Pond’s Extract–The People’s Friend by Fred DeCarlo

POND’S EXTRACT

The People’s Friend

By Fred DeCarlo

Ponds Extract “Baby floating in a Pond” advertising trade card.

A look into the early days of this well-known patent medicine and how its roots stem from an ancient recipe from an Oneida Tribal medicine man. Many bottle diggers have found bottles with the simple embossing “Pond’s Extract.” It became widely used during the turn of the century and was at one time known as “The People’s Friend” and, eventually “The People’s Remedy.” Pond’s products are still sold today in the form of face creams and cleansers by Unilever worldwide. Here we will look at the early beginnings of this patent medicine, how it came to be, and some early pontil bottles I have excavated in central New York privies.

[Fig. 1] Utica, circa 1855

The research project that was undertaken here started as many do: with a bottle and a story of local ties. The local connection here happened to be with my hometown of Utica, N.Y. [Fig. 1]. Many people collect bottles for various reasons. Some enjoy the glass, others rarity, some a specific variety, and so on. My love for bottles happens to be with local history. I enjoy researching a name on a bottle that is tied to my hometown. This desire is where Pond’s Extract had grabbed my attention. Many small articles and stories had been written, and tales of pontiled bottles existed, but I had never seen one when my interest in this so-called local bottle began.

Who was the name behind the bottle? Theron Tilden Pond [Fig. 2] was born in central New York, just outside of Utica, in the year 1800. The earliest records I can find on Theron began in the later 1820s when he was listed as the captain of a packet boat in a newly formed company called the “Citizens Six Day Packet Boat Co.” [Fig. 3] The company advertised new, light, and substantially built packet boats that [Fig. 2] Theron T. Pond will deliver citizens from Utica to Schenectady in much less time than older boats. Theron’s packet boat days did not last very long as he moved to Auburn, New York, around a year later. Here he met his wife, Sarah, and they were married in 1831. Theron was listed in several advertisements in the 1830s as running a grocery store in Auburn. is recorded as owning a saddle, harness, and trunk manufactory and retail store on Genesee Street in Utica during the later 1830s and early 40s. This business he ran with a man named Samuel Gordon for

[Fig. 3 below] 1830s packet boat. Theron T. Pond was a captain of a similar boat in the late 1820s.

Pond’s Extract, sold only in bottles with buff wrappers, the vegetable pain destroyer advertising trade card.

several years and then alone for a few more. I cited these earlier career ventures because many articles and stories on this subject proclaimed Mr. Pond as a pharmacist, doctor, and chemist. Still, I could not find any evidence of this in any of the directories or census listings. Most of these titles were born in advertisements from competitors who sold witch hazel medicines and cited Theron Pond in their ads. One such was “Applebys Distilled Extract of Witch Hazel” put up by the Buffalo Homeopathic Co. In their advertisement

[left] Ponds Extract “First Aid Book” price 10 cents.

from 1880, they noted that thirty years earlier, Dr. Theron Pond had created a witch hazel extract that immortalized his name and the use of witch hazel. These titles must have made the medicine sound more appealing.

interested in many of the medicine man’s recipes of ancient cures and remedies that were passed down through the generations. One concoction that grabbed his attention was a tea made from boiling the bark of a specific bush. The medicine man had told him this tea-like medicine could be used to cure bruises, cuts, burns, and many other skin ailments.

The Oneida medicine man had told him the bush, which was a witch hazel bush, had only grown in secluded areas of central New York. He taught Theron how to identify the bush and showed him how he steeped the bark in a teakettle to make this clear medicine with a particular aroma. The medicine man made sure Theron understood the exact bush to use and only collected it himself to bring back and immediately boil.

This medicine hung on Theron Pond’s mind, and he began to obsess about how to market his medicine. It was written that in or near his residence on Bridge Street, in the city of Utica and situated near the Erie canal, he set up a makeshift laboratory and began to experiment with distilling the witch hazel tea. He followed a process known at the time to distill essential oils and continued to improve on his methods. He soon found that, by adding alcohol, he could create a shelf life also for this medicine. His first attempt was to add a 3% alcohol content to his medicine, but it was not enough in warmer weather. He slowly added more until he had just the right amount.

[Fig. 4] Late 1840s Pond’s advertisement. “The People’s Friend.” [Fig. 8 right] Rolled lip example of a small-sized, open pontil Pond’s Extract excavated by Andy Goldfrank in a New York City privy.

[Fig. 5 right] Pint-sized, open pontil Pond’s Extract excavated from a privy in Utica, N.Y. It stands 9-¼” tall and is the only large- sized Pond’s from the pontil era.

