Crowley Cheese Factory facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Crowley Cheese Factory
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 Location in Vermont
Location in the United States
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| Location | 14 Crowley Ln., Healdville, Vermont |
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| Area | 2 acres (0.81 ha) |
| Built | 1881 |
| NRHP reference No. | 79000226 |
| Added to NRHP | October 11, 1979 |
The Crowley Cheese Factory is a very old and special place in Healdville, Vermont. It's home to the Crowley Cheese Company, which many people believe is the oldest company in the United States that makes cheese from scratch! The factory was built way back in 1881. Even today, they still make cheese there using the same old methods and recipes. This historic factory was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979 because it's so important.
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What is the Crowley Cheese Factory?
The Crowley Cheese Factory is located near the small village of Healdville in Mount Holly, Vermont. The factory building is a simple, two-and-a-half-story building made of wood. It has a pointed roof and classic wooden siding.
A Look Inside the Factory
The building is about 30 feet wide and 40 feet long. It has a small entrance area at the front. On one side of the building, there are special doors for loading and unloading goods. A small crane arm sticks out from the top. This was used to lift things to the different floors.
Inside, the ground floor is where the cheese is actually made. Big vats hold the milk, and there's also a space for drying the cheese. A smaller part of the building holds machines for waxing the finished cheese wheels. The cheeses are then aged in the basement or on the second floor. These areas now have special climate control to keep the cheese perfect.
The History of Crowley Cheese
The Crowley Cheese Company was started in 1881 by A. Winfield Crowley. His family owned the company for 85 years! The factory was built to use extra milk from local farmers. This milk was turned into cheese and then sold at the Healdville train station. The Crowley family had already been making cheese from their own cows on their farm nearby.
Why is it so Special?
Long ago, before refrigerators were common, factories like this were everywhere in Vermont. They helped farmers use their milk before it spoiled. But most of these factories closed down. This happened as farms became smaller and as refrigeration allowed milk to be sent much further away.
The Crowley Cheese Company is thought to be the oldest cheese company still running in Vermont. It's also one of the oldest in the entire country that has been making cheese continuously. This makes it a truly unique and historic place!
See also
External links
- Official Website: http://www.crowleycheese.com/
