The unknown stories about the Scopes trial in Dayton, Tn., in 1925 continue to evolve.
A local glass bottle collector recently contacted me about my prior lucrative past employment record at the now razed Chattanooga Glass bottling plant in the beautiful historic St. Elmo area in Gig City in preparation for a planned display of glass products made locally (and elsewhere) at The Public Library on Broad Street (name soon to be obsolete).
In the course of the conversation the topic of the drink of choice at the Scopes Trial in July 1925 (or at least that of William Jennings Bryan) arose and the most popular and best selling soft drink at the carnival atmosphere for 12 days in Rhea County was not Coca Cola but was an import for several years from Australia - “Stone Fizz”.
Bryan had been given a special case of the soft drink by the company’s sales representative, who was in the borough attempting to take advantage of the hot and humid weather that permeated the famous trial.
Several cases were dispatched by express (train) transportation to the three time unsuccessful candidate for president of the United States and it has also been alleged that several cases of the concoction were also given to his opponent, Clarence Darrow, and his associates by the company in a shrewd marketing move.
The “Stone Fizz Company of America” had been incorporated in 1919 as a Delaware Corporation even though its headquarters were actually located in the Volunteer State Life Building in Chattanooga at the intersection of Georgia Avenue and Ninth Street (now Martin Luther King Boulevard).
Coincidentally this locale has also been the site of the law offices of the fledgling Coca Cola empire that has been part of Gig City historical link to becoming the cola capital, glass bottling empire.
A complicated history involving alcoholic beverages during prohibition was part of the history of the product.
Local Chattanooga businessman Charles Rief founded the Chattanooga Brewing Company in 1920 but later changed its name to Purity Extract and Tonic Company to comply with the new law pressed into legislation by the “Dry Forces”.
The flavor of “Stone Fizz” was described as “a wonderful combination of Lime, Ginger, Lemon, and other flavors” in a green bottle.
In August of 1921 the company underwent reorganization with anticipation of franchising the product nationwide.
The plan included an advertising program that also covered contracts with two hundred bottling plants, mostly in the south, eastern, and central states in America.
Pre-depression economics led to changes including no longer production of the Purity Extract and Tonic Company plant.
Allegedly the partnership of Murkin and Miller at 1107 Chestnut St., took over the brewing that led to the special cases of Stone Fizz given to Bryan (and others) attending the “Monkey Trial” but any later history of the company is unclear.
The drink was also available at the Robinson Drug Store in Dayton, where the famous trial case strategy was created by local officials. Due to aggressive marketing by the company’s sales representative, Stone Fizz was available every place where soft drinks were sold.
It was described as the “Champagne of Soft Drinks” available at fountains and in bottles at the cost of 5 cents and was bottled by Coca Cola Bottling Works, phone number 863, in a June 1921 newspaper ad.
Bottles of the original soda are now collectors items and will be available for viewing at the ongoing glass industry exhibit at The Public Library.
Mark your calendar to learn of another twist of history from the Scopes Trial in Dayton.
If you have additional information about one of Mr. Summers' articles or have suggestions or ideas about a future Chattanooga area historical piece, please contact him at jsummers@summersfirm.com)