The days when the milkman was a part of our morning routines are things of the past. Those of us who grew up in the ‘50s and early ‘60s saw the glass bottles on the porch daily. The milkman delivered more than just milk and groceries. He sold home delivery as part of an experience that is now almost gone in history. Below are memories that will tell the story of an era long gone. Most people can relate to these who have lived during these times.
Table of Contents
- 1 1. The Distinctive Sound of Glass Bottles
- 2 2. The Cream Line in Glass Bottles
- 3 3. The Metal Bottle Caps
- 4 4. The Insulated Metal Milk Box
- 5 5. Leaving Notes for Special Orders
- 6 6. Washing and Returning Bottles
- 7 7. Extra Treats on Special Occasions
- 8 8. The Milkman as Part of the Community
- 9 9. The Variety of Available Products
- 10 10. The Early Morning Schedule
- 11 11. The Weekly or Monthly Bill
- 12 12. The End of an Era
1. The Distinctive Sound of Glass Bottles
The tinkle of glass bottles was our morning alarm. The milkman delivered them before the crack of dawn. The bottles would tinkle just like the call of a rooster. If you were awake, you may even hear the quiet hum of the delivery truck as it moved from house to house in the early morning hours.
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2. The Cream Line in Glass Bottles
In the days before homogenization, each bottle would have a thick layer of cream that floated to the top. My mother would shake the bottle to mix it or even skim it to use for coffee or special recipes. The creamline was nature’s measuring stick that showed how rich and fresh the milk was.
3. The Metal Bottle Caps
The crimped metal caps had all sorts of bright colours and designs which kids would collect and trade. Some kids would make toys and other decorations by carefully lifting and flattening the caps. These caps and their satisfying pop are now a thing of the past.
4. The Insulated Metal Milk Box
In many houses, there were special insulated boxes on the porch made to keep milk deliveries cool and safe from sunlight and pesky neighborhood cats. Some boxes were painted to match the house or even had logos from the dairy.
5. Leaving Notes for Special Orders
Delivery notes to the milkman were handwritten messages left with empty bottles and were considered a form of instant messaging. These notes would instruct the milkman to add special butter deliveries or halt milk deliveries while the family went on vacation.
6. Washing and Returning Bottles
Washing, drying, and placing collection bottles out for the milkman on the porch were done by every household in the community. The bottles would be sterilized at the dairy and used again which made the process a valuable lesson in recycling long before it became fashionable.
7. Extra Treats on Special Occasions
It was not just milk that the milkman brought. He was a source of a range of dairy delights. On holidays, there would be eggnog, special ice cream, and whipping cream for pies. Some dairies even had seasonal specials like spiced apple cider in the fall or chocolate milk for special occasions.
8. The Milkman as Part of the Community
Our milkman was more than a milk delivery man; he was a neighbor and a friend who knew all the customer’s names and schedules. He used to watch their houses while the customers were on vacation, and would help to catch runaway dogs! He was practically family. Many customers remained on the same route as the milkman for decades.
9. The Variety of Available Products
The customers also received fresh butter, eggs, cream, cottage cheese, bread, and groceries! The service was very helpful for mothers who didn’t have time to go to the store.
10. The Early Morning Schedule
The deliveries were exactly on time (before the sun came up). Kids would try to catch the milkman but they were usually too fast and quiet to be seen.
11. The Weekly or Monthly Bill
The payments were based on trust. The milkman would leave a bill and the customers would leave cash in the envelope. They didn’t have credit cards and electronic payments. The bills were works of art with beautiful handwriting.
12. The End of an Era
As refrigerators became more commonplace and grocery stores started to dominate, the milk delivery services went away. The last deliveries were sad for the families who had formed such close relationships with their milkmen.
