A
brick from the West Barnstable Brick Factory is a highly sought after
collector’s item when it comes to those who live or have lived on
Cape Cod. Another piece of Cape Cod’s past that people have seen
popping up across the internet on sites like eBay is in the form of a
glass bottle. These heavy glass bottles are engraved with the name
J.L. Panesis & Co. Who was J.L. Panesis? What was the company
all about? This is the fascinating story of the man and the company
behind the glass bottles.
James L. Panesis, the man behind the name of the company, was born in Agios
Petros, Greece. Orphaned as a child Panesis took a huge risk and
left for America with no more than five cents to his name. After
passing through Ellis Island Panesis met up with a cousin who lived
near Middleboro. He helped sell produce at Fanueil Hall before
trying his hand selling the produce on Cape Cod. Selling out his
wares completely on his first try Panesis decided the Cape was a
perfect place to open his own shop.
In
March 1912 James Panesis, along with his brother Spero, opened a
retail and wholesale business selling fruit, confectionery
(candy/sweets), cigars and more in the Keveney & Bearse Building
on Main Street Hyannis, opposite the Iyanough House hotel which had
itself been built in 1910. The business was known as J.L. Panesis & Co. Panesis was one of the founding members of the Greek settlement
on Cape Cod.
 |
| A 1922 Ad from Cape Cod Magazine |
The business was an immediate success. Within a year James needed
a new truck for bringing their deliveries to Hyannis from Boston and
within two years had taken over the entirety of the Keveney & Bearse Building. This occurred when the Hyannis Lighting Co. moved a
few doors down in April 1914. James married Dina Navroyanis from
Lynn in February 1915 and their home on North Ocean Street (today
Barnstable Road) in Hyannis was totally remodeled and renovated for
the new couple.
Things
changed in February 1916 when Spero sold his share of the company
leaving James to run the successful company on his own. The company
continued to thrive in the aftermath of Spero leaving. In 1919 a
garage was built on the premises to begin Panesis’ newest venture.
It was called Hyannis Well Spring Beverages based off of the biblical
picture ‘Rebecca at the Well.’ Advertised as ‘delicious,
refreshing, and invigorating’ this pure fruit juice came in flavors
such as orangeade, champagne cider, and ‘Paneco’ ginger ale.
 |
Inside the factory
(Courtesy Nicole Sulea) |
Tragedy
nearly derailed the company though when on February 13, 1920 James’
wife Dina died suddenly at the young age of 27 from a combination of
premature childbirth and the Spanish flu outbreak. Somehow James
Panesis carried on and oversaw his company's next big move.
In
October 1921 a larger factory was built behind Panesis’ North Ocean
Street home (present-day 65 Barnstable Road) as creating Hyannis Well
Spring tonic had proved fruitful. The factory cost $10,000 ($144,000
in 2020). Every precaution was taken to provide customers with the
highest quality product, this included sterilizing every glass bottle
before filling it with a beverage. New flavors arrived routinely
such as lemon-lime, cream soda, root beer, loganberry, and Eskimo
soda. By 1926 J.L. Panesis & Co. had become so big it was a
Coca-Cola bottler and distributor.
 |
Outside of the factory on Barnstable Road
(Courtesy of Nicole Sulea) |
James
Panesis was a huge part of the increasingly successful Greek
population of Hyannis. He would routinely gather with others like
George Garoufes owner of the Mayflower Cafe, and his nephew Peter
Panesis owner of New York Sandwich Shop. This included trips back to
Greece during the 1920’s. The Greek church arranged a second
marriage between James and Roubiny Stavrianolpoulos
although
it was not a classic love connection it did last until James’ death.
Another
tragedy struck James Panesis in May 1939. His brother Spero, who had
begun the company with him, took his own life. Spero had been in ill
health and had only recently been released from the hospital. Sadly
he left behind his wife and four children.
After
serving in World War II James’ sons Angelo and Louis joined the
business. Angelo was the manager and Louis was production manager.
The Hyannis Well Spring department of J.L. Panesis & Co. became
distributor of Mission and White Rock brands of carbonated drinks and continued its success throughout the 1950's.
 |
One of the glass bottles.
(Courtesy of Nicole Sulea) |
In
1960 J.L. Panesis & Co and Hyannis Well Spring Beverages closed
with the retirement of James Panesis at the age of 74. Angelo and
Louis went to work for Coca-Cola’s bottling plant in Sandwich after
the closing of the company. James and Roubiny lived at their home on
Barnstable Road until James passed in April 1970 at the age of 84.
Roubiny passed in 1979. Today the property that once held the J.L.
Panesis & Co. and Hyannis Well Spring factory is part of one of
the busiest sections of Cape Cod.
James
Panesis came from nothing, orphaned and nearly penniless, and took a
huge risk leaving his native Greece to find a better life in America
just after the turn of the 20th century. Though there
were tragedies and hardships the tale of Panesis in America and
specifically on Cape Cod can only be seen as a success. A kind,
fair, and honest business man along with the patriarch of a
successful Greek family on the Cape James Panesis is one shining
example of the American dream and why that idea is still so important
here in the 21st century.
A
huge thank you for the facts and photos of this article goes out to
Nicole Sulea. She is the great-granddaughter of James Panesis and a
native Cape Codder living in Maine. Please check out her vintage
fashion shop Heirloom Antiques and Vintage Boutique at 19 Temple
Street, Waterville, ME.
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