Margin and Ellie Stout proudly stand with a small portion of their collection. Tunkhannock Couple Captures Piece Of Dairy History With Milk Bottle Collection CHARLENE M. SHLPP - Special Correspondent TUNKHANNOCK (Wyoming Co.) “Let us all be thankful we live in a country where an every day necessity like milk is plenti ful at a cost that all can afford.” In the wave of patriotism this country has experienced in the past year, this saying could easily pass for a poster or slogan in to day’s world; however, it appeared on a milk bottle dated 1941. When you step into the base ment of Margin and Ellie Stout’s Tunkhannock home, you are stepping back in time to a snap shot of historical features in the dairy industry. From the milk cans of various sizes and signs from agricultural companies to milk testing equipment and model cows, the Stouts seem to have it all when it comes to dairy collectables. But, a point of pride in their collection is their milk bottles. For the past 20 years, the Stouts have built their milk bottle This patriotic saying appeared on a 1941 milk bottle. collection from their first bottle purchased at a flea market to the hundreds of bottles and other dairy paraphernalia that deco rate their home. Although Margin was the first to begin collecting milk bottles, it did not take long before Ellie joined in. Due to their mutual in terests in collectables, their milk bottle collecting hobby has be come one thing they enjoy doing together as they go in search of the perfect bottle. Jokingly Ellie notes that, Mar gin knows all of the history of the bottles and I just have all the fun. What has made milk bottle collecting appealing for the Stouts is that there are no guide lines on what a person needs to collect, and that the collection can be built around the personal preferences. The Stouts are quick to note that a bottle’s value is in the eye of the beholder. One bottle that has no interest to one person may be priceless to another. ★ A * ★ T*r ★jfr LESS AMERICA 1-] I^AUBtIhAHO r LIVE IN * • hay r(i .!■ 'i I r / r tl* • '' -fi* r * , - M' I *v ' Margin, a retired DHIA tester, notes that one of his favorite bot tles, one that he had searched for tirelessly, cost him only one dol lar at a flea market. The bottle according to book value was worth about $4OO. Elbe notes that her favorite bottles are a set from a dairy in New Hampshire. The winter scenes on them remind her of her daughter living in Alaska. They do not have much monetary value, however, in Elbe’s eye, the artwork is beautiful and therefore is priceless. The Stouts’ bottle collection extends in multiple directions, with milk bottles to represent all dairy breeds and the Dutch belt ed breed, countless shelves of bot tles with bam artwork, bottles from herds noted for high quality breeding, colleges, and states. The list is endless, but an amaz ing sight. A highlight of their milk bottle collection is bottles of dairies that once dotted the hillsides of Wyo ming County. This ranges from a milk bottle cap for a Traver’s Dairy that produced milk in Noxen to the more prominently known Shadowbrook Farm and Atherholt Dairy in Tunkhannock and countless other bottles from farms in Mehoopany, Factory ville, and the towns in between. They have collected a part of Wyoming County’s dairy history and it means a lot to them. Col lecting local milk bottles offers the Stouts a unique challenge. “Well, for one, it’s to learn about the dairies that used to be here that are not anymore,” says Ellie. “It’s also great to find a piece of local history that some one else does not have.” The Stouts’ collection has grown from one bottle pur chased at a flea market to hundreds of bottles filling their basement. It is through that love of histo ry that the Stouts enjoy display ing their collection for people to see, which has included a display at the Wyoming County Histori cal Society. Visitors who saw the display at the Historical Society were amazed to learn about the rich dairy history of Wyoming County. In reference to the event, Ellie notes, people were so fascinated because they did not realize how many local farms used to bottle and sell milk. There are so many A portion of the Stout’s Woodlawn Dairy collection. This collection includes Woodlawn bottle sets, advertise ments, Woodlawn boxes, and related items. that have gone, that people today never realized how many there used to be. The Stouts’ local bottle collec tion also includes dairies from all of the surrounding counties, but it is their Woodlawn Dairy col lection that is another personal favorite. Woodlawn Dairy, which was based in Scranton, Lackawanna County, was a larger dairy in the area. This collection includes bot tle design sets of the pints, quarts, (Turn to Page 824)
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers