Fires and New Buildings for Rock Hill Coca-Cola

In 1909 the first convention of bottling plant owners and managers was held in Atlanta. There were nearly 400 Coca-Cola Bottling plants operating.

In 1910 fire destroyed the Rock Hill Plant, and the company temporarily moved to Elks Alley. This was the second time the plant was destroyed by fire. William Mark Mauldin rebuilt after two years and moved to Trade Street at the intersection of Trade and Moore Streets. The Coca-Cola Bottler 1913 June issue describes the new building as being 25 feet wide and 110 feet deep. There was a good cement floor, and every window and door was fitted with a screen, making the place as sanitary as possible. A twentieth century soaker and an automatic crown machine were installed. The plant remained there until 1925 when it moved to 153 East White Street where a building was built at a cost of $30,000. The building still stands today.

Additions to the Mauldin Family and a New Bottle Design

William Mark Mauldin, Jr. (Billy) was born on July 4, 1913. In 1914 The Coca-Cola Bottlers Association was formed. On January 16, 1915, Mary Mauldin was born. This was also the year that a new bottle was created for the Coca-Cola drink. Chapman Root Glass Company of Terre Haute, Indiana, created a contour bottle that would eliminate confusion with imitators of the Coca-Coca Bottle. The bottle was chosen for its attractive appearance and original design. Even in the dark, you could identify the genuine article. The bottle would become known as the Root hobble skirt bottle .The contour bottle became one of the few packages ever granted trademark status by the United States Patent Office. Today it is one of the most recognized icons in the world.

Three Million a Day and a Wild Ride

In 1917 the slogan, “Three Million A Day,” reflected the sales figure in terms of drinks a day. Mark Mauldin purchased his first motor truck that year. It was a semi automatic, chain-driven truck with solid tires. These vehicles were converted Ford passenger cars. Legend is that Mark decided to drive his new truck around the neighborhood on Marion Street where they had moved from their first Rock Hill home on Moore Street. Around and around he drove, gradually realizing that he had no earthly idea how to stop the machine! He continued to drive in circles. In order to stop the vehicle, Mark finally decided to crash into a trough for watering horses.