Collections record Beta

Milk Bottle

2017-36-1

Glass milk bottle with round lip top, circular bottom, and tapered sides. Half pint. Painted lettering on one side, in red, "TOLL GATE FARMS/Preston J. Davenport/Litchfield, Conn."; on reverse side, in red, "Use Ayrshire/METABOLIZED/VITAMIN/D/MILK/FOR THE BABY YOU LOVE"; and around the rim in three places, in red, "STORE." Embossed lettering on one side, "REGISTERED," and one reverse side "MTC HALF PAINT LIQUID/SEALED II." Embossed lettering on bottom, "46E/MTC." Pressed glass with mold lines on sides and circular mark on bottom.

Donor was featured in the centerfold photograph of Toll Gate's 1947 brochure (archival collection, 2017-36-0).

Toll Gate Farm began in 1939 in Chestnut Hill Road, formed by Preston and Selma Davenport. The farmhouse and barns were constructed c.1940, and the farm housed a purebred Ayrshire herd. The farm processed their own milk (pasteurized, and later homogenized), first at the farm and then in a dairy bar on Torrington Road which sold milk, cream, cottage cheese, and ice cream and contained a bottling center. The bar was open from 1944 to 1957. The farm eventually supplemented production with raw milk from other local herds, and delivered as far as Winsted and New Milford. The dairy stopped operation in the 1970s.

• Thatcher Glass Manufacturing Company

1950-1960

Overall height 4.5", overall diameter 2.5"

• ink
• glass