Mt. Lowe Soda Bottle.

By Michael Patris

After doing more and more research about the Mount Lowe incline one tends to go off on different tangents until the trail is cold. Such is the case with some of the things that were used at Echo Mountain House before the great fire burned it down in February of 1900.

Looking at photographs of tables set for dining at the top of the incline from photographic archives and personal collections one can see there is a certain pattern of dinnerware and flatware in use.

The flatware was a simple pattern and one wouldn't think twice about it until the fateful day the same style of flatware appeared and was back stamped Mount Lowe Ry. There is no disputing where this was used. Although it is very uncommon to find the flatware with the markings the same generic type is not an uncommon sight at flea markets.

A place setting using a pattern as seen in photos in the Echo Mountain House dining room. The flatware is back stamped Mt. Lowe. All from the Michael Patris Collection

The china on the other hand takes a bit more research. There were apparently two different patterns in use. Perhaps one pattern was used at the Chalet and the other at Echo Mountain House…the truth may never be known. The one for sure that was used at Echo Mountain House was made by the Buffalo China Company and was white with green trim. It has a bit of Greek design motif to it with the Greek key pattern broken along the edge and what appears to be olive branches and flowers.

This pattern is rather readily available to the regular flea-marketeer if one has a keen eye. It looks rather nice sitting out especially knowing this was what Professor Lowe was using when the inaugural dinner took place more than a hundred years ago.

Another thing that was in use at that time was bottled water from Crystal Springs. These bottles are marked in raised lettering MT. LOWE CARBONATING AND DISTILLING WORKS, PASADENA, CAL. They are not real common and none have been known to have survived with the label. They are about 8" tall and blue-green in color.

While on the topic of bottles a small whiskey nipper is a much sought after item. These bottles are barely more than 3" tall and have MT. LOWE, YE ALPINE TAVERN, CALIFORNIA in raised lettering. Appearing more like a perfume bottle rather than a whiskey bottle, one has been found with a paper label still intact.

While the collectibles tend to show up less and less, with some intense digging some things do pop up from time to time. Research is the key to uncovering what existed in our past and preservation should be the goal for keeping these treasures identified and displayed for the future.

Return to Echo Mtn. Echoes, Winter 1999 Cover

[ Issues | Search | Help | Subscribe | Comment | Websites ]

Send email to Echowebmaster@aaaim.com to report any problems.
Last modified: February 12, 1999

No part of this paper may be reproduced in any form without written permission from:
Jake Brouwer
All articles and photos were provided by:
Land-Sea Discovery Group
Copyright © 1999