Have you ever come across that lone bottle residing on your kitchen shelf or living room counter, begging to tell a story? Have you wondered what its purpose was in the past? Did it store food products, soda, ink, or another kind of household product? Today, it is often forgotten how glass bottles were once a primary method of storing and transporting substances of all kinds. On Sunday, March 23, 2025, from 2-3 p.m., join Alex and Viktor Prizgintas at the Hendrick Hudson Free Library as they discuss The Art of Antique Bottle Detecting, covering the fundamentals behind dating and identifying antique bottles.
Alex has been collecting bottles from the Hudson Valley for over 10 years and served as president of the Hudson Valley Bottle Club from 2018 to 2020. His research on local bottles and bottle history has been published in the Antique Bottle & Glass Collector magazine, as well as the Hudson River Valley Review journal.
“Antique glass is one of the most [unusual] collectibles I have studied” says Alex Prizgintas. “Where some collectibles, like toy trains or model cars, were made with the intent of being treasured for decades, much of the antique glass I share had a utilitarian purpose for the general public. Whether it was to store food products, soda, ink, or another kind of household product, once its use was complete, the bottle was discarded. Lost to time and often dug from the early trash pits where they were thrown away, these glass vessels often yield many characteristics on the time in which they were made. It’s kind of like a scavenger hunt, which lends a unique thrill to this hobby.”
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An old Cortlandt Dairy bottle Photo credit: Alex Prizgintas
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An old Peekskill Wine & Liquor bottle Photo credit: Alex Prizgintas
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An old Edgar Jones Peekskill bottle Photo credit: Alex Prizgintas
Alex and Viktor encourage those attending to bring any bottles they have that are intriguing and are waiting to “tell” a story. Perhaps that bottle may be in the basement, the kitchen, or in an attic hideaway spot, or as a cool piece sitting on the bookshelf. After the presentation, everyone will enjoy learning some new knowledge and maybe even a little history.
To sign up for this event, click this link and let them know you read about it in the Peekskill Herald.
Alex Prizgintas is a multi-faceted talent who is also an author, musician, historian, and preservationist. For more information about Alex, visit alexprizgintas.com and follow him on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
Hendrick Hudson Free Library is at 185 Kings Ferry Road in Montrose.
Don’t forget to share this article and let Alex know you read about it in the Peekskill Herald.
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