The Story of L.L. Bultman

Bottler, Columbia, South Carolina

By Joe Brock

The 1903 Columbia city directory extolls the “enormous strides made by the city” when compared to the past year. The population had increased by nearly 9,000 to 34,786 within the same radius of the city limits. However, this paled when compared to the investments in new buildings and industries that were involved in city development.

Columbia was described as not the sleepy place that it once was, but a full-fledged, aggressive, trade-seeking center of business. Columbia has many of the natural advantages enjoyed by very few cities in the South, and became a great railroad and jobbing center.

Lucius L. Bultman first appears in the 1895 city directory as a grocer, with his residence located on 1701 Main St. He was married to Mamie, and maintained his home at the same address. Sant Adams, who lived at 1916 Lincoln St., was listed as an employee at this time. From 1897-98, Bultman was also the deputy of the Woodmen of the World organization. His occupation changed to agent for the Richmond Building and Loan Association in 1899.

Lucius Bultman became a wholesale beer dispenser in 1902, with his business located on 1117 Blanding St. He changed his residency to 1703 Main St. in 1902, when he employed two workers, Benjamin Green, whose residence is not listed, and Samuel Waiters, who lived at the 1117 Blanding St. dispensary address. In 1903, the beer dispensary also became a bottling works and relocated to 1125 Blanding St. During 1904 the dispensary experienced an increase in revenue. Benjamin Green is no longer listed as an employee, but Samuel Waiters continues to work at the bottling works. George Brown, who lived at 800 Main St., and Charles Lewis, who resided at the rear of 1703 Main St., were hired as workers at this time. In 1905, Bultman employed another worker, Henery Veal, who lived at 412 Taylor St.

It seems the beer dispensary experienced a very short period of success. By 1906, Lucius Bultman is no longer listed as a dispenser or operator of the bottling works, although he continued to live at his original 1703 Main St. address. The 1906 city directory indicates H.E. Watts took over the dispensary and bottling works at the 1117 Blanding St. address and Lucius Bultman became the clerk at the County Board of Control from 1907-12. From 1913-16 he is listed as a bookkeeper, but the firm is not identified. He continued to live at 1703 Main St. (telephone 876J) but does not appear after 1916.

Only one type of bottle has been found that can be attributed to Lucius Bultman as a bottler from 1902-05. The glass manufacturer is unknown. It is a typical beer bottle shape that is 9 ½ inches tall, and 2 ⅝ inches across the base. It is a clear, blown-in-mold, hand-tooled, crown-top style with L.L. BULTMAN / BOTTLER / COLUMBIA, S.C. embossed in a round slug plate. A very small number 30 is embossed on the bottom.

Look for a follow up companion article soon on H.E. Watts, who took over the bottling works.