Poland Spring Preservation Society celebrates 50th anniversary with Bottle and Redemption show
The plan is to make the show an annual event
SEE SOME FLOODING, RIGHT. GOOD TO KEEP IN MIND. THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND THIS YEAR IS A SPECIAL ONE FOR POLAND SPRING PRESERVATION SOCIETY. IT’S THEIR 50TH ANNIVERSARY IN A NEW BOTTLE AND MEMORABILIA SHOW IS ONE OF THE WAYS THAT THEY’RE CELEBRATING. SO WE’RE GOING TO TAKE YOU THERE LIVE NOW AND INTRODUCE YOU TO JUSTIN PATEL. HE’S THE MAINE BOTTLE HUNTER, AND HE’S GOING TO HAVE SOME STUFF AVAILABLE FOR YOU TO SEE IF YOU GO VISIT THEM THIS MORNING. SO GOOD MORNING JUSTIN. WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT BOTTLE HUNTING AND WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO SHOW TODAY? WELL, TODAY I BROUGHT OF COURSE, I HAVE SOME POLAND SPRING BOTTLES WITH ME. IT WOULD ONLY BE RIGHT. I BROUGHT THOSE TODAY TO SHOWCASE. BUT ALSO I BROUGHT A WIDE VARIETY OF DIFFERENT BOTTLES FROM THE 1840S THROUGH ABOUT 1900 MEDICINES, INKS, FOOD BOTTLES, HISTORICAL FLASKS, JUST THE WHOLE WIDE SELECTION. SO MAYBE PEOPLE THAT ARE INTERESTED IN THE HOBBY HAVE NEVER SEEN THESE TYPE OF BOTTLES. NOW THEY HAVE A CHANCE TO ON THE TABLE. THEY’RE ALL FOR SALE AND JUST TRYING TO. I ALWAYS TRY TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, TO COME OUT TO THESE EVENTS AND MAYBE PICK UP A NEW HOBBY. YEAH. SO, YOU KNOW, SPEAKING OF THAT, HOW DO PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, FIND THESE BOTTLES OR HOW DO YOU FIND THESE BOTTLES? WHAT’S KIND OF YOUR METHOD FOR COLLECTING THEM? WELL, I STARTED OUT AT A YOUNG AGE DIGGING FOR BOTTLES, OLD TRASH PITS BEHIND PEOPLE’S HOUSES, YOU KNOW, FROM THE 1800S. BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE EVERYONE HAS BOTTLES AT THEIR HOUSE. PEOPLE GO TO YARD SALES, THEY FIND BOTTLES. PEOPLE ARE OUT PUTTING IN A GARDEN. THEY MIGHT FIND A BOTTLE BEHIND THEIR HOUSE. SO I STARTED OUT DIGGING AND NOW I TRAVEL ALL OVER THE BOTTLE SHOWS. I GO TO BOTTLE AUCTIONS AND IT’S JUST IT’S A FUN HOBBY. AND I THINK IN EVERY HOUSE YOU’LL FIND ANTIQUE BOTTLES. SO I HAVE TO ASK, WITH A COLLECTION LIKE YOURS, DO YOU HAVE LIKE A FAVORITE FIND OF YOURS OR LIKE A FAVORITE BOTTLE THAT YOU LIKE TO SHOW OFF? I DO, I DON’T HAVE IT ON MY TABLE RIGHT NOW, BUT IT’S, IT’S A BOTTLE FROM THE 1700S. IT’S AN EARLY GIN BOTTLE OR RUM BOTTLE, I SHOULD SAY, FROM THE 1700S. IT’S BLACK GLASS. I HAVE THE ORIGINAL BARNACLES STILL ON IT. I FOUND IT SCUBA DIVING RIGHT HERE IN MAINE. SO IT’S JUST IT’S COOL TO HAVE A BOTTLE THAT WAS AROUND BEFORE THIS COUNTRY WAS FOUNDED. WOW, WHAT A COOL STORY. A BOTTLE THAT YOU FOUND SCUBA DIVING. BUT IT’S ALSO FROM THE 1700S. JUSTIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE APPRECIATE YOU JOINING US THIS MORNING. AND THANK YOU FOR SHOWING U
Poland Spring Preservation Society celebrates 50th anniversary with Bottle and Redemption show
The plan is to make the show an annual event
Updated: 3:34 PM EDT Jun 14, 2026
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Poland Spring Preservation Society, a non-profit dedicated to preserving the historical buildings located at Poland Spring Resort. To mark the occasion, the non-profit is hosting a Bottle and Memorabilia Show and Sale, allowing people to view and purchase collectable bottles.On Saturday, Justin Petelle, the Maine Bottle Hunter gave a special presentation on the art of digging and diving for antique bottles. Sunday morning Maine’s Total Coverage spoke with him and got an early look at his collection. He says one of his favorite bottles was one that he found from the 17th century while scuba diving.General admission is from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Early admission was at 8 a.m. which gave attendees a chance to get an early look at what was available.Organizers say that this is the first year they’ve held a bottle and memorabilia show and the plan is to continue to host one every year.
POLAND, Maine —
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Poland Spring Preservation Society, a non-profit dedicated to preserving the historical buildings located at Poland Spring Resort. To mark the occasion, the non-profit is hosting a Bottle and Memorabilia Show and Sale, allowing people to view and purchase collectable bottles.
On Saturday, Justin Petelle, the Maine Bottle Hunter gave a special presentation on the art of digging and diving for antique bottles. Sunday morning Maine’s Total Coverage spoke with him and got an early look at his collection. He says one of his favorite bottles was one that he found from the 17th century while scuba diving.
General admission is from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Early admission was at 8 a.m. which gave attendees a chance to get an early look at what was available.
Organizers say that this is the first year they’ve held a bottle and memorabilia show and the plan is to continue to host one every year.