History:  History of Oak Park Dairy in Eau Claire, WI, 1918

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This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by:  
Nance Sampson  <nsampson@spacestar.net>  16 March 1999
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Dairy Here in Operation for 50 Years.

    Since the beginning of the dairy industry in Eau Claire 50 years ago
great changes have taken place, including Oak Park Dairy.  At that time
Eau Claire was a city of some 20,000 with approximately 40 farmers
bottling their own milk and bringing it into city customers daily.
    At that time Oak Park Dairy bought milk from 12 farmers and the
Tristram Farm.  Today there are only two milk bottling plants in the
city.  The invention of the milking machine was welcomed by some farmers
immediately although many continued to milk by hand.  Sanitation was a
big problem and milk inspectors of today would despair at the conditions
that prevailed in the early days.  The ice harvest on Half Moon Lake was
a big operation with each farmer cutting ice for his own use, as this
was their only means of refrigeration.
    Electric power proved a boon to the farmer bringing refrigeration,
hot water, plus proper cleaning and sterilization of equipment.
    On June 1, 1918, Oak Park Dairy purchased the Maplehurst Dairy with
two delivery routes.  The adoption of the U.S. Grade A code for the city
in June of 1944 brought a great change to dairy farms and only a few
were able to meet the requirements immediately.
    The Oak Park Dairy which had been enlarged in 1934 was expanded
again in 1944.  An addition was made in 1954 and a truck garage was
built in 1958.  An addition to the garage is being completed this year
(1968).  The refrigerated cooler was enlarged in 1963.
    Today (1968) Oak Park has 16 refrigereated trucks, one tank truck and
several smaller vehicles.  There are 28 delivery routes in and near Eau
Claire with every other day delivery except Sunday.  Stainless Steel
equipment was installed in 1958.  Mr. and Mrs. Clinton Hatch have owned
and had a part in operating the dairy since June of 1918.  Their
son-in-law, Orrie Sanasac is manager of the plant.  Oak Park is a member
of the All-Star Dairy Association.

--Taken from the Eau Claire Leader / The Daily Telegram, Progress Edition, 
1968