Hedgesville
Brown Dairy
Information needed.
Vermilyea's Store
ca. 1930s
The first mention of Vermilyea's Store I can locate is in the September 1914 Dun & Bradstreet, in which J.M. Vermilyea is listed as a grocery store (Mercantile Agency, 1914). A Charleston Gazette article from 1933 mentions a robbery of Vermilyea's Store, of Hedgesville, for $200 and their meat slicer (“Store Is Robbed”, 1933). I cannot find anything in reference to milk or a dairy, so I imagine that Vermilyea bottles were used to sell the milk of other dairies.
Martinsburg
Auburndale Dairy
Information needed.
A pint-sized Auburndale Dairy bottle from Martinsburg; owner, Claude Michael.
Blue Ribbon Dairy
ca. 1916
The Blue Ribbon Dairy is listed in the Martinsburg Evening Journal amongst other local dairies raising their milk prices in 1916 (“Notice of Increase”, 1916). The bottle below is contemporary to this article, as it is an older cap-seat finish.
A deep amethyst, early Blue Ribbon Dairy Co. bottle from Martinsburg. Quart-sized with a tin top. Front.
A deep amethyst, early Blue Ribbon Dairy Co. bottle from Martinsburg. Quart-sized with a tin top. Reverse.
Cushwa’s Dairy
Information needed.
A black painted label, quart-sized Cushwa's Dairy from Martinsburg. Front.
A black painted label, quart-sized Cushwa's Dairy from Martinsburg. Reverse.
Farmers Dairy Inc.
1925—1957
According to the West Virginia Secretary of State records, Farmers Dairy, Inc. incorporated in 1925 (WV Sec. of State, 2025), dissolving in 1957. The Charleston Gazette reported on their charter, noting it had incorporators S.T. Brown, Elmer D. Seibert, Bernard F. Fulk (also of Early Dawn Dairy and Superior Dairy), I.R. Gatrow, and H.H. Emmert (“State House,” 1925).
A quart-sized The Farmers Dairy Inc. bottle from Martinsburg. Neck ribs with a circle slug.
A 1/2-pint, circle slug plate Farmers Dairy Inc. milk bottle. Martinsburg.
A "cream top" quart Farmers Dairy Inc. "It Whips!" embossed on bulb. Front.
A "cream top" quart Farmers Dairy Inc. "It Whips!" embossed on bulb. Reverse.
A cream top Farmers Dairy Inc., pint-sized bottle. "Safe milk for babies." Front.
A cream top Farmers Dairy Inc., pint-sized bottle. "Safe milk for babies." Reverse.
A red painted label, cream-top quart milk bottle from Farmers Dairy Inc. Front.
A red painted label, cream-top quart milk bottle from Farmers Dairy Inc. Reverse.
Files Home-Stead Dairy — Hamilton W. Horner
Information needed.
A pint-sized Files Home-Stead Dairy from Martinsburg. Hamilton W. Horner, proprietor.
Martinsburg Sanitary Milk Co.
1923—19??
The Martinsburg Sanitary Milk Company began in 1923, headed by Samuel Fogelsanger (“Samuel Fogelsanger,” 1923).
A Martinsburg Sanitary Milk Co. quart dairy bottle w/ neck ribs. Front.
A Martinsburg Sanitary Milk Co. quart dairy bottle w/ neck ribs. Reverse.
Superior Dairy, Inc.
1930—1941
Martinsburg’s Superior Dairy incorporated in 1930 with a stock of $10,000 (WV Sec. State, n.d.). Incorporators included R.R. Hogue, Bernard F. Fulk (also of Early Dawn Dairy and Farmers Dairy, Inc.), J.W.C. Gain, Jane Hogue, and Charles F. Gain (“State House,” 1930). It dissolved in 1941, though I suspect it continued longer than that given the existence of a milk carton from them.
A 1/2-pint, embossed Superior Dairy Inc. bottle from Martinsburg.
A pint-sized, embossed Superior Dairy Inc. bottle from Martinsburg.
An orange painted label Superior Dairy bottle from Martinsburg. "Builds Them Healthy" graphic. Front.
An orange painted label Superior Dairy bottle from Martinsburg. "Builds Them Healthy" graphic. Reverse.
An orange painted label Superior Dairy bottle from Martinsburg. "Mother Knows What's Best" graphic. Front.
An orange painted label Superior Dairy bottle from Martinsburg. "Mother Knows What's Best" graphic. Reverse.
An orange painted label Superior Dairy bottle from Martinsburg. Blank reverse.
A 1/2-gallon milk carton from Superior Dairy. Front.
A 1/2-gallon milk carton from Superior Dairy. Reverse.
J.N. Thatcher Co./Thatcher’s Dairy
1910—1963; 1945—1965
The J.N. Thatcher Co. seemed to initially focus on all agricultural and food products. A 1909 article about an apple show at the carnival mentions that the company won first prize in paradise, baldwin, smith cider, grimes golden, winesap, black twig, and many more apples (“Apple Show”, 1909). The total came out to 19 first-place prizes. Their 1910 incorporation blurb notes that they are in the “general farming” business with an initial stock of $40,000 (“J.N. Thatcher Co.”, 1910). Their incorporators included Margaret E., Charles W., Harlan C., Minnie F., and Nannie E. Thatcher, all of the same family.
