Town of Newburgh History

Digging up a mystery in a bottle

By Alan B. Crawford
Posted 3/23/23

I was chatting with a friend the other day, and she said she had discovered a bottle on her property and has never been able to find anything out about it. Damn! You know I love a mystery! So, I …

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Town of Newburgh History

Digging up a mystery in a bottle

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I was chatting with a friend the other day, and she said she had discovered a bottle on her property and has never been able to find anything out about it. Damn! You know I love a mystery! So, I began digging. No, not in the earth, in records.

All we knew was the logo on the bottle was “J. E Farrell, Main Street, Cold Spring, NY”. We could also surmise from the opening it wasn’t from the screw on cap era. We were looking at something a little bit older. So, let’s first check out the name!

It didn’t take all that long to find a J.E. Farrell in Cold Spring using an estimated birth date of 1860. He was actually born in 1863. Once I had this I could zero in a bit tighter. So, we found when he was born, how about where he lived? Sure enough, the family’s listed in the 1900 and 1910 Censuses. Must be St. Patrick’s Day and the Luck of the Irish (the day I’m writing this) that his parents were born in Ireland! Begosh and begorra! (If you don’t know, you ain’t Irish! Look it up!)

Taking a look at the details in the census reports, guess what! He was a saloon owner and a liquor salesman. Perhaps he also brewed, distilled or owned his own beverages. Some more digging found his advertisement from about 1900 in the Cold Spring Recorder. I guess he was bottling, delivering and living the dream. Plus, he touted its use by invalids!

With his name and business location, it was easy to begin rummaging through newspaper archives for articles and mentions of his name, family and business. An interesting article was concerning the robbery of his business and his safe, as reported in the August 5, 1898, edition of The Putnam County Courier.

Reading through various articles and mentions, James E. Farrell was a prominent member of the Cold Spring and Phillipstown Community and involved in politics and governing. It had to be exciting times. The population around 1900 fluctuated between 4,000 and 6,000 for the area, so many people were acquainted with one another. James ran on the People’s Ticket and held a number of different offices. Think the use of the shamrock was a touch of the blarney? I do! That gentle Irish persuasion and gift of gab from the old country.

Further research states James Farrell’s Saloon was at the corner of Main Street and Stone Street in Cold Spring. I can’t think of a finer profession for one of Irish descent than that of owning a saloon. Kind of says it all. My Irish ancestors would be proud of him!

But, at the turn of the century in 1900, there was a groundswell against alcohol with groups like the Anti Saloon League (I’ve previously mentioned them in an article or two) voicing their opinion on the sin of alcohol and those who imbibed in it. This movement eventually led to Prohibition. We all know how that turned out.

Along with others in the August 15, 1896 edition of the Cold Spring Recorder, James E. Farrell was granted a license to market and sell his wares. Apparently his products were well received, as the bottle which was discovered here was in Rossville. Making it more interesting, it was behind a church. There has to be a heck of story on how it got there. And, just perhaps this wasn’t the only bottle found which contained the devil’s brew. Watch out for a future article.

James was a great host and had a lot of pride in his establishment. He hosted evening “phonographic recitals’ in his “café” in the evenings. The time he erected a new sign for the saloon on the building’s front was the talk of the town.

In the early 1900’s, the sentiment of the Anti-Saloon group found a way to have James’ license revoked. But, it was not for serving alcohol! The charge was for a violation of the Raines Law requiring the bar of a saloon to be exposed to view on Sunday! The use of protestors marching through the streets, photographs being taken, and the carrying on by the Anti-Saloon group was the only commotion mentioned in the papers. The trial was held in Newburgh.

James E. Farrell sadly perished in an accident with a runaway team of horses on August 15, 1911. He left a mother and three brothers behind. Being a member of Peekskill Lodge No. 74 B.P.O. Elks, a delegation of members attended his funeral. For many years after, he was always annually eulogized with other members of the lodge. History speaks well of a gentleman of Irish descent whose name appeared on a bottle unearthed by a friend in our Town.