The History of Cheerwine
(adapted from an article by JIMMY TOMLIN in Our State magazine)
Its flavor is sweet, its color is red, and its history is inextricably intertwined with our own. At soda fountains and from vending machines, we grew up with it. This is our drink. But we’re happy to share it with the rest of the world.
Bob Morgan, a Salisbury NC native, began drinking Cheerwine soft drink as a boy in the mid-1930s. He tells about the old country store where he would get a bologna & cheese sandwich and a bottle of Cheerwine for a quarter. And he tells a pricelss story of drinking a Cheerwine in a foxhole amid the combat of World War II.
Those who have grown up in Salisbury, North Carolina may take Cheerwine for granted. The soft drink was not widely available outside the Salisbury area for decades. Cliff Ritchie, president and chief executive of Cheerwine's maker, Carolina Beverage Corp., says that the company was pretty content just to stay in basically the Piedmont and in the western North Carolina area. Ritchie is the fourth generation of Cheerwine leadership. His great-grandfather, L.D. Peeler, concocted the soft drink in 1917, when a sugar shortage during World War I led him to experiment with cherry flavoring. It all began in a building, a former whiskey distillery, in downtown Salisbury.
While the soft drink may have roots in a former whiskey distillery, Cheerwine contains no alcohol. The 'wine' in the name derives from the deep burgundy color. Countless people are often confused, assuming the drink is a wine product! IN 1992, federal regulators and anti-alcohol activists were accusing Cheerwine of encouraging teens to drink alcohol. The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms backed away quickly after an investigation, acknowledging, "Cheerwine is wine like root beer is beer."
Cheerwine has shown continued growth, despite the challenges, through the years. The Cheerwine concentrate - with its 'secret formula' is sold locally, but stories abound of people driving thousands of miles to Salisbury NC to get the soft drink.
When you are in Salisbury, stop in to Innes Street Drug (on South Main Street in the historic downtown). Innes Street Drug is the only place in town that sells officially licensed Cheerwine merchandise...and not just the drink! The downtown shop, complete with old-fashioned soda fountain bar & stools (and the best milkshake in town!) offers Cheerwine shirts, hats, boxer shorts, clocks, license plates, and bumper stickers. Visitors to Salisbury often leave with $600-$700 worth of Cheerwine memorabilia. At the soda fountain, you can order Cheerwine slushies, milk shakes, and floats, as well as a slice of Cheerwine cake and Cheerwine fudge. In 2010, Krispy Kreme Doughnuts introduced a Cheerwine cream-filled doughnut. The company sold more than a million of that doughnut in just one month!
By 2016, after nearly 100 years of its existence, Cheerwine is available in 12 states, with hopes to be distributed in all 50 states in the near future. But some North Carolinians aren't sure how they feel about this! As author Jimmy Tomlin says, "Here in North Carolina, we can’t help but feel a little possessive when it comes to Cheerwine, and that’s especially true for those of us who grew up drinking it. We’re proud to claim it as our own and we’re not sure we want to share what we have — what we’ve had for nearly a century — with anyone else. ~ Does that make us Cheerwine snobs? Probably."
Jimmy goes on the say, "In the end, . . . we’ll share our Cheerwine bounty with the less fortunate who’ve been deprived for so long. Sharing is just what we do here in the South, whether it’s tomatoes from our garden, sugar from our pantry, wisdom from our life experiences or, in this case, Cheerwine from our refrigerators. Know this, though: Even if the soft drink reaches all 50 states, there’s one thing we can claim about our Cheerwine that the rest of the country cannot. It tastes like home. It tastes like North Carolina." (Read the full Our State magazine article >HERE<)
This year, Cheerwine celebrates its 100th anniversary! Celebrations are planned in historic downtown Salisbury NC in May ~ and we hope you'll join us!
When you are in Salisbury NC shopping for your home or new commercial location, let Realtor® Greg Rapp introduce you to Cheerwine . . . to see what home tastes like! (704) 213-6846 ~ call or text today!
Greg Rapp
Wallace Realty Co.
704 213 6846 Mobile
704 636 2021 Office
www.realestatesalisbury.net
Not every buyer is looking for the move-in-ready, perfect home!
