LAKEWOOD DAIRY
Note:
This website is no longer being maintained - please see the entry (with any new comments) at this website's successor, Open Durham:
Lakewood Dairy (on Open Durham)
The history of Lakewood Dairy extends back to the early 20th century, when the Ward family had farmland extending from present-day Ward and James Streets to Chapel Hill Boulevard. A large two-story house was located on James St. with barns and other frame buildings to the west-southwest.
From "Images of America: Durham" by Steve Massengill
FA Ward delivered milk in horse-drawn wagons throughout the neighborhood, and contributed generously to Lakewood Baptist Church. After his death in the 1920s, his sons sold the Lakewood Dairy to the Pet Dairy Company, which tore down the frame structures associated with the dairy and built the still-extant office building on James Street. In 1940, a group of 162 'dairymen' affiliated with the Central Carolina Farmers' Exchange on Gilbert St. purchased the dairy from Pet Dairy Co. Another source states that Long Meadow Dairy acquired Pet Dairy in 1947, and then "modernized the plant on James St." The same source says that in January 1950, a cooperative of dairy farmers purchased Long Meadow Dairy, become Long Meadow Farms Cooperative, operated by "134 member-producers in the Durham milkshed." 
"Long Meadow Farms Milk Truck" - 06.22.57
"Long Meadow Farms Milk Truck" - 06.22.57
During the mid-20th century, parcels of former farmland were sold off and developed, becoming single family homes and apartment complexes.
1920s era building from James St., 1980.
The dairy moved into the hands of Flav-o-Rich at some point, and had shut down by the 1990s. In 1996, TROSA (Triangle Residential Options for Substance Abusers) purchased the dairy site, which by that time was composed of a 13-acre site with 3 buildings, 6 automotive bays, office space, and 100,000 sq. ft. of storage. TROSA operated their moving services out of this facility for several years, but they are currently in the midst of converting the buildings into a residential campus.
Looking northeast from James St., 05.25.08
Posts
9 comments:
TROSA Moving no longer operates out of that location. Our moving co. is located on Mallard Ave. We also operate a storage facility on E Main. TROSA is 3 years into a 5 year project that is turning the James St. facility into a campus that will house 90% of our residents.
My apologies Johnny - I've corrected the post.
GK
I found a clear glass bottle in a creek today that says "Lakewood Dairy Durham NC Half Pint Liquid". I'm wondering if this bottle is from the 20's or did Pet Dairy continue to use the Lakewood Dairy name after they bought it.
After Flav-o-rich shut down the plant, the owners of the property attempted to have the property re-developed as a shopping center. The Tuscaloosa-Lakewood Neighborhood Association fought this proposal vigorously, arguing that the grandfathered industrial zoning status of this property was not a good reason to drop a high traffic commercial operation into the middle of a residential neighborhood. After this rezoning failed, TROSA purchased the property.
I am looking for pictures from the Long Meadow Dairy Bar...which is now the building of The Original Q Shack. Does anyone have any or know where there are some posted? Amanda
My family use to own Lakewood Dairy and I am looking for a dairy bottle if anyone is interested in selling one please let me know
This message is for Kelly. My friend Troy Lloyd ask me to put this message out here for him. His family used to run the Lloyd's Diary over in Efland. Part of his tasks as an employee of the dairy was to deliver the milk in the cans to the Lakewood Diary. He is very familiar with the dairy and its history.
He also has a Lakewood Dairy milk bottle (1 Qt.) He would like to hear from you. You can reach him at 732-7944.
I was in a local tv commercial for Long Meadow Milk when I was 4 or 5 years old...in 1965-6?? Anyone know if those are kept anywhere??
I've moved your comments to the Lakewood Dairy post on Open Durham - you can find them here.
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