1881
IT HAPPENED IN…1881
President James Garfield was mortally wounded
July 2nd. He
died September 19th and was succeeded by Vice President
Chester A. Arthur.
Tennessee enacted the first “Jim Crow law,”
segregating blacks and whites, with “separate but equal”
accommodations for blacks, who were considered second-class
citizens.
The Supreme Court ruled the federal income tax
law of 1861 was unconstitutional.
Manufacturers, mining companies, logging firms,
and others constructed company-owned communities complete with
stores, schools, churches, and other activity centers.
There were no sanitation regulations for food
processing and selling.
During 1881, Illinois, Michigan, New Jersey, and New York passed the
first pure-food laws in the U.S.
Advertising agencies began providing specialist
services, revolutionizing the way manufacturers presented consumers
goods in newspapers and signs.
Advertising was moving away from the corrupt hucksterism
typical of early practitioners.
An efficient cigarette-rolling machine replaced
rolling by hand, like cigars.
Famous outlaw Billy The Kid was shot and killed
by lawman Pat Garrett in New Mexico Territory.
The Gunfight at the O.K. Corral took place in
Tombstone, Arizona
American Carbonator
and American Bottler,
a soft drink industry trade journal, was founded in New York City.
The Cliquot Club Company began operations in
Millis, Massachusetts.
Expanding his marketing activities, Hires placed the following magazine
advertisement:
(Figure
1881-01, The
Youth’s Companion magazine, page 276, July 28,
1881)
Not missing an opportunity to advertise, here’s an
example of a Hires mailing envelope circa 1881:
(Figure 1881-02, mailing
envelope)
Expanding his advertising into the usage of signage,
this beautiful paper sign has unusual graphics.
In addition to the “Wholesome and Temperate” slogan and picturing
a Hires Improved Root Beer Package, note the addition of a full glass of
root beer complete with foam, plus three full, corked bottles of root
beer with paper labels marked “Hires.”
(Figure 1881-03, paper sign,
9.0” x 18.0”)
Charles E. Hires Company sales for 1881 were listed
as 13,680 bottles.