Ferndale in Humboldt County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

The First California Central Creamery

By Andrew Ruppenstein, April 28, 2013

1. The First California Central Creamery Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

This site, originally R.A. Simpson's Ferndale Mechanical Shop, and shared by A. Monroe Cider and Vinegar Company, was chosen in 1904 by Aage Jensen as the founding location of the Central Creamery with first production of butter in September, uniting several small independent plants. In 1905 the company adopted the name of California Central Creameries and eventually became the mother plant of the Golden State Company, Ltd., where numerous steps in western dairy production, including dry milk were pioneered. The first motorized milk tank truck in America was in use here in 1914.

Dedicated by the
Native Sons of the Golden West.
February 12, 1983
Joseph Ursino Grand President
In memory of Joseph G. Oeschger Past Grand President N.S.G.W.
A native of Ferndale

Erected 1983 by Native Sons of the Golden West.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Native Sons/Daughters of the Golden West series list.

Location.

The First California Central Creamery - Now Cream City Mall image. Click for full size.

By Andrew Ruppenstein, April 28, 2013

2. The First California Central Creamery - Now Cream City Mall

The marker is visible here, mounted to a low cement monument between the two planters to the left of the red doors.

40° 35.206′ N, 124° 15.471′ W. Marker is in Ferndale, California, in Humboldt County. Marker is at the intersection of Main Street and Milton Avenue on Main Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1400 Main Street, Ferndale CA 95536, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Cape Mendocino Lighthouse Lenses (approx. 0.4 miles away); Ferndale (approx. 0.4 miles away); The Gazebo (approx. ¾ mile away); Blackburn Law Office (approx. ¾ mile away); "Poppa Joe's" (approx. ¾ mile away); Ferndale Meat Market (approx. 0.8 miles away); Our Centennial (approx. 0.8 miles away); Ferndale Palace Saloon (approx. 0.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Ferndale.

Also see . . . Ferndale - History. On the history of the dairy industry in Ferndale: "The dairy-farming Danes, arriving in the 1870s, brought practices from their homeland. Each small neighborhood of dairymen formed its own cooperative creamery. By 1890 there were eleven separate creameries operating in the immediate Ferndale area. Ferndale butter was considered the finest in the state, bringing premium prices in San Francisco. Ferndale acquired its first nickname, 'Cream City.'...Shortly after 1900 many of the small creameries consolidated into larger creameries. The Central Creamery, located on north Main Street, became the mother plant of the
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Golden State Creamery, one of the largest in the state...." (Submitted on May 10, 2013.)

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on May 10, 2013, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Sacramento, California. This page has been viewed 582 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 10, 2013, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Sacramento, California. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.