The Dairy Building

The Civil War at Endview

— A living history museum —

The Dairy Building Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, August 11, 2008

1. The Dairy Building Marker

Inscription. In the South, dairy buildings were small structures, usually 14 feet square with a gable roof. The buildings’ overhanging eaves, louvered ventilators, and insulated walls were designed to keep the milk cool inside. Milk was placed in shallow tubs for approximately ten hours until the cream separated and rose to the surface. Slaves collected the cream and churned it into butter. Dairy buildings were a measure of affluence, as milk, butter, and cream were luxuries of the planter class.

Sidebar: Captain Samuel Mathews, Sr. established Mathews Manor (later renamed Denbigh Plantation) on the banks of the Warwick River near Deep Creek in 1625. Mathews was a prominent Virginian who commanded the colony’s militia and served as a member of the governor’s council. The Digges family purchased the property in 1720 and built this dairy building, c. 1740. By 1813, Richard Young acquired Denbigh Plantation, which remained in the family’s possession until the property was sold to a developer in 1963. After extensive archaeological work, a subdivision was constructed in the 1970s. Subsequently, the City of Newport News acquired the dairy building and moved it to Endview Plantation in 1999.

Erected by Endview Living History Museum.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture

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• Colonial Era • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1625.

Location. This marker has been replaced by another marker nearby. It was located near 37° 12.636′ N, 76° 34.205′ W. Marker was in Newport News, Virginia. It was in North Newport News. It could be reached from Yorktown Road (Virginia Route 238), on the right when traveling north. Marker is on the grounds of the Endview living history museum. Touch for map. Marker was in this post office area: Newport News VA 23603, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker was on Virginia’s Peninsula,

in Hampton Roads,

in Coastal Virginia,

and in the Hampton Roads Metropolitan Area.

It was also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

and in the Tidewater.

Globally, it was in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it found itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this location: The Dairy House (a few steps from this marker); Endview (about 400 feet away); Endview Plantation (about 400 feet away); Virginia Indians (about 400 feet away); The Cemetery (about 800 feet away); a different marker also named Endview (approx. 0.2 miles away); a different marker also named Endview (approx. 0.2 miles away); Lebanon Church (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Newport News.

Other markers no longer nearby. The Endview Spring (was about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line but has been permanently removed); The Endview Landscape (was about

Marker at the Endview Plantation image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, August 11, 2008

2. Marker at the Endview Plantation

400 feet away but has been permanently removed).

More about this marker. The bottom right of the marker features a 1937 photograph of The Denbigh Plantation dairy building. Photo courtesy of The Library of Virginia.

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. New Marker At This Location titled "The Dairy House".

Endview Plantation House image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, August 11, 2008

3. Endview Plantation House

The Dairy Building is located behind the plantation's main house.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 10, 2025. It was originally submitted on March 1, 2009, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 1,803 times since then and 34 times this year. Last updated on November 5, 2021, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on March 1, 2009, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.