Friday Harbor in San Juan County, Washington — The American West (Northwest)

Milk House

Photographed by Jimmy Emerson, June 9, 2017

1. Milk House Marker

Inscription. Early 20th century laws required that milk be processed at least 50 feet from the barn. Milk houses were built to house a separator, which separated the cream from the whey, and cold water basins to cool the cream. The King family, like other dairies on the island, sent their cream to the creamery established on the Friday Harbor waterfront in 1901, where it would be converted to butter and other dairy products.

(captions:) Above: The De Laval Seperator, a band operated (and later motorized) device that helped separate the cream for sale.
Left: Ruth Sundstrom milking a cow. Courtesy of Sundstrom family.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Animals. A significant historical year for this entry is 1901.

Location. 48° 31.954′ N, 123° 1.501′ W. Marker is in Friday Harbor, Washington, in San Juan County. It can be reached from Price Street, on the left when traveling north. Located at the San Juan County Museum. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 405 Price Street, Friday Harbor WA 98250, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally,

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this marker is in the Puget Sound Region.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast,

in the Pacific Northwest,

and in the Lewis & Clark Corridor.

Globally, it is in North America,

in the Inside Passage,

on the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Other nearby markers. At least 5 other markers are within 7 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: San Juan County Jail (a few steps from this marker); Stone Store House (a few steps from this marker); James F. King Farmhouse (within shouting distance of this marker); Roll of Honor World War (approx. half a mile away); English Camp (approx. 6.7 miles away).

Photographed by Jimmy Emerson, June 9, 2017

2. Milk House Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on June 9, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 8, 2026, by Jimmy Emerson of Dalton, Georgia. This page has been viewed 10 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 8, 2026, by Jimmy Emerson of Dalton, Georgia. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.