15th day of DECEMBER, A.D. 1960.

President Secretary

Attest

5 SHARES No Par Value ©005571

Page 59 (image00120.tiff)

SOME INFORMATION of the TRUCKERS of the THREE RIVERS GLASS FACTORY

Lonnie Stewart, Truck Driver; Shown with his son, Charles and his truck,“INDIANA”. Stewart hauled bottles and other glass containers to Oklahoma, Louisiana, and many other places.

Vol.43 Record Book, County Clerk Office, George West, Texas from page 359 through page 607 is found recordings of Truck Leases. W.A.Orts lease was signed by R.A.Ellerman, Secretary, Three Rivers Glass Factory.

J.E.Hutchins(now deceased) leased to the Glass Factory a Truck and Trailer at $3.00 per day.

Page 60 (image00122.tiff)

The image contains no transcribable text.

Page 61 (image00124.tiff)

Eugene Kaub leased a truck and trailer.

L.S.Casey and Sons leased their trucks out to the Glass Factory on November 4,1931 and another lease on December 22,1931. Book 44, page 259 they leased another truck and trailer dated April 4, 1932.

C. Haak leased a truck and trailer to the Glass Factory on January 24,1933, entry recorded in Book 46 page 607.

There are many other recordings showing that the Glass Factory had a large production and a large demand for the Glass Items produced.

The Letter from Charles R. Tips, dated October 11,1971 will clarify this:

Lien Record Book 3 page3. Mechanics and Material Men’s County Clerks Office, George West, Texas.

” That the Three Rivers Glass Company,Inc. is indebted at present time to the employees… approximately $26,000.00 or more for salaries, wages,and pay checks for the past eight months, including August of 1931 up to date.” The recording states that a committee composed of S.A.Coleman, J.Woods, C. Peters, T.Gillmore,and J.E.Hemperly have the right and title to and in all of the raw materials located at the of the Three Rivers Glass Company,Inc…described as cullet…heap or pile of broken glass… Said transfer..; 1st. …cullet can be used to manufacture of finished glass-ware. price to be agreed upon by and between Employees Committee and Charles Tips, Pres. and Chairman of Three Rivers Glass Co.,Inc.

Page 62 (image00126.tiff)

2nd. … When payroll checks are paid … agreement shall be null and void …

3rd… in the event the Three Rivers Glass Co. fails to continue operation…the cullet becomes the outright property of the employees …can be sold or … to pay off payroll checks.

Signed by, Charles R. Tips 15th.day of March, 1932.

Book 71 page 507 County Clerks Office, George West,Texas. Charles R. Tips sold the Three Rivers Glass Coumpany,Inc. out to the Ball Glass Corporation and all track or parcel of land.. Signed: March 31,1938. Filed April 11,1938.

Book 70 page 313 County Clerks Office, George West, Texas. Ball Glass Corporation Deeded to Live Oak County a Strip Of Land having an average 21 feet to State Highway No, 202.. Recorded: 5th day of February,A.D.1938.

Vol.164 page 285,County Clerks Office,George West,Texas. Ball Glass Corporation sold all Glass Company property to Bryan Boyd and Harry J. Schulz of Live Oak County, State of Texas, all those certain lots, tracks, or parcels of land situated in Live Oak County, Texas.

Recorded: September 21, 1954.

Following Maps show the above three recordings.

The enlarged block shows how the land site is used at present,1971. Information from Bryan Boyd:

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AVENIDA CALLE TREJO AVENIDA 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 .80 .80 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 .80 .80 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 .80 .80 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 .80 .80 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 .80 .80 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 .80 .80 Lots 1 to 5, Blk 11, sold by Mrs. Mary Ella Tips to Mexicans; are in conflict with the Ball Glass Corp. property. Chas. E. Tips to Ball Glass Corp. 700’ x 140’. Mar. 31, 1938, Part of Reservation. Vol. 71 pp. 507-8 N 76°14’ W 700’ 440’ 2’ N 76°14’ W 700’ 168.43’ 180’ N 76°14’ W 711.57’ 70.2’ 50’ 50’ 50’ 50’ 50’ 50’ 50’ 50’ 50’ 50’ 50’ 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5

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BALL GLASS CORPORATION MANUFACTURERS OF GLASS BOTTLES AND JARS THREE RIVERS, TEXAS

September 9, 1938

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

This letter will introduce Mr. Lucas Diaz, formerly employed by BALL GLASS CORP. of Three Rivers, Texas.

