For Northeast Region Club Update Information please contact Charlie Martin Jr., Northeast Region Director, cemartinjr@comcast.net
Charlie Martin, Jr., FOHBC Northeast Region Director, lives in West Newbury, Massachusetts, with his wife Jane. They have three grown children from a blended family that lives in Old Lyme, Connecticut, San Diego, California and Georgetown, Massachusetts. Charlie has been a collector his entire life with baseball cards, comics, coins, stamps, specimen seashells, and especially antique bottles. He is a past president of the Merrimack Antique Bottle Club of Massachusetts. A highlight of his tenure as president was getting Carlyn Ring to speak at a club meeting while she was still compiling her For Bitters Only book. He was fortunate to have several unlisted bitters in his collection that she did not know about. His primary focus in collecting is Clarke’s Vegetable Sherry Wine Bitters. He has been working on a run of these bottles with all sizes and variants for many years. Just when it appeared that he might complete the run of sizes and variants, Ring, Ham and Meyer issued their Bitters Bottles Supplement 2, which included two previously unknown variants! Back to the hunt. Charlie also collects all ephemeral material related to bitters products: trade cards, handbills, almanacs, labels, invoices, and letterheads, to mention a few categories. Label-only bitters are also a favorite of his collecting passion. Charlie retired from his position as Superintendent of Schools twenty years ago and notes that the issues he was dealing with back then are still the same issues his friends and colleagues are wrestling with two decades later. Charlie is assembling an Atwood’s Jaundice Bitters bottles group for his seven-year-old grandson, who lives in Georgetown, MA. He believes that those of us in the bottle-collecting hobby must create an opportunity for the next generation of “guardians of the glass” to ensure our wonderful hobby survives.
Apple Valley Bottle Collectors Club, Inc. Winchester, Virginia, Newsletter: The Bottle Worm. Contact: Richard Venskoske, 2038 Chestnut Grove Road, Winchester, Virginia 22603 540.247.4429, rmvinegar@wildblue.net FOHBC Member Club
Baltimore Antique Bottle Club The Baltimore Antique Bottle Club, Inc. is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to educate the public about antique bottle collecting and to promote the hobby. Over the years, the club has become one of the strongest and most enduring bottle clubs in the country. The hard work of so many members since its inception has led to the club’s success. The club provides a great opportunity to learn about an interesting, historical and potentially lucrative hobby and to make new friends and have a good time. P.O. Box 36061,
Towson, Maryland, 410.531.9459
, Meeting place: (In transition),
Usually 2nd Friday of each month at 7:30 p.m. (except July & August).
Contact: Nic Queen (President) chopprdq@aol.com Newsletter: Baltimore Bottle Digger FOHBC Member Club
Capital Region Antique Bottle & Insulator Club The Capital Region Antique Bottle and Insulator Club (CRAB INC) draws members from the greater Capital region of New York State (Albany, Schenectady, Troy, Saratoga Springs and near by communities), as well as the rest of New York State and surrounding states. It has nearly 60 members and dues are $15.00 per year. Their 16-page newsletter is published monthly. Club meetings are generally held the last Thursday of the month at locations in the Albany, Schenectady and Troy area of New York. The club sponsors an October show. An award for the best exhibit of eastern insulators is presented at each year’s NIA National Show. c/o Bob Latham
, 463 Loudon Road
Loudonville, New York 12211,
518.463.1053,
Meeting place: Hilderbrand – Davis VFW 1895, 609 Drafter Avenue, Rotterdam, New York 12306,
Last Thursday of every month at 7:30 p.m. Contact: John Savasitio (treasurer), johnsavastio@yahoo.com for more information. FOHBC Member Club
Delmarva Antique Bottle Collectors The club was founded in 1992 by Ferdinand (Ferd) Meyer, a member of the Baltimore Antique Bottle Club, who on his travels to the beach area on a regular basis, found a need for such a club to serve the lower eastern shore area of Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia. The club has about 65 members and meets regularly on the third Friday of each month from 7:00 to 10:00 pm at the Beacon Middle School, in Lewes, Delaware. c/o Rick Preston (President)
50 Syracuse St. Ocean View, Delaware 19970 302.945.7072
Meeting place: Lewes Middle School Cafeteria, Lewes, Delaware,
Third Friday of the month at 7:00 p.m.
