Manufacturer: John Edwards – Staffordshire, England
User: W & D Ocean Oyster House – Rochester, New York
Distributors: Wisner & Palmer
Date of butter pat: circa 1871
Notes: The W & D Ocean Oyster House was located in Rochester, New York, on Buffalo Street near State Street. It was opened in the 1870's by Samuel Worden and Erastus M. Denlo.
An article in the Democrat and Chronicle of Rochester, dated Sep. 2, 1871, states: "Europe supplies the ware – Messer's. Worden & Denlo, proprietors of the Ocean Oyster House, have long needed something to make them a distinct institution, and we think they have succeeded at last. Several months ago, this firm after much calculation, ordered through the firm of Wisner & Palmer of this a full set of dishes from the manufactory of John Edwards of Staffordshire, England. They are made of semi-porcelain ware, about three-eighths of an inch in thickness, and in the center of each piece, of which there are over 1,200 is the imprint of the firm in circular form as follows: 'Ocean Oyster House.' In the center are the letters W.& D. There is not, probably, in this city ware of so excellent a quality as this. A number of pieces are yet on exhibition in the windows of Wisner & Palmer's establishment on State Street.
"Messrs. Worden & Denlo have prepared for the fall trade in more ways than getting their ware from England. They have painted and renovated their entire saloon, and the private dining rooms have been or about to be carpeted and furnished in the best of style. All the dishes and the painting would amount to nothing if Worden & Denlo were not about the best caterers in Western New York. They understand their business thoroughly and are up and posted in all that pertains to their trade. They get oysters direct from New York every day in tubs and in shell.
"Their table is always supplied with game in its season and every kind of vegetables. The regular dinner is from 12 to 3 o'clock each day, at which time roast meats, chicken, vegetables and everything palatable and seasonable are served up. Ho! for the Ocean Oyster House, Buffalo Street, near State."
After a couple years of operation, Worden left and moved to Buffalo to start another eating house. Then in 1875, Denlo was compelled by failing health to retire from active business and died in 1878.
It is not known if the Ocean Oyster House closed during the time surrounding Denlo's retirement and death, but an article in the Democrat and Chronicle dated Sep. 21, 1879, states: "Announcing the opening of a first-class Dining House … Messrs. John Stone, Charles Sugru, and James Wimble, for many years connected with the old Ocean Oyster House, have purchased the well-known place … and established again the favorite eating resort of the city."
However, in less than two years there was an advertisement in the Rochester paper saying "$600 will buy the Ocean Oyster House."
Ivory body butter pat with a circular logo in the center of the well that consists of letters "W & D" in dark purple within a lighter purple circle. This light purple circle is wrapped with the words "Ocean Oyster" on top and the word "House" on the bottom all dark purple.
Sources:
Democrat and Chronicle of Rochester, Sep. 2, 1871 – story about the Oyster Ocean House and its china
Democrat and Chronicle of Rochester, Sep. 21, 1879 – story about the sale and reopening
Contributor:
Ed Phillips: author