DAIRIES
Updated - 08/24/2023
"Dairies" or "dairy farms" were fairly numerous in the Auburn area. Long before the advent of Wal-Marts or other stores offering groceries, many Auburn-area residents obtained their milk products directly from the local dairy. A common reminder of this quaint tradition is the glass milk bottles which have become highly collectible mementos of these individual dairies. In 2013, a single Auburn area milk bottle sold on E-bay for over $400! Below is a listing of those dairies known to have operated in the Auburn area.
|
NOTE: If you have any historic information and/or pictures that are relevant to this webpage topic, please share it with us by submitting the material using the "Visitors Input" button below. Thank you!
**************************************************************
Auburn Dairy (Company)
The Auburn Dairy was owned and operated by at least two different proprietors according to the embossing on their milk bottles. One bottle with the name "Auburn Dairy" indicates a "C. H. Fix" (probably Charles H. Fix) as proprietor, while another bottle with the name "Auburn Dairy Company" indicates a "W. W. Erdman" (probably Wilson Wesley Erdman) as the proprietor. The Erdman bottles appear to have used a capital letter "A" as a logo for their milk bottles as well. Both of these businesses were probably in operation during the late 1800s or early 1900s, as they both used embossed lettering on their milk bottles. (A 1933 Auburn High School yearbook contained an advertisement for this dairy). When "painted" or "pyroglazed" milk bottles, or ones with decals or "ACL" (Applied Color Labels), came along in the 1930s, they were much cheaper and far easier to produce than embossed lettering. As an educated presumption, Charles H. Fix was most likely the earlier proprietor of the two individuals, as he was born fifteen years before the birth of Wilson Wesley Erdman. ************************************************** The website findagrave.com has only a single listing for any individual matching the criteria of a "C. H. Fix" of that era having been interred anywhere within Schuylkill County; therefore, the presumption is that Charles H. Fix was the original proprietor of the "Auburn Dairy" and quite probably "Fix's creamery" located on Bear Creek Street in Auburn. Charles H. Fix was born on 07/22/1861. He married Kathryn Roth Fix. They had two children: Elizabeth M. Fix Berger and Millie* A. Fix Ehly. *NOTE: "Millie" can be a nickname for an astonishing number of names to include, but not necessarily be limited to: Amelia, Camila, Camilla, Camile, Emilia, Emily, Matilda, Melicent, Melissa, Milana, Milania, Mildred, Milena, Millicent and Wilhelma. Charles died on 08/20/1837 and was interred within the St. Paul's Church cemetery, South Manheim Township, Schuylkill County, PA. ************************************************** The website findagrave.com has a listing for only one possible "W. W. Erdman" interred anywhere within Schuylkill County. Wilson Wesley Erdman was born in Klingerstown, Schuylkill County, PA, on 05/31/1876. He was the son of Nathaniel Erdman and Isabella Lesher Erdman. He was a brother of Gertrude Erdman Klinger, Katie (Catharine or Katherine?) Erdman Hoffman, Lola Erdman Martz, Mame (Margaret?) Erdman Snyder and William Erdman. Wilson married at least twice. An Anna Fawber Erdman was his wife for an unspecified period of time; and a Pauline M. Leitzel Erdman was a wife for an unspecified period of time. Wilson had at least four biological children and two step-children, but as to whom the mother of these children was is currently uncertain. Those children include: Carlos George Lee Erdman, Guy Erdman, Harold William Erdman, and an unnamed daughter, an unnamed step-daughter, and an unnamed step-son according to Wilson's obituary. Wilson died in Harrisburg, Dauphin County, PA, on 10/16/1960 and was interred within the Hepler's Church of God cemetery, Pitman, Schuylkill County, PA. |
|
**************************************************************
C. H. Reber Dairy
C. H. Reber's Dairy was probably in operation during the late 1800s or early 1900s, as it used embossed lettering on the milk bottles. When "painted" or "pyro-glazed" milk bottles, or ones with decals or "ACL" (Applied Color Labels), came along in the 1930s, they were much cheaper and far easier to produce than embossed lettering. However, by the 1930s or later, a business going by the name of simply "Reber's Dairy" was selling milk in labelled bottles, so it is possible that C. H. Reber decided to shorten his business name from that of "C. H. Reber's Dairy" to simply "Reber's Dairy" (see listing below). The exact location of this dairy is presently uncertain but presumably was located within the "Auburn-area" (three mile radius from the center of town). ************************************************** The website