Mr. Diaz, is a sober, industrious, conscientious worker. Employed as tank supervisor while under my super- vision for three years, has proven he thoroughly understands the operation of a glass tank. His ability to handle men is very good and may be highly considered for any responsible position.

Personally thanking you for any consideration given Mr. Diaz, I remain.

Very truly yours BALL GLASS CORPORATION

C. C. Cook, Factory Manager

CC/c

Page 65 (image00132.tiff)

This is a picture of the TANK installed in the Three Rivers Glass Factory shortly before Ball Glass Company bought the Three Rivers Company out. The Ball Glass Company ermodeled it some and when Boyd and Schulz bought Ball Company out it was in perfect working condition.

Schulz said he and Boyd contacted several Glass Companies to operate the Factory on a more conservative production, but a “No” was the answer from each company. Mr.Tips’ letter of Oct.11, page 5 gives an answer why the “No”. Glass Companies in Mexico were then contacted, the following letters are in regard to this TANK. It was dismantled and sold to two Companies in Mexico.

Page 66 (image00134.tiff)

The image contains no transcribable text.

Page 67 (image00136.tiff)

These letters were translated by Cindy Smith, a George West, Texas High School graduate. A student at Lynchburg College, Va. She was in school for a term and a semester in Mexico, attending La Academia Hispano-Americana San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Mexico

In answer to your letter dated the 31st of last month, we want to declare to you that what interests us are the refractory blocks, and we are going to do everything possible to come and see it, to see if the transaction suits us.

Vidriera D. N. L. S. A. Nuevo León ALAMO No. 715 COL. MODERNA OFICINAS: VALLARTA SUR 431 TEL 2-75-57 APDO. 1109 MONTERREY, N. L., MEX. Fabricantes de Artículos de Vidrio. 11 de junio de 1958.

SR. HARRY J. SCHULTZ. Attorney At Law, Three Rivers, Texas. U. S. A.

Muy señores nuestros y amigos:

En contestación a su atenta de fecha 31 del mes próximo pasado, pasamos ha manifestarles que lo que nos interesa a nosotros son los Blocks Refractarios - y vamos ha hacer lo posible por ir a verlo para ver si - nos conviene la operación.

Anticipándoles las gracias por las - - atenciones que nos han dispensado, nos repetimos como sus Afmos. Attos. amigos y Ss. Ss.

VIDRIERA “NUEVO LEON”, S. A.

CCH/lc.

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CRISTALERIA FINA DECORADA Vidriera S. A. Nuevo León D. N. L. ALAMO No. 715 COL. MODERNA OFICINAS: VALLARTA SUR 431 TEL 2-75-57 APDO. 1109 MONTERREY, N. L, MEX. Fabricantes de Artículos de Vidrio. 2 de febrero de 1959.

We would like for you to know that our factory is small and we have not been able to resolve certain affairs that we have pending to enable us to visit you and see if it is possible to deal with the rock that you have offered us. We are hoping to make this visit in a month more of less, provided that you have no other engagement that you are awaiting or possibly some other candidate, in which case, of course, you may sell it. All that we ask is that in such a case you let us know so that we do not come.

atenciones que nos han dispensado, nos repetimos como siempre sus Afmos. Attos. amigos y Ss. Ss.

VIDRIERA “NUEVO LEON”, S. A.

CCH/lc.

VIDRIERA “Nuevo León” CRISTALERIA FINA Y DECORADA VALLARTA SUR 431, TELEFONO 2-75-57 APARTADO 1109 MONTERREY, N. L., MEXICO

SR. HARRY J. SCHUETZ. Attorney At Law

Page 69 (image00140.tiff)

According to the conference that was had with Señor Chavena, Saturday the 14 of this month, we passed to localize Señor Ovidio Garza, who was the other interested party in the refractory material that you have, and he informed us that he has to be away and won’t be back until the first part of April, in a few days we will write you again so that we can come to an agreement as to the exact date we should come to terminate the transaction.

VIDRIERA ACAMO No. 715 - COL. MODERNA OFICINAS: VALLARTA SUR 431 TEL 2-75-57 APOO. 1109 MONTERREY, N. L., MEX. Nuevo León D. N. L. Fabricantes de Artículos de Vidrio. 17 de marzo de 1959.

