Upper Makefield Creameries

A creamery is a place where milk and cream are processed into butter and cheese. Demand led to a creamery boom in Bucks County in the 1880s. By 1884, there were 36 creameries in the county. 

In Upper Makefield, enough farmers wanted a creamery that the public held a meeting to propose a location. This meeting resulted in a disagreement on the best location, so the two groups split and each built their own creamery at their chosen location. The creameries were very close together, setting up a situation where surely only one would come out standing. 

The Eagle Creamery was on the property of Kinsey Harvey, who owned a few tracts in Upper Makefield. The tract in question adjoined the lands of David Merrick. The Eagle Creamery opened in January of 1882.

1876 Atlas

Jan 14, 1882 Newtown Enterprise

The Makefield Creamery was on the farm of Joseph M. Scott, near the intersection of Eagle and Wrightstown Roads. Neither creamery are shown on the atlas, as they existed entirely between the atlas years. Makefield Creamery opened in May of 1881, a six-month head start on the Eagle. It opened with a "May hop", thrown by the young people in the neighborhood. 

1876 Atlas

June 26, 1881 Newtown Enterprise

In the summer of 1882, shortly after operations commenced, there was already a milk shortage at the creameries. This shortage caused the Eagle to suspend operations in October.

The next year, the Eagle reopened and we see an ad for ice cream from the creamery.

May 26, 1883 Newtown Enterprise

Unfortunately, less than 3 months later the Eagle Creamery ceased operations due to not receiving enough milk to continue. It was the third creamery to close, the market was over saturated.

Aug 11. 1883 Newtown Enterprise

Ultimately, the property was sold to Frank Harvey, who converted the creamery into dwellings and rented it out. In 1884 he also purchased the ice house of the former Eagle Creamery and opened a cider manufactory there.

Jan 26, 1884 Newtown Enterprise

At this time, the Makefield Creamery absorbed the business of the Eagle, and business was good enough that they opened a mill in the off-season.

Feb 2, 1884 Newtown Enterprise

The operations went smoothly for the next few years. In 1887 George H. Scott, who took over the business from Joseph, decided to pack it up and move to Erwinna. 

Nov 17, 1888 Newtown Enterprise

Locals still had other creamery options in Newtown and Yardley, as well as in Buckmanville and Pineville. 

Hardly 4 months later, the Makefield Creamery had a fire and was destroyed.

Mar 23, 1889 Newtown Enterprise

Two creameries were too many for Upper Makefield. At least the Eagle was repurposed, it could've been a worse ending.