The Early History of the Plastic Maple Syrup Jug: Part Two

I am happy to share the second of a three-part article tracing the origins and development of plastic containers for the packaging and sale of maple syrup. Part II recently appeared in the September 2021 edition of the Maple Syrup Digest. You can read a PDF copy of this article by clicking on this link or the image of the first page of the article to the left.

This second part examines the introduction of the distinctive jug shape we still see today along with early silkscreened scenes of vintage sugarbushes and sugarhouses. Most notably, this article traces the history of the pioneers of plastic syrup jugs, Elmer Kress of Kress Creations, Charlie Bacon of Bacon’s Sugar House, Bob Lamb of Lamb plastic tubing fame, and S. Allen Soule of Fairfield Plastics.

Matthew M. Thomas

ABOUT

This site presents ideas, current research, and new sources of information related to the history of the production and use of maple syrup and maple sugar in North America. The purpose of this site is not to be the definitive account tracing the history of maple syrup and sugar, or telling the maple story, although at times it will share old and new contributions to maple history. Rather, the focus is on the study and doing of maple syrup related history. The site will primarily feature topics and research of interest to the site’s creator, but on occassion the site may feature guest contributors.

This site is not the place to find answers to questions like “how do you make maple syrup”? It is assumed that if the reader was able to successfully use the internet to find this site they can also use it to answer their other maple syrup related questions.

Readers are encouraged to submit maple history related questions through the contact form below or by email to maplesyruphistory@gmail.com

SITE CREATOR

This site is the creation and work of Matthew Thomas, an independent researcher with a wide range of interests in all things maple. With an academic background in American Indian studies, anthropology, archaeology, and geography, including a Doctorate from the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies at the University of Wisconsin, Matthew has been researching and writing about the history of maple syrup and sugar for the past twenty years. Matthew can be reached by the contact form above.

The Early History of the Plastic Maple Syrup Jug: Part Two – The 1970s

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