Material Type

Artifact

Other Name

CERAMIC BEER MUG

Date Range From

1901

Date Range To

1914

Materials

EARTHENWARE

No. Pieces

1

Height

11.5

Diameter

7

Description

LIGHT BRWN CERAMIC CUP. EXTERIOR OF CUP DISPLAYS STYLIZED TEXT THAT READS "ALBERTA'S PRIDE". WHT GLAZE ON INSIDE IS CRAZED. BASE OF CUP STAMPED WITH A MAKERS' MARK AND WITH PARTIAL TEXT "GERMANY".

Subjects

FOOD SERVICE T&E

Historical Association

INDUSTRY

History

DONOR STATED THAT THE CUP ORIGINATED WITH HIS GRANDFATHER CONRAD VOLLARD. THE DONOR INHERITED THE CUP AS PART OF THE DISPOSITION OF VOLLARD'S ESTATE. IT IS UNKNOWN HOW VOLLARD ACQUIRED THE CUP. THE ONLY REMARK THAT THE DONOR RECALLS VOLLARD MAKING ABOUT THE CUP WAS "HE (GRANDFATHER) WAS SO POOR THAT THEY COULD NOT AFFORD PROPER GLASS AND HAD TO DRINK OUT OF SALOON WARE." VOLLARD WAS BORN IN GERMANY IN 1876. AT AGE 14, HE EMIGRATED TO OHIO, USA, MOVING LATER TO WISCONSIN IN 1895. THERE, HE WORKED AT THE E.T. RADDANT BREWING COMPANY. IN 1908, HE ATTENDED THE HANTKE BREWERS SCHOOL IN MILWAUKEE WISCONSIN. UPON GRADUATION, DONOR STATED "THE ONLY GOOD JOB HE (GRANDFATHER) COULD FIND WAS IN FERNIE BRITISH COLUMBIA AT THE FERNIE FORT STEELE BREWING COMPANY LIMITED." IN THE SPRING OF 1909, VOLLARD MOVED WITH HIS FAMILY TO FERNIE. DONOR STATED VOLLARD RECALLED FRITZ SICK AT THE FERNIE FORT STEELE BREWERY. VOLLARD DID NOT KNOW IF SICK OWNED THE BREWERY AT THE TIME OF HIS ARRIVAL, BUT THAT AT SOME POINT IT WAS PURCHASED BY ALBERT MUTZ. DONOR BELIEVES THAT THE VOLLARD FAMILY RETURNED TO WISCONSIN WHEN CANADA PASSED THE PROHIBITION ACT. FRITZ SICK WAS IMMENSELY PROUD OF HIS FIRST ALBERTA BEER AND CALLED IT "ALBERTA'S PRIDE", ALSO KNOWN AS "THE BEER WITHOUT A PEER". EARLY ADVERTISING FOR THE INTOXICATING BEER TOUTED IT AS "CONCENTRATED LIQUID FOOD". A BEVERAGE THAT CLAIMED TO BE NOT ONLY PURE AND RICH WITH AN INIMITABLE DELICATE FLAVOUR, BUT ALSO A HEALTHFUL AND REVITALIZING TONIC. ADVERTISEMENTS ENCOURAGED FAMILIES TO SERVE THE BEVERAGE AT MEALS TO HELP MAINTAIN STRONG DIGESTIVE ORGANS AND ENCOURAGE THE APPETITE, TO DRINK IT AFTER EXERCISE TO REVIVE LOST ENERGY, AND TO CONSUME IT TO PREVENT AND CURE ILLNESSES. SEE P19900020001-GA FOR HISTORY OF LETHBRIDGE BREWERY. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON VOLLARD, PLEASE REFER TO PERMANENT FILE.

Catalogue Number

P20060028000

Acquisition Date

2006-10

Collection

Museum

Less detail