Dumb question on E98 "Old Put Cigars"

[wolf441]

Here's a website that goes through the historical stations along the "Old Put" line:

http://www.billboeckelman.com/conten...html?id=910922

[frankbmd]

http://www.network54.com/Forum/15365...6quot%3B+cards

Scanned this Old Put thread from the archives in 2006. More questions than answers and no mention of the Railroad. I also didn't find evidence of an "Old Put" brand of cigar.

Old Puts may not be tobacco cards at all, they may "railroad" cards.

[wolf441]

Here's the wiki page on Hilltop Park.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hilltop_Park

[frankbmd]

Hilltop was on Broadway between 155th and 158th. The Old Put line was close by. Pretty clear at this point that the Old Put RR transported Highlander fans.

Does anyone out there have proof of a cigar brand named "Old Put"?

Seems like Old Put Cigar ephemera would be more common than the rare card stamp if they actually existed.

Seems to me that "Old Puff" would be a more likely name for a cigar.

But what do I know.

The map below shows the Old Put ending at 155th ST -- very interesting.

[sb1]

I did a newspaper search for 5 cent cigars circa 1909-10 and found a zillion different ones, but no Old Put.

I believe it quite possible these were stamped by a one time owner rather than distributed by a vender. Vs. the Aldon Candy Co. which was clearly used to substitute a different seller. At one time I owned one(mack? brown? ??) that had back damage, I think a board member has it. Would be interesting to see if the stamp is applied over the back damage.

[Tim Kindler]

I have done research and checking on 5 cent cigars for years now and haven't been able to find any pics, or text on Old Put Cigars. I did see the railroad line named Old Put. I believe it was named after Isreal Putnam, who's nickname was "Old Put". Putnam was a military hero of our country since its beginnings. He fought in the French and Indian War and in the Revolutionary War. He left his field to join the Minute Men at the battles of Concord and Lexington. He joined the Continental Army and was regarded by George Washington as one of his best leaders. Some claim he was the one who said "Don't shoot till you see the whites of their eyes" at the Battle of Bunker Hill, not Prescott as widely believed. Who knows for sure. Historian David McCullogh complimented him by saying he was "Tough as any man that ever lived". I can only assume that Old Put 5 cent cigars were named after Putnam, but until something ever shows up on these cigars, we'll never know. As Leon stated, those of us who have collected them or have some in our collections collect them because of their uniqueness or obscurity. Years back, along with the help of many board members, I documented and collected a checklist of the Old Put E98s that the board members either owned or knew of their existence. It can be found in the archives. Here's a scan of one of the few that I own.

[frankbmd]

Thanks Tim.

My understanding of the "Old Put" railroad is that the nickname was derived from the northern end of the line was in Brewster, NY in Putnam County.

Putnam County was obviously named after someone named Putnam though, possibly the Revolutionary War guy or another famous historical Putnam from New York State.

Who knows for sure? Certainly not me.