SR. HARRY J. SCHULTZ. Attorney At Law, Three Rivers, Texas. U. S. A.

My señores nuestros y amigos:

De acuerdo con la conferencia que tubo con el Sr. Chavana el sabado 14 del presente, pasamos ha locali- zar al SR. OVIDIO GARZA que era la otra parte interesada en el Material refractario que tienen ustedes y nos comunico - que tiene que salir fuera y no regresara hasta principios - del mes de Abril, en unos dias mas volveremos a escribir a ustedes para ponernos de acuerdo sobre la fecha exacta que - vayamos para dejar terminada la operación.

Anticipandole las gracias por las atencio- nes que nos han dispensado, nos repetimos como sus Afmos. - Attos. amigos y Ss. Ss.

VIDRIERA “NUEVO LEON”, S. A. Custodio Chavena

CCH/lc.

Page 70 (image00142.tiff)

CRISTALERIA FINA DECORADA Vidriera D. N. L. Nuevo León, S. A. XXIX-MCMLIX-XXXIX MODERNA OFICINAS: VALLARTA SUR 431 TEL 2-75-57 APOO. 1109 MONTERREY, N. L, MEX. Fabricantes de Artículos de Vidrio. 6 de noviembre de 1959.

SR. HARRY J. SCHULTZ. Attorney At Law, Three Rivers, Texas. U. S. A.

Muy señor nuestro y amigo:

I hadn’t written to you because we have been battling to obtain the permit enabling us to bring the rock and now that they are going to give it to us they are insisting that we give the exact weight of the rock, and this is why we are courteously asking that you give me the said weight.

VIDRIERA “NUEVO LEON”, S. A. C. Chavira

CCS/1c.

VIDRIERA “Nuevo León”, S. A. CRISTALERIA FINA Y DECORADA VALLARTA, SUR 431 TELEFONO 2-75-57. APARTADO 1109 MONTERREY, N. L., MEXICO.

SR. HARRY J. SCHULTZ. Attorney At Law, Three Rivers, Texas. U. S. A.

CORREO AEREO AIR MAIL 50 CTS CORREO AEREO MEXICO Chihuahua 25 NOV 59

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REPRESENTACIONES TECNICAS, S. A. PRODUCTOS QUIMICOS INDUSTRIALES MATERIAS PRIMAS INDUSTRIALES EQUIPO Y MAQUINARIA INDUSTRIAL

MR. HARRY J. SCHULTZ. Attorney At Law. Three Rivers. Texas. U. S. A.

Teléfonos: Productos Químicos y Materias Primas 27-76-20, 27-73-45, y 27-71-25 Equipo y Maquinaria Industrial 27-75-86 y 27-73-45 Dirección Postal: Apartado Postal 142 México 14. Banco: Banco Nacional de México, S. A. (Suc. Tacuba D. F.)

SU REF. SU FECHA: NUESTRA REFERENCIA FECHA March 22nd., 1960.

Dear Sirs:-

RE: REFRACTORY MATERIALS FOR FURNACES OF GLASS.

We understand that you have made shipments of - REFRACTORY MATERIALS TO OUR COUNTRY.

Our Company is greatly interested in purchasing this kind of materials to be used in furnaces for glass:

We beg you to be kind enough in informing us - about the different types of this material that you have availa ble for the market in México, sending us your quotation prices for quantities of 5,000 and 10,000. kilos. c.i.f. Veracruz,Ver.

Looking to hear from you soon, we thank you very much and remain,

Very truly yours,

REPRESENTACIONES TECNICAS,S.A. ING. E. RUBIO V.

ERV/abo. I/147.

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Our Company is greatly interested in purchasing this kind of materials to be used in furnaces for glass.

We beg you to be kind enough in informing us - about the different types of this material that you have availa ble for the market in México, sending us your quotation prices for quantities of 5,000 and 10,000. kilos. c.i.f. Veracruz,Ver.

Looking to hear from you soon, we thank you very much and remain,

Very truly yours,

REPRESENTACIONES TECNICAS,S.A. ING. E. RUBIO V.

ERV/abo. L/147.

REPRESENTACIONES TECNICAS, S. A. APARTADO POSTAL NUM. 28142 MEXICO 16, D. F.

