There’s a certain thrill that comes with pulling an old, discarded or forgotten object from the ground. In part I think it comes from realizing there’s a whole story there, when you dig up an old bottle or a perfect arrowhead. It’s often likely no one will ever know the story behind most discovered relics, but it’s there all the same, clinging to the find just like the dirt that has hidden it for many years. History buff Caiden Tyler of Brownwood has amassed quite a collection of historical objects from around the area, some of which are unusual in that they tell stories we can actually trace.

Caiden’s interest in Brown County took off in 2019. “A man I knew called and asked if I’d like to take a look at some old items he had and wanted to sell. I first started collecting old porcelain signs from gas stations and general stores so I knew quite a few people in the business. He came over and he pulled out an old newspaper from when JFK was assassinated and a piece of horse tack stamped with a Brown County S.P. After looking at the items and researching about them, my interest grew in our local history,” Tyler said. Once a person has been bitten by the collecting bug, it’s my observation that the passion lasts a lifetime. Among the many fascinating pieces he has amassed, I particularly enjoy looking at and hearing about Caiden’s old bottles.

Caiden’s antique bottles tell tales about the old days in Brown County, about a time when the people here were more self-sufficient, raising and making many needed products right here in the county. From pharmacies to dairies and grocers, local goods were much more present in the general stock and trade than they are now, and so were the bottles needed to contain them.

Nine different sizes of bottles from a local drugstore, Hallum & Langtry Druggist, have found their way into Tyler’s possession. “From what I can gather, the Hallum & Langtry Drug Co. was located on Baker Street in Downtown Brownwood, with their company opening sometime in the early 1890’s, possibly even the end of the 1880’s,” Tyler related. “Both Mr. Hallum, and Mr. Langtry were very educated and trustworthy men, highly thought of by the citizens.”

Caiden’s research into the history of these bottles reveals a fascinating glimpse into an early business in Brownwood. “Hallum & Langtry split ways in the pharmaceutical business between 1917-1918 and Mr. Hallum continued his business here for years to come operating under the Hallum Drug Company name,” Caiden states. “ I’m unsure of what Mr. Langtry did after the two split ways, or why ways were split in the first place. One thing I can say is Mr. Hallum & Mr. Langtry took care of the citizens of this town and ran an exceptional operation for over 20 years. Both of these influential business men are interred at Greenleaf Cemetery along with some of their family.”

Through his journey of finding and collecting old bottles, Tyler has learned a lot from the area’s old timers. “David Cole of Bangs was a great mentor and paved the way for collectors like me. He spent over 50 years collecting some of these bottles I have, and only kept the best of the best condition wise. Without his head start and expertise I would be nowhere close to where I am now! His collection was one of the most well known and revered bottle and advertising collections anywhere in Texas,’ Caiden said. Tyler himself has become a bit of an expert on bottling in general, and shared some of his knowledge with me.”Our bottling history in this town was very short lived compared to many other towns throughout the United States. For instance Brownwood’s first record of a bottler being here was some time around 1894 when the Brownwood Bottling Company opened its doors. By the mid 1900’s bigger corporations took over and our ‘Mom & Pop’ bottlers went out of business or partnered with those bigger corporations.”

What started as a casual interest has turned into what looks to be a lifelong hobby for Tyler. I enjoy learning from people like Caiden, whose interest in digging out old bottles uncovers some hidden details of Brownwood history. His Facebook Page, BROWNWOOD’S BETTER DAYS, is one way to keep with his adventures out searching for these quirky treasures. “Many of these spots are on private property and due diligence work is needed to accomplish my goals. It’s not just running out and digging a random hole. It’s hours of looking at maps, contacting landowners for permission to explore and dig, actually finding the spot, and persistently digging for hours on end. Some days you come home empty handed, and some days you come home with handfuls of bottles. Through the many places I have dug, and hundreds if not thousands of bottles later, I have only found 5 intact Brownwood bottles., and many, many broken ones,” he said.

Caiden hopes someday to have a building where people can view his collection, which not only includes bottles but over a thousand items of historical interest to the area, including postcards, signs, coffee cans, photos, original photo negatives, and more. His hobby is not only fun, but meaningful. It recalls for us the days when our community was less reliant on outside production for survival. It could be that we might need this understanding in the days to come. “Brownwood was near self sufficiency,” Tyler told me. “Digging for bottles is a dying art. It takes will, persistence, and a love for history. For as long as I’m able, I will continue to dig for bottles, preserve what history I can, and share our history to all who care to listen.”

***

Diane Adams is a local journalist whose columns appear Thursdays on BrownwoodNews.com