findagrave.com has a listing for only three "C. H. Reber"s of that era as having been interred anywhere in Schuylkill County, PA...and they all died prior to 1940 with none of them having any obvious ties to Auburn. As a result, the presumed owner and operator of the "C. H. Reber's Dairy" would be Calvin "Callie", "C. H." or "Kelly" H. Reber (Sr.?) as he had direct ties to Auburn, was a successful retail businessman and he would fit the "age" and "era" criteria for the proprietor of this dairy. Thanks to AAHS Lifetime Member Brian Bohr, the presumably correct "Calvin H. Reber" was located as having been interred in Oklahoma. A "Calvin Henry Reber" was born 03/21/1899 in Auburn (R.D.?), Schuylkill County, PA. He was a son of Carrie Moyer Burkey Reber and John Grant Reber (whose obituary states that he, John, owned and operated a farm in South Manheim Township, Schuylkill County, PA). Calvin was a brother of Anna Irene Reber; Hilda Estelle Reber Berger; John Samuel Reber (who died at the age of only three years, eighteen days); Martha Jean Reber Hunsinger; Sara Rebecca Reber Clauser; and Wayne Albert Reber. Calvin married Miriam May Fehr Reber. They had the following children: Nelson Jay Reber and Richard Fehr Reber. In addition to presumably having owned and operated this dairy, Calvin was confirmed to have owned and successfully operated "C. H. Reber's Store" in Auburn for many years from at least 1933 until 1948 and possibly longer (see the "Retailers and Wholesalers" webpage for additional information on that business). Calvin died on 09/09/1976 in Pawhuska, Osage County, OK, and was interred within the Pawhuska City Cemetery, Pawhuska, Osage County, OK. Whether or not this is the same "Calvin H. Reber" who owned and operated a store in Auburn, and the same "C. H. Reber" who owned and operated a dairy in the Auburn-area, is uncertain but probable unless other information is presented to contradict this theory. |
**************************************************************
Fix's Creamery
Auburn-area historian Kermit Mengel stated that a "C. H. Fix" operated a "Fix's creamery" that was once located at the intersection of Bear Creek Street and Pine Street in the white building later owned and occupied by Sam Tobias' service station. The structure has since been repurposed into a private residence. The website findagrave.com has only a single listing for any individual matching the criteria of a "C. H. Fix" of that era having been interred anywhere within Schuylkill County; therefore, the presumption is that Charles H. Fix was the original proprietor of the "Auburn Dairy" and quite probably "Fix's creamery" located on Bear Creek Street in Auburn. Charles H. Fix was born on 07/22/1861. He married Kathryn Roth Fix. They had two children: Elizabeth M. Fix Berger and Millie* A. Fix Ehly. *NOTE: "Millie" can be a nickname for an astonishing number of names to include, but not necessarily be limited to: Amelia, Camila, Camilla, Camile, Emilia, Emily, Matilda, Melicent, Melissa, Milana, Milania, Mildred, Milena, Millicent and Wilhelma. Charles died on 08/20/1837 and was interred within the St. Paul's Church cemetery, Summer Hill Road, South Manheim Township, Schuylkill County, PA. |
|
**************************************************************
Hillside Dairy Farm - (R.D. Wildermuth)
The "Hillside Dairy Farm" and "R. D. Wildermuth" dairy were both owned and operated by the same proprietor, an R. D. Wildermuth, so presumably these were the same dairy farm, but one business name simply preceded the other. These businesses probably started operation after the 1920s, as they used an applied color label style of decal on their milk bottles. When "painted" or "pyro-glazed" milk bottles, or ones with decals or "ACL" (Applied Color Labels), came along in the 1930s, they were much cheaper and far easier to produce than the previously used embossed lettering. Due to the promotional calendar the Hillside Dairy Farm gave to its favored customers, we know that the business was in operation no later than 1941. The "Hillside Dairy Farm" advertised its business in a 1957 Auburn High School yearbook. Thanks to a currently undated advertisement (pictured on right), the "R. D. Wildermuth" as been identified as Ralph D. Wildermuth. ************************************************** Ralph D. Wildermuth was born on 10/01/1898. He married Bertha (Alberta, Elizabeth or Roberta?) Reber Wildermuth. They had one child: Bernice F. Wildermuth Strouse. Ralph died on 04/07/1983 and was interred within the St. Paul's Church cemetery, Summer Hill Road, South Manheim Township, Schuylkill County, PA. |
**************************************************************
R. D. Wildermuth's Dairy