The first time the company is mentioned as a retail dairy producer is in an advertisement from the Central Market in 1922, telling readers that they have pint and quart bottles of the Thatcher milk for sale (Central Market, 1922). The Thatcher Dairy itself incorporated in 1945 (WV Sec. State, n.d.). It then appears on a list of delinquent companies in 1962 (“Delinquent Corporations,” 1962). This almost always spelled the end of a company, but the Secretary of State records indicate it dissolved officially in 1965. The J.N. Thatcher Company closed two years prior to this, in 1963 (WV Sec. State, n.d.).
An embossed J.N. Thatcher Co. milk bottle from Martinsburg. Pint-sized.
The typical front graphic of the below, round bottles. All painted maroon red. Thatcher's Dairy, Martinsburg.
Thatcher's Dairy, Martinsburg, "Old King Cole" graphic.
Thatcher's Dairy, Martinsburg, "Jack Horner" graphic.
Thatcher's Dairy, Martinsburg, "Once I met..." graphic.
Thatcher's Dairy, Martinsburg, "from farm to home" graphic.
A Thatcher's Dairy painted label bottle with neck ribs and a blank back, Martinsburg.
A square, maroon-red painted label milk bottle from Thatcher's Dairy Inc. of Martinsburg. "Jack is nimble" graphic. Front.
A square, maroon-red painted label milk bottle from Thatcher's Dairy Inc. of Martinsburg. "Jack is nimble" graphic. Reverse.
A square, maroon-red painted label milk bottle from Thatcher's Dairy Inc. of Martinsburg. "Mary, Mary" graphic. Front.
A square, maroon-red painted label milk bottle from Thatcher's Dairy Inc. of Martinsburg. "Mary, Mary" graphic. Reverse.
Oscar M. Thomas
ca. early 1900s
I cannot find any information about this dairy, but the very early mold (akin to a Warren milk jar) suggests this dairy existed in the late 19th Century to the first decade of the 20th Century. The West Virginia State Gazetteer for 1904-1905 (R.L. Polk & Co., 1905) lists an Oscar M. Thomas of Martinsburg as a dairyman, which I presume to be the same individual embossed on this bottle.
An early, Warren-style milk jar from Oscar M. Thomas of Martinsburg.
Willow Brook Dairy
Information needed.
An orange painted label, quart-sized milk bottle from Willow Brook Dairy of Martinsburg. "For B.G. Butler" w/ a stork graphic. Front.
An orange painted label, quart-sized milk bottle from Willow Brook Dairy of Martinsburg. "For B.G. Butler" w/ a stork graphic. Reverse.
References
Apple show and carnival opens. (1909, November 6). Martinsburg Herald, 5.
Central Market. (1922, July 14). Saturday’s specials [advertisement]. Martinsburg Evening Journal, 3.
Delinquent corporations for the fiscal year July 1, 1962, through June 30, 1963. (1962, August 18). Charleston Gazette, 16.
Notice of increase in milk prices by dairymen. (1916, September 27). Martinsburg Evening Journal, 4.
Polk, R.L. & Co. (1905). West Virginia Gazetteer and Business Directory.
Samuel Fogelsanger heads new milk co. in Martinsburg. (1923, September 27). People’s Register, 1.
State House. (1925, March 6). Charleston Gazette, 6.
State House briefs. (1930, February 12). Hinton Daily News, 8.
Store is robbed. (1939, April 2). Charleston Gazette, 4
The J.N. Thatcher Co. (1910, Feburary 12). Martinsburg Herald, 6.
West Virginia Secretary of State. (2025). Business entity details: Farmers Dairy Incorporated. https://apps.wv.gov/SOS/BusinessEntitySearch/Details.aspx?Id=XlkKcn0bIJroocktAKAtjw==&Search=IXHBn1qpbMMN8gF%2fsZAGzw%3d%3d&Page=0
West Virginia Secretary of State. (2025). Business entity details: Superior Dairy, Incorporated. https://apps.wv.gov/SOS/BusinessEntitySearch/Details.aspx?Id=7dfs9z2/EslcDbmYQmcBSA==&Search=BCFgWNkhd97aDvieCsvTuw%3d%3d&Page=0
West Virginia Secretary of State. (2025). Business entity details: The J.N. Thatcher Company. https://apps.wv.gov/SOS/BusinessEntitySearch/Details.aspx?Id=dHcvoUUc+lZtWo8dv3sdMw==&Search=EdoLu9kEJEM7Vf4LqPpnxw%3d%3d&Page=0
West Virginia Secretary of State. (2025). Business entity details: Thatchers Dairy, Incorporated. https://apps.wv.gov/SOS/BusinessEntitySearch/Details.aspx?Id=o1iiVuJAGVeA8dEHWPZVPA==&Search=EdoLu9kEJEM7Vf4LqPpnxw%3d%3d&Page=0