This gorgeous butter box was donated to the museum by Richard A. and Mary Lou Czech of Little Falls, Minnesota. The Elm Dale Creamery Association got its start in 1908 when area farmers purchased the creamery owned and operated by K. H. Gunderson of Elmdale, Minnesota. Until 1916, the official name of the creamery was Cloverleaf-Elm Dale Creamery Association. According to the association’s records, eighteen different buttermakers worked at the creamery throughout its history. The first buttermaker was Marcus Gunderson, the son of the original owner. The present buttermaker/manager is Jeff Czech. In 1964, the creamery stopped producing butter and focused on shipping milk.
If you would like to learn more about the Elm Dale Creamery Association or about butter boxes themselves, be sure to stop in, give us a call or send us an e-mail (contactstaff(at)morrisoncountyhistory(dot)org). The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.