In the early days of Theron’s endeavor to create this new medicine for the public, he called it “Golden Treasure.” I do not believe that this name was ever used in any marketing or advertisement for Pond’s medicine. The earliest advertisements I found were in 1847, and the medicine was listed as “Pond’s Pain Destroyer and Healing Extract.” [Fig.4] I could only guess at this, but he had most likely called it this in his early stages of developing it. When it went on sale to the public, this name seemed to have vanished. Some people thought Theron first used this name because of the yellow flowers on the witch hazel bushes. Perhaps this was a reason he initially called it Golden Treasure. Many of the previously written articles state the name was changed to Pond’s Extract after his death in honor of him, but this is not true. Theron Pond died on February 22nd, 1852. The use of Pond’s Extract on the bottle was already occurring. The names used in the 1840s and 50s were “Pond’s Pain Destroyer and Healing Extract” and “Pond’s Vegetable Pain Destroyer,” but the bottles were embossed “Pond’s Extract.” There is a very scarce version embossed “Pond’s Pain Destroyer,” but I do not have an example or photograph as of this writing. Either way, the “Golden Treasure” name never stuck and ended up being used by another witch hazel medicine in Essex, Connecticut called “Hawes Healing Extract” and embossed

[Fig 6. below] Pond’s Extract pint pontil.

[Fig 9. left] Small-sized, open pontil Pond’s Extract I excavated in a Utica privy with a crude lip finish.

[right] Buster Brown’s Experiences with Pond’s Extract published in 1904 by Pond’s Extract Co.

[Fig 7 above] Pond’s Extract pint lip detail.

[below] Pond’s Extract “Beach Girls” advertising trade card.

“Golden Treasure.” This medicine originates from Dr. Charles Hawes. Dr. Hawes was a missionary who also learned the method of distilling witch hazel from Native Americans. He gave his recipe for witch hazel to Alvin Whittemore in Essex, Connecticut, who sold the product to the public.

Theron Pond formed a company called T. T. Pond & Co. in the later 1840s. It is said that the company was comprised of Theron Pond and the Oneida medicine man. A pair of businessmen, Alexander Hart and Edward Munson of Hart & Munson Co., a business of burr millstones, bolting cloths, flour, and Rhode Island Lime, provided the new company with investments and an early place to do business. The early T. T. Pond Co address listed in advertising is the same address as Hart & Munson’s factory at 27 Washington Street in Utica, NY.

Theron Pond fell ill in the early 1850s. Some say it was from exposure and others say he died from consumption, but either way, Theron passed away on February 22nd, 1852.

[Fig. 10] Frederick K. Humphreys Humphreys & Palmer from 1857 to around 1860. Azariah Palmer was said to be a close friend of Theron and possibly helped shape the company early on. Frederick Humphreys was a homeopathic physician and was said to be Theron’s doctor. [Fig. 10] Humphreys & Palmer were listed as partners in several advertisements for Pond’s Extract and may have still been using the name T. T. Pond & Co., as I have seen it on a labeled Pond’s Pain Destroyer bottle that was also embossed Pond’s Extract.

The Humphreys and Palmer partnership did not last for long. Around 1860, the two seemed to have separated as partners. Humphreys Homeopathic Medicine Co. became Dr. Frederick Humphreys Company and was an avenue for him to sell Pond’s Extract.

Many articles written have varying accounts of what transpired. Still, I discovered in my research that on February 7th, 1852, the company was sold from the T. T. Pond & Co name to Hart & Munson, two of the original investors. They remained the owners of Pond’s Extract until 1857. They continued selling bottles that were embossed Pond’s Extract, and the label had Pond’s Vegetable Pain Destroyer with instructions on how to use the medicine.

In 1857, Hart & Munson sold their interest in Pond’s Extract. This transaction is where the story differs from all other accounts as the medicine Pond’s Extract began to be sold under the name Azariah Palmer shows up in the Utica directories with the business name of Palmer’s Popular Remedies. Palmer also begins selling Pond’s Extract through his business. Palmer used a bottle embossed on the front “Pond’s Extract of Witch Hazel.” The sides were embossed A.S. Palmer and Utica, NY. This bottle has a smooth base. [Fig. 11] I am not exactly sure how Humphreys fashioned his bottles, but I do know he listed them for sale through his New York City company. At some point in the early 1870s, Palmer and Humphreys were entrenched in a legal dispute over Pond’s Extract, each claiming that they were [Fig 11. above] Azariah S Palmer’s bottle. given the right to manufacture Smooth base, embossed “Pond’s Extract of Witch Hazel. A.S. Palmer and Utica, NY.” and sell the medicine. Palmer had filed a lawsuit against Humphreys, which finally led Humphreys to sell his interest to F. W. Hurtt, who sells Pond’s Extract. As part of the deal, Hurtt makes Palmer part owner in this new company, and this deal finally ended the legal battle over Pond’s Extract.

