By Tyler Ingram, Ridgefield Historical Society Intern
The item I’ve selected from the Ridgefield Historical Society archives is a milk bottle from Conklin’s Dairy, dated to around the 1940s. The bottle holds one quart of liquid, is made of glass, and has orange and black painted details on either side. Before milk was easily available in supermarkets as it is today, it was supplied by local farmers. This bottle is one of thousands that were delivered to Ridgefielders in the early 20th century.
Irving Conklin was born in 1899 and operated the largest network of dairy farms in Ridgefield in the 20th century. He ran 6 farms, including one on Farm Hill Rd and one at the former Stonecrest Estate on North St. Milk from the Conklin Dairy was driven in trucks and delivered around town every day directly from the farm. At its peak, the Conklin Dairy was one of the top 20 milk producers in Fairfield County, and Conklin operated his farms until 1945. In addition to the dairy, Conklin also ran Conklin Motors on Route 35, where Party Depot is today. Conklin died in 1966, but this bottle stands as a reminder of his legacy, and the milk he supplied countless Ridgefielders with for years.
