Ayyyyyy
Growing up in the 1970s, everyone associated Milwaukeeans with the hit pop culture TV show, Happy Days. Set harkening back to 1950s Midwest innocence, the 70s sitcom followed Richie Cunningham, (Ron Howard), unlikely best friend, Arthur Fonzareli, (Henry Winkler), family and friends through the foibles of life. Happy Days is most notably commemorated by a life size bronze Fonzie, thumbs frozen up as if saying, “Ayyyyy,” adorning Milwaukee’s downtown river walk.
William Cunningham Established Wisconsin Territory Druggists
Long before fictional Richie Cunningham befriended The Fonz, Milwaukee’s very real William Cunningham established himself as one of Wisconsin Territory’s earliest druggists…
William Cunningham operated his ‘Wholesale and Retail Druggist’ store from 1844 through 1849 at 151 East Water Street Milwaukie, W.T.. William’s operations are most notably commemorated by the handful of incised stoneware jugs spattered about in even fewer collections AND now by one, “Inconceivable,” new discovery.
William, a well-known druggist in the newly flourishing city, used the term ‘druggist’ loosely. Advertising in various Milwaukie/Milwaukee newspapers Cunningham offered Jaynes’ Medicines, Spirits Turpentine, Rice Flour, Vaccine Mattee, McAllister’s Cold Pressed Oil, Pure Wines and Spirits, Ground Ginger, Small Scales and Weights, Hungarian Balsam Of Life, Bronze, (all colors and qualities), Glue, Arabian Oil, Hops, Cassia, Paints, Fish Oil, Vermacilla, Strychnine (a sure death for wolves), Garden and Field Seeds, Soda Crackers, Glass Candle Sticks, Bottled Soda Water, (put up in egg shaped bottles, (egg shaped? would you, “Sit on it, ayyyyyy”)), Hubbard’s Pills, Christie’s Galvanic, Rosin, Saleratus, Glass Lanterns, Mortars, McMun’s Compound Balsam Lungwort, Watch Oil, Bullard’s Oil Soap, Trusses and pretty much anything else a frontiersman might need. Cunningham even published 4000 Free Milwaukee Medical Adviser containing, “A number of recipes particularly useful for families and others,” annually.
William is described as a man of great energy and character, above average height, slightly built with a thin beardless face, dark brown hair and dark blue eyes. Similarly, Jon Steiner, is above average height.
William Cunningham Established Wisconsin Territory Druggists
Long before fictional Richie Cunningham befriended The Fonz, Milwaukee’s very real William Cunningham established himself as one of Wisconsin Territory’s earliest druggists…
William Cunningham operated his ‘Wholesale and Retail Druggist’ store from 1844 through 1849 at 151 East Water Street Milwaukie, W.T.. William’s operations are most notably commemorated by the handful of incised stoneware jugs spattered about in even fewer collections AND now by one, “Inconceivable,” new discovery.
William, a well-known druggist in the newly flourishing city, used the term ‘druggist’ loosely. Advertising in various Milwaukie/Milwaukee newspapers Cunningham offered Jaynes’ Medicines, Spirits Turpentine, Rice Flour, Vaccine Mattee, McAllister’s Cold Pressed Oil, Pure Wines and Spirits, Ground Ginger, Small Scales and Weights, Hungarian Balsam Of Life, Bronze, (all colors and qualities), Glue, Arabian Oil, Hops, Cassia, Paints, Fish Oil, Vermacilla, Strychnine (a sure death for wolves), Garden and Field Seeds, Soda Crackers, Glass Candle Sticks, Bottled Soda Water, (put up in egg shaped bottles, (egg shaped? would you, “Sit on it, ayyyyyy”)), Hubbard’s Pills, Christie’s Galvanic, Rosin, Saleratus, Glass Lanterns, Mortars, McMun’s Compound Balsam Lungwort, Watch Oil, Bullard’s Oil Soap, Trusses and pretty much anything else a frontiersman might need. Cunningham even published 4000 Free Milwaukee Medical Adviser containing, “A number of recipes particularly useful for families and others,” annually.
