Creameries of Freeborn County

Albert Lea’s last building that can still be associated with a creamery or dairy operation is located at 132 N. Broadway Ave., next to the American Legion. At one time the place identified with four ice cream cones highlighting the facade of the structure once produced Morlea dairy products. Now this is the location of the Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services. View photo »

The former Hayward Creamery Association building is located on 810th Avenue (County Road 26) on the north side of this community. Through the years this building has been used for various purposes since the era when farmers brought milk to Hayward by horse-drawn wagons and buggies and later by automobiles and trucks. View photo »

One of the details found on so many of the former creameries in Freeborn County is the metal cupola found on the roof line. This is certainly evident for this building, which once served as the creamery in Glenville. View photo »

For several years the former creamery building in Emmons, located on the State Line Road (County Road 4), became an eating establishment with the rather appropriate name of Buttermakers. Since that time the old creamery building has been used for several purposes, including a recycling center. View photo »

The former Mansfield Creamery building is located on County Road 11 (150th Street) in the community of Mansfield. For many years this building has been the center of operations for Mansfield Meats. View photo »

The Conger Cooperative Creamery Association was organized in 1903 and became the last creamery in Freeborn County when it ceased operations in 2000. Now this building is owned by the Conger Meat Market, which is located next door. View photo »

The former Alden Creamery Company was located on the west side of this community. Their building still exists and serves as a good example of the type of architecture once used for creameries. View photo »

The Clarks Grove Cooperative Creamery was organized in 1890 and took pride in being the first cooperative dairy operation in the state. This building was constructed in 1927 and soon became the center for many activities in Clarks Grove with its large hall on the second floor. This firm ceased operations on May 1, 1996, but the building still remains as a reminder of another era when dairying was an important part of life in Freeborn County. View photo »

The former Bath Creamery building is located near the corner of Freeborn County Roads 35 and 20 north of Albert Lea. At one time this creamery was the center of a community which once had a general store, county school, St. Aiden’s Catholic Church and several homes. Now all that’s left is the church cemetery and the nearby homes. This building, incidentally, is still used for other purposes. View photo »

The former creamery in Moscow is located near the bridge over Turtle Creek on Freeborn County Road 34. One interesting detail at this old creamery building is the hand-operated cream separator which sits near the door on the north end. View photo »

The former creamery building in Oakland is now obviously being used for other purposes. And there’s an indication this particular building, unlike many of the former creamery structures in the county, has been well maintained through the years. View photo »

The former creamery at Lerdal is a prime example of a dairy-related business at a rural location on Freeborn County Road 25 northeast of Albert Lea. About a century ago farmers would bring their milk to this creamery, then go to a nearby general store to purchase groceries and other items and to socialize with other rural neighbors. View photo »