One item that there seems to be a lot of in my collection in milk caps.  The picture in this post shows many of the Showalter milk caps available on the secondary market.  I have several dozens of each including two types of creamer caps.  They are a neat, compact little collectible that can be traded, sold or bought with ease.  I’ve seen some of these caps on eBay and at local flea markets.  They are also a big hit at yard sales—one generation explaining to another about glass bottles needing a milk cap.

In addition to collecting Showalter Dairy Collectibles, I am fascinated with Ancestry.com and my family history.  In a search about two years ago, I came across a man named Philip Showalter Hench.  I wasn’t sure how he was related to me.  I then came across a newspaper article at my mother’s house that said the Hench was indeed related to me–a cousin of my great-grandfather Frank Showalter.

Hench was a scientist and medical pioneer.  He worked at the Mayo Clinic and was one of the scientists who developed cortisone.  He was awarded the Nobel Prize for Medicine in 1950 for “discoveries relating to the hormones of the adrenal cortex, their structure and biological effects.”

These two medals were produced in Portugal shortly after the Nobel Prize was awarded.  One is silver and the other bronze.  Hench was born in 1896 in Pittsburgh, PA and unfortunately passed while on vacation in Jamaica in 1965.

When I was rummaging through the attic above the Showalter Dairy Bar in the early 2000’s, I came across a box of Showalter Flyswatters.  The box contained swatters with four different colors around the swatting part: red, green, yellow and orange.  The shaft was wood grain.  They were never used.  My grandfather must have ordered them but never gave them away.  The shaft contains an advertisement for Showalter’s Dairy.  These swatters are an alternate version of my find–notice the orange handles.

If you go on eBay or scan local flea markets in the Phoenixville area, you are bound to find at least one Showalter Dairy item.  Here are some of my finds:

 

Potholder $3, Quart milk bottles $5-$10, various bottles $10-$25, orange handled flyswatters $3 each, soda jerk caps $5

In my collection of Showalter Dairy items, I have a lot of variation.  I have milk bottles, Buttermilk Cones, caps, ice cream boxes, advertising flyers, Green Spot metal signs, unused old stock stationary and order pads, flyswatters, drinking straws and various paper ephemera.  Some of my favorite items are the one-of-a-kind paper items that go back to the 1800’s.

 

Here’s a brief collection of one-of-a-kind paper items:

  This is a certificate from the Phoenixville Chamber of Commerce in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania.  It is from 1945 and is issued to Showalter’s Dairy to signify membership in the Chamber of commerce.  It is signed by Jon Boyd (Gen. Sec.) and Francis bishop (President) and dated January, 1945.  It is in the original frame and was brought from Russell Showalter’s office (or in the storage space above it) in the 1990’s.  Since this was removed in the ’90’s, you can tell that my grandfather may not have even known it was there.  My grandfather stowed away a lot of bits of paper here and there in his desk.

Check these out:

  This is a Pennsylvania Tax document from 1937.  It is for my great uncle Frank Davis Showalter and states that he was paid $325 in the 2nd quarter of 1937.  His full-time weekly wage was $25.

Here is another:

 This letter is dated August 25th, 1884.  It is on the stationary of Charles H. Pennypacker Attorney at Law in West Chester, PA.  It is addressed to James Showalter –my grandafather’s grandfather.  James was born in 1825 and died in 1901.  He was a successful landowner in Phoenixville.  I have several bank slips with his name on it–some for as little as a few dollars and some for as much has $1000.  I surmise that he loaned money out to other residents–because this letter is about a man named John Detwiler.  Pennypacker warns James Showalter that he should get his notes in order and that they may pursue a debt that is due to James.  The letter and envelope hold a prominent spot in my collection (as does the 2 cent stamp).    It is a succinct little remembrance of the past that fits nicely in a pocket or desk drawer.

 

Here’s another:

 This is from Chester County and is dated March 9, 1882.  It is an announcement that James Showalter was elected Supervisor of Schuylkill Township in February of 1882.  It has the seal (rasied) of the Court of Quarter Sessions.  I found it neatly folded in a box of like documents in an old slant top desk.

 

A final one for this post:

 This typed letter is about a settlement made by Frank D. Showalter (b. 1870, d. 1940).  Frank purchased a piece of property in South Coventry Township.  Never mind the figures–I like it because it is signed by Frank.  Frank was my great-grandfather.  I never met him, but I feel like I’m one step closer to knowing him by holding a document like this.

This photo shows a Showalter Dairy wagon complete with horses.  To my knowledge, this wagon no longer exists.  The little girl that is shielding her eyes from the bright sun is Grace (Showalter) Schafer.  Grace’s father was Russell Showalter.  This pictures dates from the late 1930’s or early 1940’s.

Showalter’s Dairy was located in Phoenixville, PA.  Although it closed in the 1980’s, the dairy continues in the memories of family and friends of Russell and Gertrude Showalter.  On this blog, those will memories will be kept alive with anecdotes, pictures, and collectible information.  This blog is maintained by the children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren of the Showalter’s.  Enjoy!