The folks at the World’s Largest Catsup Bottle in Collinsville, Ill., have announced the creation of a new ornament for Christmas and other Yuletide holidays, featuring that distinctive water tower.
According to the news release:
Each red, white, and blue 3-D brass ornament comes in a red, gold-stamped collector’s box with a commemorative insert. Official Catsup Bottle red Christmas ribbon is also included!
The ornament is stamped on the back with the Catsup Bottle website address and “Made in U.S.A.” The box measures 5″ x 5″ and the oval ornament measures 3.25″ x 2.25″.
If you live in the Collinsville, Illinois, area, ornaments are available for purchase at Ashmann’s Pharmacy, Dean’s Wine & Liquor, The Flower Basket, and Cullop Jennings Florist. They are also available at both Collinsville Walgreens locations.
The ornament, which lists for $16.50, can be ordered online here.
The World’s Largest Catsup Bottle sits near the site of a former Brooks Catsup factory. The 100,000-gallon water tower, painted to resemble a Brooks ketchup bottle, was built in 1949.
Brooks moved its operations to Indiana years later, but the big bottle stayed. A local preservation group restored it in 1995, and it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2002.
The World’s Largest Catsup Bottle sits about two miles south of the nearest alignment of Route 66 at Beltline Road in Collinsville. However, it remains a favorite side trip for many Route 66 travelers.
Thanks for the story, Ron! Keep pouring’ it on!