R S STRADER & SON
Lexington, KY.
1890-1911
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Est. 1890.

The history of Strader and Son has been research extensively by Bill Ambrose (2002) who provides the history that follows.

R. S. Strader & Son was founded in October 1890 by Robert S. Strader and his son, Wilson P. Strader. After his father’s death in 1891, Wilson Strader became the sole owner. The firm’s offices and four story warehouse was located at 74 East Main Street, near Limestone.

Each year the firm supplied the liquor for the “Great Trots Meet” held in the fall at the Red Mile track. They were wholesale brokers of “high grade Kentucky whiskies, imported cigars and tobacco, fine wines and famous mineral waters.” Their proprietary brands included “Old Pugh” and “Old Barton” brands of bourbon and rye whiskey. From 1891 to 1897 their whiskies were distilled at the Ashland distillery, owned by William Tarr, a family friend. They also handled the famed “Palo Alto” wines, from Leland Stanford of California, and the “Vina” brandies from Europe.

In September 1897 they became the exclusive agent in Kentucky for the Jas. E. Pepper & Company and their brands of “Old Pepper” and “Old Henry Clay” whiskies. The Pepper distillery also began producing their proprietary brands: this is the distillery that appears on their letterheads from this time period.

In May 1902 the firm expanded into a two story warehouse, down the street from their main office, that was used for the wholesale and shipping departments. This was the former office of J. A. Lail & Company. The company also produced “Red Heart”, “Kentucky Belle” and “Old Kentucky Home”.

In October 1902 the firm established a branch liquor house in Cincinnati, at 137 East Pearl Street. This warehouse was located near the railroad depot and managed by Joseph N. Strader.

By 1914, the company had entered the insurance business. The market control by the whiskey trust had eliminated the need for brokers.

The company used the brand names: "Kentucky Belle", "Kentucky Belle", "Lexington Red Heart", "Old Barton", "Old Kentucky Home", "Old Mountain Brandies", "Old Pugh", and "Red Heart."

Business name timeline:
R S Strader & Son

Business category timeline (abbreviations decoded below):
W

Years that company appeared in directories
Years directories were consulted
Lexington directory notes

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BUY ME! BUY ME! BUY ME! BUY ME! no date no date no date 1905 1905 1908 1908

Appearance in directories:
1898, 1902, 1904, 1908, 1909, 1911

Directories consulted:
1875-1876, 1898-1899, 1902, 1904-1905, 1907, 1908, 1909, 1911, 1912, 1914-1915, 1916-1917, 1919

Lexington directory notes:
V = Wine & Liquor (Wholesale), V-R = Wine & Liquor (Retail), W = Whiskey (Wholesale), L = Liquor (Wholesale), D = Distiller, DA = Distiller's Agent. Wholesale. Entries in the 1902 directory are followed by numbers in parentheses, suggesting that a city street renumbering occurred in the previous year.

Directory and background information was researched, compiled and donated by Bill Ambrose.

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