My first recollections connected with the soda water business date from the time I was employed by Longs and Billups, of which firm Dr. Crawford W. Long, the original discoverer of Ether Anaesthesia, was the senior member. The store was situated on Broad Street, opposite the college campus of the University of Georgia. The students and their lady friends were, perhaps, the most numerous customers of the "soda fountain" that occupied a space near the front of the store. But the then most popular fountain drink was consumed in large quantities by the merchants and " chapman billies," also, as by the country people of the surrounding territory. In fact the space in front of the "soda fountain" was always quite a social center during the warm season, and it was popular to "treat for soda" in hours of relaxation and social contact.
This was during our Southern period of Reconstruction and politics were always " hot, " Many were the discussions of national, state, and local political interest that I heard before this old counter by men who preferred the bubbling beverage that "cheered but did not inebriate " to the stronger decoctions now contraband of law, but then as plentiful as the "common sunshine or the common rain."
The shrine before which all these activities occurred was an old-time Puffer fountain. It was about three feet in length and the same in height, and a little less wide, capped by quite ornate adornments in marble scroll-like pattern. The whole was of marble excepting the metallic containers for the syrups. The faucets were arranged in one long row across the front, each leading to its separate syrup supply. In the order of popularity these may be arranged as follows: Strawberry, Raspberry, Lemon, Pineapple, Vanilla, Sarsaparilla, Orgeat (a kind of Almond flavor), and one called " Dont Care. "
A customer would sometimes show a desire for inventing a "bouquet" of flavors, consisting, for example, of vanilla, lemon, sarsaparilla, and strawberry, and I have served glasses containing nearly very one of the syrups dispensed. At some fountains, " Dont care " has the hint for a "wee drappie" of wine, or something stronger, but Dr. Long inhibited us from serving anything more potent than strawberry and raspberry combined, or some such innocent mixture.
The ruling price in those days as ten cents a glass. The glass as heavy and thick bottomed, but only held about seven liquid ounces. We made our own carbonated water in the basement, approached by a stairway leading down from the sidewalk in the front of the store. It was manufactured from bicarbonate of soda and sulphuric acid. This was before the days when marble dust was employed for this purpose, and long before liquid carbonic acid gas was discovered. On one occasion Coley Harris, colored, my assistant in making the gas, and who was an occasional tippler, made the mistake of using muriatic acid and we thought there was a volcanic eruption, as the explosion blew a section of the foundation front masonry out on the sidewalk through the wide stairway. It was fortunate for me that the concussion did not expend itself sidewise and reach the place where I was standing, otherwise I and the negro, as well as the whole store front, might have been "extincted."
Dr. Jacobs, the author of this (1929) article, is the founder of the Jacobs Pharmacy Company which has just celebrated its Golden Anniversary. Dr. Jacobs' life as a druggist and prominent Georgian reads like a romance.
The syrups were made of pure fruit juices. We obtained ours from McResson and Robbins of New York city, whose representative was a genial Georgian, L. B. Cheatam of Union Point.
Many of the students of the college would ask for small amounts of credit; this I entered in a little book kept in a small drawer. These "debts of honor" were all paid before the boys left the city. They would come in, in parties of two or more and "cut for drinks." Each one named a line by number on one side of a book kept for the purpose and a number applying to that line of print, counting from the top of the page. Thus, "right, two, two," meant the second letter in the second line of the right hand page, top, when the book was opened at random. Then the other would "cut," having named his numbers. The one who happened to " pick " the letter nearest the top of the alphabet, " won. "
No such thing as ice cream or sundaes were known at the fountain. Our ice was shipped from Augusta, Georgia, and when our supplies did not come in promptly, we bought from Dorsey's General Merchandise store located near the junction of Broad and Oconee Streets, who sold ice in the basement; this department being conducted by Simon Michael, afterwards one of Athens' most successful merchants. This was long before the days of artificial ice and I think the price then ranged from 44 to 74 a pound, according to quantity bought. In addition to having ice packed in the open space used for that purpose, we used a kind of primitive ice shaver and nearly all the customers preferred their drinks served in this manner.
The only other fountain in the city was owned by Mr. Leonard Flisch, who also kept ice cream, cakes and candies. He was originally from Switzerland and was a much respected Elder of the Presbyterian Church.
In 1884 I moved to Atlanta, Georgia, and bought the drug store of Dr. Walter A. Taylor, situated corner of Marietta and Peachtree Streets in what was known as the Norcross Corner. In the front of the store was a soda fountain that for size and elegance was regarded as one of the marvels of the state. Willis Venable, assisted by his brother John, and his son Edward (now a successful restaurant owner of Atlanta), owned and operated the fountain. Over the counter there was sold about $150 worth of the beverage every day. My brother James, John Venable and I roomed upstairs over the store, and we frequently had to beg those Who applied for drinks up to midnight to leave and let us get some sleep and rest.
A great deal of mineral water was also sold from this fount, such as Congress, High Rock, Blue Lick and Kissengen, Seltzer and Vichy, some of these artificial waters being used as laxatives. I remember an amusing incident that happened one day involving a most popular Atlantan, Mr. Frank P. Rice, then a member of the General Assembly. He and several other of his fellow members were lined up for their refreshment. Mr. Rice quite frequently drank Blue Lick and called for a glass of this, as his order. One of his invited guests, a country member from a South Georgia county, said he would follow the example of Mr. Rice. His friend took a sip from his glass and then set it down on the counter. His face became very red and he showed signs of great agitation and resentment. Then he said, “Because I am a countryman, you can't get me to drink water favored with rotten egg.” He could not be satisfied until he had gone to the basement with Mr. Venable and saw Mr. Rice and him drink some of the Blue Lick taken from its container.
On a warm summer day I have seen as many as twenty or thirty customers lined up on the sidewalk waiting their "turn" at the fountain, while many more were being, served their drinks.
It was fashionable for young men to treat their lady companions and for theater and dinner parties to come by and have their favorite drink.
Mr. Venable observed the injunctions laid down by Remington. Everything was to be kept sanitarily clean, glasses and spoons to be thoroughly washed, at once, after use. Towels, apparatus, tubes, faucets and all metals were to be cleaned daily. Sponges were to be treated with ammonia, soap and water and syrups daily inspected. While never failing to supply a syrup called for, we were ordered throw out all bad syrups.
The old time soda fountain held a high place in those days in the realm of politics, sociability, recreation, and even in romance.
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Resource; The Silver Cow; Atlanta, Ga , April 1929 (Atlanta History Center Personality File "Joseph Jacobs")
