Coke: It’s the Real Thing for Eston’s Stewart Hunter

By Joan Janzen

ESTON - Walk into the home of Stewart Hunter in Eston, and you will begin seeing ‘red,’ lots of red Coke ornaments, plates, coolers, model cars, stuffed toys, platters, clocks and bottles; whatever you can think of. Stewart’s home is filled with items adorned with the Coke’s decorative name, which he began collecting thirty years ago.

Until 2020, Stewart was assisted by his dear wife, Lynda, who sadly passed away last year; the couple had been married for 56 years. Stewart began by collecting Coke bottles, but it was his wife who loved collecting everything else. Stewart said they came to an agreement and decided, “our collection will stay within the walls of our house,” with the exception of Coke Christmas decorations and a Coke Secan, which is placed in his yard. “Otherwise, it’s all contained in the house,” Stewart said. Consequently, their basement has become a Coke museum, with more items dispersed throughout the rest of the house. Every ornament and collectable has a story to go along with it.

It’s common to see Stewart wearing a “Coke” t-shirt, which isn’t surprising since he estimated he has about 30 in his closet. Along with his family, he honoured his wife by wearing Coca-Cola shirts and hats to her funeral. Even the minister wore a Coke coat. Lynda surely would have been pleased with the thoughtful gesture, as she loved to make items with a Coca-Cola theme and give them as gifts. The couple’s hobby collection resulted in many new friendships being made throughout the years.

It was a friend who first suggested they join the Coca-Cola Collectors Club. This friend was a Coke sales rep from Swift Current. “He came over and looked at our Coke collection and suggested we join the club,” Stewart said. That was 24 years ago, in 1997 to be exact. “Our chapter would go to a show in California one year, and Vegas the next, alternating. Lynda’s sister lived in the States, so it was a good excuse to go and attend the collector show.” And since the shows took place during the cold month of February, Stewart noted: “it was a good time to get away.”

The show lasts for four days, which includes a silent auction and a live auction with larger, more expensive items. Older items are more valuable since fewer of the original items were made. Stewart has an older straight-side green glass Coca-Cola bottle that was from the late 1800s.

“We always drove, but you’d have to limit your purchases if you were flying,” Stewart said. “Going to the shows is fun because you meet everyone, and you have this in common, so you immediately begin to visit. During the day, everyone spreads whatever items they have for sale in their rooms, and then you tour around and buy stuff.”

Even though Stewart is no longer able to enjoy a cold Coke because he’s diabetic, he said, “I will probably drop a couple hundred bucks at the Coke store in Vegas this winter, but the fad might wear off if I do it myself.” Nevertheless, he enjoys showing friends his collection and sharing stories and happy memories.

PHOTOS BY JOAN JANZEN

Stewart has one of the packages containing Canadian Five Star Rye Whisky and Coke, which were only sold for a short time.

Stewart holds two bottles from his collection. The green bottle on the right is from the late 1800’s.