History of Oquawka Tavern 1858

1858 Oquawka Tavern Inventory
	Men striding down the gangplanks from numerous steamboat docking at the foot of Schuyler Street needed refreshment as well as conversation, maybe a game of dice or dominoes, a few crackers, or a fresh supply of tobacco.  Where would they find all of these things?   The local tavern was always open and willing to serve.   What would such a place contain?   Here is a snapshot of what was for sale.  

   Deed #10670 shows that Charles Bruce sold on the 25 Nov 1858 his stock of goods to Frederic Oel.

6 bottles of wine, fine quality		2.40	104 bottles of red & white wine	41.64
7 bottles of absinthe		3.09	13 bottles of Catawba		  8.00
9 bottles of Schiedarn Schnapps	5.62	 6 bottles of Jackson's Bitters	  3.00
4 gallons of while wine		5.00	80 cottles of claret wine	28.00
31 ½ gallons of bourbon whisky       15.75	2 gallons of anise brandy	 2.50
15 gallons of Maderia wine	          41.25	41 gallons of bourbon whiskey	20.51
17 gallons of gin	          15.30	6 ½ gallons of French brandy	32.00
42 gallons of New York brandy        35.70	4 ½ gallons of peach brandy	  6.75
4 gallons of rum	          10.00	7 gallons of New York brandy	  5.95
3 mplg kegs		 1.80	6 bottles of "Champaign"	   8.40
4 candy jars		 1.00	14 jugs			   1.35
 bottles sugar & sugar bowl	 	 3.00	4 bottles of wine		   1.40
 lamps, candle sticks & tobacco         13.091/2   2 empty bottles & 1 box of matches   .85
 dice box & dominoes		  1.90	 bottles & contents	 	    2.50
 glasses & crystal bottle	 	  4.75	 cork puller gimlet & sign(no credit)         .70
 1 barrel of crackers		  2.40	1 basket jug & bitter bottle	      .90
1 state		    .15	measures & tunnels		    1.70
6 dowels		    .60	nutmeg grater, cheese knife & match	      .70
2 gallons of whisky		    .48	                                               box
bottle vinegar 30 gallons at 15 cents	  4.50	1 bottle whiskey, 42 ballons @ 24cents 10.08
Wood		12.00	tobacco cutter & faucets	     7.25
			1 stove & necessary pipes	     9.00
			Brandy			       .55

Three hundred and twenty three dollars and fifty two cents $323.52

This is what was need to run a bar.  Notice the quality of wine and whiskey available-something for everyone.  Of course, the price depended of the source; if it had to be shipped from Philadelphia or New York, the price went up.		 		

definition: gimlet-a small too with a screw point, grooved shank, and cross handle, for boring holes.