MR. HARRY J.SCHULTZ. Attorney At Law. THREE RIVERS. TEXAS. U.S.A.

PAR AVION CORREO AEREO AIR MAIL

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Bay P Schulz Area S.A.U.+G. R.R.

For storing trucks, mfg. cement bridges and etc. stores equipment here. Perfection Cement Company Alice, Texas

Three Rivers Farmer’s Co.-Op. Grain storage and loading space.

Stin-Hall & Co. of New York, stores materials for their Uranium Plant east of Oelville.

River Rock Material Co.Inc. Loading space for loading on Rail Road Cars.

S.A.U.+G. R.R. True, the Three Rivers Glass Factory closed, but the property is an income to the town of Three Rivers.

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(K) Location and information on RIVER ROCK MATERIAL CO.Inc. Highway 1.1.65 rs hown on the preceding map is now marked (72). Take Highway 72 West out of Three Rivers, just before Calhoun take a road that intersects road, No.(99) North travel approx. one mile and you see the sign: RIVER ROCK MATERIAL Co.Inc. the Plant and Equipment can be seen from the road, turn South, now you are back in Live Oak County.

Grady Dubose, Foreman of the Company gave this information, The Company went into operation approx. four years ago(1968) on big scale production, prior to that all material was sold al- most to local companies.

Rock Dubose went on to say, All of the, is cleaned( washed) and graded according to size. The sand that is washed from the rock is sold to Cement Mixing Companies.

Glimax,Colorado was the first out of state mining place to buy their pebble rock. Now on average of two Railroad cars a week are sent to Glimax.

Other places rock is sent to; Questa, New Mexico. Several places in Wyoming; New Dale, North Carolina; a Pittsburg Glass Company in North Carolina buy the very small size rock(pebble) Two Railroad cars a week are sent to South Dakota mines.

Chicago,Illinois also buys rock from this Company.When Dubose was asked,” What does Chicago do with ROCK GRAVEL?” He was not certain,but he smiled and remarked, “This I do know, before most of these Companies bought ROCK from our Company they had to import it from France,I was told it was hand picked there.”

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The Company keeps fifteen men employed the year around, most of the men operate a riding machine( tractor shovel like equipment). A machine washes and grades the rock according to size, most of the rocks are cup size and smaller. It is used in these out of State Mining Mines to crush up their Oar Rocks. The salary paid these men range from$2.00 to $3.00 an hour. Just to compare salaries; Bryan Boyd, an employee of the Three Rivers Glass Company said salary was $.30 per hour, the pay of these men using only a small part of Glass Factory’s land to load the ROCK on Railroad cars are paid about ten times the 30 cent salary, and a shorter no. of hours a day work.

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Each jar, bottle, or other glass containers shown in the following eleven pictures were made in and by the THREE RIVERS GLASS FACTORY. Each is marked with the THREE RIVERS GLASS FACTORY trade mark, ” 3 RIVERS ”.

These three are square half-gal. screw mouth jars.

1. is marked with no.109. No.2 is of a brown color. Reg. U.S. Pat.Off.601. Each side of the jar is mark- ed CONTAINER Hand No. 3 has the same let- tering as no.2 has, its Pat. no. is 601-2. This jar is clear glass.

Four quart jars. No.1 is an octahedral style. Pat. No.610. No.2 is a clip on lid style. Pat. no. 550. No. 3 is twice as wide as narrow. Each narrow side has a large star, the stripes extend to the base of the jar. Pat. no. 634. No.4 Barrel style jar.

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These two were discarded jars..The one on the left is marked no.560. The other has no number. It would have been a wide mouth jar.

Both would make beautiful vases.

Left to right: Labled “TRAFFY’S “Tabasco Peppers”

No.2: Marked by no.16. Screw top.

No.3: Same design as no.2, but marked 25oz., screw top.

No. 4: The Star can be seen on this jar. Pat. Applied for.

No.5: Pat. no.3. Rope like design around and around this bottle.

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Sauce bottles and jars: Left to right…

Labled 18, top indicates it was for hot liquid, when inverted only one drop at a time drops.

No.2 is marked 29. Labled, MEXI-PEP. Screw top style.

No.3 same size as no.2,no lable. Numbered 26.

No.4,same size as no.3. No number.Triangle design around base of bottle and at the neck.

