Collections record Beta

Collection Record Detail

Object Name

Milk Bottle

Object Number

2017-11-63

Description

Glass milk bottle with round lip top, circular bottom, tapered sides, and wire bail lid. One quart. Embossed lettering on front, "THE ECHO FARM CO'S/BOTTLE/AND MUST BE RETURNED," and "ECHO" on back. Embossed lettering around bottom edge, "THIS BOTTLE IS REGISTERED/NO ONE BUT OWNER ALLOWED TO USE IT."

Provenance

Collected by Art Webster. Bottle contained handwritten note on history of Echo Farm.

Comment

F. Ratchford Starr bought land in East Litchfield in 1869, and kept a herd of purebred Jerseys. Echo Farm became the first dairy enterprise in the U.S. to commercially bottle and distribute milk, shipping to New York daily from a private ice house. The dairy opened a nearby creamery and gave public tours. The farm was purchased in 1910 by H.S. Chase of Waterbury, becoming Echo Chase Farm.