Contact: Rick Preston (President), 400 Edward Street, Georgetown Delaware 19947, Website: http://antiquebottles.com/delmarva/
Empire State Bottle Collectors Association The ESPCA is a diverse group of people interested, in particular, in antique bottles, stoneware and the related ephemera as well as the history of the companies making and using the same. They are also interested and involved in the research and preservation of this and all local history, especially as it pertains to our hobby. Meetings are open to anyone who thinks that they may have a similar interest and they are always looking for new members. Members bring in items for show and/or sale to each meeting and are always available before the start and after the meeting to answer questions from other members and non-members alike. The ESBCA meets the first Wednesday of every month (except July & August) at St. Paul’s Church, 2200 Valley Drive, Syracuse, New York. Meetings begin at 7:30 pm. Please use the back entrance. Meetings are open, and visitors are always welcome. John Golley ByGolley@msn.com, ESBCA President Newsletter: Bits and Pieces. FOHBC Member Club
Finger Lakes Bottle Collectors Association The FLBCA is currently a group of about 50 from all ages and walks of life. The members live in various areas in Ithaca and central New York.
Their collections include milk and other bottles, and interests range widely, such as antique Valentines, Teddy Roosevelt paraphernalia, cookbooks, scientific equipment, and more. If you have a collection or would like to learn more about the art of collecting, they encourage you to join their club. They meet the second Tuesday of every month except for July and August, in the Veterans Fire Hall, 638 RT. 13-Elmira Road, Ithaca, New York. They generally have a guest speaker or a presentation by one of their members at the conclusion of the official meeting. Please email us them more information and a schedule of speakers and presentations. They present a Flea market in March and November and a Bottle Show and Sale every year. c/o Tobias Dean (President),
P.O. Box 3894
, Ithaca, New York 14852-3894,
Contact Laura Guntren, joinflbca@aol.com or Tobias Dean (President), PO Box 3894, Ithaca, New York 14852,
Newsletter: The Applied Lip. FOHBC Member Club
The Forks of the Delaware Bottle Collectors Association was founded in 1972. The club consists of family and single memberships and meetings are held the fourth Thursday of each month. Presently the meetings are held at Hope Lutheran Church, 240 South 8th St., Tatamy, Pennsylvania 18085. The meetings start at 7 pm and members are encouraged to bring in any bottles they want to research, discuss, sell or trade. The club tries to have a program at each meeting that will be interesting for all members. Speakers may be club members or persons from outside the club who have an interesting or unusual collectible hobby or a member of a local historical society. Members are encouraged to actively participate in the meetings by bringing some of their collection that corresponds with the program of the night. The club holds an annual bottle and antique show and sale held at Bethlehem Catholic High School (2133 Madison Ave., Bethlehem, PA 18017) on the Sunday following Thanksgiving. This show has grown to be one of the top bottle shows on the east coast. Dealers are represented from most of the eastern seaboard (usually 12-14 states). There are 121 tables of bottles of every description. FOHBC Member Club
Genesee Valley Bottle Collectors Association GVBCA was founded back in 1969 by ten or so “founding” people who at that time knew very few other “bottle” collectors. In addition, the founding members had very little knowledge about each other. However, they had a common passion, interest, and goal to learn more about bottles. At that time, a club that would bond collectors together seemed right. It gave a chance for members to share bottle collecting stories and knowledge along with the chance to buy, sell and trade bottles with each other. At one time, there were more than two hundred people attending our monthly meetings. Monthly club meetings which include sale tables, show and tell, and great socializing begin with a brief business meeting and then features an educational program. Meetings are held on the second Wednesday of each month (unless otherwise noted) except July and August at the Buckland Park Lodge in Buckland Park, 1341 Westfall Road, Rochester, New York 14618, Business meeting starts at 7:00 pm. c/o John DeVolder (President),
PO Box 15528,
Rochester, New York 14615, 716.621.4701, Contact Jim Bartholomew, barthology@aol.com or Jack Stecher, jstecher@rochester.rr.com,
Newsletter: Applied Seals. FOHBC Member Club
Greater Buffalo Bottle Collectors Association (GBBCA) The Greater Buffalo Bottle Collectors Association is made up of people interested in preserving bits of the past, mostly in the form of old bottles, jars and bottle related items. Collectable bottles are as varied as the enjoyment you can get from collecting them. From the colonial dumps of New England to the ghost towns of the California gold country, people are discovering the color, shape, and history of “Bottle America.’ From digging out abandoned dumps to trading with collectors at bottle shows. Bottle collecting is great fun! The GBBCA is a fun club, made up of friendly people from all walks of life, all with a common bond. They would like you to join that bond and want to develop your interest in the fastest growing hobby in the United States. Give them visit to one of their club meetings. Meetings are held on the 1st Wednesday of each month at the St. Peters Episcopal Church, 205 Longmeadow Road, Amherst, New York 14226. c/o Peter Jablonski
, 216 Metcalfe Street,
Buffalo, New York 14206, 716.852.6628
, Meetings are held the first Wednesday of each month, starting at 6:30 PM at the St. Peters Episcopal Church, 205 Longmeadow Road, Amherst, New York 14226
, Contact Peter Jablonski, 716.852.6628, PeterJablonski@roadrunner.com, Newsletter: Traveler’s Companion, FOHBC Member Club
Historical Bottle Diggers of Virginia,
2516 Hawksbill Road, McGaheysville, Virginia 22840
, Meeting place: Village Library, Broadway, Virginia
, First Monday of every other month at 7:00 p.m.