No.5,labled no.31.Slightly larger than no.4.

No.6,labled no.18.

No.7,labledGERHARDT EAGLE other side CHILI POWDER. On bottom, Design Patented.

No.8,Labled no.51,at neck marked,2½ oz.

No.1,labled no.9. A star at the top and bottom of each side, three stars at the edge of each narrow side. Quart size.

No.2,same design as no.1, pint size,labled no.8

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Three pint size jars, each screw type lids. Left to right: Pat. No. 577½. No. 2, Pat. No. 3, Barrel Design. No. 3, Pat. No. 564 Barrel Design, smaller screw lid.

Four Beverage Bottles Left to right:

No. 1, Bottom of the bottle, Gill’s, Beeville, Texas. On the edge of the outside of bottle, “3 Rivers Trade Mark Reg.” Other markings obliterated.

No. 2, On the bottom of the bottle “ALICE”, 7 FL. OZ. There are ten stars around the base of the bottle and ten around the neck of the bottle; very ornamental.

No. 3, On the bottom, Mercedes Texas. Around the base of the base, FULL HALF PINT.

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Around the top is written, BIG CHIEF under this is a design of an Indian Chief.*

No.4, On the bottom of this bottle: M D G, contents 6½ FL.OZS. Mission,Texas.

A glare or a double take, there were four small jars. Left to right: No.1, A half pint,large mouth screw top, Pat.No.604. No.2,Tall slender vaco style jar,clip top. Pat. No.1. No.3, Milk bottle style. Upper part of bottle is mark- ed, ONE HALF PINT LIQUID. No.4,Marked,HALF CUP SIZE. Pat. no.506.

Five Very Unique Bottles No.1, At the base of the bottle,No.1_30. Higher up around the bottle,COLUMBUS,GA. above this toward the neck, NEHI 4 FLUID OUNCES Beverages NEHI Reg. U.S. Pat.Off.

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No.2:ON the bottom marked, 9 FL.OZS. around this ,Brownsville- McAllen, Texas. The bottle is divided into thirds and in each third division down the bottle is written B | G : B O Y

No3: CONTENTS 15 Fluid Ounces. Opposite each at the shoulder line, NO 1 IN QUALITY AND SIZE

No.4: Pat. No.3. Around the bottle base, TO SHARRY PRODUCTS CO. MISSION? TEXAS.

No.5: Patented 1923. Farther up around the bottle are two of these wordings, Lite wine Pat.Reg.

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Seven bottles, left to right:

No.1, On the bottom, Kingsville, Texas. K At the base of the bottle, 3½ FLU. OZS. DR. PEPPER BOTTLING COMPANY and up the bottle this design, DIAMOND K BEVERAGES REGISTERED

No. 2: On the bottom of the bottle a large HP. Up the bottle this, Pat.D July-20-1920 ORANGE CRUSH CO. BOTTLE 6FL.OZS.

No.3: On the bottom, ALAMO BOTTLING WORKS. Around the base, Contents 16 Flu. OZS. and up the bottle opposite each other, BALLOON BASIZEON

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No.4, Brown PEARL BEER bottle. No.188. San Antonio,Texas.

No.5, On the bottom, MATHIS And HEBBRONVILLE 9 FL. OZ. Up the bottle this: Drop.

No.6:Base marked, 8 FL.OZ. MILWAUKEE BOTTLING W K S. Higher up the bottle at an angle Milwaukee Drinks

No.7: Marked, Contents 6½ Fluid Ounces, Glass very BUBBLY. The bottom is marked, UVALDE J.D.I. Texas

NOTE: The reason the bottom of the bottles are included, gives the Pat.No. and in several instances what the container was used for and where it was used.

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My wife and I have been collecting bottles for five or six years, the Three Rivers Bottles are our most prized bottles for the simple reason ,they were made right here in Live Oak County where we have lived all of our lives.

We have found Three Rivers bottles all over South Texas. Some of our most prized ones were found in Hebronville, Mirando City, McAllen, Crystal City, and many here in Live Oak County.

I have been a County Commissioner here in Live Oak Co- unty for almost eleven years. I think the Three Rivers Glass Factory was an outstanding business for Live Oak County and helped the County at that time to employ people who would have been unemployed. Its pay roll was an average of 140 employees.