The "Hillside Dairy Farm" and "R. D. Wildermuth" dairy were both owned and operated by the same proprietor, an R. D. Wildermuth, so presumably these were the same dairy farm, but one business name simply preceded the other. These businesses probably started operation after the 1920s, as they used an applied color label style of decal on their milk bottles. When "painted" or "pyro-glazed" milk bottles, or ones with decals or "ACL" (Applied Color Labels), came along in the 1930s, they were much cheaper and far easier to produce than the previously used embossed lettering. Due to the promotional calendar the Hillside Dairy Farm gave to its favored customers, we know that the business was in operation no later than 1941. The "Hillside Dairy Farm" advertised its business in a 1957 Auburn High School yearbook. Thanks to a currently undated advertisement (pictured on right), the "R. D. Wildermuth" as been identified as Ralph D. Wildermuth. ************************************************** Ralph D. Wildermuth was born on 10/01/1898. He married Bertha (Alberta, Elizabeth or Roberta?) Reber Wildermuth. They had one child: Bernice F. Wildermuth Strouse. Ralph died on 04/07/1983 and was interred within the St. Paul's Church cemetery, Summer Hill Road, South Manheim Township, Schuylkill County, PA. |
|
**************************************************************
Reber's Dairy (W. A. Reber, Distributor)
An advertisement from 1924 claims "Purest and Best Pasteurized Milk in Auburn and vicinity at 12 (cents) per quart delivered - Wayne A. Reber, Distributor". This business probably started operation no earlier than in the 1910s or 1920s, as it used an applied color label style of decal on the milk bottles pictured on the right. When "painted" or "pyro-glazed" milk bottles, or ones with decals or "ACL" (Applied Color Labels), came along in the 1930s, they were much cheaper and far easier to produce than the previously used embossed lettering. Presently, no known examples exist of any milk bottles produced during the earlier years by a "W. A. Reber's Dairy", unless W. A. Reber was employed purely as a distributor for the previously mentioned "C. H. Reber's Dairy" and that business name was eventually shortened to "Reber's Dairy" (see listing above for "C. H. Reber's Dairy"). **************************************************The website findagrave.com has a listing for only three "C. H. Reber"s of that era as having been interred anywhere in Schuylkill County, PA...and they all died prior to 1940 with none of them having any obvious ties to Auburn. As a result, the presumed owner and operator of the "C. H. Reber's Dairy" would be Calvin "Callie", "C. H." or "Kelly" Reber (Sr.?) as he had direct ties to Auburn, was a successful retail businessman and he would fit the "age" and "era" criteria for the proprietor of this dairy. Calvin "Callie", "C.H." or "Kelly" Reber (Sr.?) was born on 01/06/1892. He was the son of Wayne E. Reber and Alice Matilda Kreiser Reber. He was a brother of Bertha (Alberta, Elizabeth or Roberta?) J. Reber Moore. Calvin (Sr.?) married Stella (Estella or Estelle?) E. Mease Reber. They had two children: Calvin H. Reber (Jr.?) and James H. Reber. In addition to being presumed to have owned and operated this dairy, Calvin was confirmed to have owned and successfully operated "C. H. Reber's Store" in Auburn for many years from at least 1933 until 1948 and possibly longer (see the "Retailers and Wholesalers" webpage for additional information on that business). Calvin died on 12/28/1978 and was interred within the Mount Lebanon Cemetery, Lebanon, Lebanon County, PA. ************************************************** The website findagrave.com has only three listing for any "Wayne A. Reber" of that era as having been interred anywhere in Pennsylvania. Two of those individuals have no obvious ties with Auburn. The third individual, Wayne Albert Reber Sr., was born in Auburn. Therefore, the presumption would be that he is the same individual who is advertised as being a "distributor" for Reber's Dairy circa 1924. Wayne Albert Reber Sr. was born in Auburn, Schuylkill County, PA, on 07/06/1896. He was the son of John Grant Reber and Carrie (Caroline?) Moyer Burkey Reber ("Moyer" was Carrie's middle name). He was a brother of Anna Irene Reber, Calvin Henry Reber, Hilda Estelle Reber Berger, John Samuel Reber (who died at approximately three years of age), Martha Jean Reber Hunsinger and Sara Rebecca Reber Clauser. Wayne (Sr.) married at least twice. The first time was to Florence (maiden name unknown) Reber Palm. There were no children listed from this union. The second time was to Beulah E. Beckey Reber. They had one son: Wayne Albert Reber Jr. Wayne Sr. died in Ephrata, Lancaster County, PA, on 11/16/1979 and was interred within the Conestoga Memorial Park cemetery, Lancaster, Lancaster County, PA. |
|
**************************************************************
S. W. Mengel's Milk & Cream
