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THE WEIRS TIMES & THE COCHECO TIMES, September 19, 2013
Presorted Standard U.S. Postage
PAID CONCORD, NH 03301 Permit No. 177
A SPECIAL COCHECO VALLEY EDITION OF THE WEIRS TIMES NEWSPAPER. VOLUME 22, NO. 38
THE WEIRS, LAKE WINNIPESAUKEE, N.H., THURSDAY, september 19, 2013
COMPLIMENTARY
Irish Festival In Dover Saturday, Sept. 28th from 12-6
Squamscot Old Fashioned Beverages Still Thriving After 150 Years by Brendan Smith Weirs Times Editor
seventy-five years it has been the last three generations of the Conner’s family that has done the task in making sure that she is working hard and doing it correctly. After all, “Dixie” isn’t even human, she is a bottling machine that
was bought in 1938 by Alfred Conner, Jr. who was carrying on the tradition of making and bottling “Squamscot Old Fashioned Beverages” that was started by his grandfather, William H. Conner in 1863. See squamscot on 2
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“Dixie” wasn’t at Squamscot Old Fashioned Beverages in Newfields, New Hampshire, when it was started 150 years ago. Still, she has been there for the past
75, hard at work bottling, what is estimated to be at today, 25,000 cases a year of any one of Squamscot’s 27 different flavors of soda. “Dixie”, as has always been the case, needs a hand in helping her with her work. In that
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Tom Howcroft watches as “Dixie”, the seventy-five year old bottling machine at the Conner Bottling Works in Newfields, does her job. Conner Bottling Works is the producer of “Squamscot Old Fashioned Beverages” which has been in business, brendan smith Photo and run by the Conner Family, for 150 years.
Dover Main Street, once again, brings you the 2013 Seacoast Irish Festival in the Rotary Arts Pavilion in downtown Dover on Saturday, September 28th from Noon to 6pm. The Festival Committee has been working on 2013 plans since December, and has assembled an entertainment lineup that combines traditional Irish music, dancing and storytelling. While the performance schedule is still being finalized, confirmed performers include Eileen Ivers, Kevin McKrell, Sunday’s Well, Bradigan, and many other special guests. Pre-day ticketing is $15 per ticket & $20 the day of the event (Kids 12 and under are free.) The event is rain or shine and no refunds or exchanges are available. To order tickets by phone, please call Dover Main Street at 603-740-6435. To order tickets online go to www.seacoastirishfestival.org.
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THE WEIRS TIMES & THE COCHECO TIMES, September 19, 2013
squamscot from 1
The first Squamscot Beverage that was produced way back then was a tonic called “Connermade.” It was really spruce beer which is a beverage flavored with the buds, needles, or essence of spruce trees. William was also heavily involved in the political scene back in the day. Though no one knows exactly what office, if any, he held, records indicate that he made several trips throughout his adult life to both Washington, D.C. and the State House in Concord. In 1911, William’s son, Alfred, took over the business and by 1917 the business really began to prosper and has ever since. During the years of National Prohibition, there was a great boost
Alfred Conner, Jr. works with “Dixie” at right and keeps an eye on the glass lined steel pasteurizing tank at left. Alfred, Jr. was the third generation of Conners. Alfred died a few years ago at the age of 94. in the tonic business and Squamscot Gingerale became, what was considered, the outstanding drink in New England. After Prohibition ended, a decision had to be made whether to go back to including Spruce Beer
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It’s a real taste of New Hampshire history. As their saying goes “Experience The Past… One Sip At a Time.” In 1979, the name “Conner Bottling Works” was incorporated in New Hampshire but the process of making and bottling their popular beverage hasn’t changed much over the
years. Tom Howcroft, who mans “Dixie” on most days, starts his work at about 10:30 and, after a lunch break, is back at it from about 1 to 5pm. “I do about thirty cases an hour,” said Tom, “There’s no set schedule to what I will be making, I just make more of whatever has run out.” There is also daily maintenance to keep old Over the years many people have brought back old “Dixie” up to snuff. With Squamscot Beverages bottles to the bottling plant, none of some spare parts from other “Dixies” that are no which can be reused. longer in use, the crew has been able to keep again or not. the operation running It was decided that Alfred Jrs. son, Tom smoothly. the business would stay Conner, now runs the “There have been times strictly soda. business, assisted by his when she went down,” I n 1 9 3 8 , A l f r e d , J r . wife Eileen, son Dan and said Howcroft. “There is purchased “Dixie” the 25-year employee, Tom no 1-800 number to call, first modern bottling ma- Howcroft. The four work not hot line, no website chine. Now under the together in the origi - to go to but we do have supervision of the fifth nal two-story, gray and the manual to help us.” generation of Conners, w h i t e b u i l d i n g w h e r e The second floor of the “Dixie” is still putting out William Conner started building is the well orat least 30 cases of soda the business 150 years dered and clean syrup an hour, five or six days ago. In fact, generations room. It is where the See squamscot on 4 a week. of Conners grew up in
THE WEIRS TIMES & THE COCHECO TIMES, September 19, 2013
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THE WEIRS TIMES & THE COCHECO TIMES, September 19, 2013
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manufacturing and mixing of the syrup recipes, passed down through the generations, takes place. In the syrup room, a 60-gallon glass lined steel tank is used as a pasteurizer, steam cooking sugar and water to a temperature of 180 degrees before the exact amount of extract is added. When the syrup is ready, through a hole in the bottom of the tank, it is piped downstairs into “Dixie.” It is then that Tom starts her up. “Dixie” is, to say the least, noisy but very efficient and running like a charm at seventy-five, plucking recyclable glass bottles, one after another, then filling them with carbonated well water and syrup and then capping each one before sending them out to the rotating tray which has a constant spray of water to keep the bottles clean and free of debris. Then Tom takes over, placing the bottle into the familiar Squamscot Beverage cases. After each order is filled (I saw Black Cherry and
man from California who buys a couple of trailer loads of “Squamscot Beverages” every year and ships them by train to the West Coast where he distributes it. The day to day operation at the Conner Bottling Works doesn’t change much, day to
Taken in the 1800s, these unidentified gentleman are in front of the Squamscot Beverage building (notice beer barrels in front) The barn is still used today. Diet Root Beer in the short time I was there) Tom shuts down “Dixie” and heads back upstairs to clean out the lines before getting ready for the next batch of any one of the 27 flavors of soda.
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million dollar business keeps on doing what it does best and continues to reap the rewards. As far as “Dixie” goes, no one knows for sure how long she’ll hold up but they do have a Plan B just in case. But don’t tell “Dixie” that, she’s doing just fine.
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Eileen Conner, in the back storeroom, fires up their printer to prepare labels for each and every bottle . “It’s the first new piece of equipment we’ve had around here for awhile,” she laughs. Older bottles labels were done with silk screen. When she isn’t busy, which isn’t often, Eileen will also utilize the printer to make labels for special events and other things in the area. Not present this day were Tom and Dan Conner. They were busy out making their daily delivery runs of “Squamscot Old Fashioned Beverages” to outlets all over New Hampshire. “There are some other distributors as well to keep up with demand,” said Tom Howcroft. There is even a gentle-
Seeing this unassuming sign on Exeter Road in Newfields you wouldn’t think it announces your arrival at a multimillion dollar company.
A Conner Bottling Works truck loads up on another supply of Squamscot Beverages. day, but that is fine for the Conners and Tom Howcroft. This multi-
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Conner Bottling Works is located at 120 Exeter Road in Newfields. Visit www.nhdsoda. com to learn more about Squamscot Old Fashioned Beveragesand their 27 flavors.