History of Vernon NY

Preserving and Sharing Vernon NY's History

Log Cabin Flask by Mount Vernon Glass Works

Only a few of these historic glass flasks are known to exist (3), and are regarded as one of the most important and collectable bottles ever made in America. This one sold in 2022 for $41,000. Its importance goes beyond rarity - it represents a crucial moment in history. The flasks were made as part of the "Tippecanoe and Tyler, too" United States presidential campaign of 1840.

William Henry Harrison ran as the hero of the Battle of Tippecanoe, as the Whig candidate running against Democrat President Martin Van Buren. The Democrats suggested Harrison was too old be president (67), with one newspaper writing "Give him a barrel of hard cider, and.... he will sit the remainder of his days in his log cabin.". Harrison turned the jokes into his own slogan and advantage, adopting these 'common man' symbols of hard cider and a log cabin in a winning campaign effort that included banners and songs.

The log cabin-shaped bottle, with barrels of hard cider represented below the windows, and TIPPECANOE written across the front is a lasting representations of the "log cabin campaign"– the first time a presidential candidate actively campaigned to the public.

References:
https://www.oneidadispatch.com/2010/09/10/bicentennial-honors-mt-vernon-glass-company/
https://www.cmog.org/artwork/log-cabin-bottle
https://emuseum.nyhistory.org/objects/23290/log-cabin-bottle-with-cork
https://www.hecklerauction.com/auctions/120/view/?lot=51&view=7

Creator/Author: Mount Vernon Glass Works

Date: 1840 

Publisher: 

Citation:  Added with permission of Mark Yates.

Holding Institution/Physical Location: Only a few known to survive including at Corning Museum of Glass, New York Historical Society Museum & Library, and a private collection.

 

    Text: 

    TIPPECANOE
    Back: NORTH BEND

    Current Google Street view of Location

    Artifact Submitted by: Don Law

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