108 
 
 
                                    MILKMEN 
          About 1896 0mro was quite a village with a population of about

     1,200. Many were retired farmers; a number of them kept a cow stak-

     ed out on a vacant lot or the roadside. Also, many kept a few pigs 
     or a flock of chickens. 
          As late as in the 1930s some villagers still    kept a cow or 
     chickens or both. Keeping chickens during these years posed a 
     problem as found in a local newspaper.    "A NOTICE TO CHICIN OVW1'ERS.

     Numerous complaints have been lodged with the Village Board concern-

     ing the unrestrained running at large of chickens within the village

     limits.   Considerable damage has been caused thereby. All owners 
     of chickens are hereby notified to keep all chickens and fowls fenced

     or locked up under penalty of fine.--By order of The Village Board."

 
          Milk and eggs over and above the needs of the family would be 
     sold to neighbors.   As an example of local milk product sales, a 
     housewife on the north side made delectable cottage cheese. First, 
     son Leon would deliver the pints or quarts to her customers. Later 
     years son Don did the same chore for his mother.    They kept one cow.

 
          Years ago  milk delivery was quite an uncomplicated business. 
     The milk was placed in a large container supplied with a spigot. 
     The container placed on a horse-drawn cart that threaded its way 
     about town.  Customers would place pitchers out for the milkman 
     to fill.  Maybe a stray leaf, a dust mote, or a bug did fall into 
     it accidentally. So what? 
 
          A May 1914 news item states--"The village is without a regular

At,:0milk man for the first time in years. As a result milk is kept by 
¢. ~\ the stores and restaurants to supply the demand." 
 
          Later years, in the 1930s and on, there were 2 local dairymen.

     Milk bottles were a necessity then, with sanitary laws to keep milk

     clean. There was Ernie Hellwig's "Elder Row Dairy" on E. Main
at        7~i3' 
     the edge of town, later managed by son Gerald.    In April of 1932(
0, 
     Hellwig Dairy installed a milk pasteurizing machine.    But assured

     patrons that unpasteurized milk was available if preferred. 
          The other milkman was Van Jackson on Poygan Avenue, the 
     "Hickory Knoll Guernsey Milk Dairy".   Later son Ray was manager.

     These two dairies both delivered not only milk but other dairy 
     products as well. Both went out of business in the late 1960s. 
           Van jackson served on the Count Board for severa! rears.     
... 
      He was also an Alderman from the north side on the City Council -?