The early advertisements stated that Pond’s came in two sizes: a small size and a pintsized bottle. The large pint bottle that I had excavated in a Utica privy is believed to be the only large-sized, pontil-era Pond’s Extract bottle to exist. It is 9-¼” tall with an open pontil scar on the base. [Figs. 5-7]

Early Pond’s advertising was found in many newspapers throughout New York State, including New York City, neighboring states to New York, and North Carolina. The North Carolina advertisement proclaimed

they loved the medicine so much down south they had ordered 300 dozen more bottles. Following are two early advertisements typed out as the newspaper’s copies were too blurry to use.

1848 Oneida Morning Herald –

“Burned Child” The public good seems to demand that someone should give the community the facts relative to the child that was so badly burned a short time since in my neighborhood.

An infant child nine months old had its clothes entirely burnt off on one side from head to foot, taking off the skin and burning very deep in many places. The sight was horrible to behold, and the agonizing cries of the poor little sufferer soon drew in a large number of neighbors. Mr. Pond, the proprietor of “Pond’s Pain Destroyer and Healing Extract,” was sent for, and I was present when he came.

The child had been burned about one-half hour when he took it in hand. He covered it with cotton wadding as the most convenient thing at hand and then poured on the Extract, keeping it wet until the fire was all out. It would be difficult to describe the sensation of joy and astonishment that filled every bosom on witnessing its effect. The pain began to abate in one moment, and in less than twelve minutes, the child was perfectly easy and quiet and nursed and fell into a pleasant sleep. There seemed to be no soreness of pain about the child, and in three days, half of the sores were healed up. I have never before seen anything that possesses such power to remove pain or to heal, and I have been led to give this statement, which can be attested by twenty witnesses, that the public may know what to apply with certain success in like cases. – Abraham Philips.

1848 Oneida Morning Herald - “The People’s Friend,” Pond’s Pain Destroying and Healing Extract. This is a medicine newly discovered by Mr. T. T. Pond of Utica, who, experiencing in his own

Meet Fred DeCarlo

FOHBC Northeast Region Director. Fred DeCarlo was born and grew up in Utica, New York. He is currently a firefighter-EMT with the City of Utica Fire Department and has been with them for 20 years. He is married to his wife of 15 years, Curry McMahon-DeCarlo, and they have two children together. His bottle interest began over 20 years ago but really picked up steam in the last five years. He collects bottles from Utica and does research on them, as he loves local history. He recently started a website Utica Bottle Directory dedicated to Utica bottles. He is vice president of Mohawk Valley Antique Bottle Club and also co-editor of their newsletter. He is also an avid privy digger, dump digger, and metal detectorist. Exploring and researching are his favorite past times. person the astonishing power of the plant from which it is derived, to entirely remove pain, has, at considerable expense brought it into a form, both convenient and pleasant for use. The Hon. John Spencer, in a certificate of great length detailing a great variety of cases cured by this simple medicine, says: “its effect in calming and quieting nervous agitation is surprising. It is a remedy perfectly invaluable and is so gently astringent, so soothing, and so healing that it cannot injure. It cures, not merely relieves, all sorts of aches, pains, and inflammations where it can be applied to the diseased parts. It not only entirely reduces inflammation and sores of all kinds, but it gives new flesh – healthy flesh. It is recommended for the best remedy for the following complaints: Inflammation, Bleeding from Lungs or Stomach, Burns and Scalds, removing in a few minutes all the fire, bruised or broken limbs, Nervous affection, Dysentery, Cholic, Croup, Cholera Morbus, Sores and Tumors, Canker Sore Throat, Swelled and Broken Breast, Piles, Tooth Ache and more. In all these complaints, the Extract is warranted to give satisfaction. It is perfectly safe to take under any circumstances, is agreeable and pleasant, causing no pain or disagreeable sensation when taken or applied, and comes cheap.

The Pond’s story continues to this day, the name being bought and sold several times. The bottles were so plentiful in the 1910s and 20s that some bottle diggers did not even take them.

Pond’s Extract Co. was eventually merged with Chesebrough Manufacturing Co and finally Unilever. Since this article was written about Pond’s early days, I didn’t touch on what happened in the company later. The early bottles always fascinated me, mainly the 1840s to 1860s. As with most early research, it is always an ongoing project.

I really hope the reader found this article enjoyable and informative, and I ask if anyone finds information or photos of the early bottles to reach out to me.