Baker Brother's Co....Coffee Mills, Steator ?

[~MnM~]

A friend of ours just gave this to us the other day, he figured that I might want it. This was found up in an attic storage room from one of the local taverns. I had never heard of Baker Bros Coffee Mills being in Streator before now.

This is pretty cool, thought I'd share.





Wonder where this factory was, anyone know?

M

[thealtonroute]

Probably Lipton Tea...Baker Bros. leased the building to Lipton Tea starting in the 40s, I believe.

[~MnM~]

Ahhh, why thank's AR. Ya know I questioned Lipton Tea from a couple of the old timers in the tavern, and none of them knew.........

It probably was, and like many people who'd take home the old Lipton Tea boxes and use them for storage or dog houses..someone took one of these bags then because it was never used. How it ended upstairs in an attic, who knows, lol.

Thanks AR........... M

[~MnM~]

Nope...not in the Lipton Tea. I just looked it up in an old 1921 directory, states that Baker Brothers Company were wholesale grocers, and were located at 519 East Main Street.

M

[thealtonroute]

Where's 519 E Main Street?

Some interesting material on Baker Bros.:
www.google.com/#q=Baker+Bros.+Wholesale+Streator

[Jaded]

I put it into Google Maps and 517 E. Main St is the block of buildings that Smitty's is on, specifically the building on the opposite end of Smitty's

[~MnM~]

I don't know...you guys, because 511 E. Main is the Streator Insurance Agency which was right next door to Lipton Tea.

Thanks for the link AR....... gonna go check that out.

M

[thealtonroute]

What was the address of the "Lipton Tea" building? Maybe Baker Bros. owned more than one building on that block? Their operation apparently was quite extensive 90 years ago.

[~MnM~]

Ok AR...I just looked that info up in an old 1964 directory...states: Thomas Lipton Inc. 519 E.Main.

So..there we go then.

M

[dive61364]

The Lipton Tea building, as many refer to it, was built in 1916, with an L-shaped addition in the rear of the building added in 1950. It housed Baker Brothers Wholesale Grocery Co. from 1916 to 1947 and the Thomas I. Lipton Tea Co. from 1947 to 1965.