There's little doubt that most of our current Bottle Club Members know the part that DEL KENYON played in our Club's History.
Perhaps in spite of the fact that many have heard the story, it's one that's worth repeating in perhaps a bit more detail, for while it's not an historical epic, as yet, there will be a day when all that is left are a few written words and the memories of not only Del, but of all of us who are now a part of the "thought" long ago, that brought us to this day.
Del started in the days when bottles were something to either throw a rock at, shoot at with a rifle or totally ignore.
It was while on a fishing trip in the Feather River Canyon, in the year 1958 that Del, while making his way through the woods to a better spot on the river to cast his line, ran across an old Mountain Cabin and not far from the Cabin he also saw a grave, that had been there many years.
Del had decided to look through the Cabin. His search was born from curiosity, for in those days he wasn't interested in antiques. His interests were hunting and fishing.
The Cabin turned up nothing. So he left for his fishing spot
A couple days later he and Vi were driving down an old dirt road and Del saw a small sign that said, he thought, Antiques. He backed up and ventured down this so called road and ended up at at an Old Store, which was run by Charlie and Winnie Steele.
Del and Vi spent three hours talking to Charlie and Winnie, and when they left, Del had developed a mild interest in "Old Bottles", for the Antique part of the sign was referring to "Old Bottles."
With the information gained from talking to Charlie and Winnie, Del thought that there might be a chance there would be a "Valuable bottle back at the Cabin he'd found a couple days ago.
His next move was to return to the old Cabin. With shovel in hand, he went to work. All his efforts did for him was produce a Worcestershire Sauce along with two other nondescript bottles. But, although the Worcestershire had no value in today's market, it was solid gold to Del.
From that day on, Del was in search of "Old Bottles." Vi was sure that Del had strained his brain. He not only spent a good share of his time crawling down gopher holes in search of Bottles, he was on a constant lookout for other Old Cabins and Dumps. It became physically impossible for him to pass an Antique shop, Vi was usually with him as he rooted through them, she would wait in the truck and sit and knit, knit and sit, sit and knit.
Finally out of desperation she too, decided to search the so called "Antique Shops." Bad move, soon she too was hooked, not on bottles but on Dolls, along with other paraphernalia.
Del, along with two newly acquired buddies, Pat Koster and Giles Ralston searched high and low for four years. Their quest was a well kept secret. For who in those days would admit to spending their leisure time looking for "Old Bottles?"
One day while digging, Del heard about a "Bottle Club" in Sacramento. Once again, Del's curiosity got the better of him, so he and Vi decided to run down the lead, to learn more about their "New Hobby."
Both he and Vi found their meeting place. There they met Jackie Scroggins, Lou Denchfield. George Reiber and John Tibbets. Del was impressed with the Club, so over the months he and his buddies, Pat Koster and Giles Ralston worked out a set of rules and by-laws, by which to govern their new club.
The New Club formed in 1963, was an exclusive one. The now three members formerly met in Del's house. This being one of the two reasons Del was elected President. The other being that he had the most bottles.
The meetings were held in Del's house until the "Select" membership grew to 28. At that time it became necessary to find larger quarters for their meetings.
Their first public meeting place was in the Adult Education Building in Cupertino. Since there was no charge and the building was for public use, there could be no "private" meetings. That's when the doors were open to the public.
It wasn't long until the "Bottle Craze" started spreading and soon the S.J.A.B.C.A. Club became one of, if not the best, in Northern California.
It should be noted that Charlie Steele has since died, but Winnie Steel is alive and still interested in "Old Bottles."
Del and Vi still visit them on occasion.
Del credits them for his interest in bottles and hence they were his reason for starting our club.
