The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1908-11-05

Boyse. He was churning the milk
from seventy.fve cows and buying the
product of twenty-five more. Mr.. Van
Deusen found it an ideal place In
every respect, and its product was
such that 1t commanded 45c per pound
in Chicago, while 80 per cent OF all
the other butter in the country sold
for nearer 25c.
Mr.. Boyse invited Mr.. Van Deusen
to remain with him indefinitely at a
good salary, but could not prevail on
him to stay.
On March / Mr.. Van Deusen return
ed to Manchester with a report so fav-
orable that Mr.. Stewart agreed to
build a model creamery. The con-
struction of the building vas begun
Immediately. Spring Branch, three
and one-half miles from Manchester,
was chosen for it's location, this being
considered an ideal place because Of
its many cold water springs.
MIX WAS COHll dClCu W ~ Ill Vi
der given to Mr.. Butler, of Manches-
ter, for 400 ten quart cans. BY April
/, 1873 tn. first creamery building in
the world was completed. Although
a very crude affair in many respects,
it was to have an important and very
far reaching effect upon the country.
The dimensions of the building were
3~6X16x12, the board being placed per-
p~endicularly, with a weather strip
over the interstices. A 16x12
feet in size was partitioned off for
the churning room, the remaining
space being utilized for the storing of
milk, which was placed On racks built
the purpose.
The churn was operated by horse
power, and this power and a Bennett
butter worker constituted about all
the machinery in sight.
The butter factory completed, Mr..
Van Deusen now inquired as to the
delivery of the milk pans previously
ordered, and found that they were not
ready.
The farmers came to the rescue by
donating such pans as they could
spare, and altogether forty-eight were
obtained. The lack of pans caused a
great deal Of inconvenience and in
creased the cost of handling the cream.
Nor was the weather favorable to the
enterprise, for the spring proved a
very wet one, and the roof leaked
badly.
At the end of the first month the eX-
perimenters found that the butter was
them soc per pound, but it
was Of a superior quality, and brought
4 good price in the New York market.
Mr.. Stewart realized that a larger
and more convenient building, with
better machinery, would enable them
make butter cheaper, and so more
was interested and the con-
oJl uIllOu vi dllOIilCl DuliulilS SOil'
nenced.
From this ON. Iowa's butter forged
ahead and led all other brands, due no
loubt to Iowa's superior prairie grass.
The brand became known as prem
and took the highest honors
the Centennial Exposition Of
1876.
T~hirty-two years have elapsed, and
Of these pioneers Mr.. Van Deusen
alone survives to witness the prosper
ty that has come to the American
To him as the first butter
maker and Mr.. Stewart, whose ready
purse and business sagacity enabled
lim to carry out his plans. 10 uue the
gratitude of this and other nations.
Although eighty-six years of honest
oil have left on him their mark, Mr..
Van Deusen bears up bravely, and
rain or shine finds him on his way to
the village postoffice to get his morn
paper. He still resides at Man
"the dairy city," and takes
pleasure in recalling old days and
meeting old friends.