Borden Milk Plant facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Borden Powdered Milk Plant
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 Location in Tennessee
Location in the United States
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| Location | S. Main St., Fayetteville, Tennessee |
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| Area | 1.8 acres (0.73 ha) |
| Built | 1927 |
| NRHP reference No. | 88001060 |
| Added to NRHP | July 14, 1988 |
The Borden Milk Plant, now known as the Fayetteville-Lincoln County Museum, is a historic building in Fayetteville, Tennessee. It used to be a busy factory where milk was processed. Today, it's a museum where you can learn about the area's history.
Contents
History of the Borden Milk Plant
Building the Plant
The Borden Milk Plant was built in 1927 by the Borden Company. This company was a big name in the dairy business. The plant's main job was to turn raw milk into butter and powdered milk. It was one of the first large factories built by a major U.S. company in the southern states after the American Civil War.
Helping Local Farmers
This factory was very important for the people and economy of Lincoln County. It helped farmers in the area, especially during the Great Depression. This was a time when many people struggled to find work and money. The Borden plant gave farmers their only way to earn cash by selling their milk.
In its very first month, the plant paid $25,000 to farmers for their milk. At its busiest time, about 75 people worked there. The plant bought milk from over 1,200 dairy farmers nearby. Even local hog farmers benefited! They used whey, a leftover liquid from milk processing, to feed their hogs.
Later Years and World War II
As time went on, the plant started making cottage cheese from skimmed milk. During World War II, the factory played a special role. It helped the U.S. military by supplying them with dried eggs and dried milk. These products were easy to transport and store for soldiers.
The milk processing plant eventually closed its doors in 1962. Years later, in 1988, the building was recognized for its historical importance. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places as the "Borden Powdered Milk Plant."
The Fayetteville-Lincoln County Museum
Today, the old Borden Milk Plant is home to the Fayetteville-Lincoln County Museum. This museum has a huge space, about 33,000 square feet, for its exhibits.
What You Can See at the Museum
A big part of the museum focuses on the history of farming in the local area. You can learn how people grew food and raised animals long ago.
Other interesting exhibits include:
- A large collection of items made by Native American people.
- A cool display of electric trains.
- Items related to the military career of U.S. Admiral Frank Kelso. He was a famous person from Fayetteville.
