TOM KELLY'S BOTTLE HOUSE

This was one of three bottle houses to be built in Rhyolite. But you have to say that Mr. Kelly had the largest? It only took him 5 1/2 months to complete this house. Most of the bottles used were Adulphous Busch, (You know, it's known as Budweiser today!) anyway, there are a few patent medicine bottles that were used also. Did you know that they used opium in patent medicines in the early 1900's? (It really did make you feel better, but I am not sure that it cured anything!)

FOUR OF THE MAIN BOTTLES USED IN TOM KELLY'S HOUSE

Adolphus Busch Glass Manufacturing Co. Bottle Bottom
Adolphus Busch Glass Manufacturing Co. - Circa 1904-1907
 Adolphus Busch Glass Manufacturing Co. Bottle Bottom
Adolphus Busch Glass Manufacturing Co. - Circa 1886-1926
Adolphus Busch Glass Manufacturing Co. Bottle Bottom
Adolphus Busch Glass Manufacturing Co. - Circa 1900-1904
 Streator Bottle & Glass Co. Bottle Bottom
Streator Bottle & Glass Co. - Circa 1881-1905 - Merged with Adolphus Busch's Belleville pant in 1905 to become the American Bottle Co.

Unfortunately, a lot of people who used the medicines became addicted to them. That was a big problem in some of these mining towns. (Some of the stories I could tell you about the people around here! But that's for another time.)

Oh goodness, I almost forgot to tell you that Mr. Kelly used approximatley 30,000 bottles before he completed his house. He did not even wash the bottles before he used them. But, I guess that was because the water lines had not been laid yet. Water was $5.00 a barrel in those days. That was very expensive, so you couldn't waste it on washing bottles.

THUMB NAILS OF THE BOTTLE HOUSE
(If you don't want to look at all the photos, just scroll to the bottom of the page.)
Bottle House 1906 Link to Larger Picture Bottle House 1920's Link to Larger Picture Bottle House 1929 Link to Larger Picture Bottle House 1929 Link to Larger Picture Bottle House 1930's Link to Larger Picture
The Murphey Era at the Bottle House spanned from 1936 until 1954
With the help of Bessie Moffat, Lewis Murphey took care of the Bottle House and invited tourists to view the townsite. This was the beginning of Rhyolite becoming a popular ghost town, and the start of the long tradition of being greated at the Bottle House. The Thumbnails below are from the Murphey Era.

Murphy at the Bottle House Link to Larger Picture Bottle House 1930's Link to Larger Picture Bottle House 1940's Link to Larger Picture Bottle House 1948 Link to Larger Picture
Bottle House 1948 Link to Larger Picture Murphey in his yard 1940's Link to Larger Picture
From 1954 until 1989 was probably the most famous part of the Bottle House history. Tommy and Mary Thompson with their grandson Evan III had charge of the Bottle House. After Evan grew up he took care of the place until 1989. See if you remember these.
Tommy at the back door of the Bottle House 1960's Link to Larger Picture Mary Thompson at the Bottle House 1960's Link to Larger Picture Bottle House Late 1950's Link to Larger Picture Bottle House 1980 Link to Larger Picture
Bottle House 1980 Link to Larger Picture Tommy on the front porch of the Bottle House Link to Larger Picture
From 1990 to present, the townsite has been managed by the Bureau of Land Management. Here are some photos taken during these years.
Clint Boehringer at Bottle House 1994 Link to Larger Picture Side of Bottle House 1995 Link to Larger Picture Bottle House Late 1950's Link to Larger Picture Bottle House 1980 Link to Larger Picture
Bottle House 2001 Link to Larger Picture restoring bottle house 2005 crew who restored bottle house 2005 Complete restoration Link to Larger Picture
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