Simpson Spring

Tucked away in the unassuming town of South Easton, Massachusetts, sits a piece of liquid history. The Simpson Spring Company lays claim to being the oldest continuously operating independent bottling plant in the United States, pouring and carbonating water from a single source since 1878. But the history of the water itself runs much deeper.

Long before it was bottled in glass and mixed into old-fashioned sodas, the bubbling spring was a vital resource for the local Wampanoag and Assawompset indigenous peoples, who believed the pristine waters possessed healing properties. By the 1800s, local blacksmith Samuel Simpson acquired the land. However, it was his delightfully eccentric grandson-in-law, Frederick Howard, who realized the spring's true commercial potential. Howard constructed a bottling facility directly over the water source—the spring still literally bubbles up from inside the building—and began experimenting with carbonation and flavoring.

Howard's botanical and flavor experiments yielded some of the country’s earliest craft sodas, including a legendary Coffee Soda dating back to at least 1919. Originally branded as "Spar Coffee," early 20th-century locals were known to mix the caffeinated brew with cream, sugar, and a generous splash of scotch to kickstart their mornings. Howard's meticulous, small-batch approach was so successful that at the turn of the 20th century, a growing beverage manufacturer named Coca-Cola approached him about a partnership. Hoping to retain his creative independence, Howard famously told the corporate giant, "thanks, but no thanks."

Today, while multinational conglomerates dominate the beverage aisle, Simpson Spring remains fiercely independent. The historic, family-run operation still draws all of its water from that same underground source, filtering it naturally without harsh chemicals. Visitors can step back in time to explore the vintage machinery, fill their own jugs with fresh spring water, and stock up on cases of small-batch sodas made with pure cane sugar in retro flavors like White Birch, Sarsaparilla, and, of course, the century-old Coffee Soda.

Simpson Spring is located at 719 Washington Street (Route 138) in South Easton, Massachusetts. The country store operates Monday through Saturday, featuring a local farmer's marketplace on Saturdays.

If you just want pure, uncarbonated history, there is a self-serve spring water station on the premises that is open 24 hours a day. The owners also offer free tours of the historic facility, though it is best to call ahead to book your spot.