A quaint vintage postcard informs us that many years ago, an "S. W. Mengel Milk and Cream" delivery could be made from a horse-drawn buggy with the business logo painted on the side. The website findagrave.com has only a single listing for an individual who fits the criteria of an "S. W. Mengel" (or Mengle) of that era as having been interred anywhere in the world; presumably, Samuel Washington Mengel, who was born in West Brunswick Township adjacent to Auburn, was the same individual featured in the postcard. Samuel Washington Mengel was born in West Brunswick Township, Schuylkill County, PA, on 03/19/1860. He was the son of Seth Mengel and Susanna Fahl Mengel. He was a brother of "only" nine siblings: Charles H. Mengel, Elizabeth A. Mengel Coldren, Ida A. Mengel Motes, John Abraham Mengel, Joseph J. Mengel, Martha A. Mengel Fritz, Sallie (Sara or Sarah?) S. Mengel, Sariah Mengel Mengel, and Seth Abraham Mengel. Samuel married Magdalena Elizabeth Phillips Mengel. They had two children: Mabel Viola Mengel Mengel and Roland Chester Mengel. According to the Zerbe History of Schuylkill County, on December 5, 1903, an S. W. Mengel of West Brunswick (Township) was awarded $700 damages for six acres of farm land which was flooded by (the) Little Schuylkill. Award was against Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company. Samuel died in Pottsville, Schuylkill County, PA, on 12/17/1949 and was interred within the Greenwood Cemetery, Hamburg, Berks County, PA. |
**************************************************************
Werner's Dairy
This business probably started operation sometime after the 1920s, as it used an applied color label style of decal on the milk bottles pictured on the right. When "painted" or "pyro-glazed" milk bottles, or ones with decals or "ACL" (Applied Color Labels), came along in the 1930s, they were much cheaper and far easier to produce than the previously used embossed lettering. Unfortunately, very little information currently exists about Werner's Dairy of Auburn. An early advertisement stated that they also had "chickens, ducks and turkeys". The business is believed to have been in operation during the 1930s through the 1960s and possibly longer. The dairy was believed to have been located on "Red Church Road" in West Brunswick Township, Schuylkill County, PA. An Internet search engine research effort produced no viable results. As a result, nothing further is known about this dairy at this time. |
|
**************************************************************
**************************************************************
Wood Glen Farms (Dairy)
Auburn Area Historical Society Lifetime Member Brian Bohr brought the adjacent milk bottle to the attention of the website manager. The "Wood Glen Farms" is a relatively unfamiliar dairy operation to any Auburn-area residents. The milk bottle is clearly embossed with the letters "AUBURN, PENN.", but no one from the immediate Auburn-area seems to have any actual knowledge of this dairy. Occasionally, the Internet will post something erroneously labeled as "Auburn, PA", implying it is affiliated with the Auburn, Schuylkill County, PA area when, in fact, the misidentified item actually has ties to either Auburn Center, Auburn Four Corners, Auburn Township, South Auburn or West Auburn, all of which are located in Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania. So, the question arose, is this milk bottle relevant to the Auburn located in Schuylkill County, or was the milk bottle something which belonged to the Susquehanna County "Auburns"? Brian used his network of contacts to come up with some preliminary conclusions. First, Schuylkill Haven historian and collector Richard Nagle applied his research skills to discover a single mention of the dairy in "The Call" newspaper (Schuylkill Haven, Schuylkill County, PA) from 1928. That discovery helped to confirm that the dairy was affiliated with Schuylkill County, rather than the distant Susquehanna County (approximately a 100-mile distance). (On a side-note, Richard has been a guest speaker of presentations for the Auburn Area Historical Society on multiple occasions, as well as for other organizations, and provides informative, well-researched and entertaining topics). Brian further conferred with Auburn Area Historical Society Lifetime Member Carl Boltz, who is also the undisputed milk-bottle collector and expert of Auburn, and possibly all of Schuylkill County, having approximately 1,000 milk bottles in his collection. Carl states that he believes the Wood Glen Farms was a dairy operation that was somewhat distant from Auburn, Schuylkill County, PA. He theorized that Wood Glen Farms bottled the milk in those bottles specifically to be shipped to, and sold in, the Auburn area. As a result, even though the dairy itself was not located within the immediate Auburn-area, the operation is mentioned on this webpage because of its affiliation to the town of Auburn, Schuylkill County, PA. |