SUNNY CASTLE STOMACH BITTERS

20 March 2013

“SUNNY CASTLE / STOMACH BITTERS / JOS. DUDENHOEFER / MILWAUKEE.”, (S-223), Wisconsin, ca. 1885 – 1895, yellowish amber, 9″h, smooth base, tooled lip, 97% original wrap around label in on three sides reads: ‘Sunny Castle / Stomach / Bitters / Joe. Dudenhoefer / Milwaukee. Wis’ etc. , the bottle is perfect. A scarce bottle that must be considered very rare with an original label. – Glass Works Auction #97

“Small Wine Glass Full 4 Times a Day”

It is not often that you see a bottle with a great looking label or even rarer to see a great looking label on three sides of a bottle. I usually hide from ragged examples that are torn, hard to read and stained.

That is not the case with the Sunny Castle Stomach Bitters specimen that makes an appearance in the Glass Works Auction #97, aptly name “March Madness” auction with the coinciding NCAA basketball tournament.

I picked up my un-labeled example back in 2004 on eBay. The bottle is pictured further below and has been sitting on a shelf waiting to be explored. Of the many bitters names, this has to be on of the ‘warmest’ and more positive names that is meant to remind us of our home, family and roots. I am immediately reminded of the “Every Man’s Home is his Castle” quote and think it was a wise move by Jacob and Joseph Dudenhoefer to use a castle, fields and a sun in their advertising.

“Every Man’s Home is his Castle”

I was curious about this phrase. I seem to recall Spiro Agnew using it in the Nixon days or during his political trials. A search on the internet provides the following:

My house to me is like my castle [Ma meason est à moy come mon castle]~Sir William Stanford, Les Ples del Coron (1567)

Our law calleth a man’s house, his castle, meaning that he may defend himself therein~William Lanbarde, Eirenarcha, (1588)

The house of every man is to him his Castle and Fortresse, as well for his defence against injury and violence, as for his repose.~Sir Edward Coke, Semayne’s Case (1605)

For a man’s house is his castle, et domus sua cuique est tutissimum refugium [and each man’s home is his safest refuge].~Sir Edward Coke (1552-1634), English judge and lawyer, Institutes of the Laws, ch. 73 (1644)

Now one of the most essential branches of English liberty, is the freedom of one’s house. A man’s house is his castle; and while he is quiet, he is well guarded as a prince in his castle….~James Otis, U.S. Patriot (1725-1783), Argument against the writs of assistance, Boston, MA, 1761.

Zendam, Moderator, Quoteland Godfather

Label Detail

“SUNNY CASTLE / STOMACH BITTERS / JOS. DUDENHOEFER / MILWAUKEE.”, (S-223), Wisconsin, ca. 1885 – 1895, yellowish amber, 9″h, smooth base, tooled lip, 97% original wrap around label in on three sides reads: ‘Sunny Castle / Stomach / Bitters / Joe. Dudenhoefer / Milwaukee. Wis’ etc. , the bottle is perfect. A scarce bottle that must be considered very rare with an original label. – Glass Works Auction #97

The Carlyn Ring and W.C. Ham listing in Bitters Bottles is as follows:

S 223  SUNNY CASTLE STOMACH BITTERS

SUNNY CASTLE / STOMACH BITTERS / JOS. DUDENHOEFER /
MILWAUKEE. // f // f // f //
9 x 2 3/4 (6 1/2) 3/8
Square, Amber, LTC, Tooled lip, Scarce
JOS. is over JOHN. The H became S and the peened out N is discernible around the dots.

SUNNY CASTLE STOMACH BITTERS (S 223) – Meyer Collection

Jacob & Joseph DUDENHOEFER

Looks like Frank Wicker over at Bottle Pickers has done a little piece on the Dudenhoefers that has been supported by Pre-Pro.com etc. Jacob Dudenhoefer was born in a village in Hesse Darmstadt, Germany in May 21, 1842. He would locate to Milwaukee in 1869. He was a traveling salesman of wholesale wine and liquors for twelve years working for the L. Fuldner Company. In 1880 he started his own business in wholesale wine and liquors. His establishment was located at 339 Grove Street and 339 First Avenue. Business name timeline listing at Pre-Pro.com note Jacob Dudenhoefer (1889-1906), Jacob Dudenhoefer Co. (1908-1918)

Two dose or shot glass examples (left) Bonfield Whisky (right) Hunting and Fishing Club – Pre-Pro.com

The company grew at a rapid rate and his company became one of the biggest businesses in the city. His company was called Jacob Dudenhoeffer Co. He was in business until March 2, 1901. The Dudenhoefer brands included Bonfield Whiskey, Hunting and Fishing Club Rye, Three Star Brandy, Monogram Whiskey, Sunny Castle, Tara’s Hall, Elmbrook Whiskey, Kara Tonic, Tonical Herb Bitters, Yellow Springs and Night Hawk.

Vary Rare! Beautiful, Early, Sunny Castle Rye, Small Size Flask Bottle, Produced for Joseph Dudenhoefer, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Flask comes as a two piece mold with applied blob top with original cork. Nice and Clean! – eBay Feb 2013

The Joseph Dudenhoefer name is on the Sunny Castle Stomach Bitters  and a few others including the Sunny Castle Rye bottle pictured above. He is listed in the Milwaukee City Directory from 1901 to 1905 and Joseph Dudenhoefer Co. from 1912 to 1918. He was listed as a Wines & Liquor Wholesaler. The address noted is 367 – 369 11th Street.

Apparently, Joseph was a brother to Jacob though I can not substantiate. He could have been a son. I am curious why ‘Joseph’ is embossed on the Sunny Castle Stomach Bitters and not Jacob. Joseph later had a son and they expanded their busing to include communal wine.

Two different SUNNY CASTLE BITTERS Back Bar Bottles –  Milwaukee – Advertising bitters backbar bottle with wheel cut and gold painted lettering that reads SUNNY CASTLE BITTERS. This is a product of the Joseph Dudenhoefer Co. in Milwaukee, Wis. – MrBottles.com