Contact: Casey Billhimer, 540.289.9866, historyed@webtv.net for more information. FOHBC Member Club
The Hudson Valley Bottle Club seeks to promote the treasured hobby of collecting antique bottles as well as the use of glass in New York’s historic Hudson Valley. Our members share our local passions and keep club membership informed of upcoming events, meetings, and show details. Our club meets the 3rd Friday of most months at 7:00 PM in the Marlboro Presbyterian Church, 51 Grand St, Marlboro, NY. We always welcome new members and for any questions, please contact Alex Prizgintas at 845.774.9856 or ow42957@gmail.com. FOHBC Member Club
Jersey Shore Bottle Club, To promote, foster and encourage the acquisitions and exchange of information relating to bottle collecting. Serving: Monmouth and Ocean Counties on the Jersey Shore in New Jersey. About 40 members. Meetings: 2nd Monday of the month, except July, August, January, February at 7:30 pm at the First United Methodist Church of Farmingdale, 8 Main Street, Farmingdale, NJ 07727. Visitors are welcomed! Membership is open to anyone (under 18 with a sponsor). Yearly family membership $10.00 in May. For membership inquiries or complimentary newsletter or questions concerning a bottle that you have visit their web site.
c/o Dave Trippett
, P.O. Box 995,
Toms River, New Jersey 08753,
732.244.5171, dtripet@comcast.net, President: Bob Randolph, 1564 Horseshoe Drive, Wall Township, NJ 08736,
randgal@aol.com, or Henry Cross, 74 Moroz Street, Howell, NJ 07731, 732.896.1767, henry07751@aol.com, Newletter: Dave Tripet, Editor, dtripet@comcast.net for more information.
Newsletter: The Jersey Shore Shards FOHBC Member Club
Little Rhody Bottle Club, Founded in 1970, the Little Rhody Bottle Club has continually strived to promote the hobby of antique bottle collecting through the preservation of antique bottles and education through research relative to the companies those bottles represent. Their online newsletter is uploaded around the first of the month and the online version of their bottle book, Antique Bottles Of Rhode Island, is updated as new bottles are reported. Attn: William Rose sierramadre@comcast.net, 784 King Street, Raynham, Massachusetts 02767 508.880.4929 The Little Rhody Bottle Club meets on the second Tuesday of every month (except July and August) at the Pontiac Library, 101 Greenwich Ave., Warwick, Rhode Island FOHBC Member Club
Merrimack Valley Antique Bottle Club, Join the club: Benefits include: Summer Pizza Party, Holiday Banquet, Monthly Newsletter, Monthly Meeting Meetings are 7:00 pm every third Wednesday of the month at the American Legion Hall, A.W. Vinal Post #212, 90 Groton Road (Rt. 40), North Chelmsford, MA 01863. To join send $10.00 to Jim George djjimgeorge@yahoo.com, 8 Walmsley Circle, Milford, NH 03055 *Checks payable to Merrimack Valley Antique Bottle Club (or come to the meeting and pay) FOHBC Member Club
Mid-Maine Antique Bottle Club, 19 Members (April 2020), Contact: Paul McClure, 349 Castner Road, Waldoboro, 04572, Tele: 207.832.1503, email: westwindbuilders1@hotmail.com, midmaineantiquebottleclub.com, Show Date, November 1, 2020, Show Location: Topsham Fairgrounds, Topsham, Maine 04086, Meeting Location: East Pittston Methodist Church, 3rd Sunday of the month, East Pittston, Maine 04345, Paul McClure
Mohawk Valley Antique Bottle Club,
The Mohawk Valley Antique Bottle Club was founded in 1994 as a not-for-profit organization supporting collectors of historical bottles, antique glass, and related items. The goal of the MVABC is to promote the collection, study, preservation, and display of historical bottles and related artifacts and to share our knowledge and research with other collectors and with the public at large. Membership is open to anyone interested in antique bottles and related items or in the history of the firms that used these bottles. Their monthly newsletter, Bottles Along the Mohawk, includes articles of historical interest, stories chronicling the hobby and history of bottle collecting, program listings, show listings, club news, and much more. President: Rick Weaver, 48 S. Main St., Sherburne, NY 13460, 607.674.2883, cabinrooster@yahoo.com, Newsletter: Bottles Along the Mohawk FOHBC Member Club
New Jersey Antique Bottle Club (NJABC), Club information and the most up to date show contracts for South River, Millville and Hammonton antique bottle shows. They are a non profit antique bottle and glass collector’s organization of about 50 members. Their mission is to promote the hobby of antique bottle and glass collecting and the history associated with the manufacture of blowing and pressing glass by traditional methods. South Jersey is noted for its many nineteenth century glass houses and works. America’s first successful glass works was founded by Caspar Wistar in 1739 on Alloway’s Creek in Salem County. This works operated successfully for a period of 40 years. They interpret American glass as an art form that is produced by skilled craftsmen. Some of these craftsmen still blow glass today and they are committed to preserving this vanishing art form. The club hosts three shows a year where members can display and trade antique bottles.
