Valley Girl Views: Pleasant Valley Creamery, Milton Pa

Pleasant Valley Creamery was located on the South Side of Hepburn Street, between Prospect and Brown Avenue. The Creamery opened in 1887, and operated into the early 1930s.

1918 Sanborn Fire Map, showing the location of the creamery

[540 Hepburn Street]

"A unique industry established in 1887 on Hepburn St. was Pleasant Valley Creamery. Using the cream from 160 farms, approximately 1000 gallons a day, about 2500 lbs of butter was churned a week by modern facilities and skilled workmen. During the summer, the wholesale manufacture of ice cream was added to the operation. They produced about 400 gallons every week. Excellent railroad transportation allowed these products to be shipped daily to other parts of the state.” - Homer Folk, 19th Century Town On The Limestone Run

In 1891, the Miltonian reported on the successfulness of the creamery.

The Miltonian, 1905

In 1919, Harry Wertz had his arms fractured when a 300lb cake of ice slipped and landed on him.

In 1911, an obituary for Edmund Hunter Heaton named him as president of the Pleasant Valley Creamery Company, "which under his management has become one of the best in the state".

In 1922, the second floor of the creamery building was used as a candy plant to produce Pleasant Valley Chocolates, under the direction of Mr. Beaver of Williamsport.

In 1930, a company truck was damaged a car was caught in the trolley tracks and skidded, colliding with the milk truck. "Milk from the truck was splashed on the trees and sidewalk." [Cars were regularly "slipping" in the trolley tracks, causing frequent accidents, around this time. After one fatal accident, the coroners jury suggested the tracks be removed. The trolley had been out of business since August of 1928 https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2020/02/when-milton-had-trolley.html]

In 1931, while on a business trip for the creamery, George Shimer Heinen, president of the company, died from carbon monoxide fumes.

According to his obituary, he had taken courses in Creamery Work at Cornell, after graduating from Bucknell, and then also studied Creamery Work at Penn State University. He began as a salesman for the Pleasant Valley Creamery in 1924, "which has been operated for many years by the Heinen family". The Heinen family homestead was called Walnut Dell.

In 1933, the Creamery Company went into receivership.

Dix D. Colvin, of Milton, was named the receiver of the creamery in April of 1933. Local papers, including the Shamokin News Dispatch, reported "many farmers in the upper end of the county are financially interested in the creamery, now in financial distress, and are hopeful Mr Colvin may successful in salvaging their investments through economical administering of the affairs of the plant."

In 1939, a man attempted to commit suicide in the building. The March 7th article in the Daily Item reported that the old plant was being used as a storehouse for liquor.

On July 16th 1965, the old creamery building was destroyed by fire. The Daily Item article about the fire stated that the building at 540 Hepburn Street had been "used as a warehouse for years, and closed down in 1958". At the time of the fire, the building was owned by Prior to 1965, George Reichard who had also owned the West Branch Creamery.

The fire had been started, accidentally, by an 8 year old, and a 10 year old, who had been using matches to see as they explored the building.

Dr Louis Kurtz purchased the creamery lot from Reichard. He built his dental office there.

=====================

======================

Mr. Heaton was born April 18, 1851, at Tamaqua, Pa., son of the late Reuben A. and Mary Heaton, the former of whom was a pioneer coal operator of the Schuylkill region, in which he became one of the most prominent. When a young man Mr. Heaton removed with his parents to Ashland. He attended Canandaigua Academy, graduated from college as a mining engineer, and resided in Philadelphia from 1870 to 1873, when he engaged in coal operations at Raven Run, Schuylkill Co Pa., being thus interested until 1885. He was associated with his brothers in the coal mining business in that county. From the time he took up his residence in Milton he took an active interest in the business development of the vicinity, and always displayed rare executive ability and sterling character; proving himself a most capable man in every respect and becoming one of the most prominent and influential citizens of the borough. He was a charter member of the Milton Trust & Safe Deposit Company, served as a director from the time of its incorporation until his death, and from 1901 to 1908 was president, retiring because of declining health. He succeeded his brother-in-law, John McCleery, in that position. He was president of the Pleasant Valley Cream Company, which under his management became one of the best in the State, and was interested in other corporations, always a leader in any movement designed to advance the interests of Milton. He died at his home on North Front and First streets, Milton, July 24, 1911, aged sixty years, and was interred in the Milton cemetery. Mr. and Mrs. Heaton resided at "Maple Bank," the Marr homestead (which he bought from the heirs), from 1887 until a few years ago, when they purchased the fine property which has since been the family home.

====================