Thomas Wilson Bottling Company
Founded by Thomas Wilson in 1907 in the back of the family grocery store at the corner of Broadway and Parker Street, Twin Lights Beverages remained an independent family operation — even throughout the mass corporatization and consolidation of the soft drink industry — for over 100 years, with Pierce Sears serving as its fourth-generation custodian. Twin Lights landmark "factory" remained operational and in its original location on Broadway in Rockport, MA right up until Pierce’s passing in 2021. Pierce was the only person who still knew the original recipes and how to work the old, vintage machinery.
An avid collector, Pierce amassed a beloved treasure trove of memorabilia related to his interests in film, sports, war history, and Cape Ann.
The Legacy
Twin Lights Beverages was iconic; a part of the fabric of Rockport and a staple at local spots like Jimmy's Sunrise on Front Beach and, later, the Little Arts Cinema. Pierce donated countless cases of Twin Lights for community events and fundraisers.
In the spirit of Pierce’s generosity and commitment to serving Cape Ann, the Twin Lights Beverages Trust aims to provide funding to those who share that dedication and work ethic and want to dedicate themselves to serving the local community.
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Twin Lights Tonic: Cape Ann’s Timeless Soda Pop
New England authors Paul St. Germain and Devlin Sherlock lovingly document the family story of Twin Lights Soda.
“Since 1907, one Rockport family have continued to make their timeless soda pop the old-fashioned way. Twin Lights Soda--or tonic, as it's still known locally--was started by second-generation Portuguese immigrants in the back of a small-town family grocer and named after the iconic pair of lighthouses just off the coast of Cape Ann. The bottling industry was one of America's great entrepreneurial endeavors, and at its peak, Twin Lights outsold even the two largest national cola brands in the region. But today, while soft drinks are a $45 billion industry, few independents remain.”