I subscribe to the OLD BOTTLE MAGAZINE and in this Mag- azine,people write from as far away as California and New York asking about THREE RIVERS BOTTLES they have found. The Amber colored H and H jar is listed in the Book,” Fruit Jar” by Toulouse. Toulouse designed this jar.

The Big Chief Soda Water Bottle was found in a trash dump in McAllen, Texas, one Pepper sauce bottle was found in the old Dumping Pile in George West,Texas.

A lady in Sebastian, Texas said she would trade or buy at any time our collection of Three Rivers Bottles. Three Rivers Bottle collecting is getting to be a good business and will be an important factor in the history of Live Oak County.

Lee Troell Co. Com. Prect.#1.

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A LIST OF BOTTLES BEARING THE THREE RIVERS GLASS FACTORY “Trade Mark”. Collected by Hazel R. Gattis, George West, Texas, 78022.

3.. Round Fruit Jars Quart size. (clear) 1.. Round Quart (Barrel Type) pickle jar (clear). 1.. Flat ” Pickle Jar (Clear). 1.. Quart Tapered ribbed Pickle Jar (Clear). 2.. Square Crystalvac Coffee jar (Clear). 1.. ” ” ” Jar (Amber). 1.. Quart Peanut Butter jar (clear). 4.. Pint Square Fruit jars (clear). 1.. Pint Round Fruit jar (clear). 1.. Pint Square Peanut Butter jar (clear). 1.. Half-pint Fruit or sandwich spread jar (clear). 1.. Half-pint Jelly glass (clear). 1.. Olive jar. 1.. Pint Alcohol bottle. 1.. Pint Vinegar bottle. 1.. 18 Ring Pepper Sauce bottle. 1.. Trappey Tabasco Pepper Bottle. 1.. Shoe Polish Bottle. 1.. Pint 2 Ring Neck Milk Bottle. 1.. Pint Lone Star Creamery Houston Milk Bottle. 1.. Plain Milk Bottle, pint size. 1.. Half-pint pasteurized Mistletoe Creameries Milk Bottle. 1.. “15 oz. No.1 in Quality and Size Beverage”, SBC.

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1.. Kreus Bottled Purity- Fredericksburg, 8 oz. 1.. Beverage Bottle, 8oz. Nev: Braunfels, Texas. 1.. Orange Crush, Pat., July 20,1920, New Braunfels, Texas. 1.. JUMBO 15 oz. SBC. 1.. Nehi Beverages & Design Patened March,1932, Columbus, Ga. 1.. “IT” The whole world wants “IT” Del. P- San Antonio,Tex. 1.. Shary Products Co. Mission Texas.( Composition stopper with wire Clamp). 1.. Clear Beer Bottle. 1 Amber Beer Bottle. 1.. Evangeline Pepper Sauce, used in St. Martinville La. USA. 1 Dr. Pepper, Sinton Texas.

A LIST OF BOTTLES MARKED WITH THE THREE RIVERS GLASS FACTORY “Trade Mark”. Collected by Mrs. R.Y.Williams,, George West,Texas- 78022. 1.. Beverage Bottle,Composition stopper- wire Clamp. 1.. pint size Screw-top bottle, very fancy neck. 1.. pint size, standard jar, screw type lid. 1.. Quart jar, STAR design. 2.. Hot Sauce bottles. 1..MEXI-PEP, with screw top. 1..Hot Sauce bottle, bottom marked “J 6”. 1..Hot Sauce bottle. 1.. Qt. jar Pat. No. 556 Square design,has its screw top lid. 1.. Amber qt. H and H Crystaluae. On bottom,“Container Reg. U.S.Pat.Off. 601-5”.

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EACH GLASS CONTAINER LISTED CARRIES THE THREE RIVERS GLASS FACTORY TRADE MARK.

Collected by, Mr. & Mrs. Doyle Hargreaves 32 George West, Texas, 78022

1.. Evangeline Pepper Sauce, St. Marlinville, La.

1.. Clear, Beer Bottle.

1.. Clear, “NEHI” Soda Bottle.

1.. Clear, Half-pint Milk Bottle.

6.. Clear, Hot Sause Bottles

1.. Clear, Shary Products Soda Bottle, Mission, Texas.

1.. Clear, Round quart Fruit Jar.

1.. Clear, Round quart Pickle Barrel style jar.

