Pin It
Approximately 30 people attended the Lansing Historical Association's fall meeting, held October 27th at the Lansing United Methodist Church. The presentation by Jim Pratt, "When Milk Traveled by Rail", was extremely interesting and educational. Jim's video of pictures and charts made the concept very easy to understand.

The shipment of milk began traveling by train as early as 1842, when New York City's demand for milk made for a profitable venture for Orange County's Dairy Farmers. As the population in the city increased, the need for more milk began to involve more and more farmers in New York State, and by the 1930's milk was traveling from as far away as Alexandria Bay on the St. Lawrence River.

About 1927 the Heil manufacturing group in the mid-west learned how to weld stainless steel and the use of bulk tanks to carry the milk by trucks began. With the railroad's fees more expensive than the truckers, the use of trains diminished and trucks took over. But during the time of milk by rail, many interesting inventions in the milk boxcars took place.

All in all the talk gave everyone an interesting topic of conversation as donuts and cider were shared after the presentation.

----
v1i16

Pin It