Some appreciate the challenge that what many of us call 'The Fixer Upper' offers! And like Jeffrey Rothfeder of This Old House magazine says, "For people who love old houses — and love to work on them — the notion of buying a fixer-upper can be irresistible. Just think: You can snag a rundown place in a good neighborhood for way below market price, invest some time and money renovating it, and end up with a like-new house that's worth at least twice what you paid for it." (Read his article here: Should You Buy That Fixer-Upper)
Greg Rapp, with Wallace Realty, had the 2-story circa 1900 Victorian home at 602 4th Street in Spencer, North Carolina listed for sale at just $29,900. And you would rightly ask, as many did, "Why so cheap??"
The large Victorian style farmhouse was in dire need of restoration, and was previously was a duplex, complete with two kitchens. Although the home offered lots of fireplaces with original mantels, all were nonfunctional. The home needed new HVAC...and in truth, just about everything else.
The good news: the home featured original woodwork throughout and most of the rooms were quite spacious. Located in the Spencer Historic District, and on the National Register of Historic Places, Greg offered this vintage home "Sold 'As-Is', with the underlying belief that this home near the North Carolina Transportation Museum could be a real stunner, once restored! And sometimes, if you believe in something strongly enough, it can happen!
Greg Rappclosed on the sale of 602 4th Street January 6, 2017. Did this take patience and persevering? Oh yes! The home was on the market 205 days...nearly a year...with offers that came, but fell through, until the right one came along!
Don't believe this can happen? One of the true success stories is the Fulton-Blackmer House in Salisbury NC. This once spectacular circa 1820 mansion was not only abandoned but severely damaged by fire, then left to demolish by neglect. Many in the surrounding neighborhood desired demolition to rid the area of the eyesore. Historic Salisbury Foundation stepped in and stabilized the home, and soon afterward, buyers purchased their 'forever home'. The beauty of this restored home (and subsequent current value) far surpasses anything one could have imagined, had you seen the home in its desperate condition.
The Victorian home at 602 4th Street is in the Spencer Historic District. Located adjacent to the NC Transportation Museum, this is the largest contiguous historic district in North Carolina. It contains 322 residential and commercial buildings primarily constructed between 1905 and 1920 to provide support and housing for the workers of Southern Railway’s former steam locomotive repair facility.
And in the heart of the Spencer Historic District was the restoration enthusiast's dream come true: A lovely two-story Victorian ... at under $40,000!!!
There are more opportunities to find homes like this...at attractive prices, built with the character and quality of a bygone era.
Interested? Call Greg Rapp with Wallace Realty: (704) 213-6846. Make your restoration dream come true!
Greg Rapp
Wallace Realty Co.
704 213 6846 Mobile
704 636 2021 Office
www.realestatesalisbury.net
Editor's note: This beautiful home is now priced below $195K. 418 W. Liberty Street is now at $194,000.
418 LIBERTY STREET WEST ~Salisbury, NC 28144
MLS#59274
List Price: $215,000 $194,000
Radiating from, and including, the historic downtown center of Salisbury, North Carolina, are ten historic districts ~ each a fantastic collection of intact vintage homes and architecture, some dating pre-Civil War. And in the heart of the Ellis Graded School District, you'll find this gorgeous turn-of-the-century Victorian ~ a landmark on its slightly elevated lot ~ for sale with Salisbury's 'old house' specialist Greg Rapp / Wallace Realty.
Welcome to 418 W. Liberty Street
The sprawling, nearly 3200 square foot home may be a circa 1900 masterpiece, loaded with original details, but this home accommodates today's life styles with wonderful modern amenities and updates. But first, let's take you up the front steps, past the granite block retaining wall, to see what this home that commandeers the entirety of the 400 block of W. Liberty Street is all about!
Guests to 418 W. Liberty Street are welcomed by a rolling lawn and pristine landscaping, but the most impressive exterior feature is the exceptionally large wrap-around veranda that sweeps across the entire front width of the home and around half the side. The recessed doorway is a featured design element of this Victorian beauty. Circular columns support the high, sky blue ceiling in true Southern style. You'll enjoy many a sunset with friends and family gathered 'round in rocking chairs in this special place.
Inside, five fireplaces and gracious over-sized rooms await. A spacious and welcoming foyer, truly an additional room, trimmed with crown molding and chair rail - and truly an additional room, takes your eyes to an elegant staircase with handsome newel post and around to surrounding rooms. Plantation shutter frame the windows here and in the stairwell...and throughout the main level of the home.
Enter to the left to your beautiful living room. This formal parlor's focal point is the fireplace, while the crown molding is another special detail. Soaring ceilings, chair rail, and a front bay window are elegant finishing touches.
A set of French doors takes you from foyer to the gracious formal dining room, featuring another fireplace with simple mantel piece, that is perfect for entertaining and adjoins the front parlor. Bonus: a coat closet in this room! (This could become a main-story master bedroom!)
Entertaining in your large, deep red, formal dining room will be a treat, especially with the Butler's Pantry conveniently situated between this fireplace graced room and the beautifully updated kitchen. Don't you just love the diamond-paned door leading to the sunroom?
The east facing kitchen (morning sunlight!) is a delight of rich details! This cozy room has been wonderfully updated. Deep black granite counters gleam, and warm wood cabinetry blends perfectly with the diagonal tile floor. Zoom in and you'll find pretty cabinet knobs, including the whimsical pulls on the cupboards flanking the farmhouse sink, a lovely plate rack cupboard, wine rack, and pretty pebbled-glass cabinet fronts. Note the pot rack above the sink, the roll-front appliance cupboard, and the pull-out onion/potato baskets. These details add so much to this pleasant and work-efficient space. The crown molding above the cabinetry is a fine architectural touch.
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A large breakfast - work island peninsula with butcher-block top not only provides a dining area, but has extra storage beneath, and shelving at its flank. A large mirrored wall visually extends the room. You will love this wonderfully designed, sunlit space that exits to our two favorite places in the home: The enclosed patio and the breakfast room with connecting sunroom.
Along the rear of the home the cutest sunlit breakfast room ever leads to the most wonderful sunroom. The tile flooring extends through the Breakfast Room, then gorgeous hardwood flooring takes over in these bright rooms, where an abundance of windows, including French push-out casement windows, and French doors overlook the ultra-private, spacious fenced patio.
And see the wonderful arched doorway? Enter here to the home's 240 square-foot library ~ a warm room featuring bookcases that flank the fireplace and doorway. Here you'll find plantation shutters, hardwood flooring, and more crown molding.
A cute downstairs bathroom features a vintage pedestal sink!
Let's Go Upstairs!
Up the staircase to the second story, a large mezzanine greets you. Note the spectacular hardwood floors again that reoccur throughout this impeccably restored vintage home.
Here, four very large bedrooms await. The Owner's Suite offers a spacious bedroom with coal burning fireplace, an enormous (15'5" x 5'8" !!!) walk-in closet with loads of built-in shelving, and a private bath.
Adjoining the master bedroom are bedrooms #2 and #3, equally large and also equipped with closets, a rarity in a house of this era! The current owners outfitted bedroom #4 as an upstairs laundry room ~ a wonderful convenience, but certainly easily reverted to a bedroom. Bedroom #2 has another of the home's five fireplaces.
Let's Go Outside
Remember we told you the kitchen and sunroom exit to a private patio? Here it is!
A wonderful large, private and open-air space, lush with plantings, to enjoy evenings, cookouts, friends, and family! We believe a porch ran across the rear of the home (note the brick piers) that is now enclosed to house the heated breakfast room and sunroom.
The work horses in this ca. 1900 home that bring it into the 21st century are the new heat unit for first floor, a newer roof (2009), blown-in insulation, and a full basement (unfinished).
Neighborhood and History
The Ellis Street Graded School Historic District contains a remarkably intact collection of historic resources from the late nineteenth century, when the area was rural with only a few homes and a school, to the mid-twentieth century when it was fully developed to accommodate the growing population and urbanization of the city. The street patterns and traditional land use have continued largely unchanged to the present, preserving the historic character of the district.
At the center of the district, where W. Kerr Street dead-ends at N. Ellis Street, is the 1881 Ellis Street Graded School building (No. 45), which serves as a core of the neighborhood. Today, in a park-like setting, this cruciform, low-scale building, despite a series of additions and demolitions during its period of significance, closely resembles its original configuration.
The builders of 418 W. Liberty Street were attorney Augustus and Helen Price. In 1905 Price inherited the property, which was the entire southern half of the block, from his father Charles Price, a notable local attorney who was the legal counselor for the WNCRR and division counselor for the Southern Railway, among others. Charles Price had purchased the property from Francis Shober. Augustus and Helen Price built the Liberty Street home and four more homes at 301 to 313 N. Ellis Street.
Homes in the historic districts in Salisbury, NC are subject to Salisbury Historic Preservation Commission rules for any changes to the exterior of home. That said, the city often offers Historic Preservation Grants that assist owners of historic homes with the costs of exterior repair and upgrades!
Location, Location, Location!
