Hi Susan
Because you have champaign bottles do not assume they contained
champaign. First, bottles in this period were saved and reused for a
large variety of purposes. Second, Even if the bottle contained
"champaign" it was likely sparkling cider spiked with grain spirits -
bootleg and wine adulteration was very common.

Greg Koos
McLean County Museum of History
Bloomington IL

"Finney, Susan E Cooper" wrote:
>
> The Michigan Historical Museum is installing an exhibit about an
> unidentified wreck on the Great Lakes circa 1840.
> It was a working schooner in the fishing trade (no identifying marks as to
> the specific vessel) and all of the information about the wreck is based on
> archaelogical research. Its cargo was fish & salt in barrels. It may have
> occasionally carried paying passengers and would have had a crew of 3 or 4.
> Problematical are the champagne bottles & 1 beer bottle found in the stern
> cabin.
>
> We have a couple of questions about why these bottles (particularly the
> champagne) may have been found on the wreck.
> 1. Was champagne more common than other kinds of wine in this time period?
> 2. Was it used as more of a table-wine than as a celebration drink?
>
> If anyone can help with these questions, we would deeply appreciate it.
>
> Thanks all!
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Susan E. Cooper Finney
> Exhibit Designer
> Michigan Historical Museum
> Lansing, Michigan
>
> =========================================================
> Important Subscriber Information:
>
> The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes).
>
> If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).

=========================================================
Important Subscriber Information:

The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes).

If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).