William is described as a man of great energy and character, above average height, slightly built with a thin beardless face, dark brown hair and dark blue eyes. Similarly, Jon Steiner, is above average height.
Unlike Jon’s calm peaceful demeanor, Cunningham, a man who walked quick and erect, was of a nervous temperament. Both Steiner and Cunningham share soft pleasant voices, a great love for books, fondness of music, appreciation for fine arts, and crafts AND unimpeachable character.
A man of business acumen, William Cunningham built up a substantial business in a few short years. Jon Steiner recently left his welding/metal fabrication production management career to pursue his passion; buying and selling vintage and antique Americana. Jon’s lifelong accumulated knowledge, eye for quality and uncanny knack for finding quality rarities of glass, stoneware, paper, textiles, painting, statuary, EVERYTHING assured his successful life upgrade. Jon’s wares for sale in his growing business rival Cunningham’s.
This story began simultaneously one hundred and eighty years ago and last week. In Jon’s ceaseless pursuit of resale inventory he spied an upcoming auction with box lots of what looked like quality antique glass including pontiled scroll flasks and a sample size Chapman and Gore Chicago whiskey. Jon put the auction on his list of stops hopeful, maybe, just maybe, something for his collections would turn up.
Somewhere between home and the auction, Jon passed through the seven levels of the Candy Cane Forest, through the Sea of Swirly Twirly Gum Drops, arriving, As if by magic at the Jefferson Stade Family Auction Center.
By the time Jon arrived a hobnail cornered bitters bottle, in light amber, had disappeared, stolen! A quick appraisal of the remaining loot revealed the aforementioned bottles, a very rare Munzinger & Gerlinger Milwaukee beer, a George Benz Minnesota whiskey, a Tippecanoe bitters, an extra-large Warner Safe Cure London AND one dark green/teal round bottom bottle. In the afterglow of the candy cane forest and sea of swirly twirly gum drops, Jon dared to hope it might be good. Good as in, an embossed torpedo from out east.
Picking it up Jon read “SODA WATER”. It’s embossed! Spinning it around he was stunned, “W’ M. CUNNINGHAM,” “INCONCEIVABLE!” Jon’s extensive collections feature the earliest and rarest Wisconsin stoneware INCLUDING two, “W’M. CUNNINGHAM DRUGGIST EAST WATER ST. MILWAUKEE WT,” jugs.
Waiting for the bottle box lots to hit the auction table Jon witnessed, “Angry elves,” repeatedly bang bottles together, even cracking the Warner’s Safe Cure, London. Only one other person recognized the unicorn. Jon was determined to travel back home through the Candy Cane Forest and Sea of Swirly Twirly Gum Drops, unicorn in hand and so he did.
The fictitious pop culture Cunningham family has entertained millions of people for years. Jon’s soda POP culture reality is inarguably the oldest Wisconsin soda bottle and a colorful minty gem. What else remains to be rediscovered?
Inconceivable!
The wonder doesn’t end there. Over the course of his five years in business before, “Death of exhaustion,” William Cunningham advertised, “BOTTLED SODA WATER – by this arrangement persons can have the delightful beverage served to them anywhere they choose. Soda Water prepared in this manner is equal if not superior to that from the fountain. Put up in half pint egg shaped bottles. Price 50 cts per doz. Bottles or 6 cts each (and the bottles subject to return when empty) Prepared and sold by W’m. M. CUNNINGHAM, Apothecary and Druggist, June 9. Martins’ Buildings.”
Pop (Soda Water) culture has never been so interesting or entertaining. Like so many of the unbelievable finds of our lifetimes this one made a stop on the way home. While we didn’t stick to the four main food groups: candy, candy canes, candy corns and syrup, we did celebrate with a sip of fine old bourbon. Was an absolute honor and privilege to be one of the first people to handle and appreciate Jon’s treasure after the better part of two centuries forgotten.
For those envious,