418 W. Liberty Street is just 4 blocks from Salisbury's Arts District, where the nationally acclaimed Waterworks Visual Art Center resides, Lee Street Theatre community theater, Rail Walk Gallery & Studios, and the new Morgan Ridge Rail Walk Brewery are part of what make Salisbury a special place to live. A second new brewery, the award winning New Sarum Brewing Co., and a plethora of unique restaurants and shopping boutiques are a few blocks to the south in the downtown historic district, where the Salisbury-Rowan Symphony hosts an annual outdoor summer concert, and another community theater troupe, the Piedmont Players keeps the calendar busy with two theater locations, the historic Meroney Theatre and the newly renovated Norvell Children's Theater. Getting around is a breeze as well. Salisbury has (3) interstate exchanges, and is an Amtrak hub in the historic Salisbury Depot. Salisbury is an hour's drive to the larger metro areas of Charlotte, Greensboro, and Winston-Salem ~ is a 2-hour drive to scenic Asheville, and a 4-hour drive to the ocean! A strong preservation culture embraces Salisbury, supported by such agencies as the Historic Salisbury Foundation, that hosts an annual tour of historic homes, the prized OctoberTour™.
If we don't have you convinced yet that this is The Place to Be ~ in this beautifully preserved home at 418 W. Liberty Street ~ then we must invite you to come see for yourself. Let Realtor® Greg Rapp show you the advantages of living in a quality built vintage home (they don't make them like they used to!), resplendent with character and details. Call for a private showing appointment today: (704) 213-6846. This home will not disappoint!
418 LIBERTY STREET WEST
Salisbury, NC 28144
MLS#59274
List Price: $215,000 $194,000
Greg Rapp
Wallace Realty Co.
704 213 6846 Mobile
704 636 2021 Office
www.realestatesalisbury.net
On this site, we talk a lot about what a wonderful place Salisbury, North Carolina is to live, work, and play. And mostly, you'll hear us singing the praises of our beautiful historic homes, downtown buildings, and neighborhoods.
You'll hear us talk, too, about the culture here: the vibrant arts and music scene and the strong preservation culture that has saved and restored so many of the wonderful inventory of antique homes here. But one thing you may not always hear us extol is the culture of community that is so very strong and connecting here.
A community pulls together
In the morning hours of December 30th, just 5 days after Christmas and the day before what would be New Year celebrations for one family in Salisbury, a devastating fire consumed a fine home in the North Main Historic District.
The circa 1923 F.N. McCubbins House at 1013 N. Main Street suffered severe damage, yet fortunately the family was away from home and no one was injured in the inferno. And here is where the strength of community in Salisbury NC comes into play. Knowing that the family has just suffered tremendous personal loss, friends and neighbors began to almost immediately bond together to offer support: people arrived to help board up windows and doors, friends arrived with food, and a 'Go Fund Me' page was created to assist the family financially. In just days, the community has raised over $12,000.
A bit of history about the home
F. N. McCubbins, prominent local realtor and businessman, built this large two-story weather-boarded frame foursquare in 1923 high above North Main Street on an elevated lot defined by a pretty retaining wall. This vintage home is not only in a prominent location, but is one of the jewels in the crown that is the North Main Historic District. McCubbins was a principal in McCubbins & Ramsey, and the Salisbury Realty & Insurance Company. In addition, he was part owner of the Salisbury Radio Company and an officer of the Federal Hotel Company.
If you find it in your hearts to help support this family in this time of need, the link to the 'Go Fund Me' page is here:
https://www.gofundme.com/please-help-the-lockharts
No donation is too small, or too large! Be a part of the culture of community in Salisbury, North Carolina.
Thank you.
Greg Rapp
Wallace Realty Co.
704 213 6846 Mobile
704 636 2021 Office
www.realestatesalisbury.net
Bob Morgan, a Salisbury NC native, began drinking Cheerwine soft drink as a boy in the mid-1930s. He tells about the old country store where he would get a bologna & cheese sandwich and a bottle of Cheerwine for a quarter. And he tells a pricelss story of drinking a Cheerwine in a foxhole amid the combat of World War II.
Jimmy goes on the say, "In the end, . . . we’ll share our Cheerwine bounty with the less fortunate who’ve been deprived for so long. Sharing is just what we do here in the South, whether it’s tomatoes from our garden, sugar from our pantry, wisdom from our life experiences or, in this case, Cheerwine from our refrigerators. Know this, though: Even if the soft drink reaches all 50 states, there’s one thing we can claim about our Cheerwine that the rest of the country cannot. It tastes like home. It tastes like North Carolina." (Read the full Our State magazine article >HERE<)
