Window into Yesterday - Holy Cow!

Not long ago we who live near Ely sometimes saw cows in the fields outside of town - and an occasional one in town. Nearly all the small subsistence farmers around Ely had milk cows. Local people went out to the farms to get milk. It was not found in grocery stores - at least not for some time.

Some farmers had a number of dairy cows but others only a few. The north shore of Shagawa Lake, perhaps because of flatter land, had quite a few dairy farms. Out on Highway 21 (once called the Moose Lake Road) were a few others.

The Knuutti family on the Van Vac Road had many cows on their farm along the Burntside River. Their dairy farm was called the Pine Grove Dairy.

Arvo and William Knuutti established the Pine Grove Dairy in the early 1900s. Seeing the future, they built a modern pasteurization plant in 1937. The 36 x 75 dairy barn was as modern as one could imagine: concrete floors, steel stanchions with steel and wood construction. The large barn could house up to 38 cows. Milk was pasteurized at 142 - 145°, bottled, and sold to customers at the dairy farm. It was also distributed by independent milkmen such as Bill Peterson.

In 1945 Pine Grove Dairy was sold by the Knuutti brothers to Roy and Reino Wahlberg but the Wahlbergs did not buy the cows or the plant. They built the Ely Dairy on West Conan Street in town and dairy farmers brought their milk to be pasteurized, bottled, and distributed.

The Ely Dairy stood where the clinic parking lots now exist. The large and once very modern barn of the Knuuttis, then empty, burned to the ground in 1950.

It was then still possible to buy raw milk directly from a few dairy farms.

Pasteurization laws were introduced between 1945 and 1950 but it appears they were somewhat vague. Milk sold in stores had to be pasteurized, but the laws about individual farmers selling milk themselves were unclear. One could, in a few places, still buy raw milk directly from dairy farmers. It could not be advertised. Customers brought their own containers.

Fifty years ago, few people locked the doors on their homes at night. If they had milk delivered, the milkman simply came in the back door in the morning, went into the kitchen, and opened the refrigerator. He decided what the family needed so all was taken care of effortlessly.

According to Judy Swenson, in the 1930 census there were at least 15 farmers in the area. A number of them were located near the north shore of Shagawa Lake. Presumably most of them had at least several cows but others had more.

The following are names of known farmers: Koschak, Lindbeck, Pentinen, Partti, Sjoberg, Salo, Ruotsala, Wirtanen, Poksyla, Knuutti, Pirtz and Teran.

On Highway 21, there were the Maenpaas and the Rajamakis. The large dairy barn still visible from the highway (off Laine Road) was built by Elias Rajamaki. It is in great condition.

We Americans still drink a lot of milk (there are cultures of course that do not), but we don’t go to a farm to buy it, nor do we have it delivered to our homes. It is all pasteurized, and it no longer comes in glass bottles - instead in cartons or even plastic bags. Alternatives such as lactose free, soy, and almond milk are now also available. Milk containers are also dated.

Now many children have little idea where their milk comes from. Few if any cows are to be found in the area any longer.

A pictorial exhibit of a few dairy farms from the past in the Ely area is featured in the lobby of the community college, directly across from the entrance door. Should you have any questions or information to offer, please call the historical society office at 218365-3226. The office is open on Tuesdays through Fridays, noon until 4 p.m.