c/o Joe Butewicz
, 24 Charles Street
, South River, New Jersey 08882-1603
, 732.238.3238
, Meeting place: The East Brunswick Museum, 16 Maple Street, East Brunswick, New Jersey 08816,
Meets every 4th Tuesday, 7-10 p.m. (except in August) FOHBC Member Club
North Jersey Antique Bottle Collectors, Show date: November, Show location: Oakland Elks Club, 33 Ramapo Valley Road, Oakland, New Jersey 07436, Meeting location: Our Savior Lutheran Church, 22-15 Broadway, 2nd Friday of each month except July, August and December, Fair Lawn, New Jersey 07410, Contact: Ken Dickson, 23 Audubon Parkway, Wayne, New Jerey 07470, 973.907.7351, Froggy8@Optonline.Net, Newsletter: The Slug Plate FOHBC Member Club
Pennsylvania Bottle Collectors Association,
c/o Donald Hartman, 251 Eastland Avenue, York, Pennsylvania 17402, 717.854.4965,
dehart10@netzero.net York, Pennsylvania Meeting place: Aldersgate United Methodist Church,
Third Sunday of Jan, Mar, May, Sept, & Nov. at 2:00 p.m. FOHBC Member Club
Pittsburgh Antique Bottle Club, c/o Bob DeCroo eb153atlanticbb.net, 694 Fayette City Road, Fayette City, Pennsylvania 15438, 724.236.8741, President: Nancy Alfieri, Meeting place: Blackridge Civic Association Second Wednesday, 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. Newsletter: Probe. FOHBC Member Club
Richmond Area Bottle Collectors Association, RABCA is an active club of bottle enthusiasts that has been meeting regularly since 1970, now in the Dale Ruritan Club building, off of Rt. 10 just south of Chippenham Parkway. They meet at the Dale Ruritan Club, 5101 Ruritan Place in N. Chesterfield, Virginia 23234 on the 2nd Wednesday in February, April, May, September and November. Their picnic is in June. They have a program at each meeting, a raffle for bottles, and members bring in recent acquisitions for Show & Tell. Of course, there is always a lot of great discussions about bottles. Visitors are always welcome. Bruce Wadford is the club president, Tony Townsend is the VP, Marvin Croker is secretary/treasurer, and the co-show chairmen are Marvin and Ed Faulkner. Ed Faulkner is their newsletter editor. Info: c/o Bruce Wadford (President), 362 Dobbins Road, Blackstone, Virginia 23824. Contact Ed Faulkner, RichBottleClub@comcast.net for more information, Newsletter: The Digger, FOHBC Member Club
Southeast Bottle Club, The Southeast Bottle Club is a non-profit organization serving the Southeastern U.S. antique bottle collector community thru it’s monthly educational newsletter and annual shows. Free antique bottle appraisals available upon request. Articles for upcoming newsletters are welcome. Bottle-related events in Southeastern U.S. will be advertised for free. Collectors ads are free to paid members. Attn: Reggie Linch rlynch@antiquebottles.com (President), PO Box 2286, Forest, Virginia 24551, 704.221.6489 FOHBC Member Club
Southern Connecticut Antique Bottle & Glass Association, Inc., Number of members 30, Show Location: Museum of Connecticut Glass, Meeting Location: Shelton Plumb Library, 65 Wooster Street, Third Tuesday of the month, Shelton, CT 06484, Contact Robert Schweitzer, 914.582.7976, rdsrla@optonline.net or Bruce Mitchell, Lfranz465@hotmail.com FOHBC Member Club
Tri-State Bottle Collectors & Diggers Club, Founded in 1971, antique bottles from the Delaware, Pennsylvania and Maryland region. Current president is Dave Porter, 100 Jarmon Rd, Elkton, Maryland 21921. Phone 717.779.8324. Meeting place at the president’s home on the third Sunday of eac month at 2:00 p.m. FOHBC Member Club
Washington County Antique Bottle & Glass Club, P.O.Box 621, Washington, Pennsylvania 15301, Show in May each year. Meeting Location: Washington County, Courthouse Square, 1st Wednesday of the month, Washington, PA 15301, Contact: Russell L. Crupe, President, P.O.Box 621, Washington, PA 15301, Tele: 412.298.7831, rcrupe@nsasecurityforces.com, Newsletter: Bottle Nut News