2.. Clear, Quart size jar, Star on each shoulder of jar.

1.. Clear, Quart size jar, Flat style.

1.. Clear, Pint size square Fruit jar.

1.. Clear, Pint size Fruit jar.

3.. Clear, Large size GEBHARDT _EAGLE CHILI POWDER bottle.

1.. Clear, Half-pint jar with a STAR on each shoulder.

1.. Clear, Small Olive Jar.

1.. Clear, 10oz. Soda Water Bottle.

2.. Clear, 6oz. PEPPER SAUCE bottles with 19 circles around each.

3.. Clear, 6oz. Hair Tonic bottles.

1.. Clear, 4oz. Hair Tonic bottle.

1.. Clear, 4oz. Medicine Bottle.

1.. Clear, 12oz. Tonic Bottle.

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Each listing below has the Three Rivers Glass Factory “Trade Mark” Collection of: Mr. & Mrs. Lloyd T. Cannon, George West, Texas, 78022. /7

2.. Clear H & H clear, quart square jar. 1.. Brown H & H square quart jar. 2.. Clear, square, quart “Chikered” jar. 2.. Clear, square, plain quarts. 2.. Clear, square, quarts with large star on each shoulder. 1.. Clear, pint, square with star on each shoulder. 1.. Clear, octagonal quart. 1.. Clear, round quart. 1.. Clear, round pint. 1.. Clear, barrel shaped, round. 2.. Clear, beer bottles—12 oz. 1.. Clear, 1/3 qt. milk bottle. 1.. Clear, medicine bottle, cork in bottle. 2.. Clear, very small bottles. 1.. Soda Water bottle marked, “FIZZON”—“JOY-SYNTH”. 3.. Clear, slinder Pepper Sauce Bottles. 1.. Clear Pepper Sauce Bottle, very ornate. 1.. Clear Hair Oil bottle. 1.. Clear, large medecine bottle.

Mrs. Lawrence Polozek, George West, Texas, has a collection of Three Rivers Glass Containers. Mr. Cleo Mansker and Mrs. Anna Fair Butts both of Beeville, Texas… each have a Three Rivers Glass Containers Collection.

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Assuming you have read this Report in its entirety, it might be interesting to reread the last paragraph of Charles R. Tips’ letter dated October 11, 1971. He could have in- cluded,many Collectors from many States of the United States write for information on Bottles and other Containers that were made in the Three Rivers Glass Factory. The price offer- ed for these items seem unreasonably high. This book is in the Live Oak County Library, George West, Texas.

A COLLECTORS’ MANUEL

FRUIT JARS by Julian Harrison Toulouse Page 306 lists”Fruit Jars,” Three Rivers, Texas, or 3 Rivers. Page 522 Pictures some of the Three Rivers containers and gives the Three Rivers Factory Trade Mark, “3 Rivers ☆.”

Also could have been included,“By the way Boyd and Schulz have converted the use of the Factory land site many more men are employed from the area than were employed by the Factory.”

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LIVE OAK COUNTY HISTORICAL SURVEY COMMITTEE MARKER PROGRAM for the former THREE RIVERS GLASS FACTORY

Saturday, May 26, 1973

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REGISTRATION…10 a. m…City Hall, Three Rivers Mrs. Thelma Lindholm, historian…Presiding All former employees of the factory, PLEASE,say so!

EXHIBITS & SALES of containers made by the factory Owners are responsible for any damages or losses.

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CEREMONIES…11 a. m. Factory site, Hwy. 72, west Mrs. William Hinnant, Chairman of Live Oak C H S C WELCOME TO THREE RIVERS…Hon. Mayor J. D. Bright INVOCATION..Hon. Live Oak County Judge Bill Kendall PRESENTATION OF FLAG AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE led by Live Oak American Legion Commander, Carl Matthijetz MARKER DEDICATORY…Col. ( ret.) Charles R. Tips President of the factory and founder of Three Rivers UNVEILING by all former employees with Mrs. Hinnant

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The Live Oak County Historical Survey Committee is in charge of placing historical markers furnished by the county and erected by the highway department in coop- eration with Texas State Historical Survey Committee.

This is the seventeenth marker in Live Oak County. The next is to be in Whitsett. Watch for the date. You are invited to see and help preserve all of the State markers and directional signs. THANK YOU !!!!!