Histoire | St-Cajetan | Mansonville | Potton

Creamery and cheese factory

" ... because butter is butter." What a taste. lt was a time when every family would make its own from cream resting over milk. But farmers, having too much milk or cream, would sell and bring these products to a shop, where big skimmers turned them into butter.

Guy Griggs seems to have been the first owner of a creamery and cheese factory. Built around 1890, where Giroux's Garage now stands; the building burned to the ground in 1910. Next was Houde et Cie, from Lyndonville, Vt., which owned the place where René Robin's oil plant is. Aiden Bailey was Manager for them.

Around 1930, Hormidas Lafrenière purchased the business. Wilfrid Hamelin drove a truck, transporting milk to Lyndonville, for over 24 years. Joseph Blanchette (father of Lucette - Gérald Brouillette's wife), who bought from Lafrenière, was operating the business over for 5-6 years in Mansonville, until his death in 1954. His son, Armand, Bertrand and Marcel took the business. Cléophas Poulin (father of Desneiges - Omer Privé's wife) and Gabriel McDuff worked in this trade for many years. Business and rigs were sold to Boulanger, in Sutton (Sutton Milk Products).

Before and during this period of time, many farmers carried their milk to the North Troy Creamery, because there was a surplus on local market.Talking of cheese, the only spots of preparation people remember were in Vale Perkins, in 1890 and the following years. When you come from Mansonville to the T road in Vale Perkins, you still notice, just ahead of you, a wrecked shed. There was a cheese factory.

lt turned into a community hall, used alternatively, by a couple of churches; upstairs, activities and dances were held for entertainment. After it was abandoned, Gene Massé (Mossa) - father of Rita - used to make cheese. Much before the Caron bought their farm on Province Hill road, there must have been a cheese factory in the barn. The remaining pipes and stacks in the ceiling and on the roof are an indication of it.