Dairy farming isn’t what it used to be in this region of the state.
Yet the agribusiness is still honored annually in the modern era, such as the Meredith Dairy Fest, starting June 13.
More than 80 years ago, when dairying was much larger locally, Norwich was the place to be in 1941 for the Chenango County American Dairy Day Festival.
As readers of the Norwich Sun of June 13, 1941 found out, in an article written by Nellie Willard Johnson, “June 28, the people of Chenango county unite in one giant Dairy Day Festival at Norwich to celebrate this leading industry of the county. An enjoyable program has been carefully planned for the entire day, prominent speakers, milk products in various forms, a Dairy Queen selected and crowned with a crown so wonderful that you could hardly imagine it was made from milk, and a parade containing floats and all sorts of vehicles.”
People and organizations like their mascots in the modern day, and did likewise in 1941. So, excitement built for the festival, as the Sun of June 23 reported, “Elsie, the world famous Borden cow…will travel in state next week, arriving in Norwich Wednesday to remain here through Saturday for the first annual Chenango County American Dairy Day festival. Elsie will occupy the identically same boudoir that hundreds from this area saw at the New York World Fair.”
While Elsie was a live cow, there was a cartoon image which appeared on many products by Borden, and in advertisements.
Borden was a big name in Chenango County, and as the Sun of June 28 reported, “Honoring the memory of Gail Borden, Norwich native and discoverer of the condensed milk process, Mayor Frank Zuber and leading officials of the Borden Company unveiled a plaque Saturday morning at Borden’s birthplace on the East river road.
“The unveiling of the plaque was one of the main features of Norwich’s American Dairy Day.” The plaque read, “Born in this home November 1, 1803, his father a farmer, Gail Borden was inspired by a special need. He developed the cleanliness and sanitation that is one of the most important factors in modern dairying. Now, everyday practice in the dairy industry is a reminder of the name of Gail Borden.”
There was a milk drinking contest, and also reported on June 28, “Joe D’Amore of 17 Burr avenue, 12 years old, won the milk drinking contest. He was the first to drink a pint of among a score of boys and girls competing for the honors.”
The whole day was a success, as the Sun of June 30 informed readers, “A parade that won the plaudits of all and brought wide acclaim to its participants climaxed the celebration…here Saturday. Colorful in all of its pageantry, with fanfare and pomp, the parade carried out the theme of ‘Progress in Transportation,’ and then in later divisions exploited milk and all of its products.
“Several thousand spectators along the line of the march on South and North Broad streets showered praise and applause upon the participants and accorded an enthusiastic ovation to the official guests. Marching bands, spectacular floats, the massed colors of the Chenango County American Legion posts, all contributed to what was generally termed by spectators to be the finest parade this city has seen in many years.
“Next to the parade, the crowning of a dairy queen, excellent talks by District Attorney Thomas E. Dewey of New York (soon to be governor), State Commissioner of Agriculture Holton V. Noyes and W. Bruce Silcox, economist from the U.S. department of agriculture, and many other interesting events provided a variety of entertainment and enjoyment for all who witnessed the celebration.
“Coronation ceremonies for Miss Barbara Tingley of Afton, who was chosen ‘Queen of Dairy Day’ were conducted with dignity and dispatch by Justice James P. Hill on the platform in front of the courthouse.
On Tuesday, a look at our area’s life and times in June 1986.