Historic Mills of Connecticut

Companies Associated w/Complex

• Avery's Beverages LLC 1904-2025

Use (Historic)

• Food, Beverage, Tobacco

Largest Documented Workforce

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Historic Narrative

Quoted from website http://www.averysoda.com/ Sherman F. Avery began making soda in the red barn on Corbin Avenue in the summer of 1904. Avery's quickly became known for its variety of flavors, especially the Cream, Birch Beer, Root Beer and Ginger Ale. Using a horse pulled wagon, Mr. Avery delivered soda to the homes and stores in and around New Britain, Connecticut, and it wasn't until 1914 that he purchased his first delivery truck. Avery's bottles and sells premium old-fashioned Soda in over 35 flavors. Our sodas are still handcrafted using methods and recipes from generations ago including real cane sugar, the finest quality ingredients. Each flavor is carefully made in small batches and is packaged only in glass bottles to preserve the wonderful old-fashioned flavor. Avery's is one of the oldest soda bottling companies in New England. Production at the site ceased in 2025 when all operations moved to 1 Hartford Square. From 4/7/2026 Hartford Courant article: "Avery’s Beverages, the New Britain independent soda-maker, grew famous for releasing special flavors based on news events, for example in 2022 creating a Putin Punch, with a portion of the proceeds going to the Ukrainian Red Cross during the war started by Russia... The bottle’s design showed Russian President Vladimir Putin being punched in the nose by a gloved hand that is blue and yellow, the colors of the Ukrainian flag... In 2024, it was Kamala Colada and Trump Tonic. Avery’s Beverages capitalized on election season with themed sodas around both Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, according to the company’s Instagram. They also did a “Save Your Pets” soda showing Trump on the label with a pair of dogs, referencing the former president’s unsubstantiated claim that immigrants in Ohio were abducting and eating pets. Of course they always had their Totally Gross line of sodas too. Rob Metz bought Avery’s in 1999, becoming the fifth owner. Founder Sherman Avery sold it to an employee named Bill Bonney in the 1940s. Avery sold off the Pepsi bottling side of his business, and asked Bonney if he wanted the rest. A similar dynamic was in play when Metz came in; Bonney’s son was thinking of selling the water-bottling side of the business and closing down the soda production, the Courant has reported. In 2008, Avery’s produced about 15,000 cases. The next year, it was about 17,000. By 2012, it was over 30,000, and in 2016, it was forecast to be about 37,000."

Number of Existing Buildings

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Dates of Construction

c.1900

Architect

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Builder

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Building Type

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Architectural Description

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Exterior Material(s)

• Wood

Structural System(s)

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Roof Form

• Gable

Roof Material

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Power Source

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Condition

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Condition Notes

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Specific Location

NWC of Shuttle Meadow and Corbin Avenues

Adjacent To

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Exterior Visible from Public Road?

Yes

Parcel ID / Assessor Record Link

• E7D/ 54 building 1 / Link →

Acreage

0.83

Use (Present)

• Industrial
• Other: 2026: Property with house and factory barn on the market for $485k .

Form Completed By

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Date

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Bibliography

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