Records Set At Fifth ACC-Dairy Antiques Show DR. DARWIN G. BRAUND Pasto Museum Curator HARRISBURG (Dauphin Co.) Records for attendance, exhibitors, states represented, and quality of items were all set at the fifth annual All-Dairy An tiques and Collectibles Show con ducted Sept. 21-25 in Harrisburg. The Jersey breed was featured. Twenty breeders and enthusiasts from Pennsylvania and Mary land provided beautiful displays of rare photographs, paintings, Elsie and Elmer (Borden) items, and porcelain cow models from around the world. Anchoring the central Jersey exhibit were origi nal signed, oil-on-canvas paint ings done in 1892 by an itinerant artist. According to owner, Mar garet P. Kendall, State College, the prize Jersey heifer and bull belonged to her great uncle, Mil ton C. Paige, who operated a dairy farm in Manchester, N.H. Also in the center display case was a “herd” of rare porcelain and other Jersey models (bulls, cows, calves) exhibited by W. Paul Anderson, State College; Patty McMurray, Eighty Four; Dr. Duane Norman, Fulton, Md.; Penn State Department of Dairy and Animal Sciences, University Park; and Jeff and Michele Reas ner, Newburg. Seventy-six exhibitors from 12 states reveal the show’s success. Five years ago only 18 exhibitors set up displays. Fourteen “charter” exhibitors returned for their fifth consec- This original child’s Badger Farm Wagon could be pulled by a large dog or goat. The large milk can (11 1 /2-gallon or 100-pound) was embossed “Hershey Creamery Co. 1923” and sold for $l5O. Beverly Robison Minor (1959 Pennsylvania Dairy Prin cess) stands beside Jersey milk bottles from dairy of her late father (Clyde Robison) and lovely Jersey prints she and her sister, Connie Robison Lusk, collected. Lancaster /M n//r/m'fW utive year and were awarded spe cial commemorative plaques dur ing the Sunday open house. These included Donald Ace, State College; Darwin Braund, State College; Diane and Martin Brumbaugh, Curryville; Leslie and Elaine Firth, Mercer; Donald Lerch, Camp Hill; Lolly and Wil liam Lesher, Bernville; David Morrow, State College; Catherine and Willard Odenwelder, Myers town; Pasto Agricultural Muse um, University Park; Michele Many rare and unusual things are displayed in this beautiful exhibit of small dairy items. The Dazey glass ice cream freezer sold for $950 and the wooden White Moun tain pint ice cream freezer brought $695. and Jeffrey Reasner, Newburg; Martha and James Roberts, Scio, N.Y.; William (Bill) Smith, Lan caster; Ellie and Margin Stout, Tunkhannock; and Arlene and Claude Wambold, Perkiomen ville. All exhibitors were introduced and presented with certificates of These oil paintings were done by M.E.B. Miller, itiner ant artist, in exchange for wintertime room and board. participation by Charles Itle, di rector of the All-American Dairy Cattle Show. Martha and Jim Roberts of Scio, N.Y. received very special awards of lifetime memberships in the National Dairy Shrine from Darwin Braund, volunteer manager of the All-Dairy An tiques and Collectibles Show. In making the presentation he em phasized the show committee wanted to recognize the Roberts for five years of dedicated sup port with Martha’s Milk House. This exhibit is for display and ed ucation only nothing is sold. It consists of a portable 1900 s milk house with hundreds of an tiques and collectibles with spe cial emphasis on old and ex tremely unusual items. One of the Roberts’ favorites is an 1856 American Cow Company “auto matic” milker. Many of the items belonged to Martha’s grandpar ents. The most unusual item on dis play by the Roberts is a 1934 de posit bottle return produced by the Bottle Saver Co. of Buffalo, N.Y. It is in mint condition after extensive reconditioning by Jim. Years ago the consumer would return the quart milk bottle to the retail market and receive a nickel in exchange automatically by this apparatus. Twin brothers Arthur and Al fred Reist and their families from Lancaster provided special exhi bits. Their original heavy hitch fifth-wheel milk wagon from Price’s Dairy, Cold Springs Farms was a magnificent piece. Their beautifully restored one horse, home delivery wagon at tracted much attention. An origi nal condition dog and goat wagon provided an interesting contrast in size. Advertising and promotional signs were abundant. Of special note were two Jersey signs. They were exhibited by three generations of the Williams fami ly. Grandfather Sam Williams, the patriarch of Pennsylvania Jersey breeders, purchased the farm near Middletown in 1933. Son Tom now owns and operates the home farm and grandson Craig, is an extension dairy agent in Tioga County. Another unique piece was a porcelain Bull Association sign. Circa early 1920 s and was exhibi ted by the Pasto Agricultural Mu seum. The first cooperative bull association in Pennsylvania was organized in 1916 in Mercer County. Sponsorship of extension work by Farm Bureau in Penn sylvania ceased in 1924. All of this preceded the introduction of artificial breeding of dairy cows in the early 19405. Twenty-five milk bottle collec tors were among the total 76 ex hibitors and their displays added beauty, variety and additional in terest to the overall show. An ex hibit of elegant condensed milk jars by Margin and Ellie Stout, Early milk equipment displayed by Martha and Jim Roberts. Martha Roberts takes a well-deserved rest by her “Martha’s Milk House.” The giant milk bottle, left, is a 1934 Deposit Bottle Return container. Tunkhannock attracted much at tention and favorable comments. The background and history on a large count added interest. The show officially opened at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 21 al though early birds were wan dering through as exhibitors fin ished their final preparations. Among early visitors were Duane and Grace Green from Elsie, Mich. They have been multi-year attendees and always return home with many select items purchases from several exhibitors to add to their extensive collec tion. Duane said they “might” exhibit in 2003. The “long dis (Turn to Page 822) A bull association was a group of farmers owning jointly three or more bulls and organized with written constitution and bylaws. This early 1920 s sign had two large holes probably made by high-powered rifle or shotgun slugs a very common indignity inflicted on nearly all signs on barns and outbuildings.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers